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August 2010 Newsletter
West Point Society of Greater Houston
P.O. Box 19486
Officers / Directors
President 2010 2011 2012
Helene Bryant '85 John linskey '73 Jon King '65 Lonnie Nesrsta '74
1st Vice President
Jim Tolsma '85 Al Nahas '67 Ray Rhodes '68 Dee Bryant '85
2nd Vice President
Matt Dossey '95 Dick Sundt '59 Mike Pinckert '76 Matt Dossey '95
Secretary
Bob Shimp '68 Bill McArthur '73 Tom Parr '67 Randy Smith '85
Treasurer
Ric Gass '70 Tom Vossman '85 Jim Tolsma '85 Steve McHale '78
Upcoming Special Events and Dates to Remember:
Date Time Location Activity
Aug 2 6:30 pm 2000 Bering Drive, Suite 909 Executive Committee Meeting Aug 6 7:00 am Daily Grill - Galleria B2B Networking Meeting Aug 13 7:45 am Marriott Houston Westchase Hotel Academy Association Mtg Aug 19 6:30 pm Red Lion Pub Benny Havens Hour Aug 20 7:00 am Daily Grill - Galleria B2B Networking Meeting
Sep 3 7:00 am Daily Grill - Galleria B2B Networking Meeting
Sep 10 7:45 am Marriott Houston Westchase Hotel Academy Association Mtg
Sep 13 6:30 pm 2000 Bering Drive, Suite 909 Executive Committee Meeting
Sep 16 11:30 am McCormick & Schmick's Restaurant September Luncheon
Sep 16 6:30 pm Red Lion Pub Benny Havens Hour
Sep 17 7:00 am Daily Grill - Galleria B2B Networking Meeting
Upcoming Events
No Luncheon in August!
Our Next Lunch will be 11:30 am, Thursday, September 16th.
At McCormick & Schmick's Restaurant, 1151 Uptown Park Blvd..
(Near the Intersection of Hwy 610 and Post Oak Blvd)
Cost is $25/person
Speaker: COL Mark Campsey
CDR, 72nd INF BDE Combat Team, TANG
To Reserve your seat:
Contact Jon King '65
at: 713-522-7811
or: jking@wba-law.com
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Returning Veteran's Initiative Update
The Returning Veteran's Initiative is a joint project between Harris County and the City of Houston to ensure that Veterans returning from service to our Nation have a smooth transition back into the civilian community. Under the leadership of County Judge Ed Emmett and Mayor Bill White the initiative determined that the effort to support our returning troops could be enhanced if there was one central point where returning veterans, their families and friends could go to learn what is available.
As a result, a website was created at: http://www.houstonreturningvets.org/ that is designed to be a one stop site where a returning veteran, friend or family member can find everything they need. This site has direct links to State, County and City sites with additional information, it has resources such as "Fast Facts for Returning Veterans" and it has a PDF file titled "Navigating the Road to Services for Returning Veterans" that contains literally hundreds of web links, phone numbers and names for service providers at: http://www.houstontx.gov/vetaffairs/vetaffairsguide.pdf
In addition to maintaining the web site the city has also created a new Office of Veterans' Affairs: http://www.houstontx.gov/vetaffairs . Buddy Grantham is the Director of the Veterans' Affairs Office. Buddy is looking for volunteers to help make the the Returning Veterans web site all it can be. His contact information is on the Home Page.
The Returning Veterans Initiative continues as a work in progress. It will only reach the highest level of success when each of us takes the time to familiarize ourselves with what is available, we spread the word to our friends & colleagues, and then greet every returning vet with: "Welcome home, Thanks for everything you've done, have you been to the Houston Returning Vets website yet?".
Benny Havens Hour at The Red Lion Pub - Doug Elmore '86
The Benny Havens Hour will continue to be held the 3rd Thursday of the month. We are now meeting at the Red Lion Pub. The Red Lion Pub is located at 2316 S. Shepherd (West side of Shepherd between Westheimer and San Felipe). Point of contact: Doug Elmore @ 281-514-1968 or doug.elmore@hp.com
Business Breakfast Meetings - Members of our society are involved in breakfast meetings at two different locations to share business experiences and help each other grow their respective business - If you would be interested in participating, you are more than welcome to attend.
One meeting is the Galleria area breakfast that meets the 1st & 3rd Friday of each month at 7:00 am in the Daily Grill, 2nd Floor Galleria II, in the Galleria, Houston, TX 77056. Cost is $15.00. For additional information on this networking event contact Al Nahas at: 281-565-6510 or by e-mail at: mailto:al.nahas@focused-leadership.com
The second business networking event is conducted by The Academy Association, a Houston, Texas business network of Service Academy graduates committed to the personal and professional success of each member. Our membership includes professionals, business executives, and business owners who believe that the sense of integrity, duty, and trust ingrained in Academy graduates is the foundation for a tremendously effective Network within the Houston community. The goal of the group is to provide Grads of all 5 service academies with an opportunity to share networking and fellowship and take advantage of our common heritage and background.
If you are an Academy graduate and think you might benefit from a business and personal Network with like-minded alumni, please join us at one of our breakfast meetings held on the 2nd Friday of each month, 0745 to 0900 at the Marriott Westchase Houston Hotel (formerly the Adams Mark), 2900 Briar Park, Houston, Texas 77042 (between Richmond & Westheimer, just East of the West Sam Houston Parkway-Beltway 8). Cost is approximately $19.00.
For information or to be placed on the email notification list, contact Tom Solomon '69 USAFA 713 984-9400 or by email to tom@tomsolomon.com.
AOG Update: Dear Members of the Long Gray Line,
A complete listing of what the AOG is doing for graduates and the Academy can be found at the AOG web site: http://www.westpointaog.org/
Newsletter Updates:
To update or have information added to this newsletter please contact Steve McHale '78 at work: 832-681-4615; home 281-890-8340 or by e-mail at: mailto:SMcHale@swst.com
WEST POINT SOCIETY NEWS SECTION
West Point Foundation of Greater Houston - Dwight Beach '59
The West Point Foundation of Greater Houston was created by the West Point Society to fund and support causes approved by the Directors of the Society. It is managed by committee appointed by the President. The present Chairman of the Foundation Committee is Dwight Beach '59. The Foundation is a charitable non-profit entity duly qualified within tax exempt status of the Society.
Point of Contact for tax deductible donations and memorials is: Dwight E.
Beach Jr. at mailto:dbeach@houston.rr.com
"A View of West Point from Fort Putnam"
A Description of the Work: More than 225 years ago, the invading Brittish threatened the Hudson Valley. The site for Fort Putnam was chosen because of its commanding view of West Point and the Hudson River. Romantic old Fort Putnam continues to stand guard and still offers the most panoramic view of the Academy's grounds.
This exclusive watercolor painted by Jack Bowen, USMA Class of 1945, captures the renowned beauty and aura only found at West Point. The print measures 29" x 23" unframed. The original "View of West Point from Fort Putnam" is on permanent display in Herbert Hall Alumni Center at West Point.
Copies of this great print are still available. The WPSGH will ship a copy to anyone that makes a tax-deductible contribution of $100 to the West Point Foundation of Greater Houston.
Print does not include frame. For information or to receive a print, contact Steve McHale at: 832-681-4615 or mailto:SMcHale@swst.com
Career Advisory Committee - Woody Epperson '65
The Society maintains a Career Advisory Committee. The purpose of the
committee is to assist members with advice, recommendations, contacts and
information concerning jobs, business opportunities and career suggestions.
Much of the assistance is provided by way of networking or referrals of personal contacts. The committee is chaired by Woodrow Epperson, '65, a past President of the West Point Society of Greater Houston. He can be contacted at:
Law Office of Woodrow Epperson
10565 Katy Freeway, Suite 250,
Houston, Texas 77024
tel. 713 973-6303 fax: 713 973-1882
mailto:jepper1068@aol.com
Society members wishing to serve on the committee or willing to assist the committee with contacts, career opportunity or business development information should contact us. Anyone with information on job opportunities is asked to contact the committee to share the information with the society membership.
Military Academy Liaison(MALO) Program - COL (Ret) Thomas M. Jackson 281-242-1181 or mailto:10tja10@gmail.com
The MALO program needs great folks front and center. The purpose of the MALO organization is quite simply to contribute to the continued excellence of the Long Gray Line. MALO representatives identify and assist candidates in the admission process. It is a rewarding job that allows you to give back to
our Alma Mater. Further, it is the type of activity that puts you in contact with the best kids from great families. If you still have military time to earn (i.e. IRR), you can get points toward retirement. If you are retired or otherwise, you'll still find it a rewarding experience. Activities and responsibilities are quite manageable and do not require an inordinate amount of time.
Communication Committee - Lonnie Nesrsta '74
The communications committee is being re-energized under the leadership
of Lonnie Nesrsta, '74. This committee, which has served the society so well in the past has not been as active in recent years because email has replaced a lot of our phone tree needs. Each class will have a representative. If you are interested in volunteering to participate or just learn more about the committee please contact Lonnie by email: lonnie.edwin.nesrsta@us.army.mil or by phone at 281-482-7692. Also, if you have a need to communicate information to the Society Membership, please contact Lonnie.
West Point Society of Greater Houston
2010 Vision and Objectives Vision
The West Point Society of Greater Houston will be recognized as the best Society within the AOG. The Society will make a positive difference in the lives of our members and in the achievement of the mission of West Point.
Objectives
Increase Society membership
Increase Membership to 300 members
Contact at least 75% of all graduates within the Society's geographic region
Develop promotional and recruiting programs to atract "Young Grads"
Provide "something for everyone"
Increase number and variety of Society activities
Provide all members a way to make a meaningful contribution
Sustain currently successful programs
Provide effective support to the West Point Admissions program
Augment the Military Academy Liaison Officer (MALO) unit as appropriate
Participate in local High School College Nights
Sponsor at least two MALO programs during the year
Increase the business networking opportunities for our members
Promote the Academy Business Exchange among our members
Encourage cooperation among entrepreneurs and large business members
Sponsor at least one business mixer during the year
Web Site
Please sign our guest book and pass on any suggestions or comments regarding our web site to Steve Waldrop, '60 at spw42@earthlink.net. We will be constantly considering upgrades and additions to our site that are feasible to do and that
members would like to have included on the site.
Membership - Steve McHale '78
Please Renew Your Dues Now for 2010 and Remember that we continue to be able to pay our dues via Credit Card!!
2010 is shaping up to be another great year. Membership renewal and dues payment can now be accomplished by simply going to our membership section on the web site and paying with your credit card.
Please join us as the dues for regular members remains at only $30.00 for the year and provides you with a tremendous assortment of activities, access to our members only section of the internet, and a terrific newsletter. To sign up simply access http://www.wpsgh.org/membership__ . If you have any
questions please contact our membership chairman, Steve McHale '78 at 832-681-4615, or mailto:smchale@swst.com
WEST POINT SOCIETY OF GREATER HOUSTON 2010 MEMBERSHIP DUES
Dues are $30.00
Dues can be paid by either:
(1) Mailing a check made payable to "WPSGH" to the following address:
WPSGH, c/o Treasurer, Ric Gass, '70
P.O. Box 19486
Houston, TX 77224-9486
OR
(2) Paying with your credit card on-line at http://www.wpsgh.org/ (Click on "Enter Site"; then click on the "WPSGH" button; finally click the "Membership" Icon.)
Please fill out the information below if mailing in your payment:
Name: ________________________________________
Class ___________
Address:__________________________________________________
Telephone No.: ________________(Home) ________________(Work)
E-mail Address: _____________________________________________
If you are not sure if you have paid your dues for 2010 the following procedure can be used to check:
Go to the Society web site: http://www.wpsgh.org/ Then click on "Enter Site"; next click on the "Members Only" button; and finally click "HERE" where it says "Click HERE to use membership database"
When prompted, type in Username: member ; Password: 1802 ; and hit enter or click on "Login". When the searchable database pops up, scroll down and click on "search".
Type in your last name where it says "Name" under the "Enter Your Search Criteria" and hit the enter or scroll down to click search.
When the database comes up, scroll down to where your name shows under search results and click on your name. This will bring you to your information in the society database.
Scroll down to Status - if your status shows "Paid 2010" your dues have been paid for 2010. If you paid recently, please be advised we are behind in updating our member information.
If you paid your dues online wp.org consolidates our order and forwards it to us at the end of each month. Your status should be accurate within 5-7 days of the month after you pay online. Our snail mail box is collected weekly. Your status should be correct within 2 weeks of mailing a check to the P.O. Box.
If it doesn't show 2010 and you haven't paid your dues please feel free to follow the instructions above to pay the dues.
We appreciate your continued support of West Point and the Society.
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Copyright (c) 2000 West Point Society of Greater Houston
West Point Society of Greater Houston
P.O. Box 19486
Houston, Texas 77224-9486
Tel: 832-681-4615
Attn: Steve McHale
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