President's Message
(April 2009)

Hello to all!
Greetings from your new Chapter President.  This is a new endeavor for me which I am greatly looking forward to.  I take on this responsibility with the strong belief that the rights and benefits of all US Veterans must be maintained and their voices must be heard.  AFSA membership is one simple way we can ensure that veterans needs are met now and for the future.

First, a little bit about me.  I joined the Air Force in May of 1989.  I spent my active duty tour of duty at Elmendorf AFB back when it was still the AAC (Alaskan Air Command) now part of PACAF.  Upon discharge from active duty I came back to Minnesota and started a family.  But, something was missing.  After a short break in service I joined the 934th Airlift Wing Civil Engineering Squadron.  15 years later I’m still here and loving every minute of it.  The unit and the wing have become my second family and with them I have been all over the world and seen many things. 

We have another exciting year planned for our chapter and for AFSA as an organization.   To start, I’m looking for ambitious people to fill out our leadership team!  Positions up for filling are; Secretary, Trustees, etc.)  To make this organization run well, we need people to step up and make a difference!  The leadership team is what makes the chapter tick.  Taking on a leadership role for our chapter is a great way to expand your leadership and management skills, and this is a great way to give back to the organization.  This is also an opportunity for a new leader(s) to take the organization to the next level.  Please come and see what we have planned for 2009 and put your name in the hat to be one of our new leaders.

Our chapter is also assissting the AFA on the annual awards banquet.  We will need many volunteers to help with the event.   This is our opportunity to give thanks and recognition to our top performers in our region.  Please register for the event soon and put the April 18th banquet, on your calendars.  If you don’t have the time to help out, you can help with a small donation to our chapter or to the banquet.  Contact me for more information.

This organization is about helping our people and helping our communities!  We all can do a little as a representative of AFSA in conjunction with other organizations and events.  As an example, for our May membership meeting, we are doing a FOOD SHELF DRIVE.  Each of you can volunteer in your own communities as representatives of AFSA.  You can always send a donation to help out the organization. 

Thanks for being a member!  “Let’s make a difference”

Si ncerely ,

Tara L. Venem
President, AFSA Chapter 858
tlvenem@aol.com

Page last updated: 1 April 2009