*** CHAPTER NEWS – December 2021 Edition ***
 
George Washington Chapter (GWC)
Association of the United States Army (AUSA)

 

THANK YOU to our Individual, Community Partners, Sustaining Members, Corporate Sponsors!
 

Executive Committee
Email: C2101@ausa.org
Website:https://www.ausa.org/chapters/george-washington-chapter
Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/AUSA-George-Washington-Chapter

Current Chapter Membership Profile:
Total  Members – 8522
Community Partners – 141

Chapter Donations, Sponsorships and Support

Army Retiree Appreciation Day - JBM-HH
The Unknown Soldier Foundation
Veteran's Day Commemoration - George C. Marshall Center
Joint Base Myer Henderson Hall Family & MWR Programs
XMAS Tree Lighting Event at JBM-HH
Toys for Service Member Families at JBM-HH
Stocking Stuffers for Soldiers and Marines at JBM-HH
Institute for Land Warfare
National Museum of the United States Army
Wreaths Across America
Segs4Vets

 

PenFed Credit Union Completes Record Year by Giving $5.5 Million to Support Community Charities

PenFed Announces $1.1 Million in December Donations to the Air Force Association, Armed Services Arts Partnership, Association of the US Army, Invest in Girls, Leashes of Valor, National Military Family Association, Tunnel to Towers Foundation and Willing Warriors

TYSONS, VA., Dec. 14, 2021 – PenFed Credit Union, the nation’s second largest federal credit union, today announced $1.1 million in additional donations to the Air Force Association, Armed Services Arts Partnership, Association of the US Army, Invest in Girls, Leashes of Valor, National Military Family Association, Tunnel to Towers Foundation and Willing Warriors. PenFed has donated a record $5.5 million to community partners in 2021 to complete the most successful year in its 86-year history.

“At PenFed we measure success by how many people we help,” said James Schenck, PenFed President/CEO and PenFed Foundation CEO. “PenFed is proud to support our community partners on behalf of our over 3,600 employees and 2.5 million members. This year we set many records in loan originations and membership growth, but we are most proud of our record community giving.”

In 2021, PenFed gave $2.8 million to more than 100 charities in communities it serves and an additional $2.7 million to the PenFed Foundation. The PenFed Foundation is a national 501(c)3 founded by PenFed Credit Union and committed to empowering military service members, veterans and their communities with the skills and resources to realize financial stability and opportunity.

PenFed’s community partners make a difference in the lives of many through a wide range of services:

• Air Force Association – promotes dominant U.S. Air and Space Forces as the foundation of a strong national defense; to honor and support our Airmen, Guardians, and their families; and to remember and respect our enduring heritage.
• Armed Services Arts Partnership – provides free art and comedy classes to veterans, service members, military family members, and caregivers.
• Association of the US Army – supports soldiers, their families, and Army civilians; provides a voice for the Army and honors those who have served.
• Invest in Girls – works with schools, community organizations, corporations and foundations to provide financial literacy programming to young girls.
• Leashes of Valor – brings service dogs and post-9/11 veterans together in order to enrich and improve the lives of both.
• National Military Family Association – stands up for, supports, and enhances the quality of life for every military family through bold advocacy, innovative programming, and dynamic and responsive solutions.
• Tunnel to Towers Foundation – honors military and first responders who continue to make the supreme sacrifice of life and limb for our country.
• Willing Warriors – provides cost-free retreat stays and programs that positively impact wounded, injured, and ill service members and disabled veterans. PenFed is funding two of three homes at the Warrior Retreat in Haymarket, Va.

About PenFed Credit Union

Established in 1935, Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) is America’s second-largest federal credit union, serving 2.5 million members worldwide with $32 billion in assets. PenFed Credit Union offers market-leading certificates, checking, credit cards, personal loans, mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and a wide range of other financial services with members’ interests always in mind. PenFed Credit Union is federally insured by the NCUA and is an Equal Housing Lender.

Community Partner Support
Full Listing at https://www.ausa.org/chapters/george-washington-chapter

Reminder - Please renew your Community Partner membership with the Chapter and ensure your member profile information is current. The Chapter needs your continued support! 
https://www.ausa.org/membership-type/community-partners

Welcome Back Campaign for Individual Memberships

*** CHAPTER NEWS AND EVENTS ***
 

2 October 2021

E-9 Networking Breakfasts held monthly. Hosted by CSM (R) Jeff Stitzel, Cypher LLC and co-sponsored by the GW Chapter
Celebrating the Navy's Birthday with our Navy Senior NCO's

9 October 2021

​​​​*** GWC Educational Scholarship Golf Tournament ***

An outstanding event that supported our educational scholarships program. 
The annual golf tournament was sold out with 31 Foursomes!  
Shout out to PenFed Credit Union our Lead Sponsor and to our supportive Sponsors, Players, and a special thanks to Howard University ROTC and University of Maryland ROTC:

PenFed Credit Union - Lead Sponsor
Lockheed Martin Corporation
General Dynamics Mission Systems
2d Region AUSA
AAFMAA
Airbus US Space and Defense
American States Utility Services, Inc
Cypher LLC
DCSCORP
Deloitte
Ernst & Young
Eye Safety Systems
ManTech
Michael Baker International
NCI
Point Blank Enterprises
ROCKDEEP
SAAB US

 

11-13 October
GWC Community Partner Support at Annual Meeting - CSM (R) Tony Tuck, Conflict Kinetics, LLC

 

13 October 2021

*** 2d REGION BREAKFAST ***
GWC was the host for the breakfast at the Marriott Marquis, Salon 5
featuring LTG Robert L. Marion, Military Deputy/Director of the Army Acquisition Corps, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology)

2d Region and GWC Sponsored Family of the Year
1st Sergeant Lutricia Fields
3rd US Infantry Regiment, (The Old Guard)

*** ​​​2021 ANNUAL MEETING SPECIAL AWARDS *** 
11 October
The GWC sponsored each award.
2021 Anthony J. Drexel Biddle Medal
Colonel Glenn Yarborough, US Army Retire

2021 John W. Dixon Award
James Schenck
President and CEO, PenFed Credit Union

6 November
E-9 Networking Breakfasts held monthly. Hosted by CSM (R) Jeff Stitzel, Cypher LLC and co-sponsored by the GW Chapter
Celebrating the US Marine Corps Birthday

9 November 
NOVA Chamber of Commerce
Distinguished Service Awards

2021 Veteran Service Organization of the Year Finalist

GWC AUSA

 

18 November
Young Professionals
Amanda Jones, GWC VP, Young Professionals, presents James Schenck, President and CEO PenFed Credit Union and General John Nickolson, US Army Retired, President The PenFed Foundation with Community Partner Plaque

1 December 
HOHO Hot Cocoa
Support the XMAS Tree Lighting at JBM-HH

 

4 December
E-9 Networking Breakfasts held monthly. Hosted by CSM (R) Jeff Stitzel, Cypher LLC and co-sponsored by the GW Chapter

Celebrating the National Guard Birthday

7 December 
GWC AUSA Quarterly Luncheon Series / Professional Development Forum
 Tuesday, 7 December 2021 – Army Navy Country Club

Featured Guest Speaker

The Honorable Heidi Shyu

Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering

 

16 December

AUSA support with Toys for JBM-HH Soldier Families

February 2022
Quarterly Luncheon Series/Professional Development Forum/General Membership Meeting
Topic: Strategic Operations
More information will be forthcoming as we confirm the featured speakers

8 October 2022
GWC Educational Scholarship Golf Tournament
Reston National Golf Course
More information forthcoming in January 2022

*** MEMBER BENEFIT HIGHLIGHT *** 

Shop, Save, Support: 
 www.ausa.org/savings

To access member discount codes and links, please log in using your AUSA username and password.
AUSA​​​​ partners offer great discounts and most contribute back to AUSA for scholarships, soldier and family programs, etc.

 

Visit www.ausa.org/savings and be sure to click those you may not be familiar with. There are often familiar brands behind those names.  Like Provengo, with savings of up to 70% on 100+ brands like 5.11, Costa, Oakley, Benchmade, Luminox, G-Shock, Coleman, Ray-Ban, Toad Fish, Vortex, and YETI.  Use code AUSA for additional $15 off.

*** Donate to the GWC Educational Scholarship Fund ***

 

HOW TO DONATE:

Personal check made payable to George Washington Chapter AUSA.  Please note that your donation is specifically for the AUSA GWC (Chapter 2101) Educational Scholarship fund.  Mail checks to:

Bill Stramm
AUSA George Washington Chapter
302 Arnies Loop
Cape Charles, VA 23310

 Credit Card Payments (See Below)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Donation URL:  https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/AUSAGeorgeWashington
 

Membership, Membership, Membership – Please renew your Community Partnership and Individual Membership Today!
www.ausa.org/membership

 

Special Tribute to General Colin Powell, US Army Retired

General Colin Powell led a life of extraordinary service—as a pathbreaking leader and statesman and a generous mentor.

Colin Luther Powell was born on April 5, 1937, in Harlem, New York City, New York to Jamaican immigrant parents Maud Ariel and Luther Theophilus Powell. He was educated in the New York City Public Schools and earned a bachelor’s degree in Geology from the City College of New York (CUNY) in 1958. While as a student at CUNY, Powell developed an interest in the military and joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army after graduation and served in the military for thirty-five years. During his long military career, Powell served two tours in Vietnam in 1962 and 1968, was named National Security Advisor in 1987, served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1989, and oversaw Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield in 1991. He was awarded a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit, and the Defense Distinguished Service Medal. Powell retired from the military in 1993 and was confirmed as the United States Secretary of State in 2001.

On October 18, 2021, four-star general, diplomat, and statesman Colin L. Powell passed away at the age of 84, at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. He was the first African American to serve as the National Security Adviser, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and as the United States Secretary of State. Throughout his military and political career, Powell received numerous medals and awards including the Presidential Medal of Freedom (twice), the Congressional Gold Medal, the Spingarn Medal, Sylvanus Thayer Award, and the Bishop John T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award. In addition to these accolades, Colin Powell wrote several books about his life experiences including My American Journey (1995) and It Worked for Me: In Life and Leadership (2012).

“If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude.”

~Colin Powell

Flashback!!!!!

LTG Colin Powell, then National Security Advisor to President Ronald Reagan, spoke at a GWC luncheon, Fort Myer Officers’ Club, circa 1987.

Ed Dauksz recalls, “I remember going into his office with Karen Lowe to lay out the event to him in DC, not at the WH. His secretary said that he was in a meeting. He did hear us and came out and chatted for a minute. I reiterated the schedule and time, 11:30 start time.  He said, “I have a meeting with President Reagan at 11. Go ahead and start without me. I will tell him I have a speaking engagement at 11:30 and catch up.”. He won’t mind.” WOW! Any way, we started at 11:30 with no General Powell. I danced at the podium for about 30 minutes when General Powell comes into the room, waving his hand and saying, “See I told you I would make it.” Knocked us all off our feet. One tremendous luncheon. 

He was a general then and just took over as advisor to President Reagan. 

Sec Army Mike Stone is at head table next to Powell. 

Photos of General Powell at GW Chapter luncheon at the Fort Myer Officer”s Club circa 1987 below. Also identified were John Grimes, Dave Borland and a young man named Ed Dauksz, GWC Chapter President.

pictures