Sen. Murray Rescheduled

RESCHEDULE

MILITARY AFFAIRS FORUM

 Military Affairs Committee

Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber

Date & Time:  THURSDAY, February 23, 11:30 – 1:00 p.m.

                     WEDNESDAY, January 18, 11:15 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Place: Pacific Grill Events Center

          1530 Pacific Ave., Tacoma 98402

          La Quinta Inn,

1425 E. 27^th St., Tacoma 98421

Price:  $22.00 pre-paid by Feb. 17, noon

          $40.00 walk-ins/at the door

Parking:  FREE. Validations at registration. Parking available in LOTS G, A and B of the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center starting with LOT G, on Commerce off 15^th Street.*

Information: Janice Hutchins, (253) 683.4882

DUE 12 noon, Feb. 17 (Friday)

RSVP:

If you’ve already registered without refund, you are still registered. No action necessary.

If you’ve cancelled/refund your prior registration, you must register again.

If you already registered and cannot attend now, apply for your refund.

If you haven’t ever registered, register here.

         

Event Speaker:  Sen. Patty Murray

Congressional Update from Sen. Patty Murray.

Helping a New Generation of Veterans Transition Home

Join Senator Murray as she discusses the unique opportunities and challenges that the South Sound and Washington state face as thousands of veterans continue to return to our region. The discussion will focus on the support the community can help offer returning veterans, the economic impact of their transition on our local economy, and the benefits of living and working in a military community.  Senator Murray will also discuss some of the biggest issues facing our nation’s veterans community as a whole, including the need to put our veterans back to work.

Committee Assignments

Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee

Within the HELP Committee, Senator Murray is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety. Murray also serves on the following subcommittee:

• Children and Families Subcommittee

Appropriations Committee

Within the Appropriations Committee, Senator Murray is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies.   Murray also serves on the following subcommittees

• Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee
• Energy and Water Development Subcommittee
• Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee
• Defense Subcommittee
• Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee
• Homeland Security Subcommittee

Committee on the Budget

Committee on Veterans' Affairs

PARKING*

There are three lots to choose from, and as you can see in the map below, one LOT G is right across the street on the same level as the Courtyard Marriott’s Commerce Street entrance (see symbol below). And two others A and B, up one level.

Again, simply take 15th street up the hill one block from Pacific Avenue to Commerce, and turn left in past the Marriott. The first lot you will come to is LOT G on your right.

If you find lot G to be full when you come to it (and it most often is not), simply continue along Commerce as shown on the map below, and turn right on Jefferson and right again on Broadway back into the other lots, A and B, both of which are also free. Then simply use the stairs to come down to Commerce, as these two lots are up one level.

Cut through the Commerce entrance of the Courtyard Marriott to Pacific Avenue and the Pacific Grill Events Center (see symbol below). And you are “home free.” 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Military Affairs Forums

March 9      Howard Schmidt, the cyber-security czar for the Obama administration

April 24      Howard O. Scott Citizen-Soldier Award with keynote speakers Tom Knight, Deputy Garrison Commander, JBLM and Dan Penrose, Project Manager, South Sound Military and Community Partnership

May 7 - 9    Washington-to-Washington, D.C./Pentagon

June 13       Evergreen Fleet Cruise

C-9 Blog

The Chamber’s newest blog:  C-9 Blog, focuses on the armed forces and civilian relationships, with an emphasis on the Pacific Northwest.  Please visit and subscribe to this free information source.

Chamber on Facebook

You can now find an official Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber Facebook page on the popular networking site used by over half a billion people.

Vintage Russian Plane Transits Tacoma

A rare World War II Russian attack plane rolled off a ship Thursday (Feb. 2) at the Port of Tacoma.

Among the last of its kind, the plane, called a "Shturmovik," will head by truck early next week to join the Flying Heritage Collection at Paine Field in Everett, Wash. The aircraft is the only one of its type in flying condition.

The plane's fuselage and wings were transported on separate cargo trailers aboard the Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics' Morning Composer. The plane flew to an airport near St. Petersburg late last year to be dismantled for shipment to Tacoma via Bremerhaven.

The Shturmovik (Russian for "storm bird"), was the nickname of the Ilyushin II-2, a two-person armored attack aircraft flown in World War II. The plane was produced in large volumes in the Soviet Union during the war and flew in combat on the Eastern Front against Nazi Germany.

This specific plane is made from parts discovered at a number of aircraft wrecks in the northwest regions of the former Soviet Union.

The plane will be re-assembled at Paine Field and put on display as part of a private collection owned by philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen.

About the Flying Heritage Collection Founded by Paul G. Allen, the Flying Heritage Collection contains rare and legendary World War II-era aircraft, many of which are the last of their kind. The collection is operated by Friends of Flying Heritage, a nonprofit organization committed to educating the public about these rare, historic aircraft. Learn more at www.flyingheritage.com.

The Chamber requested additional photos (below) from the Port of the port movement.  Article and photos reprinted with permission.

Clean Tech Defense Symposium Set

Click on Image for a Larger View

Military Forum at Madigan

 MILITARY AFFAIRS FORUM

Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber

Date & Time:  WEDNESDAY, February 8, 7:15 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Place: Madigan Army Medical Center

Price:  $5 estimated for a good breakfast buffet.

Information: Janice Hutchins, (253) 683.4882

RSVP:  DUE 12 noon, Feb. 3 (Friday)

Register here.

The next Military Affairs Forum will be Wednesday, February 8, 7:30 a.m. at Madigan Army Medical Center.

Col. Dallas Homas, Commander, will give us a briefing about Madigan's current operations, followed by congressional updates and then a short tour of the facility highlighting technology, community and green efforts, and the new WTB barracks. 

The breakfast will be at the dining hall and is cash only.  Less than $5 usually covers a good breakfast. 

Registration will be through the Chamber (JaniceH@tacomachamber.org) and meeting notices will give you directions on the registration procedure.

Reservations due by Feb. 3!

Maps and gate passes (arrival at 0715) will be sent out via email to registered attendees who register through the Chamber. Those who do not register early will need to be at the main JBLM gate at 0600 to get a pass.

Military Affairs Forums

Please note we are coordinating with Sen. Murray’s staff in a collaborative effort to reschedule her presentation.  At this time, that is most likely to be the late February Congressional recess.

March 9      Howard Schmidt, the cybersecurity czar for the Obama administration

April 24      Scott Citizen-Soldier of the Year w/ Kiwanis Club

May 7-11    Washington-to-Washington, D.C./Pentagon

June 13       Evergreen Fleet Cruise

C-9 Blog

The Chamber’s newest blog:  C-9 Blog, focuses on the armed forces and civilian relationships, with an emphasis on the Pacific Northwest.  Please visit and subscribe to this free information source.

Chamber on Facebook

You can now find an official Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber Facebook page on the popular networking site used by over half a billion people.

New BRAC Round

The President will ask Congress to authorize a new BRAC round, said Defense Secretary Leon Panetta during a Pentagon news briefing today held to preview DOD's fiscal 2013 budget request.

"We simply cannot sustain infrastructure beyond our needs,"  Panetta said in explaining the need for a new base closure round.

The announcement confirms speculation that has been swirling around Washington since it became clear that DOD would need to find almost $500 billion in spending cuts, and possibly a total of $1 trillion, over the next decade to comply with last August's agreement to raise the nation's debt limit.

Once DOD asks Congress to authorize a new round, it will be up to lawmakers to approve the request. Lawmakers most likely would take the matter up as part of deliberations over the FY 2013 defense authorization bill. As a result, Congress' intentions may not be clear until late in the year.

“I have been a strong supporter of BRACs in the past. But I’m not able to support BRAC domestically until we reduce bases in particular in Europe,” Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) said, according to CQ Today.

Separately, Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), vice chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, questioned the need to close bases, following the bitterness associated with previous BRAC rounds.

Noteworthies with a Local Link

 Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta announced today that the President has nominated Army Lt. Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti, for reappointment to the grade of lieutenant general and assignment as director, The Joint Staff, Washington, D.C. 

Scaparrotti is currently serving as commanding general, I Corps and Joint Base Lewis-McChord and commander, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command/deputy commander, U.S. Forces - Afghanistan, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan.

Governor Declares State Emergency

Gov. Chris Gregoire has declared a state of emergency due to this week's snow and ice storm, according to the Secretary of State's office. This authorizes the use of the National Guard.

CANCEL TODAY'S LUNCHEON WITH SEN. MURRAY

 

TODAY'S LUNCHEON IS CANCELLED DUE TO THE WEATHER FORECASTERS BEING RIGHT!

 THE CHAMBER WILL SHARE WITH ALL REGISTRANTS ANY OPPORTUNITY TO RESCHEDULE THIS EVENT.

MILITARY AFFAIRS FORUM

Congressional Update from Sen. Patty Murray.

Wed., Jan. 18, 11:30 a.m.

La Quinta Inn & Suites

AF Civilian Reductions Minimal for WA

 The Air Force has identified 4,500 of its civilian positions as part of the effort to meet budgetary constraints.

The effort is intended to increase efficiencies by standardizing the level of service for specific functions among installations.  In November 2010, the Air Force said it would eliminate 9,000 civilian positions (but adding 5,900 in priority areas).

The Air Force is eliminating 3,850 positions from headquarters and overhead areas in Air Staff, major command installations, field operating agencies and direct reporting units.

Installation support account for 1,700 of the civilian positions eliminated.  Below is the civilian personnel reductions for Washington State.

Click on Images for LARGER VIEW.

CANX: WNG's Night at the Museum

CANCELLED

Washington National Guard Museum

The Arsenal, Camp Murray, WA 98430

Where the History of Washington’s Militia Comes Alive!

On behalf of the 
Washington National Guard

State Historical Society 
Board of Directors

and the Staff of the

Washington National Guard Museum

Please join us for

Night at the Museum

** An Open House **

Wednesday January 18^th, 2012

6:00 PM

light refreshments will be served

See us on the web at http://washingtonguard.org/museum/ FACEBOOK HTTP://www.FACEBOOK.COM/WNGSHS

Please RSVP to 253-512-7834
Directions enclosed