THE 1600 COMMUNICATOR Fall, 2017 (October)

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1 THE 1600 COMMUNICATOR Fall, 2017 (October) President s Message Greetings Members, We are just six weeks from the 1600 Communications Association s Annual Holiday Dinner Dance, Reaffirming our Commitment. As always, we are delighted to host and look forward to an inspiring and informative evening with you, our fellow WHCA Family, both past and present. Planning for this event is well underway and we are asking attendees to please sign-up early to secure your place (payment to be submitted at the time of RSVP see page 5). This event is also our end-of-year opportunity to celebrate our successes and honor some of our extraordinary alumni members and volunteers. I d like to personally thank every Board member and volunteer for their dedication and hard work this year in planning and executing the events in Your personal commitment has been instrumental to our success! Upcoming Events December 9, 2017 Holiday Dinner Dance 2018 June 15, 2018 Golf Tournament June 16, 2018 WHCA Open House/1600 Shrimp Feast & BBQ October, th Anniversary Celebration of the 1600 Communications Association (date TBD) As Veterans Day approaches, we honor all who have served. You may be interested in attending a Military Mixer and networking event being held on the evening of November 9 (Washington DC area) please see page 9 for the event flyer and details. IMPORTANT NOTE: The Association is seeking volunteers to join our Board of Directors. We encourage you to submit a brief bio to help fill leadership positions that will become available on January 1, (See page 2 for the ballot.) Please your information to submit@1600commassoc.org. If you are interested in joining but feel you need more information prior to making a decision, please contact any Board member, as we are happy to discuss details about the time and effort required. It is imperative that we stay connected on this journey and continue the legacy COL McNally started in Submissions should be sent by December 1, Also of note, the 1600 Communications Association will celebrate our 50-year milestone in October I would like to invite everyone to join us as we begin planning for this celebration! I look forward to seeing each of you in the coming weeks. Your ideas, suggestions and feedback are always welcomed. We feel strongly that active involvement by our members is critical to the growth, strength and direction of the 1600 Communications Association. Danny Young, President 1600 Communications Association Fall 2017 Newsletter Page 1

2 Ballot for Election of the Association Board of Directors for We are actively seeking NEW Board members. While we will certainly ensure continuity for our members and a seamless transfer to incoming leadership, we hope to see new names on the slate for consideration! President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Director at Large Director at Large Write-in Name Position If you wish to be considered for one of the above positions, please add your name to the above ballot, include a brief bio for review, and mail to the Association at the address below, or a copy to submit@1600commassoc.org Communications Association P.O. Box 160 Washington, DC Please reply NLT December 1, 2017 so we can populate the names and send ballots/links to all members in a timely manner. Please contact any Board Officer with questions (contact information is on page 8 of this fall newsletter) Communications Association Fall 2017 Newsletter Page 2

3 Brigadier General John S. Tuck Memorial Scholarship Awards The Association is pleased to announce the award of the first Brigadier General John S. Tuck Memorial Scholarships. BG Tuck served as the 10 th Commander of the White House Communications Agency from June 1982 until January This scholarship was established by Mrs. Eleanor Tuck, his widow, in his memory. BG Tuck and Mrs. Tuck have been strong supporters of the 1600 Communications Association Scholarship Program over the years. After his passing in August of 2015, Mrs. Tuck decided to endow this scholarship as a lasting remembrance of his service and commitment to education. The initial announcement of the award was made on August 15 th, the anniversary of his death. The awardees of the first scholarships are Lindsey Dickerson and Nicholas Johnson. Each received a $1,000 scholarship. Both awardees come from strong military families and reflect a commitment to education with goals of careers of service in medicine and energy management respectively. The Association extends its congratulations to the awardees and our sincere thanks to Mrs. Tuck for establishing this scholarship. News You Can Use The Veterans Affairs (VA) Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers is a clinical program that focuses on the needs of both the eligible Veteran/Service member and the eligible Primary and Secondary Family Caregivers. Family Caregivers provide crucial support in caring for our Nation s Veterans by allowing them to stay in the homes and communities they defended, surrounded by the loved ones they fought for. Caregivers in a home environment can enhance the health and well-being of Veterans under VA care. The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, helps the families and veterans injured post To get started with VA call the Caregiver Support Line at This is a great first step to learn more about the support that s available to veterans. The support caregivers provide can be especially wearing on a family. Fortunately, the VA recognizes this. Benefits available to family caregivers include: a monthly stipend; travel expenses (including lodging and per diem while accompanying Veterans undergoing care); access to health care insurance (if the Caregiver is not already entitled to care or services under a health care plan); mental health services and counseling and comprehensive VA Caregiver training provided by the Easter Seals. To find our more details on the VA Family Caregiver benefit go to: homepage and select VA Caregiver Support in federal benefits under the benefits library tab. Last Wheels Up The Association regrets to inform our members of the passing of Jozef L. Hennigan on September 11, His full obituary will be available on our site, under the Members restricted area, Last Wheels Up section. Our deepest condolences to the Hennigan family Communications Association Fall 2017 Newsletter Page 3

4 Event at The George H. W. Bush Library and Museum On Friday, October 6, 2017, The George H. W. Bush Library and Museum in College Station, Texas hosted a symposium for former White House support personnel, with David Valdez, Personal Photographer and Chief White House Photographer for President George H. W. Bush, as the principal presenter. Several 1600 Association members were present. Jon Rowader (WHCA Photo Lab from July 1974 to September 1982), was the liaison and primary force behind arranging the event. The 1600 Communications Association thanks Jon for permitting use of his post and photo of the event. Jon Rowader (via his Facebook post) I want to thank everyone who made it to The WHCA Reunion at The George H.W. Bush Library and Museum in College Station TX today. It looks like everyone had a wonderful time not only with the video and photo presentation by David Valdez but the tour and fabulous buffet provided afterwards! I will make sure the original letter that President Bush sent us gets put into WHCA archives back in DC. There are so many that support the President and it needs to be preserved for all WHCA members. Thanks once again everyone for attending!!! To read the entire feed, please find and join our Group on Facebook! 1600 Communications Association Fall 2017 Newsletter Page 4

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6 Association Items Available for Purchase as of 10/14/17 Challenge Coin ($12) Key Fob with a detachable Golf Ball Marker ($5) Hat ($12) PSB Stickers ($5) These sticker/decals are for use only by recipients of the Presidential Service Badge. Make checks payable to 1600 Comms Assn and send to Glenn Arnett, 128 Atlantis Lane, Lake Frederick, VA ) NEW! 2017 Challenge Coins! Also, please see page 8 for details on the limited edition commemorative print marking WHCA s 75 th the print is available for purchase as well. A bit larger and with an updated design, these new coins are priced at $20 each. All items are also available for ordering via Copies of the McNally book, A Million Miles of Presidents, are also available for purchase via the website Communications Association Fall 2017 Newsletter Page 6

7 Treasurer s Report October, 2017 Bank Account Balances as of October 7, 2017 Checking $1, CD1 $2, CD2 $5, CD3 $4, Scholarship and Gen Tuck Account $20, Scholarship CD $11, Membership In 2017 to date, we have processed 75 membership transactions. Of those, 29 are new members and 11 have been accepted for Lifetime Membership. Unfortunately, we have 47 members who have not yet paid their 2017 dues and have been moved to inactive status. This brings the total current active membership roster to 601. Please note that dues were raised effective April 2, Annual dues are now $ New Members This Report Welcome to the following new members: Christopher D. Woodard (Jul 1985 to Mar 1993), Naseera Pitts (Mar 2003 to Feb 2007) Bad Address List We have lost contact with the following members. If you know any of them and have contact with them, please ask them to let the Association know their new mailing and addresses. Hugh B. St. Martin, Matthew J. Leimer, Lee R. Hamilton, Daniel A. Battisto Presidential Service Badge License Plate for Virginia An Association member, Gary Foote continues the effort to get the Commonwealth of Virginia to issue an automobile license plate that displays the PSB. As Virginia residents may recall, the state requires a minimum of 450 sign ups before they will consider making a new plate. If you are interested in acquiring a Virginia PSB license plate, send an to Gary at footeg@verizon.net. He does not need payment at this time, just a verbal commitment. For Maryland residents who were authorized the PSB you can get a license plate for your car for a fee and proof of PSB award. Proof is either DD 214 or your award certificate. Check with Maryland DMV for details Communications Association Fall 2017 Newsletter Page 7

8 1600 Communications Association Membership Renewal NAME: SPOUSE NAME: ADDRESS: CITY: STATE: ZIP: HOME PHONE: WORK PHONE: ADDRESS: WHCA SERVICE DATES: From To Please make check payable to 1600 Communications Association and mail to same at P.O. Box 160, Washington, DC Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for reply. _ 1600 Leadership Contact Information We look forward to continuing to serve you! President: Danny Young DannyY@1600commassoc.org Vice President: Dana Richmond DanaR@1600commassoc.org Secretary: Tammy Brown TammyB@1600commassoc.org Treasurer/Membership: Glenn Arnett GlennA@1600commassoc.org Director-At-Large: Helen Pennington HelenP@1600commassoc.org Director-At-Large: Sam Watkins SamW@1600commassoc.org Editor: Floyd Hepler FloydH@1600commassoc.org Historian: Gordon Aitken GordonA@1600commassoc.org Parliamentarian: Sarah Olo SarahO@1600commassoc.org Alumni Career Coordinator: Darrell Williams DWilliams@1600commassoc.org Communications Association Fall 2017 Newsletter Page 8

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10 How to Support Your Association There are a number of way you can provide support! Want to help but can t invest the time? Make a donation to the Scholarship Fund GlennA@1600commassoc.org for more information. Want to give of your time instead? Consider volunteering at one of our many upcoming events. Please volunteers@1600commassoc.org to advise your availability and areas of interest. Would you like to volunteer to help at an event? We d love to have you! Please Volunteers@1600commassoc.org As of October 14, there are over 1,000 current and former WHCA members in our Facebook group! Are you one of them? Search 1600 Communications Association and request to join! Commemorative Print Available for Purchase Heritage Made Hero, LLC and 1600 Communications Association commissioned a print for the 75 th Anniversary of the White House Communications Agency. We worked with artist Mark Thesken, to create the original painting and commissioned a limited edition of 500 prints. These prints are only $20. Please contact sales@heritagemadehero.com or call Jim Ramsey at (540) to purchase yours today! 1600 Communications Association Fall 2017 Newsletter Page 10