DEPARTMENT OF NORTH CAROLINA ANNUALCONVENTION - MINUTES

RESERVE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA (ROA) AUGUST 26, 2023 - FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA (conducted at The Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry Museum- F.I.L.I.)

President LTC Jim Adams called the Convention to Order at 10:00AM on Aug. 26, 2023.

CDR John Leonard offered the Opening Prayer.

COL Iggi Husar led all attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance.

COL Husar then Called the Roll of North Carolina Members. Attendees included:

LTC Jim Adams - President

COL Iggi Husar - Vice-President - Army

LTC Tom Froneberger - Treasurer

LTC Mike Moose - National Councilman

Mrs. Nancy Moose -Acting Secretary

SFC Karl Whitby

BG Ferd Irizarry

Admiral Paul Kayye - Vice-President Sea Services

LtCol Len Sobieski

CDR John Leonard - ROA EXCOM

LTC Tony Forte

COL Kevin Riedler

Mrs. Beth Riedler

CW4 Jay Garbus

COL John Gobrick

BG John Aarsen (Director, 82nd Airborne DIV Museum)

LTC Oland Little

(Due to illness, LTC Erwin Gutzwiler (ROA/ESGR) could not attend.)

LTC Mike Moose Welcomed everyone to the Fay. Ind. Light Infantry Museum and acknowledged the following Visitors and Guests. He also mentioned that Jim Adams, Karl Whitby and himself had a very enjoyable visit with the South Carolina Department, in Columbia, SC on June 29.

GUESTS:

LtCol Layne Wroblewski - ROA - National President-Elect

COL Don Brown - ROA - STARS Foundation

COL Camerone Trent - President of the Department of South Carolina

Mr. Mike Hutchinson - Guest

Mr. Dan Dederick, (CASA) Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army (LTC, USMC, ret.) arrived at Lunch.

LTC Moose then discussed a short history of the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry (F.I.L.I.). In observance of ROA's Centennial Celebration, LTC Moose then presented a special gift to Admiral Paul Kayye - a Bottle of ROA +100, Centennial champagne (from France).

DEPARTMENT BUSINESS : CONSTITUTION and BY-LAWS

COL Iggi Husar then introduced the discussion concerning the updated Department Constitution & By-Laws.

LtCol Sobieski and others had conducted numerous ZOOM Calls in the past eight months in preparation for these updated documents. LtCol Sobieski made a Motion which was Seconded to amend the name of our organization to The Reserve Organization of America (with listing "as chartered by Congress as The Reserve Officers Assoc." Following discussion, the Motion carried by a unanimous vote. LtCol Sobieski then made a Motion to amend the Department Officers in the new By-Laws by deleting the office of Vice-President. The Motion was seconded and following discussion, the Motion passed unanimously. LtCol Sobieski then made a Motion to combine the committee positions of Resolutions and Legislative Chairman into one Department Committee position. The Motion was seconded. Following discussion the Motion passed unanimously.

CANDIDATES for OFFICE -

COL Husar announced his candidacy for the office of Department President. No other nominations were made. Nominations were then closed and COL Husar was elected as President. Election of other officers was tabled until after lunch.

DELEGATES to the 2023 ROA NATIONAL CONVENTION - BATON ROUGE, LA. - Sept. 28 to Oct. 1, 2023

President Adams then opened the discussion to identify Department Members who would attend the National Convention. The following members were identified as

Delegates:

COL Iggi Husar - USAR

ADM Paul Kayye - Navy

Mrs. Gay Kayye - Navy

MG Margaret Wilmoth -USAR

SFC Karl Whitby- USAR

LTC Jim Adams- USAR

LtCol Len Sobieski - USAFR

CDR John Leonard - USCGR

COL John Gobrick - USAR

Reimbursements to selected Convention attendees were discussed. An expense MAX total limit of approx. $2,100 was mentioned but lower amounts were discussed. Specific reimbursement decisions will be made later. (Post meeting Decision: Iggi - $1,100, John Leonard - $400, Len Sobieski - $200)

I MPORTANT TOPICS for DISCUSSION:

LtCol Sobieski discussed the future of ROA's Leader Meeting in Wash. DC during March. LTC Moose mentioned that the winter session has been plagued by bad weather in the past. COL Don Brown stated that those meetings are most beneficial when Congress is in session, even if ROA members meet only with Congressional Staffers. LtCol Wroblewski stated that ROA's Legislative Advocacy must also be conducted at the Local and State level. ROA-HQ's Legislative Director, Matthew Swartman, must focus on certain national issues and may not always be able to contact elected leaders on all topics. LtCol Wroblewski also stated that March in DC is not a good weather month. He also said that in the future, ROA's National Annual Meeting may be adjusted in many ways. He also discussed that ROA must find a way to get GEN-Z reservists to join and become active with ROA.

NORTH CAROLINA RESOLUTIONS DISCUSSION:

CDR John Leonard introduced 3 resolutions for National consideration:

Resolution No. NC 2023-1

"Modernize US Coast Guard Reserve Structure to Optimize Mobilization Strength" This item was amended in paragraph 1 and passed unanimously.

Resolution No. NC 2023-2

"Enact S. 2297, the Parity for US Public Health Service Ready Reserve Act" This item was approved as amended.

" Transfer NOAA from Department of Commerce to Department of Homeland Security" This Department approved the intent and this Resolution will now be referred to the Dept. EXCOM and that vote will be the Department's vote.

LUNCH - Served - Barbecue, Green Beans, Oven Baked Beans, Potato Salad, Dessert and Beverages.

During Lunch, Mike Moose gave a hands-on presentation, featuring three antique military weapons. Mr. Dan Dederick (CASA - Eastern North Carolina) then presented a summary of information from the Secretary of the Army.

DEPARTMENT CONSTITUTION & BY-LAWS (continued)

BG Irizarry asked if the Department is a certified 501-C3 organization. LTC Moose stated that at ROA National, the STARS Foundation serves as that 501(c)3, for national only. North Carolina is tax exempt per the IRS. The tax-deductibility of individual donations to this Department is unknown at this time. The new Department Constitution and By-Laws, as amended, was approved unanimously.

ELECTION of DEPARTMENT OFFICERS

The following officers were elected by acclamation:

President - COL Iggi Husar

President-Elect - Currently Vacant

Immediate Past-President - LTC Jim Adams

Secretary - LTC Mike Moose

Treasurer - LTC Tom Froneberger

OPEN DISCUSSION / COMMENTS by GUESTS:

COL Don Brown (ROA Fundraising Coordinator) mentioned that the STARS Foundation serves as the umbrella 501-C3 for National ROA-HQ. He discussed ROA's current SECOND CENTURY CAMPAIGN. (COL Brown thanked LTC Moose for his recent fund-raising committee assistance.) ROA's goal is $10 million. So far, approx. $6 million has been raised including pledges.

Mike Moose mentioned that anyone with a Traditional IRA or 401-K can donate those withdrawals directly to any certified 501-C3 organization, as a non-taxable charitable contribution, per IRS Code.

COL Camerone Trent, South Carolina Dept. President, stated that she is working on some national ROA committees and that she was pleased to attend our Department Convention.

LtCol Layne Wroblewski, ROA Pres.-Elect, stated that one of his goals is to have ROA-HQ communicate directly with the Reserve Chiefs of all Services, in the future, in order to gain their support. He also stated that he would like to see various Departments merge together in order to survive and grow. He said that any Department that merges would retain its voting autonomy and continue to control its financial assets. Layne stated that the newly formed "Department of the Southeast" invites North Carolina and South Carolina to merge with the "Southeast".

FINAL COMMENTS:

It was stated that our Department might consider a possible merger with South Carolina, Georgia and Tenn. This topic would require much further study and discussion on the next Department ZOOM Meeting Call.

ADJOURMENT :

President Jim Adams adjourned this Convention at 3:00 PM.

This meeting was followed by a Museum Tour of the Fay. Ind. Light Infantry followed by casual Hospitality Time in the F.I.L.I. Pub.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED.... Sept. 2, 2023,

MIKE MOOSE

LTC, USA, retired

SECRETARY, Department of North Carolina