February 11, 2018
On behalf of the Officers, executive council, committee chairs, retirees, and spouses auxiliary we hope the new year 2018 is starting off in the right direction. Your enlisted association is working diligently on the upcoming State Annual Conference 27-28 April 2018. We will be conducting a Joint Conference with the Officer Association (NGANM) at the Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder Resort with a lot of fun events planned. The events consist of a Golf Scramble (Buffalo Thunder Tewa Golf Club), Softball Tournament (Espanola Softball Complex), Spouses Auxiliary, and family activities to include child care for those parents who need a break to spend that quality time with their loved one. The Spouses Auxiliary in coordination with the Officers spouses have a great event planned for the weekend as well. The President and his wife CSM (R) Richard and Liz Bryant have been working hard putting together a fun filled schedule. Our retirees CMSgt (R) Joe Barela and CSM (R) Bryants have some good “cooking’s” planned for our weekend events during the annual conference so bring your empty stomachs!!
EANGUS Executive Director Frank Yoakum made a visit to NM on 29 January 2018 and had some great conversations with our Army & Air Senior Enlisted leaders and a visit with The Adjutant General. Our National Association is doing an outstanding job in supporting all of the state associations in areas to improve and promote professionalism, education, and benefits within our enlisted corps to include our families and loved ones.
We continue to move forward fighting for benefits, education, and professional development for our soldiers and airmen, and recently we have been busy with legislative issues during our state legislative sessions. Your association supported HB 47 and SB 16 on behalf of our Adjutant General and continue to pursue the tax bill incentives for retirees in NM. CSM Rudy Checkley our legislative chair has done a great job reaching out to our state representatives with the intent of introducing our bill during the 2019 legislative sessions.
Recently The Adjutant General formed a legislative reception at the NMNG museum where state representatives from all around were invited to meet our soldiers and airmen and have those conversations as to some of the legislative issues affecting the NMNG.
We are currently working on submitting documentation to obtain a state tax certificate of exemption for venues we procure in NM. Our scholarship committee has published scholarship documentation for our 2018 state scholarships that will be presented to the recipients at the State annual conference, so please take advantage of this great educational benefit and don’t forget all of the national scholarships available at eangus.org. Membership continues to be a struggle, although we are striving to achieve The Adjutant General challenge goal of 600 for us. We need just about 200 more members to reach that goal. Our current membership chair Miguel Perez has recently been promoted to CMSgt so let’s make sure we give him a well-deserved congratulations. Unfortunately with the promotion and new responsibilities he will have to relinquish his position to our new appointed primary membership chair, MSgt Vanessa Ortega who will continue to do great things for our association, welcome Vanessa.
Our Junior Enlisted Counsel (JEC) continues to do great things in supporting EANMNG providing that professional development within our formations amongst the junior NCO’s (Army/Air).
Please visit our website at eanmng.org and register for the upcoming annual conference and take advantage the “raffle” links on our site for a chance to win great prizes, one $20.00 ticket is good for all seven drawings (First drawing 24 Feb 2018). We also have a second $5 raffle just for a Disc-It that will be given away at the conference. We also have several corporate sponsors (Vendors) attending to include other military organizations providing great information and opportunities for our soldiers, airmen, and families.
“Special thanks” to our Secretary Liz Bryant and Vice President Dan Robson who have been the heart beat in coordinating this event for our Enlisted Association.
As always, I am proud to be your president for this great association and look forward to be part of a great team.
Thanks.
Willy Griego
EANMNG, President