Missouri National Guard Association

FROM THE EXECUTIVE EDITOR
By Mike Roberts, Missouri National Guard Association
The Missouri National Guard Association
continues to move onward and
upward – I can see it and feel it.
This was on full display during the
Association’s 66th Annual Conference
in Springfield in April. Attendance was
up and our members were motivated.
And while I’ve attended most MoNGA
conferences over the last 10 years, this
one stands out in my mind. For me, the
conference was notable because my
membership in the Association is
becoming tangible. The value of my
membership is real for a few reasons.
First, having spent days in Joplin just
hours after the devastating EF5 tornado
claimed more than 160 lives in May 2011,
I was moved by the heartfelt words of
thanks provided by Dr. C.J. Huff, superintendent
of the Joplin School District,
to the men and women of the Missouri
National Guard for our unwavering support
to his community. His words captivated
the crowd, and more than a few tears
were shed in response to his remarks.
(See page 10 for Dr. Huff’s speech.)
The Missouri Guard, and to some
extent by extension MoNGA, aided in
the recovery of the small southwest
Missouri community for several months.
And while there was a concerted effort
with local, regional and national assistance,
the Guard’s impact was substantial
and noticeable. Dr. Huff very eloquently
expressed his thoughts and emotions
for what we did.
Secondly, I could clearly see the
results of the tireless efforts of the
Association’s leadership to build new
roads, i.e. relationships, to the future. I
found the professional development
sessions conducted by experienced
corporate professionals to be invaluable.
These sessions were made possible by
people talking with other people to
determine how to help each other in a
DEPARTMENT – leadership>>
mutually beneficial
partnership.
It’s critical now
more than ever to
capitalize on the
available resources
through relationship building. Our
members and their families are valuable.
As we progress through the future, it’s
important to leverage our value, image
and reputation for the benefit of our
members.
MoNGA continues to strengthen
existing relationships and establish new
ones. As the Association grows, the
benefits of membership become more
tangible to our members.
It’s a pleasure to serve as your executive
editor. As always, I am open to your
thoughts, suggestions and criticisms.
Please feel free to contact me by email
at thesentinel.monga@gmail.com.
THE SENTINEL • Spring 2013 3