Integrity first, Service before self, and Excellence in all we do
From the President Happy New Year to all Waterman members! Those of us who have supported all forms of organizations know that this time of year involves the typical annual budgets and Strategic Plan development. These documents are easy enough to produce; the real work is involved in moving them from plans to actions. It is indeed in this area that we can use your help. As we have highlighted in newsletters, we are enjoying a good and growing relationship with the MacDill AFB leaders and community members. Dialogues with the Wind leadership often identify good ideas that need interested volunteers to work and financial support to bring them to reality. Our new State President Max Freidauer identified several goals that tie in well with our chapter's strategic plan that we would like to pursue in supporting the MacDill community. Max's three goals for our State organizations are as follows: 1. Membership - as we are often hearing, the membership roles of service-connected organizations are on the decline. AFA, unfortunately, is also experiencing the same situation. It is a telling point when our goal is to "maintain" membership levels. Usually, when we look at membership drives, etc., we are thinking about increasing the roles, not "maintaining". Be that as it may, we need everyone's help to recruit statewide. AFA has a convenient on-line application process, but if I can help in any way please let me know. My contact info is on the back of the newsletters sent to you. 2. Leadership Development - this goal directly relates to us keeping a viable organization. We need volunteers now to fill vital chapter positions. Al Rodriguez, our Aerospace Education Foundation VP, has provided good background info about leadership volunteer opportunities in his article in the January 2006 newsletter. Also, our Leadership Development VP, Lt Col Karl Rozelski is working on plans that include this are and membership development. If you have any ideas or know of any friends that you would like to volunteer -- just kidding -- please give me a call. 3. Support the Air Force Family - this is a goal that we all can relate to. Being near MacDill AFB makes it easier for us to see ways that we can help, but the Air Force Family extends well beyond the base gates. Max's challenge to us is to think "outside the box" to consider the family extending to nursing homes, veteran hospitals, etc. Each of us, whether we are located close to MacDill AFB or Venice, FL have opportunities to support our Air Force "family".
