The ESGR Insider

The Official ESGR Newsletter, July 2012

We All Serve
ESGR Headquarters 4800 Mark Center Drive 03E2, Alexandria, VA 22350 800-336-4590

ESGR Celebrated 40 Years on June 22!

Our Nations tradition of Citizen Warriors civilians who remain ready and willing to answer the call to duty began more than 236 years ago with those colonists who first left their farms, workshops and store fronts to fight for Americas independence. Todays Citizen Warriors are the men and women of the National Guard and Reserve, who serve in combat, disaster relief and humanitarian operations around the world. For 40 years, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) has proudly supported the local and global missions of Guardsmen and Reservists by promoting cooperation and understanding between our Citizen Warriors and Americas employers. The Guard and Reserve have made Americas commitment to an all-volunteer military possible for nearly four decades. Their service since the attacks of September 11, 2001 has been particularly critical. In the last ten years, Reserve Component Service members have deployed in support of operations in two war zones and responded to historic natural disasters at home and abroad. Our Citizen Warriors have exhibited an uncommon sense of selflessness and patriotism. They and their families have also demonstrated a tremendous capacity to balance their civilian lives with military service. Americas employers have long shared in the service of Guard and Reserve members. They remain flexible in accommodating their military employees service obligations and provide invaluable support and stability to Guardsmen, Reservists and their loved ones. Employers have met the last decades unprecedented demands on our military with an equal measure of dedication and endurance. In short, employers are an essential component of our national security equation. The world in which ESGR has operated since 1972 has experienced continual change, and we have evolved and kept pace. The fundamentals of our work have remained the same - ESGR develops and maintains employer support for Guard and Reserve service. ESGR advocates initiatives relevant to Guardsmen, Reservists and employers; recognizes employers for outstanding support; increases awareness of applicable laws; and helps mediate conflict between service members and employers. And when a new challenge arise like the unemployment and underemployment currently facing our Guard and Reserve community, ESGR has taken these issues on and worked hard on behalf of our Citizen Warriors to address them. As we commemorated ESGRs 40th year, we recognized and said thank you for the remarkable leadership and service of our State Chairs, staff members and more than 4,800 volunteers across the Nation, past and present. Our work is more important now than ever, and thanks to those who came before us and those who stand with us today, we have never been more prepared to support our Guardsmen, Reservists and Americas employers. Together, we all serve. James G. Rebholz ESGR National Chair Ron G. Young Executive Director

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ESGR Celebrates 40 Years!

On June 22, ESGR held a small cake-cutting ceremony in the Pentagon to celebrate 40 years. Pictured: Secretary McGinnis, Mr. Rebholz and Erwin Burtnick, a long-standing ESGR volunteer, cut the cake.

The Mighty Central Region is on a roll!

It is summer; the corn will be shoulder high by the 4th of July and soon you will be able to cook an egg on the sidewalk in San Antonio! Activity in the region has heated up with the rise in temperatures. Here are some highlights from around the region: ILLINOIS ESGR started it out with an incredible Hiring Our Heroes Job Fair in Chicago. An estimated 1,500 veterans and more than 100 employers came together the end of March. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Chicago Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Department credit of up to $1,200 is available to Illinois businesses for each veteran hired and a federal tax credit of up to $9,000 is available through the Work Opportunity Tax Credit program. IOWA ESGR organized a gem of a 40th anniversary celebration in June with a quadruple corporate SoS signing. The event was held at the Iowa State Capitol Rotunda and of Defense Freedom Award in 1996. Receiving the award were Steven Matheys, Schneider

Schneider National During Award Presentation

Iowa Governor Branstad signs SoS

Illinois ESGR at Hiring our Heroes Job Fair

of Employment Security, Illinois Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve and other sponsoring agencies hosted the 100th Hiring Our Heroes job fair in the city where the program was launched. We were here in Chicago with the U.S. Chamber and the other sponsors in March of last year when the Hiring Our Heroes program kicked-off, so it is great to be back here with them again this year for this very successful 100th event, said Lt. Col. Tim Franklin, Illinois ESGR Program Coordinator. In addition to the qualities veterans bring to the job that make them valuable employees, employers in Illinois can also earn state and federal tax credits by hiring qualified veterans. A state income tax

attended by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, numerous state department heads, and representatives from all seven seals; Officers, NCOs, and service members. Iowa Governor Terry Branstad led the way signing an SoS as Chief Executive of the State of Iowa and Commander in Chief of the Iowa National Guard. He was followed by corporate representatives from Ruan Transportation, Fareway Food Inc, and Wright Service Corp, all of which are Iowabased companies with a national presence. The event was covered by the media that provided televised news stories across the state. The reports repeatedly identified all three employers, by name, and the State of Iowa government as outstanding employers of Guard and Reserve members. Up north, WISCONSIN ESGR presented Schneider National of Green Bay with the inaugural Extraordinary Employer Support Award (for large employers). Schneider National was also the first national recipient of the Secretary

National Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer; Mike Hinz, Schneider National Vice President of Driver Recruiting; and Jenny McDowell, Schneider National Military Recruiting Manager. There is not a conversation in Wisconsin regarding hiring those with military experience that Schneider National is not part of, said Dick Vallin, Wisconsin ESGR State Chairman. Major General Dunbar, Adjutant General of Wisconsin, pointed out that one of the criteria to receive the Extraordinary Employer Support Award was five years or more of sustained excellence in supporting National Guard and Reserve troops. I had to smile, because we just celebrated your [Schneider National] 20th anniversary of commitment to veterans. Dunbar said. I think if you looked up employer support to the veteran in the dictionary, youd see a picture of Schneider National right there. Its a real privilege for us, Mike Hinz stated. We all know that a fully-employed and fully-engaged Reservist or Guardsman makes a better Soldier, a better Sailor, a better Marine, because they have a Continued on Page 3
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Continued from Page 2 stable base. And thats what we hope to do. Life is seldom easy in Texas, except when TEXAS ESGR connected

the stepped efforts to hire and retain members of the Guard and Reserve. UnitedHealth Group has committed to recruit top military candidates and is committed to the Military Spouse Employment Partnership. UnitedHealth Group honors Americas service members and veterans, and we are grateful for the dedication our Guard and Reserve employees have to our country and communities, said Lori McDougal, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Military & Veterans, a UnitedHealth Group company. As an employer, it is an honor to support these exceptional individuals in their work efforts and their service to our country. Out with NEBRASKA ESGR there is a small business owner who recently reminded us that a picture is worth a thousand words. JJ Williams, owner of Electrical Contractors Inc, was overwhelmed when his family-

Reserve members from other regions of the country. Through H2H employers can ensure service members are aware of where the jobs are, if there are none in their area. The demand for quality employees in North Dakota cannot be met at this time; it is open season on reliable employees. Frank West, driver for the H2H truck, experienced this first-hand. After a couple

EZCORP Signs SoS

with EZCORP of Austin, TX for a corporate SoS signing. EZCORP operates more than 670 storefronts in 13 states and is a market leader in the specialty consumer finance industry. This SoS impacted numerous states in the south and west. Texas ESGR, in conjunction with Major General John F. Nichols, Texas Adjutant General, hosted the corporate signing event at Camp Mabry. Tony Sanders, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, was joined by numerous EZCORP employees for the SoS signing. It was an important accomplishment to have EZCORP and all of their brands (EZPAWN, EZMONEY Loan Services, EZMONEY Payday Loans and EZ Loan Services) pledge support for service members. MINNESOTA ESGR had the outstanding opportunity to receive a Statement of Support from UnitedHealth Group, the health care provider for service members. The SoS solidified the companys commitment to its employees who are retired, active-duty and reserve military personnel and it embodied

The H2H Van in North Dakota

ECIs van shows their ESGR pride!

days of observing his positive work habits, the human resources folks had him in their sights; and soon he was aware of numerous opportunities all paying about $130,000 a year. We were lucky to still have a driver to get the H2H truck out of North Dakota!!

owned company won a Freedom Award in 2011. He is now an active volunteer who does whatever he can to raise awareness of ESGR among his business associates and clients alike. The recent paint job update to his company vehicles no doubt has solicited questions about What is the Freedom Award? and has given JJ numerous opportunities to spread the ESGR message. NORTH DAKOTA ESGR and the H2H program participated in both the Missouri Basin Petroleum Conference and the Williston Basin Petroleum Conference in the last few weeks. A reported 5,000+ participants representing nearly 2,000 businesses attended these events. North Dakota already has the lowest unemployment in the United States at 3.0 percent and accordingly North Dakota ESGR is focusing employers on the ability of the H2H program to attract unemployed Guard and

To accomodate the needs of our Guard and Reserve service members and their employers, we have updated the Employer Resource Guide. This guide now reflects our current branding, as well as our involvement with Hero 2 Hired (H2H). It includes H2H fact sheets that benefit employers and service members alike, and should serve as a helpful tool for each. The Employer Resource Guide can be ordered through the online store, and is on ESGRNet in the library under Outreach, Employer Outreach.
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New Employer Resource Guide!

UnitedHealth Group Signs SoS

De-mob and Pre-mob Checklists for Service Members and Families

Departing for and return from military service can be a confusing time for both service members and employers. Understanding USERRA and its application is only one piece of the process to ensure there is a smooth transition for both service member and employer when going and coming from service. To help make these transitions easier, ESGR has created general pre and post deployment checklists that both service member and employer can use as a guide to ensure that they are both aware of each others rights and intentions. USERRA does not require a service member or employer use these checklists or any other formal process when leading up to or returning from service. These are solely intended to serve as a basic overview of what a service member and employer could use to encourage open communication. Communicating is one of the most important things employers and service members should do in order to avoid USERRA misunderstandings. Copies of these checklists can be found on ESGRNet. These checklists can be distributed as a resource to service members and employers. The checklists can be modified to add or remove items based on the service members situation. The de-mob checklist can be found to the right, and the pre-mob checklist can be found on page 5. Any questions about the checklists or any USERRA related issue can be forwarded to the Ombudsman team at userra@osd.mil.

De-Mobilization Checklist:
WHEN YOU RETURN: In order to ensure a smooth transition back to work, you need to communicate with your employer. You have rights and responsibilities under USERRA. In order to be eligible for reinstatement following your service: 1. You must provide prior notice to your employer that you will be absent from your employment due to military service. Notice should be given as early as you have information of your departure. 2. You must leave your place of employment for the purpose of performing military service 3. You must serve under honorable conditions for USERRA to apply. 4. You must not be absent for more than five cumulative years from any one employer, performing military service (with some exceptions) 5. You must report back to work following your service in a timely fashion You must apply for reemployment or report back to work within the following guidelines:
1 30 days of service Report to work the next scheduled work day. 31 180 days of service Apply within 14 days after completion of service. 181+ days of service Apply within 90 days after completion of service

It is recommended you present the appropriate supervisor and Human Resources (HR) representative with a copy of your discharge/ separation order. If you were gone for more than 30 days and your employer requests proof of your service, you must provide it, once it is available. Following is a checklist of suggested items to do or check into upon your return: Accumulation of seniority Reinstatement of health insurance, dental and vision plans without waiting periods for you and any dependents Update beneficiaries and family information Resolve pay and compensation issues Review Thrift Savings Plan, 401K or other pension plans and determine if and how make up contributions will be made. Share your plans with your employer Review retirement and life insurance benefits Determine if training or retraining of job skills is necessary and share this with your employer Expect protection against discrimination and harassment Update personal data - address, telephone numbers, and email address Keep a record of names, dates, and a brief summary of your conversations with your employer To thank your employer and supervisor for their support and cooperation, nominate them for a Patriot Award at www.esgr.mil, select Award Your Employer, and fill out the form This checklist contains suggested actions to do or consider doing prior to service, all actions are not required to gain or maintain USERRA protections. For more information on Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) and USERRA go to www.ESGR.mil.
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Pre-Mobilization Checklist:
BEFORE YOU LEAVE: Communicate with your employer. Maintaining an open dialogue with your employer will help ensure that you both have reasonable expectations for what will happen before, during and after your absence for military service. Most problems result from poor communication between employers and employees, so work with your employer to ensure that you both understand your mutual rights and responsibilities. You have rights and responsibilities under USERRA. In order to be eligible for reinstatement following your service: 1. You must provide prior notice to your employer that you will be absent from your employment due to military service. Notice should be given as early as you have information of your departure. 2. You must leave your place of employment for the purpose of performing military service 3. You must serve under honorable conditions for USERRA to apply. 4. You must not be absent for more than five cumulative years from any one employer, performing military service (with some exceptions) 5. You must report back to work following your service in a timely fashion Following is a checklist of suggested items to do or check into prior to your departure: Review Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) Complete an ESGR Civilian Employment Information (CEI) Form. Notify your employer, in person if possible of your activation. ESGR has sample letters that you may use a template to notify your employer of your service obligation. The Department of Defense Instruction strongly suggests that you provide your employer with at least 30 days of advanced notice whenever possible. If orders become available, you may present a copy to the appropriate supervisor and Human Resources (HR) representative. Review military and company policy with supervisor and HR personnel. Determine whether you would like to use leave prior to or during your mobilization. Share this plan with your employer. Update beneficiaries and family information. Resolve pay and compensation issues. Determine if you are going to continue or suspend any employer sponsored health care plans to include health, dental and vision plans. Notify your employer of your intentions.. Provide forwarding address, telephone numbers, and e-mail address. Clear all employers owned supplies and equipment in compliance with employers policy for extended leaves of absence. Share with your employer your projected return to work date. Keep a record of names, dates, and a summary of your conversations with your employer. Thank your employer and supervisor for their support and cooperation - nominate them for a Patriot Award at www.esgr.mil, select Award Your Employer, and fill out the form. This checklist contains suggested actions to do or consider doing prior to service, all actions are not required to gain or maintain USERRA protections. For more information on Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) and USERRA go to www.ESGR.mil.

Fiscal Year (FY) Budget Update (End of Year)

ESGR funding is provided by the Federal Government with an annual Fiscal Year appropriation, and is therefore governed by specific rules in that regard. All of ESGRs funding is authorized by Congress to be spent or executed only in the FY that it is appropriated. ESGRs FY12 funding can only be used within the FY and must be used by 30 September 2012. The Federal Governments FY is 1 October to 30 September. If funds are not used within the FY, the money is not lost to the government, but it is lost to ESGR and must be turned in to higher authority. ESGR Headquarters is responsible for making the most of all the funding appropriated to ESGR obtaining the optimum Return on Investment of the funds entrusted to ESGR via the appropriations process. To accomplish that goal, it is critical the ESGR State Committees use their individual annual funding both correctly and timely (per established guidance for purpose, time, and amount requirements). As the fiscal year end approaches, State Committees are required to spend (obligate) all of the State Committee allocated funds by 15 August or return any unobligated funds to ESGR Headquarters via the USPFO. Funds returned in that manner will then be reprogrammed and obligated to meet other ESGR mission requirements prior to expiration of the fiscal year on 30 September.

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Dixieland Update - Southeast Region

Hot & humid is how we like it in the South. Well-hot, humid and busy. Since our last newsletter article in January, the Southeast has conducted approximately ninety events including ten APACs, fifteen Bosslifts, nineteen BWBs, and fifteen ESGR-led EIP events. This doesnt count the dozens of Hiring Our Heroes job fairs supported by ESGR volunteers! received a call six weeks from their APAC asking to support three Hiring Our Heroes job fairs the same month. Just like Patton during the Battle of the Bulge, the Alabamans did a ninety-degree shift on the march and accomplished the mission without a glitch. the bug, the Briefing with the Boss (BWB) bug. At the current rate of BWBs it will be hard to find any employers left in the state at the end of the year that havent heard of ESGR. And thanks in part to a neighbors help, Kentucky has built a strong EIP program. And as if they werent busy enough, they even found find time for a Bosslift and their yearly APAC! SOUTH CAROLINA ESGR had a very busy spring, conducting their APAC and a huge job fair at Fort Jackson within weeks of each other. Ninety employers registered for the job fair as did twelve hundred service members; there were a few hundred more service member walk-ins. Guest speakers included Governor Nikki Haley, MG Milano (FT Jackson commander), MG Livingston (SC TAG), and MG (retired) Abraham, the Director of SC Department of Employment and Workforce. By all measurements the fair was a resounding success! And how can you talk of South Carolina without mentioning their neighbors to the north (although I advise you to never get the two confused). NORTH CAROLINA ESGRs team has been quite busy as well. One of their highlights was a bosslift to Fort Hood, Texas, where employers had the opportunity to see troops training for an overseas mission. What made this particular bosslift so memorial was that the soldiers observed were NC troops! In May, FLORIDA ESGR held a state-wide law enforcement SoS signing, which included all state law enforcement agencies and many city and county departments as well. Even the governors office signed a statement! Speaking of governors, in June Arkansas held their annual awards luncheon, recognizing twenty-one of their top employers. Governor Mike Beebe served as their key-note speaker and assisted with the award presentations, which included Seven Seals and Pro Patria Awards. Also in June our friends on the Isle of Enchantment held their annual Bosslift. As we have come to expect this was a first-class event, giving employers a chance to see up Continued on Page 7
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LOUSIANA ESGR placed another feather in its cap when nationally acclaimed Chef Paul Prudhomme Bosslifts receive a lot of attention and signed a SoS earlier this year. Chef scrutiny, and rightfully so. They are Paul is a local celebrity whose one of the most powerful tools in the products sell world-wide. He also ESGR tool bag to educate employers had a syndicated cooking show on what their workers do in their for several years. Virginia held a military careers. Its also a great way to strengthen support for our Reserve forces and to gain new ESGR members. One of the most popular Bosslift destinations is the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where employers have the opportunity to see all Reserve Components in action. Below is an edited press release that succinctly describes a visit to the Gulf Coast: On May 2 civilian employers TN ESGRs May 2 Bosslift to the Mississippi and community leaders boarded Gulf Coast. The group is standing in a KC-135 Supertanker belonging front of a C-130 Hurricane Hunter to the TN Air National Guards airplane belonging to the 53rd Weather the only wing 134th Refueling Wing located in Reconnaissance Squadron,of Defense. of its kind in the Department Knoxville, TN. They were beginning an unforgettable experience which Virginia Values Veterans (V3) would include an in-flight refuel, conference that emphasized the hiring M1 tank demonstration, US Navy of service members and veterans, and Construction Battalion training, and gave employers pointers on where to a briefing by the Hurricane Hunters look and how to recruit these valuable in Gulfport, Camp Shelby, and workers. The event was hosted by Keesler AFB, MS. This was the Capital one, presented by TMG Inc, first time most of these employers and featured Lieutenant Governor had been on a military aircraft and Bill Bolling as the keynote speaker. this was an opportunity for them to observe and be a part of the training GEORGIA ESGR has decided to their employees experience on a become a jack of all trades this regular basis - their outlook on our year, engaging multiple times in just Guardsmen and Reservists will about every type of event ESGR forever be enhanced. The trip didnt does. They held several successful include the Air Guards Combat Bosslifts and conducted their spring Readiness Training Center! Theres EXCOM at the Mighty 8th Air Force just so much to do on the Gulf Coast Museum, an appropriate venue that honors the airmen who served in and not enough time to do it. World War II Europe. Just like theres not enough article space to highlight every committees MISSISSIPPI ESGR is branching great works in detail, but heres a out as well. In addition to their try in what I like to call Around normal BWBs, EIP events, and Gulf the Southeast in Sixty Seconds. Coast Bosslifts, theyve scheduled a Alabama had to postpone its Bosslift to Peterson AFB Colorado in annual APAC in Birmingham, the July. Pittsburgh of the South, by two months. Why you may ask? They KENTUCKY ESGR has been bit by

Patriot Award
The Patriot Award program is one of the key ways in which we actively engage with employers and service members. This award has proven to be a valuable tool in recognizing outstanding supervisors for support of military service of their employee. It is our due diligence to ensure the award is presented in a timely and orderly fashion. Best Business Practices were sent out to all states and territories to assist you in this endeavor. This article also serves as a reminder to all that this award is an individual supervisor award. You may nominate more than one supervisor for this award. Please refer anyone who would like to nominate their company/business to the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Office of the Secretary of Defense Freedom Award at EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE GUARD AND RESERVE www.freedomaward. mil for nominations from early November (Your Supervisor) through mid-January each year.

Continued from Page 6 close many of the equipment used by their employees during military service and to speak with many of our nations finest Citizen Soldiers and Airmen about their mission. As we move into the final quarter of FY 12 we look forward to the National Leadership meeting and the Freedom Award presentations, both in September. ESGR is still a one of a kind organization; the only one that takes care of service members by helping their employers. And its because of our volunteers and full-time staff that were able to achieve the level of success that we have. As were so fond of saying at ESGR, We ALL serve.

Please contact Headquarters, ESGR with any questions or concerns you may have. Lets work together to support the service member and the employer alike. We all Serve!

Hero 2 Hired (H2H) Offers Training

____________________________________________ JAMES G. REBHOLZ NATIONAL CHAIR EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE GUARD AND RESERVE ____________________________________________ RONALD G. YOUNG EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE GUARD AND RESERVE
ESGR 110 04/10

Reset Your Portal Password

The number one reason for IT Support Office contacts has been for password resets in Inquiry and Case Management System (ICMS). Your ICMS password must be between 8 and 13 characters in length and contain at least one upper case letter, one lower case letter, one number, and one special character )such as !@#$%^&*_-). There is no need for passwords to be actual words. In fact, it is better not to use names or words that can be found in the dictionary. We recommend that the password be different from your username, and from previous passwords so it will be difficult for someone to guess it. Do not share your password with anyone - ESGR staff will not request your password to check your access to any system. If you would like to test the strength of your password, try Microsofts secure password checker at: https://www.microsoft.com/security/pc-security/ password-checker.aspx. If your password has been forgotten, expired, or locked, please contact the ESGR IT Support office at (800) 336-4590, option three, or e-mail ESGRITSupport@osd.mil to ask one of our staff to call you. When requesting a password reset, our IT Support Team will ask questions to verify your identity using personal information saved in ICMS. Once your password is reset, a temporary password will be e-mailed to an address that is on file in ICMS to minimize the risk of an unauthorized person accessing the system. Contact ESGR IT Support E-mail: esgritsupport@osd.mil Phone Number: 1-800-336-4590, option three Hours of Operation: M-F 0830 to 1700 (except Holidays)

The H2H team put together a training program to assist organizations in better understanding the H2H website. There are guide notes in most of the slides which can be used as talking points when conducting presentations in the field. We encourage all H2H, ESGR and YRRP volunteers, staff and other individuals involved in various H2H events to download and learn these slides prior to participating in an H2H event so they can better support the veteran and their use of the H2H website. To download the H2H training slides, go to h2h.jobs/ leaders. JULY 12 19 30 AUGUST 11 16 21 26-29 Peoria, IL Eugene, OR Boise, ID Great Falls, MT San Diego, CA Scottsdale, AZ Long Beach, CA

SEPTEMBER 09-12 Reno, NV 12 Trenton, NJ 14 Reno, NV 20 Camp Pendleton, CA 26 Casper, WY

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On the Road with ESGR

campgrounds. They proudly fly the United States and ESGR flags some 25-feet above their RV on a lighted flagpole. We are constantly asked, what is ESGR when flying our flags. We take this opportunity to educate, advise and in most cases, recruit new volunteers for whatever state we are in. We give them our ESGR card and encourage When Dennis and Cheryl DeNoi, volunteers since them to check out the National website proudly stated 2003, retired 5 Cheryl. They estimate they have given out hundreds of years ago they not their cards, spoken to countless Guard/Reserve and Active only continued Duty military personnel & in addition to many employers volunteering for of Guard and Reservists. Additionally, they carry on board California, they took the RV ESGR goodies such as pens, bumper stickers, their love of ESGR wallet cards on the road with and volunteer them as ambassadors applications. at large and they They proudly spread the ESGR wear their mission while they ESGR shirts, live and travel caps and visors full-time in their while traveling. RV. Their ESGR In fact, while association began when Dennis was the Military Liaison in Oregon for the Los Angeles Police Department and it has expanded last summer over the years. Most volunteers give a few hours here and they were there, the DeNois patriotism, dedication and volunteerism approached by are apparent 24 two vacationing hours a day, 7 Vancouver Police Officers who noticed Dennis ESGR days a week baseball cap; they were volunteers with the Canadian and 52 weeks version of ESGR! a year. They are a real The DeNois have even assisted other state committees with inspiration ESGR events. In fact, they recently helped the New Mexico to all that Committee during the annual Bataan Memorial Death they come in March at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. While contact with, in California noted Andrew visiting family, Wiktorowicz, they volunteer CA ESGR their RV for use as Chairman the ESGR booth at air shows and The DeNois travels have already taken them to nearly 40 military events. states and Washington, DC. Everywhere they go they have Their classic RV the opportunity to meet and become friends with a wide is a magnet to variety of people from all walks of life. Because Dennis promote ESGR, is a retired people inquire M a r i n e about the RV M a s t e r and they end up S e r g e a n t , becoming ESGR they have volunteers! the privilege of using Dennis and Cheryl remotely assist the California Freedom RV parks Award team while on the road by helping research and edit on military Freedom Award nomination packets - several of which bases as were winners. In keeping with their ESGR Road Show, well as using they have an open invitation to assist and/or advise any Elks Lodges state with the Freedom Award process. and civilian We truly appreciate their continued service to the ESGR, the The RV has been used as ESGR booth at numerous National Guard and Reserve, and the patriotic employers as Wings, Wheels and Rotors Expos we commemorate the 40th anniversary of ESGR.
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As we commemorate the 40th anniversary of ESGR, California would like to highlight the unique way two of our volunteers promote the ESGR mission while still living out their lifes dream as full-time RVers traveling this great Nation of ours.

ESGR Volunteer Thomas Fierke

In 1988, Fierke was part of the senior leadership team of a 4,000 employee manufacturer. Via the regional Business Council, his boss and the President of the company met another business President who was the ESGR State Chair. The State Chair invited Fierkes boss on a Bosslift, ride in a helicopter, fire an eight inch gun, shoot a .50 caliber machine gun, etc. Fierkes boss couldnt go, so having garnered some basic information about what ESGR was, did and stood for, he asked the Human Resources VP to go. The HR contact was, in a word, anti-military. This was before 9-11, and before the first Gulf war. As a veteran, who had stayed in the Reserves, Fierke had gone to bat for several Reservists and Guardsman at the company. The HR contact suggested sending Fierke, who then went to fire the big guns, and enjoy a day with the troops. The Bosslift resulted in Fierke joining the State Committee. During the Gulf War, he testified before both houses of the state legislature, and helped write the state USERRA and SSCRAbased laws. In 2001, just after 9-11, Fierke became State Chair and presided over the busiest and most rewarding time in State ESGR history. They got the idea that if minimum wage and discrimination required posters, then the State USERRA law should as well. They lobbied for it and got it passed. The state printed 20,000 full color posters and gave one to every Reservist and Guardsman to take to work. Fierka also presented an ESGR award and ESGR dog tags to the states US senator, and got her to push for a federal mandatory USERRA poster. That too passed. He received his first DoD Outstanding Public Service medal for work with the poster. Fierke stated that this all happened because the HR guy didnt want to go on a Bosslift.

ESGR Volunteer Dick Ellis

When Dick Ellis and his wife were invited to Washington to work for President Reagan (its a long story) they were both TV news reporters. She was invited to come up and work with Elizabeth Dole whom she knew personally and Dick tagged along! Ellis settled on a job at the Pentagon in March of 1981, shortly after the new President was inaugurated, and his wife went to work at the White House as Assistant to Mrs. Dole when she was appointed Assistant to the President. Elliss boss was a former Navy Reservist who knew about the importance of the ESGR organization and wanted to breathe some new life into it. Ellis was asked to go down and take a look. Sure enough, ESGR had a staff of about 12, was headed by an Army Reserve Colonel just about to retire, didnt have a National Chairman and had only 32 State Chairmen signed up. Wow! was the only response Ellis had when asked if he could consider taking it over. With his broadcast and public relations background (and being known for hyperactivity) Ellis thought he just might be the one to help fix it. The next several months were filled with first convincing the professional staff of military and civilians that they had not been forgotten. They asked Ellis if they could wear their uniforms to work as the Carter administration had discouraged it. Ellis was jealous; he didnt have an old Army uniform that would fit. Many hours, running past 5PM, Ellis and the ESGR team met and talked, plotted and planned. First, they started recruiting staff. Up until that time, active duty Guard and Reserve personnel had been just assigned - now the team was looking for certain skills and personalities. They interviewed each applicant just like a civilian job. Next, they started contacting the Reserve leadership. Heres what we can do for you, what can you do to help us? That is when Operation Bosslift started. Many, even within the Services, did not know about or understand ESGR. State Chairmen and volunteers came next. Many hours were spent away from home by field staff visiting corporate offices, governors, and local Guard and Reserve leaders; building the blocks up one at a time. Then came advertising. The team had to have a store ready when the customers came through the front door to buy, and we had to have products to sell to them. This is the period that created awards, statements to sign, logos to show off, and TV commercials. The National Ad Council assisted greatly with a series of awarding winning PSAs. Ellis and the team swung into high gear. The staff took on more responsibilities, moved to a new location and grew in numbers. ESGR grew into an organization everyone knew about. They held an employers luncheon at the Top of the Tower in New York City, with Secretary of Defense Casper Weinberger speaking and Mayor Ed Koch and half of corporate America attending. Little did they know how much that luncheon would be remembered later. Regional and state meetings were popping up everywhere and Ellis personally went through three suitcases in one year with all the travel! Moving back to North Carolina in the early 90s, Ellis kept touch with the organization but with a new business, didnt have time to help. Soon after, one of the North Carolina long-time members stopped him and suggested Ellis once again get involved. He then realized that once ESGR is in your blood, it is always there. Ellis agreed to serve as State ESGR Public Affairs Officer - and thats the end of that story. A lot of good staff and a lot of good volunteers. Yall come.and bring your ESGR support with you!
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