Rhode Island Chapter Newsletter www.ausari.org.org

THE PATRIOT Supporting a Relevant and Ready Army at War

“Voice of the Army, Support for the Soldier”

Vol.1, Winter 2017

President's Message

LTC (R) Robert Galvanin

Important Dates

17 Jan 2018

21 Feb 2018

21 Mar 2018

18 Apr 2018

ExCom Mtg., 6:30 PM

ExCom Mtg., 6:30 PM

ExCom Mtg., 6:30 PM

ExCom Mtg., 6:30 PM

Our Voice Speaks on Behalf

of RI’s Soldiers and Their Family Members

Your website - www.ausari.org - is where you need to go to find out what is happening regarding our local meetings, scholarship application info, links to relevant areas of interest, copy of this newsletter and other important information.

Be sure to visit often!

Since our last newsletter your RI Chapter’s Executive Committee has been tirelessly working to support our Soldiers and their families. Since the 2017-2018 Operational Year began on July 1st we’ve done the following: 1) presented an RIAUSA Chapter award to a very deserving RI National Guard OCS graduate as well as sponsoring an AUSA membership to each of the 5 OCS grads, 2) attended the AUSA Annual Meeting in Washington, DC and participated in some meaningful discussions on how to best support our Soldiers, and 3) honored 7 Soldiers, NCOs, or Recruiters of the Year from their higher commands at a terrific event that was supported by many of our generous Corporate Members. Additionally, we have supported or contributed to numerous military related events or causes. I would only ask that each of you continue your membership in AUSA and ask others to become members as well. You can access the latest application/renewal form on our website at www.ausari.org or join/renew on-line at www.ausa.org. Thank you for your continued support.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Bob

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Vol 1, Winter 2017

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SOLDIERS OF EXCELLENCE

HONORED The Quonset O’Club on October 19th was the scene of the Rhode Island Chapter’s 1st General Membership Meeting, the annual Tribute to the State’s Soldiers of Excellence. The event was sponsored by AUSA Sustaining Member, Banneker Industries, Inc. through whose generosity attendess were able to attend as their guests. Additional supporters were: Arden Engineering, Furey Roofing, RIMOFW, RIROA, COL Dennis Perrino and family and COL John Petrella and family. The Chapter salutes you all!

After a welcoming from Chapter President LTC(R) Bob Galvanin, a brief memorial service took place to honor those Rhode Islanders who made the ultimate sacrifice in the fight for freedom, followed by an Invocation by Gold Star parent Richard August. A great buffet style meal was then enjoyed by all prior to the evening’s primary purpose, which was to honor those Soldiers and their families from the Active, National Guard, and Reserve Components that had been selected as the Soldier, NCO, or Recruiter of the past year from their commands.

At the conclusion of the meal the program commenced with LTC Galvanin provided information about AUSA, its mission, and why people should become a member. Cheryl Snead, President and CEO of Banneker Industries followed with a brief overview of what Banneker Industries is, what it does, and why it was supporting this event. CSM (R) John Mancini, Gold Star parent, then spoke to those Soldiers being recognized on the importance of their service and sacrifice.

The honorees for the evening were then asked to come forward and were presented with awards for their achievements by the RI Chapter and Banneker representatives. The honorees were as follows:

From the: U.S. Army Recruiting Company - SFC Lee H. Bishop, SSG Anthony E. Fiorillo and SGT Nathan

D. Hodge. 98th Division, US Army Reserve - SSG Nicholas M. Minor. Rhode Island Army National Guard -SFC Michael S. Vingi, SGT Timothy S. Armstrong and SPC Keiber E. Chon. Well done all!

A raffle was conducted with great prizes, followed by the playing of the Army Song. Many who attended congratulated the members of the ExCom for hosting such a wonderful evening and for taking the time to recognize these deserving Soldiers.

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Vol 1, Winter 2017

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AUSA ANNUAL MEETING

From 8 through 11 October 2017 RI Chapter President LTC(R) Bob Galvanin and State President LTC (R) Dennis Morgan represented our Chapter at the AUSA Annual Meeting in Washington, DC. On Sunday afternoon they attended a Chapter Officer Training session and that evening they attended the Chapter President's Dinner, where LTC Galvanin accepted a number of the 16 streamers the Chapter received for their efforts supporting AUSA goals over the past year. On Monday morning they attended the grand Opening Ceremony which just gets better each year with honoring our Army and its Soldiers. Later that day they attended the AUSA Corporate Luncheon, held each year to recognize the support of AUSA’s Corporate Members. They also took the opportunity to walk the massive exhibit floor and speak with many representatives of companies in the defense industry that support our Army and its Soldiers.

They attended a Chapter Presidents and Delegates Workshop conducted on Tuesday which mainly revolved around innovative techniques for recruiting and retaining members.

At the 1st Region/European Region Breakfast on Wednesday morning with LTG Ben Hodges, Commander U.S. Army Europe, LTC Galvanin accepted the remaining achievement streamers

awarded to the Chapter. LTC Morgan received a recognition award for his years of service as 1st Region Vice President. RI Adjutant General BG Christopher Callahan also attended the

breakfast as a guest of the Chapter.

Bob has been the RI Chapter President for nearly ten years and his leadership has been widely recognized. Thanks to the support of an experienced and dedicated Executive Committee, the Chapter has consistently been at or near the top of the 122 Chapters in AUSA, winning

prestigious Best Chapter Awards in 2006 and 2014.

This was a meeting well worth attending and having our Chapter represented.

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Membership Matters Membership Matters

American Cord & Webbing - Arden Engineering Constructors, LLC - Flynn Financial

Italo American Club of RI - Kelly's Car Wash, Inc. - Furey Roofing & Construction Co., Inc.

Luxury Cleaners - Navajo Fabrics - Naval War College Library

RI Commandery, MOFW - RI Department, ROA - Rosco Manufacturing, LLC - TPI Composites

*SUSTAINING MEMBERS*

Banneker Industries - Corvias Military Living - KVH Industries

Rosco Manufacturing is an American manufacturer of hard-use precision rifle barrels. Their production facility in Central Falls,

RI has over 50,000 square feet of production space with room for high volume capacity. Rosco supplies major gun

manufacturers (the world over) with high quality products. Through superior workmanship and unprecedented engineering,

their product line continues to exceed expectations and provides a complete solution for the OEM.

RIAUSA is proud to have Rosco Manufacturing, as a Corporate Member!

(Each issue highlights a RIAUSA Sustaining/Corporate Member)

As of 1 Dec 2017 your Chapter

membership total stands at 378

membership down from a high of

401 two years ago, DESPITE all

the new members you see to the

right.

LISTEN UP - We need YOUR

HELP to keep AUSA's voice

strong for our Soldiers. Each of us

can and should reach out to

someone (anyone can be an

AUSA member) and ask them to

join AUSA and our Chapter. They

can sign up on line at

www.ausa.org or simply forward

your prospective member's name

and contact info to our VP

Membership, MSG (R) Everett

Federici at 401-294-3557 or

efederici@ieta.biz and we will do

all the work.

Please be a part in this serious

effort to recruit members!

New Chapter Members

SPC Matthew Erler SGT Timothy Armstrong SSG Anthony Fiorillo

SSG Nicholas Minior MSG John Walsh

2LT Michael Costello

2LT Jeffrey Knez 2LT Joshua Medbery

2LT Stephen Siclari 2LT Kaidian Smith

Ms. Donna Aguilera

Ms. Tarra Ferrara

Mr. Barnaby Jackson

Ms. Kathleen Kelly

Mr. Michael Kelly

Mr. Christopher Kenny

Mr. Charles Lombardi Mr. Colin McClennan

Mr. Matthew Melone

Mr. Steven Rivera

Ms. Beth Rogers Mrs. Kerry Taveira

Chapter Meetings

Your Chapter hard working

Executive Committee meets on

the third Wednesday of the month

from 6:30 PM to 8 PM at the Italo

American Club, 477 Broadway,

Providence. All members are

welcome to attend these meetings.

Simply contact your Chapter

Secretary, CSM Ferri, to notify

The Club provides delicious meals

and the bar is open for

refreshments!

RI Corporate Members Appreciated

"Show me your membership

card or give 20"

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Vol 1, Winter 2017

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PRESIDENT

LTC Robert Galvanin

bpje5310@verizon.net

CSM Leonard Maglione, USA (Ret.) RIAUSA Chapter Officers

2017 - 2018

PRESIDENT LTC Robert Galvanin bpje5310@verizon.net

VICE PRESIDENT CSM (R) Leonard Maglione mrcsm@verizon.net SECRETARY

CSM (R) Anthony Ferri afnf458673755@aol.com TREASURER COL (R) Michael Patalano miketheowl@aol.com

VICE PRES. MEMBERSHIP MSG (R) Everett Federici efederici@ieta.biz

VICE PRES. ACTIVE ARMY CPT James Whitney james.r.whitney24.mil@mail.mil VICE PRES. Young Professionals

1SG Amy Sexton amy.sextonwilliamson.mil@mail.mil VICE PRES. ARMY RESERVE

LTC (R) Joseph Hoey jhoey@ardeneng.com VICE PRES. ARMY GUARD SSG (R) Luis Souza

bluechip44@cox.net AST. VICE PRES. AWARDS 1SGT Richard Enos pate612@cox.net

CHAPLAIN CPT Charles Reade creade@reade.com STATE PRESIDENT

LTC Dennis Morgan dmorganltc@gmail.com

Our mission - support and recognition of RI Soldiers and their families!

RI Chapter Vice President CSM(R) Leonard "Lenny" Maglione, age 75, answered the Last Roll Call on 22 Sep. surrounded by his loving family. Lenny spent 35 years in the Army Reserves and served as a Command Sergeant Major in both the 76th and 78th Divisions retiring in 1998.

His love of Soldiers was always evident in the way he worked to support Rhode Island's Soldiers and their families through our RI

Chapter sponsored events. He was a District Pro Account Manager for Home Depot for many years. Lenny was a terrific husband, father, and

grandfather who will be missed by all who knew him, and his experience on the Chapter Executive Committee will be hard to

replace.

The Great War Remembered ea

April 6th 2017 marked the 100th anniversary of America's entry into WW I known at the time as "The Great War" which ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.

When Rhode Island troops returned home from World War I, they were asked what meal they missed the most as a commemorative event for the first Veterans Day was being planned. Their answer: Hot dogs, chowder and beer. That simple, American meal has been served every year since the first Infantry Lodge Associates ceremony!

It was no different at the Squantum Assoc. this year where Infantry Lodge ceremonies have been held for many years in commemoration of those who served in WW I. Many RI Chapter AUSA members were on hand to take part, including our President Galvanin and State President Morgan.

Rhode Island Chapter

CSM Anthony Ferri 47 Spokane Street Providence, RI 02904

Retired Soldiers - Still Proud, Still Serving, Still Saluting!

Retired Soldier Council - There are 967,000 Retired Soldiers and over 246,00 surviving spouses. We are the Army's largest demographic as there are just over one million Soldiers currently serving in the Active, Guard and Reserve -combined!

Army Recruiting Command - Our Army still need YOU! If the Army transformed you, gave you new perspective, made you better, or positively impacted your life, please help us reconnect with the American people. As Soldiers for Life, serve beside us as ambassadors and help us educate today's youth about the importance of service and the value of a career in the U.S. Army. If you would like to participate in our campaign, find out how at www.goarmy.com/cp

Automatic Prescription Refills - Since 1 Sep 2017 Express Scripts will need annual consent from patients who want to receive automatic refills of the maintenance medications enrolled in TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery. Express Scripts will notify the client by email or telephone.

Voice for the Army - Support for the Soldier

From WW II to GWOT, Mr. RIAUSA CSM(R) Tony Ferri takes care of Soldiers.