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January 2011

The NDIA Tennessee Valley Chapter (NDIA-TVC) Officers and Board of Directors (BOD) and I each wish a Happy and prosperous 2011 to our members and friends.

2010 was an eventful year for our NDIA-TVC Chapter.  We were once again recognized by NDIA National as a Model Chapter – for the tenth year in a row!  That success was made possible by the super dedication, commitment, and innovativeness of our Chapter’s leaders and the participation and sponsorship by our members.  Thank you all. 

Some highlights from our 2010 year include: 

  • We continue to expand our activities and sponsorships in support of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) outreach programs. We have supported the design and development of specific engineering projects at high schools in our area of responsibility, and as our resources allow will include more rural schools which are feeders to the universities and colleges that produce tomorrow’s defense industry careers.
  • In partnership with our Space and Missile Defense Working Group (SMDWG) we provided over $83,000 in support of STEM programs, including Science and Technology, Education and Training (STEDTRAIN) programs, Science Fairs, Adventures in Engineering, scholarships and fellowships, engineering and design competitions, Sci-Quest, Girls Inc., Military Order of World Wars (MOWW) Youth Leadership Program, Huntsville Inner City Learning Center, Youth Friendship Foundation, Space and Missile Defense Education day, Engineering Explorer Post grants, Society of Women Engineers Middle School Outreach, the Huntsville Inner City Learning Center (HICLC),  and other activities. We continued to partner with organizations such as the Air, Space and Missile Defense Association (ASMDA) on several of these activities.
  • We conducted the 2010 NDIA-TVC Awards Dinner, recognizing people for their demonstrated excellence in national industrial defense, as well as others for their potential for great contributions to our Nation’s security.  Our most prestigious award (nationally recognized) was the 2010 MG John B. Medaris Award, given to Dr. Bill Craig, a great American. We were honored with the presence of NDIA’s President and CEO LTG (Ret.) Larry Farrell, who participated in our event.
  • We partnered with NDIA HQs in their conduct of the 7th Annual NDIA National Small Business Conference (NSBC) in Huntsville, AL – the most successful such conference to date.
  • We continued our partnership with the Air, Space, and Missile Defense Association and the Air Defense Artillery Association to sponsor the 2010 Space and Missile Defense Conference and Exposition, an internationally recognized event of importance.
  • We also hosted our first Membership Appreciation Event at the Constitution Village in Huntsville – a success!
  • We sponsored or cosponsored several industry updates and professional development events with key officials throughout the year..
  • NDIA-TVC membership has grown too; official numbers from the Chapter report to National were that our membership totals from our EOY2009 baseline of 2541 to 2980 as of September 1st, 2010 – 17+% growth! Additionally, our NDIA-TVC corporate membership has grown from our EOY2009 baseline of 50 to 61 as of September 1st, 2010 – 22% growth!

Yet, with all of those successes, your BOD will renew its efforts and deliver to our members more of those types of activities and successes as in 2010, and more value!   Yes… VALUE for our members will be a focus goal for the year ahead of us.  Already on our 2011 program are:

  • NDIA-TVC Awards Program Announced – January 2011
  • General Membership Meeting and Installation of Officers – January 27th, 2011
  • Awards Banquet  – April 2011
  • Space and Missile Defense Conference and Exposition - August 2011
  • Fall 2011 STEM Event
  • Other events are evolving in concept and preparation

I invite all NDIA members, to reach out and go active in your support to our great Tennessee Valley Chapter – we continue to be a “model chapter” for the rest of NDIA because of your support, commitment, and active participation.  Encourage others to become member; membership in NDIA is a bargain, and together we can do so much to enable the defense of our nation, our citizens, and our allies through technological innovation and efficient and effective sustainment of our resources. 

And, while you are going about your daily busy lives, remember our military service members and their families; they willingly go into harm’s way, wherever they are sent, and do the tough work that help to keep us and others safe, secure, and free!  Find a way everyday to show them that we care about them and that we will never let them down.

My two-year presidency ends in January 2011, and the President’s Gavel will be passed to new President, Terry Tipton.  I thank every NDIA-TVC Officer and member of the Board of Directors for their dedication and enthusiastic support.  I ask them, and the general membership to continue to support Terry  as enthusiastically as you have supported me; together, we will gain great accomplishments in 2011.

 

Ed Stone

NDIA-TVC, Chapter President