P. O. BOX 269295
The 25th
meeting of the DINFOS Alumni Association was held on June
30, 2007. There were 22 persons in attendance.
The President,
Jack Rubak, opened the meeting. The Pledge of Allegiance
was led by Colonel Roy Whitton, USAF-Retired, followed by a
Benediction by Colonel John Christy, USA-Ret.
After the
luncheon, all persons present were asked to introduce
themselves and tell about what they are doing at work or
otherwise.
Next, was the
Guest Speaker, Lawrence (Bo) Connor, retired Managing Editor
of the Indianapolis Star gave a very interesting
presentation on what it was like being the Managing Editor
of a major city newspaper. He cited humorous incidents that
took place, and seriously described how he handled two major
events that took place in Indianapolis during his tenure –
the Coliseum Explosion in 1963 that killed 75 persons and
the big blizzard of 1978. He was applauded by all present
for his informative presentation.
Dr. Rubak then
gave an overview from an update he had received from Mike
Gannon on “What’s New at Ft. Meade.” A copy of the update
is attached, but these are some of the highlights:
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Gannon
reported that the school is undergoing a major
reorganization. A proposal is to replace military
members in management/leadership positions with civilian
personnel, but keep military members in teaching
positions. |
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Two new
courses were completed this past quarter. The first
class of the Navy Mass Communications Specialists who
had completed the 109 training-day Mass Communications
Course graduated in April. The other new course is the
three-week Joint Senior Public Affairs Course for senior
0-5s and 0-6s. There was a full complement for the
first iteration of this course. |
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The school
currently graduates about 3,000 students a year of which
nearly 25% are Reserve or National Guard personnel. |
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An outside
consultant has been hired for distance learning. |
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In May, the
school hosted the third annual DOD Awards
presentations. DINFOS presented the top awards in the
Military Photographer of the Year. There were more than
2500 entries from nearly 350 entrants. |
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All four
Service detachments have or will have changed leadership
this spring/early summer. |
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The new
Defense Media Activity (DMA), a consolidation of AFRTS,
AFIS, Navy Media Center, Soldiers’ Media Center and the
AF News Agency, will “stand up” on October 1, 2007. |
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The new
student barracks are now on the books for construction
in 2011. |
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DINFOS is now
aligned under Rear Admiral Frank Thorp, the Deputy
Assistant Secretary of Defense (Joint Communication).
Captain Graham, the Commandant, reports to Admiral
Thorp, and AFIS remains as the school’s primary
headquarters for personnel and budgetary matters. |
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The DINFOS
Board of Governors, consisting of the Service PA and VI
Chiefs, as well as representatives from OSD Policy
Office, the Joint Staff and the National Guard Bureau,
held its second meeting this week.
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Alumni
Association business was then discussed. Dr. Rubak
mentioned that proposal (approved by our alumni Executive
Council) was forwarded to the school at Ft. Meade to award
one-year, free memberships to all future graduating
students. Tom Conrad has prepared a brochure be handed out
to all graduates along with a card giving them a telephone
number to call to activate their card and give us their
current mailing address. The President introduced the
Alumni Association’s new Membership Chairman, Mike Scott,
who will work on preparing the one-year, free membership
card. When the membership card has been prepared, copies
will be printed along with the brochure, and forwarded to
the school for distribution to selected graduating classes.
Another request
was made by the Chairman asking for a volunteer to serve as
Treasurer of the Alumni Association. Anyone interested,
should let Dr. Rubak know.
The Alumni
Association’s deepest sympathy was extended to the families
of Colonel Frank Meek, USAF-Ret, SGM Manny Harper, USA-Ret,
and Dotti Thau. These three alumni members died within the
past year.
The meeting
adjourned at 1:15 pm.
Respectfully
submitted,
Jack Rubak
President
Helen C. Stritt
Treasurer
Attendees at June
30, 2007 Alumni Association Meeting:
Hal Barron
Perry Brandt
Col John Christy,
USA-Ret
Marla Christy
Rose Conrad
Tom Conrad
Bo Connor (Guest
Speaker)
Dolys Gelke
Marina Griner
Richard Hassing
Mike LaBonne
Ken Lord
Sandra Lord
Eula Mallery
Richard Mallery
Jack Rubak
Mike Scott
Helen Stritt
Mary Ellen Stritt
Jan Walton
Roy Whitton, USAF-Ret
Winnie Withers
