ESGR

OFFICE OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL
1300 MILITARY ROAD , ROOM 20
LINCOLN, NE. 68508-1090
Office 402-309-7307 Web Site neguard.org June 12, 2006

The Retiree Council met on this date at 1300 hours. The following Board of Directors were present, Vice President Fred Gustin, Treasurer Ron Kroon, Secretary Jerry Chenoweth. Members at Large. Al Peate, Ollie Sapp, Bill Nelson, and Dave Petersen.

Fred called the meeting to order. The minutes of the previous meeting were read. There were no additions or corrections. The minutes stand as read.

Treasurer's report was given by Ron. We have 634 members of which 60 are widows. We have 38 new members under the new first year free rule. If you know someone who has retired and is not a Council member let us know of them. After the first year they would have to pay the normal dues.

OLD BUSINESS:

Fred reported no new information on a briefing for the Lincoln-Omaha area this year. He will be checking with COL. Schuurmans as to the progress on this briefing. We know the TAG and his office are quite busy with deployments.

Ollie asked if the Board has acted on the request for a donation to a new hospital in San Antonio , TX . It was agreed in May the Council would not donate to this project.

Jerry asked if LtCol Murphy received a copy of the Council members list which was approved by the Board at the May meeting. He had not received one; Fred will take a copy to him after this meeting.

The Council office received a card from the James Sweetman family thanking the Council for the memorial we sent in honor of Jim.

NEW BUSINESS:

Air National Guard CMSgt Gemmell was present at the meeting to update the Board on the Air Show at the ANG Base on September 23-24. The Air Guard is going to operate a food concession stand to make money for the memorial at the Base. They are looking for volunteers to help operate this stand. There will be 2 shifts per day; this information will go out with minutes in July. Any one Army, Air or spouse can volunteer. CMSgt Gemmell can be reached at 402-309-7102.

Air National Guard SMSgt Spence was present at the meeting to update the Board on the Thunder Run for this year. It will be held on August 5 th on the West side of the runway. The times are not set as of yet but they will only have 2 runs as the some of the space is reduced by the aircraft from Offutt parked in the area. Spence can be reached at 402-309-7148. More information will come later and also will be announced at the Retiree breakfasts'.

Bill updated the Board on the progress of the National Guard web site. The TAG is pushing for a one site covers all web site . It should be ready in the next few months. The Retiree Council will have a link to our site from the National Guard site.

Army Retirement Services Current News

New recruiting initiative "grand" for retired Soldiers

(Following is updated information on the recruiting referral bonus announced in the May-August Army Echoes)

The Army has expanded to retired Soldiers eligibility for the $1,000 recruiting referral bonus.

This newest recruiting incentive pays retired Soldiers a $1,000 lump sum for referring applicants who enlist, complete basic training, and graduate individual advanced training.

The Secretary of the Army is granted the authority to pay a bonus to any individual who refers to an Army recruiter a person who has not previously served in the Armed Forces and enlists in either the Active Army, Army National Guard or the Army Reserves.  The referral may not be an immediate family member and the Retired Soldier referring may not be serving in a recruiting or retention assignment or as a Junior ROTC instructor.

Army Retirees includes Active Army Retirees and Army Reserve Component Retirees including Reserve members who have transferred to the Retired Reserve but who have not yet reached 60 years of age.

Since the $1,000 referral bonus for currently serving Soldiers was initiated in January, the referral Web site has received more than 5 million hits, resulting in approximately 5,000 referrals, 500 contracts, and 100 recruits who have begun training.

The Army plans to present the first $1,000 check on June 8 to Staff Sgt. Consuelo Spears at Fort Huachuca , Ariz. , when Pvt. Bartolomiej A. Rdes graduates from his Advanced Individual Training at Fort Sill , Okla.  Pvt. Rdes was recruited by Staff Sgt. Alberto Rochezayas from the Chicago Recruiting Battalion.

For more information about this pilot incentive program, retirees should call 1-800-223-3735 extension 6-0473, go to www.usarec.army.mil/smart or contact their local Retiree Services Office.  

As there was no more business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned.

Jerry Chenoweth
Secretary