SAME Support to
Joint Engineer Initiatives

   SAME Workshops and Conferences: SAME HQ sponsored two ASCE/SAME Leadership Workshops that brought together 50 Post Leaders, four RVPs, six National Committee Chairs and members of the Academy of Fellows and HQ staff. I attended the workshop in Orlando and Brig. Gen. Jeff Dorko, USA, attended the workshop in Phoenix. SAME colleagues who attended the workshops proudly represented us among the 200 members of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). We participated fully in some ASCE sessions, wearing our uniforms and SAME shirts, and also spent a considerable amount of time in our own meetings discussing leadership challenges specific to SAME. We plan to hold two sessions again next winter, so please start thinking about sending one of your key leaders, or your future Post President. The purpose of the workshop is to prepare Post Leaders for the challenges of serving as Post President. You'll find this well worth the time!

   Regional Conferences: The Joint Rocky Mountain and Southwest Regional Conference in Denver, Colo., was an outstanding success. Held in conjunction with a Small Business Conference, attendance was high and featured speakers from the region as well as Washington, D.C. Congratulations to the Denver Metro Post for its outstanding efforts in hosting this event and to the Army, Navy and Air Force for their attendance.

   Spring and Summer Events: SAME will host two inaugural events this spring to honor West Point and Air Force Academy cadets who elect to become engineers upon graduation this spring. These events support SAME mentoring goals, as well as give lower classmen an opportunity to observe the engineer family as they consider their career choices. SAME can play a vital role in influencing the career decisions of service academy and ROTC cadets.

   Following the Academy events, we look forward to a large turnout at the 2005 Joint Engineer Education Training Conference and Expo in Louisville, Ky., May 17-20. For those of you who attended in 1996, Churchill Downs again will play host to the icebreaker event, providing a wonderful setting to kick off the festivities. We compressed the conference into two action-packed days of recognition, relevant technical programs and engaging networking events. Of special note is the increased attention we will give to our Young Members. Rear Adm. Michael K. Loose, Lt. Gen. Carl A. Strock, and I plan to host Junior Officer Mentoring Sessions for our junior officers and Young Member civilians in each of our respective services. We invite Young Members from the private sector to attend these sessions and learn more about our operations, our hot topics and our mission focus.

   One of the many highlights of the 2005 Joint Engineer Education & Training Conference and Expo is the presentation of SAME Medals and Awards. We have such a talented and dedicated group of people and organizations that it is a pleasure to honor the best of the best. The awards selection committee accomplished a difficult task in selecting our winners and this year, based on the Committee's recommendations, we will recognize the winner and runner-up in each category. This expanded recognition is a true testament to the quality of the people and nominations we received. In my opinion, you are all winners!

   We also look forward to presenting the Society Streamer awards, the cash awards for Posts that achieved the top net growth in membership in 2004, and awards to the top SAME recruiters for 2004. We invite all SAME members to attend the Post Awards and Leadership Transition Breakfast to celebrate the accomplishments of our Posts, leaders and recruiters.

   Finally, SAME Executive Director Bob Wolff is working with NCOs to host the 2nd Annual Joint Engineer Senior NCO Symposium in June. We chose the Texoma Regional Conference as the venue and will conduct a one-day seminar, then travel to Sheppard AFB for two days. The Engineering Service Chiefs fully endorse this new annual event as an outstanding example of how SAME can assist them in educating our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines on our respective capabilities. This is a fine example of joint engineering. Our NCO's represent a significant talent pool in our military services. I am delighted that SAME has welcomed them into our association and made it possible for them to receive the benefits that all of us have received as SAME members.

   See you in Louisville!

Maj. Gen. L. Dean Fox, F.SAME, USAF
SAME President, 2004-2005

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