Spirit of the Chief Award

[SKCM Myles Shaw Ret]

Please read below message sent out by the MCPO-CG.

From: Bowen, Charles MCPO-CG
Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2008 2:24 PM
Subject: Message to Chief Petty Officers regarding Chief Petty Officer
Association-Sent to all MCPOs, SCPOs, CPOs

Master Chiefs, Senior Chiefs, and Chiefs:

In recent months you may have heard that there is a rift between Coast Guard
active duty senior enlisted leadership and the Chief Petty Officers
Association (CPOA) having to do with CPOA support for the CPO Academy
"Spirit of the Chief" award. I have worked closely with CPOA President Jon
Shipp, the CPOA Board of Directors, and CPO Academy Chief, CMC Mark Thomas
to resolve misunderstandings regarding our CPO Academy's relationship with
CPOA. As we all know, the chartered Purpose of The Chief Petty Officers
Association includes "supporting the aims and goals of the CPO Academy." The
CPOA tells me it intends to continue to support the CPO Academy "Spirit of
the Chief" Award. CPOA has also discussed with us a way ahead for the CPO
Academy welcome aboard dinners that might include voluntary chapter
sponsorship of individual class dinners.

We are back on an even keel.

CPOA leadership informs me that it's committed to continuing the synergy
between our CPO Academy and national CPOA that benefits all Chiefs, our
communities, and our Coast Guard as a whole.

I appreciate the selfless contributions of the national Coast Guard Chief
Petty Officers Association (CPOA), that have improved not only our Chiefs,
but all members of our service.

The national CPOA represents local chapters as a member of The Military
Coalition, and serves as the umbrella organization that helps to encourage,
communicate, and coordinate the efforts of more than 9000 CPOA members
working in 50 chapters.

I appreciate the support to the service that results from the combined
efforts of local chapters with the national CPOA. As you know, chapters
assist local commands with various seminars, help CG families assimilate
into the local community, and help dependents of members away from their
families feel welcomed and part of the Coast Guard family. They arrange
social events such as CG Day picnics and children's holiday parties; and
provide assistance to the local community in organized sports, clean-ups,
neighborhood crime watches, and Scout activities. Chapters take part in
nationally organized assistance programs such as the Jerry Lewis MDA
Telethons and Special Olympics. Contributions of local chapters to the CPOA
Captain Caliendo College Assistance Fund help enlisted family members with
college costs.

I thank the CPOA leadership for its commitment to continuing the synergy
between our CPO Academy and our national CPOA that benefits all Chiefs, our
communities, and our Coast Guard as a whole. I also thank each of you for
your support to the service through participation in the CPOA.

Semper Paratus

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

Maybe Jon is going to pay for this out of his pocket... :eek:

I wonder if this was another 'one person' decision?

Wray... :cool:

[SKCM Myles Shaw Ret]

This was not Jon's decision alone, this was voted in affirmative by the entire board. This was a money issue, and has been resolved. I made the motion with the intention to get all parties talking and costs under control, and it worked.

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

Myles, thanks.. I'm glad to hear that.

Wray... :cool:

[CMC Bruce Bradley]

I only question why after all the BS that flew after the decision to stop funding and now the reversal, why didn't the CPOA send out the news release? This happened several weeks ago and we hear nothing from them on it. Yet another sad thing from the current regime.

[SKCM Myles Shaw Ret]

We posted the information on our website in the meeting minutes right after the meeting. I used to have a bang list for the chapters but they do not inform the National Office after elections so it is impossible to keep up with.:)

[ETC Joe Jester ret]

Why can't each chapter have a web-based email address at National?

When you buy space, your ISP usually provides alot of email addresses and I'm sure, for a slight increase, they would provide one for every chapter and every National Officer.

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

Joe, I think you are trying to put common sense into this entire mess....

What you are saying makes perfect sense and is the logical move.

National, being NATIONAL should be the first to get or know about any and all changes.

There seems to be a large division between National and the rest of the chapters. That needs to change. Perhaps with some new officers it will. I believe this could be part of the reason many say "why do we even need a national".

Wray... :cool:

[SKCM Myles Shaw Ret]

Good Idea on the e-mail addresses. I will bring it up at the next BOD meeting. We have to have a President, VP, Sec, and Treasurer to comply with DC Code.