Rock of the Marne!! Spring is here and the weather is starting to get really nice. I hope this is the same in your area. Get out and enjoy it.
April is the time that we come to the end of the Society “Business Year,” which is June 30th. So many things are happening in the background to keep our Society moving efficiently. Thanks to all of our leaders for their hard work!
April is renewal time for our Annual Members. You will be seeing your renewal card in the mail soon. Please renew as soon as possible to help us close out our business year by June 30th. Thank you.
All members will also be seeing the Society Raffle tickets in their mailboxes. Please support this initiative as it brings in critical monies to keep our Society solvent. Plus, you could win $1,000!
If you are a Leader of an Outpost and know of members who have moved or otherwise changed their info, please send that to the Roster Manager as soon as you are aware. This job requires constant attention, and having the help of the members and the OP leaders is critical for ensuring that we are able to keep our members abreast of all the latest news and Society pertinent information.
As you know, January through May is our nominations cycle. Nominations for Society awards, the Society President, and the three Regional Vice-Presidents, and submissions for Constitution and Bylaws changes are now open. Please consider serving at the National Level. It is a very rewarding experience and is critical to ensuring that our great Society will continue for another 100 years. If you are interested in any of these offices, please contact me directly.
Our Outpost in Italy has made some really great contacts with the Ernie Pyle Association that includes an exhibition they will be presenting soon. Every day they are dedicated to programming really pragmatic initiatives that honor and teach the history of the 3rd ID In Italy during WWII. Thank you to all our OP16 members for what you are doing. Grazie fratelli!
Outpost International is also very busy planning the 108th commemoration of the division's immortal stand in 1918. This event will take place in Washington DC on 15 July beginning at the Tomb of the Unknowns. They are also hosting a liberation ceremony for the liberation of Berchtesgadener Land in Germany on May 5th. As you all know, the 3rd ID was the first US Army division to enter and seize this highly secured area of the enemy leadership in WWII.
I’d like to thank all of our Society Executive Committee, staff, Scholarship Foundation trustees, and Outpost Leaders for serving in your capacities. We need more people to jump in and help out. Many of these people have been in their positions for a long time and they need new members to help out. Please look for ways to help in your Outpost and at the National Level. We need you!
I can NOT stress enough how important it is to help us recruit new members. I want our Society to be around for our 200th Anniversary, but that will only happen if each of us makes recruiting a personal mission. Please recruit one person this year into the Society.
Lastly, please keep our deployed Soldiers in your prayers. Many are currently serving in harm's way and our prayers for their safe return and the comfort of their families left behind are of utmost importance.
Rock of the Marne!
Toby Knight