|
News from |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
CONTACT: |
||||||||||
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 9, 2008 No. 08-035
KANSAS NATIONAL GUARD TO HOST JOINT STATE CONFERENCE APRIL 11-13
The Kansas National Guard will host the Joint State Conference this weekend beginning Friday, April 11, through Sunday, April 13. The National Guard Association of Kansas, the National Guard Family Programs Office and the Kansas Committee Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve are combining their annual conferences this year. National Guard officers will also attend professional development training at the Joint State Conference to be held at the Ramada Inn, located at 420 SE 6th Ave., Topeka. Joint State Conference events are a mixture of addresses from key speakers, workshops, awards presentations, memorials and social events. Several national speakers will address conference attendees, including the Honorable Thomas Hall, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs; L. Gordon Sumner Jr., Ph.D., Executive Director of the National ESGR; and Jacey Eckhart, syndicated columnist. The Kansas Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, will deliver the annual State of the Guard address at the conference at 1:30 p.m. on April 12. Bunting became the Adjutant General of Kansas on Jan. 5, 2004. As the Adjutant General, he oversees the activities of the Adjutant General’s Department which includes the Kansas Homeland Security, Kansas Emergency Management and the Kansas National Guard. Hall is a retired two-star rear admiral, having served nearly 34 years with the U.S. Navy. A native of Barnsdall, Okla., Hall was sworn in as the fourth Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs on Oct. 9, 2002. In this position, he serves as the principal staff assistant to the Secretary of Defense on all matters involving the 1.2 million members of the Reserve Components of the United States Armed Forces. Hall will speak at 11 a.m. on April 12. Sumner was appointed Executive Director, National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve by President George W. Bush on March 29, 2007. Sumner serves as advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs on all matters involving employer support programs for all the Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces. These include the Army National Guard, Air National Guard, Army Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and the Coast Guard Reserve. Eckhart is a nationally syndicated military columnist. Her critically acclaimed book, “The Homefront Club: The Hardheaded Woman’s Guide to Raising a Military Family,” has led to frequent speaking engagements at military installations around the world. She is also the voice behind the award winning CD, “These Boots: A Spouse’s Guide To Stepping Up and Standing Tall During Deployment.” Her most recent project is her radio program, “The Jacey Eckhart Show” found at stations across the country and available in podcast form on iTunes. Eckhart will speak at 10 a.m. on April 12. A sunrise memorial service will be held as part of the conference on Sunday at the Great Overland Station Veteran's Memorial. Social events include skeet shoot and golf tournaments, a performance by No Laughing Matter, an appearance by the Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders and a formal awards banquet and dance. An exhibitor hall will feature displays by companies and organizations that provide support to the Guard and its members. On Friday, the National Guard Patriot Chopper will be on display. The National Guard Association of Kansas is a not for profit corporation made up of past and present officers of the Kansas Army and Air National Guard, numbering over 1,300, with a mission to: promote and support adequate state and national security; support and improve the Army and Air National Guard of Kansas; promote and support the National Guard Association of the United States in its efforts to improve the National Guard; promote and undertake activities and programs of benefit to members and their families, insurance programs and any other activity reasonably intended to promote the well being of the membership; and provide the public with pertinent information and assistance to enhance public appreciation of the purpose and value of the National Guard of Kansas and the national security program of the United States of America. The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve is a Department of Defense-sponsored, all volunteer committee of business, community and military leaders dedicated to assisting our nation in fielding a strong, prepared and valued National Guard and Reserve force. The mission of the Kansas Committee of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve is to promote public understanding and employer support of the critical role of the Kansas Guard and Reserve components to advance national interests and protect our nation's security and gain and maintain active support from all public and private Kansas employers for the men and women of the Kansas National Guard and Reserve as defined by demonstrated employer commitment to employee military service. The Kansas National Guard Family Program is a volunteer based program that provides mobilization training and assistance to Guard families to help them better cope with the pressures of separation and reunion. The Family Program has five operating Family Assistance Centers which serve as a resource and referral. Though the FAC’s primary focus is Guard members and their families, they also cater to the needs of military families from all branches of service. More information about the conference, including the complete schedule of events, may be found at www.ngaks.org. -30- |
||||||||||