Home

2011 Corporate Recognition Dinner


AUSA Greater-New York Statue of Liberty Chapter
Honors Its Corporate Sponsors
Distinguished Guests and Chapter Members Attend the 2011 Corporate Recognition Dinner to
Show Appreciation to the Chapter’s Corporate Members’ Support of Soldiers
By Diane Dady
Members of The Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Greater-New York Statue of Liberty Chapter gathered to honor, recognize and support the Chapter’s Corporate Sponsors during the Annual Corporate Appreciation & Recognition Reception on October 27th, 2011. The event was held at the Mutual of America Building in New York, NY. Liberty Chapter President, LTC Joe Schroder, together with Past President and Chapter Corporate Sponsor, COL Dominic Morelli of Capacity Benefits Group, Inc., and Bob Vormittag, AUSA Liberty Chapter Vice President of Corporate Affairs and President & CEO of Chapter Corporate Sponsor, VAI, were emcees for the ceremony. The dinner was hosted for the eighth straight year by 18-year Chapter Corporate Sponsor, Mutual of America Life Insurance Company.
Fordham ROTC Performing the Colors during the opening ceremony Distinguished guests and members of the AUSA Greater-NY Statue of Liberty Chapter
SGT Louis Licalzi lent his stunning voice to open the program with "The Star Spangled Banner" and closed the night with an inspiring rendition of "God Bless America." Father COL Edward Kane offered the opening invocation.
Guest Singer, SGT Louis Licalzi Father COL Edward Kane
Event Emcees: Chapter President LTC Joe Schroder, Past President COL Dominic Morelli, VP Corporate Affairs, Bob Vormittag Bob Vormittag, SGT Louis Licalzi, LTC Joe Schroder
The reception featured guest speaker, LTG Roger G. Thompson Jr., U.S. Army Retired, Vice President, Membership and Meetings, Association of the United States Army, who spoke in detail about the membership within the U.S. Army. LTG Roger G. Thompson, Jr. is responsible for AUSA National support to 123 chapters worldwide, total membership in the three categories of national sustaining category, corporate category at chapter level and the individual membership. He serves as the Chairman of the Annual Meeting, and is also responsible for AUSA’s five symposia in key Army operational areas, the Winter Symposium and AUSA’s participation in four international military shows in support of the Army and Sustaining Members. Additionally, he is responsible for the Association’s National support of Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier Programs, the ROTC program, chapter training and chapter support.
Guest Speaker, LTG Roger G. Thompson Jr., Ret. Guest Speaker Josie Maynard, COWGIRL MEDIA, INC.
Director Josie Maynard of COWGIRL MEDIA, INC. was on hand to discuss her documentary, THE AFGHAN SOLUTION, now available on DVD. The film poses an alternative solution to what is currently being discussed in addressing the conflict in Afghanistan. It is a story resulting from the culmination of over 200 hours of documentation; which also features exclusive war footage of Afghan Northern Alliance and US Special Forces teamed up together fighting the Taliban; as well as battles between the mujahideen and Soviet troops in the 1980’s.
From the streets of Kabul, to the tribal regions in Afghanistan, and the halls of Congress, THE AFGHAN SOLUTION is the only film to investigate the conflict by talking to the people who have lived it. It is a story told by Afghan politicians, citizens, warlords, and tribal leaders, as well as American Special Forces, NATO's ISAF brass, UN Mediators, and NGO personnel. This candid account of a fragile nation building experiment is essential viewing for everyone - from students and scholars to policy makers, veterans, and American voters. For more information, visit http://www.theafghansolutionmovie.com/.
Ms. Maynard’s well-received presentation was an enlightening addition to the event’s program. "Aside from the fact that I truly had a ball speaking with many of the members; I believe the AUSA Corporate Appreciation Night is important because it recognizes AUSA supporters," said Ms. Maynard. "Without sponsorship, the AUSA would not be able to perform its all-important role of advocacy for our men and women in uniform, and their families. One hugely valuable thing I recently discovered that AUSA does is they take the voice of service members to Congress, by allowing their chapters to vote on resolutions, and then they publish and distribute them to every Member of Congress. I love this!"
Justin O’Connor of Mutual of America,
Corporate Host		 LTG Roger G. Thompson Jr., LTC Joe Schroder
LTC Schroder presented Mr. Justin O’Conner, VP Training Leadership Development, Mutual of America Life Insurance Company, with a special gift in honor and appreciation of the company’s eight years of support as host of the annual event. LTC Schroder also presented LTG Roger G. Thompson with a gift of appreciation for his keynote speech.