Special Forces Association Convention 2009

As I was unable to attend the SFA Convention this year at the Palace Station Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, I am hoping those of you who were able to go will share your experiences and photos here.



Thanks, Don

nster:
Special Forces Association Convention 2009

As I was unable to attend the SFA Convention this year at the Palace Station Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, I am hoping those of you who were able to go will share your experiences and photos here.



Thanks, Don[/QUOTE]

Don, it was a good one and you can take this comment to the bank; "WE ARE IN GOOD HANDS". There is still one carryover from the old but I think that is/will be handled appropriately

The President's Meeting went well, and was productive. With empathsis on Chapter 49 and their dismal rhetoric and character assassination of the current board of directors.

I had one on one with all the directors at one time or another, and it was very profitable as far as I am concerned. All the events were of first class as was the entire gathering.

Chris is going to bring the website up to par and make it easier to deal with as for navigation and accessibility to the various pages. Here too is a point that both of us share: "don't tell me it's broken unless you have an idea of what is broken and how to fix it."

He is open to suggestions of changes and improvements, but along with that suggestions on how it can be made better, because of the skins involved in the present site. (My webmaster told me the only way he could "fix it" was to trash the entire site and start from scratch.)

We just got in last night and I haven't been to bed so recon I'll hit the sack for a few Z'ssss.

How is Karen coming along Don?.................Jim

Jim,

Karen is taking some meds that have now (finally) relieved a great deal of her pain. The results of the MRIs revealed no tumors or cysts on the spine, which is a relief, but the cause is still a topic of protracted discussion amongst the docs.


Thanks for the update on the Convention...what is up with the Arkansas Chapter?

There has always been enough BS and politics to go around (something that has kept me away often enough), but it's easy to point at the problems...especially the big ones...not always so easy to step up and take action in a constructive fashion.

And the beat goes on.

Have a good one old friend,

Be well and my best to Marilyn,

Don

Don-

Glad to hear Karen's doing better; keep us posted, Bro!!

Roger that Toby


Wilco


Thanks for bein' there for me.

Don, as you stated and know, much of the problems of the past has been the back stabbing and other related BS which has turned so many away from the (what used to be) pleasantries of our Chapter meetings, especially the National one.

Presently we have a few who have resigned only to be carrying the torch to a new high by outwardly defying all the rules of fair play and loyalty.

Chapter 49 decided to go against National when they refused to tap dance to his tune. The President pulled the chapter from the National EIN Code, umbrella, thereby, screwing the rest of the Chapter's vested interest in the Auditing of the Finances. It cannot be audited completely without 49's report of fiscal status'.

Therefore, we need to do something, and they did not have a representation at the President's Meeting. Whoa, yes they did, only it was one who had been out of country, just returned for the Convention, and had no idea of what was going on in Arkansas. At least that is what he told Beaver when he approached the bench and wanted to know what was going on in 49.

...........Jim

This message has been edited. Last edited by: RingosRule,

quote:

Originally posted by SinePariDonster:
Special Forces Association Convention 2009

Don, Toby, Mike, and all other SFA BTDT Quiet Professionals:

Here is a montage of two AAR's from Las Vegas. I quickly submmitted the short, to the point rendition as soon as I returned home. John sent his Chapter members a more detailed version which also went to the SOGNET. Both are now in the SFA President's Forum.

Before I paste the collection, I wish to reiterate a very important factor, and John hit if on the head also, so two Old Farts can't be too far off base. THE SFA IS IN GOOD HANDS, AND THEY ARE DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB IN SUCH A SHORT TIME.....Ringo

quote:General Information to All SFA Chapter 82 Members regarding the 2009 SFA Convention.
Well Sports Fans, the SFA Convention was a success. The participating members was rather low from some, the attendance of wives was low; which is a good indicator of the present economy.

The hotel was nice, the food was nice, the employees were very nice, at least those I encountered. The slots still took your money without a smile and a thank you.

Down to the nitty gritty, the Lads form Chapter 51 put on a damn good show, and Kudos are well deserved and dispatched to them, from this point of entry.

The Board of Directors of the Association were well prepared for the onslaught and handled all questions with thought and what was good for the Order overall. During the President's Meeting we all (but one) gave the Board a Vote of Confidence in handling a "running problem" created by one of the Chapters.

I am going to bring up a point of interest here, for all to take into consideration. I started out a long time ago, in this organization, actually the Decade Club, just prior to it's transformation to the SFDA. I have helped form and organize four Chapters and been the President of three of them. I'm still the president of the last one. Over the years I accrued roughly seven years teaching the arts of Special Forces. I am not tooting my own horn but setting the stage for what comes next.

Think back for the past 46 years. Yea, I know some of you wasn't even alive then, but think about it, please. OK, 1963 was the date the members of the Original Manifest had accrued ten years in Group, so the SFDC was born with a board from Fort Bragg. Every time someone with ten years in Group elected to do so, he joined the club, and so on down the road to our present time.

The present board of directors for the SPECIAL FORCES ASSOCIATION is the FIRST board made up of the New Special Forces. While the present active duty members think of them as the old beer drinking bunch, my generation and the next one think of them as the new guys.

However, with that said, I will go on record by stating that in a short time this President, VP, etc., etc., has accomplished more then the previous boards for the past twenty years did. Of course this is my personal opinion and I know I'll be feeling darts, but that's the way it is.

We will always have those who will do all they can to stir up a bucket of crap in order to cast shadows of doubt over the Association. Presently we have a chapter who has caused all the current problems with the treasury by their idiotic actions, and this is the only problem with the audits and they will not be rectified until the problem is corrected.

We have another problem and that is the one where a member(s) of these forums is copying and pasting topics of interest to non members of the Association. Gentlemen, this is the SPECIAL FORCES ASSOCIATION, and there is only ONE. What goes on here should stay here among the members. If non members of the SFA on line Forums, want information, tell them to get off their dead BUTTS and join or stuff it. If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.

I can remember a time during the beginning of SF email services and chat rooms, when the webmasters of interest would drop you in a heartbeat if they ever discovered you was "retransmitting" any information from their pages, to anyone, no matter who. They were strictly "MEMBERS ONLY" and that is just exactly what these Forums are intended to be. Yea, I know, "freedom of the Internet, slap my wrist." Ergo your credibility when you fudge on something this small.

I'll exit the soapbox, but wanted to give some well deserved credit where credit is due in addition to expressing a some personal observations on some topics of late.

John Cleckner of C89 dispatched the following and I decided to add it to the one I did, because of the extended information he provided.(Note: where personal happenings prevail, you will be able to tell by "I") I would like to reiterate John's invitation for checking in to the SFA Website. There is a bundle of information up there, and many discussions, which some of you may find interesting. As John mentioned to his members, if you have a problem, call Mel at: (910) 485-5433 or call me and I think I can talk you through the process, which is quite simple now..................Jim
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Convention was a good one. Lots of info, lots of changes in SFA, great Venue (Palace Station Hotel and Casino), great food, lots to do, and Chapter 51 did an excellent job giving everyone everything they needed for a great time.

Regrettably, 96 SFA members have died this year and 47 of our SF War Fighters and been KIA.

United States Army Special Forces teams are in 47 Countries around the World, with 3715 Green Berets committed. We were involved with the Columbia South America rescue and also the successful defeat of the revolutionaries in Sri Lanka. We all know about Saddam and the other high targets from Al Qaeda.

SF Teams will be adding important individuals to the SFOD-A (New MOS Operators-Intel, Ops, Tech, and mobility) to accommodate today’s World and the Wars and Battles being fought.

The Chapter 51 Prez told me that there would be 850 at the banquet. There was a ton of Chapter Prez at the Prez meeting. (around 60 sounds about right) Everything was resolved that was controversial in SFA over the last several years. We are moving on.

I learned a hellova lot during the two meetings. (Presidents and General Membership) General Repass (SF Commander) was fantastic.

President Ron McCan and ALL of the SFA Officers really have their s--t together and all they want to do is support the Chapters and SFA. They have cleaned up SFA and put in place excellent programs, brought us into the 21st Century, and made it clear that SFA means all of the Chapters. I am not separating the two. There are different obligations etc that must be handled and accomplished as you know.

The active duty SF is incredible and loves SFA and especially all of the old timers from 1952 to about 1980. They credit us for training up everyone and setting the standards that prevail today.

For those of you who are wondering about how we (SF) are doing in the World, General Repass said, and I quote, "If you want to take a city you send in the Rangers, "If" you want to take over a Country, you send in Special Forces (The Green Berets). He made it clear that we are NO LONGER the Quiet Professionals, he said the new policy is that we WILL let everyone know what we are doing and of our accomplishments. He further stated, when you hear of a bunch of captives being released, or a bad guy getting killed or captured, it is SF that is doing it, no matter who gets credit. He said that was going to stop. The term “Green Beret” was used more at these meetings than I have ever heard it used to describe us.

General Repass is a trip (SF Commander) All SF. Totally committed to the troops. Loves SFA.

As far as the "SFA ISSUES" they were all explained and taken care of at both meetings. Remember that this New Board of SFA Officers inherited a real can of worms. The CSMs that have taken over SFA are no nonsense guys, Smart, innovative, and tell it like it is. I was totally impressed with all of them especially the Prez (Beaver McCan) and the Asst. Sec. Chris Zets (7th Gp CSM Ret.)

If anyone has an issue with Mel, note that Ron McCan has taken every job from him and given it to someone else so Mel can do his job as Administrator. Mel was trying to handle everything that needed to be handled. Now there is a system set in place to run the SFA without burdening a couple of people. This is the way it was done in the Past. Pappy Greer and Jimmy Dean were great guys, but they were SFA and did everything. That has changed.

The issue of Secretary also was agreed upon, and that was to wait until the next election to resolve it (Mel is both Administrator and Secretary and some think that is a conflict of interest). The past Prez DID NOT do his job and move on the vote in Nashville. That "Issue" was not done on the current Board of Officer's watch and these guys ask us what we wanted to do and that was the vote "wait till next election and address it again".

SFA has developed very important Committees to address a number of issues in SFA/Chapters. This is all good as far as I am concerned. SFA is spreading the wealth around and the Chapters are making most if not all of the recommendations. e.g. Associate membership. There will NEVER be anyone eliminated. A new revised (maybe) process will be put in place. It will be fair and will come from a group of about 9 Chapter members from various Chapters who are on that committee.

For the record, SFA has set in place 14 Committees (6 new ones) that anyone can volunteer for. Some of them were filled at the Convention. Some are still open. I volunteered for the Membership, Constitutional, and as CRAFT set in, one more, as no one showed any interest in it, and it needed someone to get it going. Yea, I know, but, whatever, someone has to do it.

No one from I-XVIII volunteered for any of the Committees that I noted. So decisions will be made outside of Fayetteville for a change.

The Strategic plan was written as it was voted on by the membership. As part of the September Business Meeting Agenda, all of the areas covered in the President meeting will be available to our membership.

PLEASE get on the SFA WEB SITE. It is easy and if you can’t for some reason, call Mel Smith at (910) 485-5433, and he will walk you through it.
The SFA Web Site is being reworked by “Top Web Site Gurus” to make it friendlier and more informative. Please go there to be better informed as to what is going on in SFA (That means all of the Chapters).

The next two Conventions will be in Fayetteville and Orlando respectively. Marilyn and I plan to make them both. If you can, and have never been to a SFA Convention in Fayetteville, you need to try to go. You have a year to save and plan. There will be a tremendous program next year to show us all the facilities and everything at Ft. Bragg, Pope AFB and Camp McCall. Note, the 7th Gp is moving to Eglin AFB Florida.
end quote
.........Jim

This message has been edited. Last edited by: RingosRule,

Jim,

Outstanding SITREP. Accurate and informative.

Thanks.

Can't wait to see the photos.

Don

Ringo, thank you for taking the time to post this info. You are right about Beaver. I was on a MTT in Thailand with him back in the 80's. Good man. Did you know Paul Moody? Haven't heard or seen him in ages. Don, Glad to hear your wife is doing fine. I didn't know she was ill. I will be at the Convention in Fayetteville and hopefully the one in Orlando too. You guys be good and hope to link up with you all at the next convention. (I've got the first round).

quote:

Originally posted by Duster6:
Ringo, thank you for taking the time to post this info. You are right about Beaver. I was on a MTT in Thailand with him back in the 80's. Good man. Did you know Paul Moody? Haven't heard or seen him in ages. Don, Glad to hear your wife is doing fine. I didn't know she was ill. I will be at the Convention in Fayetteville and hopefully the one in Orlando too. You guys be good and hope to link up with you all at the next convention. (I've got the first round).

Mike, thanks, looking forward to it. Plan on being at both of them myself. I sincerely feel that, everyone, will see changes in the Association which, will make it much more "user friendly" for those who want to attend the conventions.

I encountered more NCO and a couple Officers who knew and had worked with my son Mike, aka: RUDY. The best part is/was all their comments were favorable to excellent. The biggest and most "famous" comments ran the line of; Rudy Ringland, yea I know him, the man of one word sentences. I think the two most relevant was by one of the other HALO COMMITTEE MFFI, who witnessed a critique of a student jump. "Sgt Ringland, how was the jump?" ~ "Sucked" ~ "What was wrong with it?" ~ "You don't know?" ~ "No, what do I need to do to fix it?" "Figure it out and let me know." As he walked off towards the next student he was grading. Then one of the other guys commented on being on his A-Team in South America when they received word that a tidal wave was headed in their direction; people are restless, but not Rudy, he was calming everyone down, while trying to get a better assessment of the situation. Then he commented to the effect; "Yup, tidal wave, let's head to higher ground, move out."

I think everyone I met (most of the new board knew him) who knew him had a different story about Rudy. All these comments helped me to stand taller, with pride, too.

We have had, over the years, those who have been banned for some reason or another from entering certain towns, places, etc., but I think Rudy is the only SF Soldier to be barred for life from ever entering a country. I guess some of the people in management was going to throw him out of group, and waste an awful lot of money and expertise. Then some folks got their stuff together and went to bat for him, which saved the day. But to this day, he has never returned to Costa Rica. I think all his attention was diverted to Columbia before and after retiring. Now he is in hog heaven sitting around building, testing, and playing with his favorite toy; GUNS. One of the guys told me of the time that Rudy and Brad built a STEN, from scratch, with parts they made themselves. They took it out test fired it and said "Yup, it works" and I have no idea what happened to it, except it may have spent several years stashed in my basement until he got married, packed up and sold to friends, every weapon he owned, because a married man didn't have any business with such hardware in his house. I still have a long barrel pump, air pistol he left me, which he made when he was in high school. He made a bunch of black powder guns before graduating. Three of them were 50 cal. The rifle leaves your shoulder black and blue, while the pistol rose a good arms length 70 degrees upward after the ignition.

Oh well, I've rambled on long enough, so will bid you all a fine evening and a much better tomorrow, from today.

Don, how is Karen coming along?........Jeeem

Jim,

Karen waves 'HI!' and thanks you for your kind concern.

Karen is getting some meds which relieve a great deal of the pain, permitting her to sleep better...sometimes through the night. The MRIs have revealed no cysts or tumors on the spine, which is good but begs the question - then what is causing it? Still the topic of protracted discussion amongst the doctors.


We drive on not knowing, because drivin' on is what we know how to do, right?
The alternative is to quit and I have never done that of my own volition.

Thanks for asking Jim...you are a friend.

Good night and our best to Marilyn.

quote:

Originally posted by Duster6:
Ringo, thank you for taking the time to post this info. You are right about Beaver. I was on a MTT in Thailand with him back in the 80's. Good man. Did you know Paul Moody? Haven't heard or seen him in ages. Don, Glad to hear your wife is doing fine. I didn't know she was ill. I will be at the Convention in Fayetteville and hopefully the one in Orlando too. You guys be good and hope to link up with you all at the next convention. (I've got the first round).

Mike sorry 'bout that, but realized I didn't mention Pauo Moody. No, I do no know him, however, I have seen the nametag at one time or another.

The case is done and over with and the Lads at 1-18 didn't do squat. If grounds for expulsion was not there, I don't know what one would have to do to get kicked out. Leaves a bad taste on a lot of out tongues..........latter Gater.... Ringo ®

Guys,
There are a couple "SF Qualified only" internet boards.

Those are the places to air any dirty laundry we might have.

It's one thing to entetain the peanut gallery with tales of "daring do" and war stories.

The internal stuff needs to stay internal.

quote:

Originally posted by snykypyt:
Guys,
There are a couple "SF Qualified only" internet boards.

Those are the places to air any dirty laundry we might have.

It's one thing to entetain the peanut gallery with tales of "daring do" and war stories.

The internal stuff needs to stay internal.

Michael me Lad, had ya of told us of these super secret locations we old fellahs wuddenof blabbered so much restricted data.

Kindly be more forthright sooner so we may be less bothersome to yer sensitive eers 'n ayes. ...........Ringo

quote:

Originally posted by snykypyt:
Guys,
There are a couple "SF Qualified only" internet boards.

Those are the places to air any dirty laundry we might have.

It's one thing to entetain the peanut gallery with tales of "daring do" and war stories.

The internal stuff needs to stay internal.

And where might these SF Only forums be??? And what is to prevent phonies from entering and chiming in on the conversations??

Jim,

I believe that Mike might be thinking of The Web Drop and The Teamhouse, although that's merely an assumption on my part.

However, none of what you or I or any other BTDT has imparted here qualifies as even remotely sensitive information (much less an OPSEC violation), nor do any of our discussions constitute "airing dirty laundry" from the Teams or the SFA...although what that means tends to vary greatly from person to person.

Now, if anyone came on board one of our discussion forums and voluteered some specific improprieties from active ODA teammates (criminal activity or violations of regs or personal/family difficulties) or business of the Association of a sensitive manner, I think you and Toby and Mike and Murph and I - and others - would be all over it like white on rice, but to my knowledge that has not occurred in years.

We qualify ourselves reasonably well here and it doesn't take many posts to sift through those who are and those who are not.

In my humble opinion of course.

Have a nice day,

Don sends

I ain't yer lad, nor anybody else's.

I think the circuis for impressing wannabees gets a bit maudlin and embarrassing.

I only did four years with 18 months in a border camp, but I believe I earned an opinion.


I belonged to one of the groups mentioned for about 15 years and this one for over 5.

Gee Mike,

That was a little harsh. Of course you've earned an opinion...and more.

At Jim's age the term 'lad' is something almost everyone qualifies for...it don't mean a thing, especially no disrespect.

Have a better one,

Don

quote:

Originally posted by snykypyt:
I ain't yer lad, nor anybody else's.{FYI, I am closer to 76 then 75}Mike, with respect for your time with a Team, in any form, I will respond to your comments, even though I owe you nadda. FIRSTLY, "Lad" is a term some use towards one who is far junior in age and wisdom. "Son" is another term, however, I had a tit for tat with a young stud in one of the last companies I served with before retiring. B/1/16/1IDF-Germany; where every First Sergeant has a number of less then startling members under his guidance. One such morning I interviewed a young man for improprieties of late. At one point I addressed him as "Son". He got downright indignant and told me he wasn't my son, and not to call him son. I looked at him and asked him if he rather be called a S*** H*** while calling into the CO asking if he was ready for Specialist Smith? LHAO, the Old Man told me to send Smith in. I looked at Smith and said; "OK S*** H*** the Company Commander is ready for you. The CO explained the facts of life of dealing with First Sergeants, before he dismissed Smith.
I think the circus for impressing wannabees gets a bit maudlin and embarrassing. This philosophy escapes me, as I fail to remember any impression one way or the other in the comments you assert too.

I only did four years with 18 months in a border camp, but I believe I earned an opinion.Once one has graduated Training Command he is entitled to an opinion, albeit it be of knowledgeable information, or suffer the "lashing" of those who have been there done that. Not only in this forum, but in every day life in SF matters. Just as a personal note, I was teaching communications long before there ever was a SFTG and over the years accrued something like 7 years teaching on the Commo, Branch/T&T Committees, to include being one of the committee members who formatted and designed the MOI Training Committee. Everyone has an opinion on every topic, and their thoughts are always welcomed, as long as they are constructive and productive.


I belonged to one of the groups mentioned for about 15 years and this one for over 5.

This one eludes me. What "Groups" do you have an accrued ten years in?

Respectfully submitted for your consideration.....Ringo