Sunday, July 29, 2012

Weekly News & Agenda for Tuesday, 7/31/12

1. AGENDA FOR TUESDAY, 7/31/12:

0700-0730: INTRODUCTIONS & ASSISTANCE

We'll get the meeting started with roundtable introductions, focusing on any networking needs. Feel free to also bring up any topics of general interest.

0730-0800: SPEAKER/PROGRAM

Biznet member Chuck Franceschi (USAFA '79) will speak on the tax impacts for retirement income.  Chuck is a finanicial services representative with Five Rings Financial.
 
2. UPCOMING TUESDAY PROGRAMS:

7/31/12 (this week):  Chuck Franceschi - see above.

8/7/12:  Jim Rowland (USNA '92) will talk about his recent experience and perspectives on Guantanamo Bay.  Jim spent much of his Navy career in intelligence and cryptology. He served for a significant period of time at Guantanamo Bay as one of the declassification officers for Guantanamo intelligence. 

8/14/12:  Bob Ahrens (USNA '69) will talk with us about a pilot program to provide mentoring for USNA alumni. The program is being proposed as part of a class gift from USNA '69.

If you'd like to invite a speaker or lead a discussion yourself on any future Tuesday morning, just let me know at panicciaj@aol.com

3.  2012 COLORADO WOMEN VETERANS RESOURCE FAIR - August 25 (Greenwood Village)

Thanks to Biznet member Bob Fretzs (USAFA '71) for passing along this item from 
Kathryn Wirkus, Lt Col, USAF (Ret).  She writes:

As chair of the planning committee, I would like to send you information for your use and for widest dissemination on the Colorado Women Veterans Resource Fair 2012. The event will be held on August 25, 2012 at the Hilton Double Tree Hotel, 7801 East Orchard Road, Greenwood Village, CO 80011 from 8:30 - 3:30. This is the second year of this free event and we will also be holding a reception at the hotel Friday night Aug 24, 2012 from 6-8 pm.

This year's keynote speaker will be Undersecretary of Veterans Benefits, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Brig Gen Allison Hickey, USAF (Ret). We will hold six classes offering information on career, health & wellness, and lifeskills training. The conference is to give women veterans information, education and access to their VA benefits as well as an opportunity to obtain information on education, housing, health care including mental health, employment and other items of interest to women veterans. We will have 50 resource/exhibitor tables offering information to women veterans in a wide range of areas. We will also be offering resume reviews and practice interviews.

This conference is hosted in collaboration with various federal, state, county, local businesses and nonprofit organizations. It is a grassroots effort to honor and support Colorado's women veterans and is solely supported by generous sponsors and donors. There is still an opportunity to become a donor and/or sponsor to make this event a total success.

Please feel free to distribute this information to your various contacts to ensure as many women veterans are able to attend as possible. To register online as an attendee, sponsor, or exhibitor, please go to http://www.cowomenveteransconference.org/ for additional information.

4.  SERVICE ACADEMY CAREER CONFERENCE (SACC) - August 23-24 (San Diego)

Are you curious about what is going on in the business world? Are you thinking about changing positions? Have you decided to separate? If you answered yes, we have the perfect way to make your transition easier. Join us for the San Diego SACC on August 23–24. We expect in the neighborhood of 60 companies to attend the San Diego SACC–companies that are expressly interested in meeting, interviewing, and hiring service academy graduates. No matter where you are in the employment cycle, SACC is a wonderful tool at your disposal.
SACC will be held at the Manchester Grand Hyatt-San Diego, One Market Place, San Diego. The pre-registration deadline to have your resume included in the recruiters' book is August 12th. For a list of companies currently registered for San Diego and to register for the San Diego SACC, please visit https://members.usafa.org/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.sacc-jobfair.com&srcid=35308&srctid=1&erid=13584494&trid=5b518866-6e74-4141-9306-3d4137b3cc55 and follow the links to San Diego.

If this SACC does not fit into your plans, future SACCs are scheduled for San Antonio, TX (Nov. 15-16, 2012), Savannah, GA (Feb. 28–Mar. 1, 2013), and Washington, D.C. (May 23–24, 2013).

===================================================

Have a great week.

Joe Paniccia (USMA '84)
panicciaj@aol.com

Service Academy BizNet of Denver meets weekly on Tuesdays at 0700, in the Marriott Hotel at the Denver Tech Center. From I-25, exit Belleview east, then turn north onto Syracuse Street. The Marriott lots are paid parking (approx $2-4), however you can park for FREE across the street at Garcia's Restaurant (we have their permission). Look for us in the seating area inside the Marriott's coffee shop. RSVP is not required. Dress is casual. Attendance is open to graduates of the federal service academies (USAFA, USCGA, USMA, USMMA, USNA). Our schedule, roster and other information are posted on the web site at http://www.academybiznet.org/.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Agenda for Tuesday, 7/24/12

1. AGENDA FOR TUESDAY, 7/24/12:

0700-0730

Introductions & Assistance

0730-0800

Jim Grabe (USNA '79) will bring us up to speed on this recent overseas tour with the humanitarian aid provider Global Hope Network International.
 
2. UPCOMING TUESDAY PROGRAMS:

7/24/12 (this week):  Jim Grabe - see above.

7/31/12: Speaker TBD, or Open Forum.  If you'd like to invite a speaker or lead a discussion yourself on any Tuesday morning, we'll be glad to put it on the schedule.  Just let me know, at panicciaj@aol.com

===================================================

Have a great week.

Joe Paniccia (USMA '84)
panicciaj@aol.com

Service Academy BizNet of Denver meets weekly on Tuesdays at 0700, in the Marriott Hotel at the Denver Tech Center. From I-25, exit Belleview east, then turn north onto Syracuse Street. The Marriott lots are paid parking (approx $2-4), however you can park for FREE across the street at Garcia's Restaurant (we have their permission). Look for us in the seating area inside the Marriott's coffee shop. RSVP is not required. Dress is casual. Attendance is open to graduates of the federal service academies (USAFA, USCGA, USMA, USMMA, USNA). Our schedule, roster and other information are posted on the web site at http://www.academybiznet.org/.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Agenda for Tuesday, 7/17/12

1. AGENDA FOR TUESDAY, 7/17/12:


Dennis Orr, President & CEO of VetPropulsion, will talk about this organization which focuses on the veteran's career search and other veteran assistance.  Thanks to Biznet member Bob Fretzs (USAFA '71) for arranging to have Mr. Orr speak with us this week.

Mr. Orr was a Combat Crew Navigator-Bombardier in B-52s during the Cold War/Vietnam Era.  He is a Board Member of Veterans Green Jobs, is the 2nd Vice President for the Mile High Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America, a Senior Level Birkman Consultant, a member of the Color Guard of the Scottish American Military Society and a member of the American Legion.  He was President of the first class of Leadership Denver, and is the Immediate Past Chairman of the Board for the Jefferson Symphony Orchestra.  For a more complete bio, visit http://www.vetpropulsion.com/dennis-m-orr-bio

For more information on VetPropulsion, visit http://www.vetpropulsion.com/.  Here's an except:

The Challenge:

There are 1,020,000 unemployed Veterans in the United States today, with more recently separated vets arriving daily.

The Solution:

VetPropulsion is a comprehensive 21st Century System that guides each individual along a focused, structured path placing responsibility for success with each participant. VetPropulsion, designed and developed by Colorow Consulting, Inc., deals with real world objectives, expectations and research. It is a 30-hour, 5 week course, but can be customized to meet your organization’s requirements. VetPropulsion translates military to civilian terminology and is designed as interactive discussions, building teamwork and camaraderie, and as individualized attention to each participant’s career and life aspirations.

The VetPropulsion System is built from 3 dynamic programs:
  • Veterans Career Transition Management System© (VetCTMS) Kit
  • VetPropulsion Career Search Manual
  • Birkman Method® Assessment - a motivational assessment tool
2. UPCOMING TUESDAY PROGRAMS:

7/17/12 (this week):  Dennis Orr - see above.

7/24/12:  Speaker TBD, or Open Forum.  This date and future dates are currently open.  If you'd like to invite a speaker or lead a discussion yourself on a Tuesday morning, just let me know at panicciaj@aol.com

===================================================

Have a great week.

Joe Paniccia (USMA '84)
panicciaj@aol.com

Service Academy BizNet of Denver meets weekly on Tuesdays at 0700, in the Marriott Hotel at the Denver Tech Center. From I-25, exit Belleview east, then turn north onto Syracuse Street. The Marriott lots are paid parking (approx $2-4), however you can park for FREE across the street at Garcia's Restaurant (we have their permission). Look for us in the seating area inside the Marriott's coffee shop. RSVP is not required. Dress is casual. Attendance is open to graduates of the federal service academies (USAFA, USCGA, USMA, USMMA, USNA). Our schedule, roster and other information are posted on the web site at http://www.academybiznet.org/.
0700-0730: INTRODUCTIONS & ASSISTANCE

We'll get the meeting started with roundtable introductions, focusing on any networking needs. Feel free to also bring up any topics of general interest.

0730-0800: SPEAKER/PROGRAM

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Weekly News & Agenda for Tuesday, 7/10/12

1. AGENDA FOR TUESDAY, 7/10/12:
0700-0730: INTRODUCTIONS & ASSISTANCE

We'll get the meeting started with roundtable introductions, focusing on any networking needs. Feel free to also bring up any topics of general interest.

0730-0800: SPEAKER/PROGRAM

Bill Chadick (USMA '73) will talk about Earned Value Management (EVM), which is a technique for objectively measuring and proactively managing the performance of projects.  EVM emphasizes the close tracking of key metrics related to project cost, scope and schedule, to gauge project success while it is in progress, not just after the fact. 

Bill holds a doctorate in management and is a principal with MCR Federal, LLC. 
   
2. UPCOMING TUESDAY PROGRAMS:

7/10/12 (this week):  Bill Chadick - see above. 

7/17/12: Dennis Orr will speak about VetPropulsion, an organization that focuses on the veteran's career search.

If you'd like to invite a speaker or lead a discussion yourself on any future Tuesday morning, just let me know at panicciaj@aol.com

3. JOB OPPORTUNITY - Chief Support Officer (Administrative):

Biznet member Leo DeGreef (USAFA '79) writes as follows:

For the right person I think this could be a great opportunity.  This is not a "conventional" company, but I went to one of their luncheons and was impressed by Chuck Blakeman who has formed an amazing group.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Leo

Leo DeGreef
cell - 303 263 5466

Crankset is Looking for a Chief Supporting Officer
 
Hello Friends of Crankset.
We currently have an opening for a Chief Supporting Officer: highly detail oriented administrative assistant with a high sense of urgency. This would be a great entry level position for someone right out of college, or a great position for a seasoned administrative person to grow into. It will be part time to begin (20-30 hours a week), but within 90 days it will be full time, sooner if we see the person is clearly the right fit. Pay will not be high to begin with, but this is a long-term opportunity to work with a growing company and to benefit in both time and money from getting on board as we go international.
Please do not send us direct recommendations. We want this to be a blind process where we are not influenced in the first few rounds by relationships. If you have someone who might fit, please send them HERE or have them search for craigslist post 3119761951 or they can enter Chief Supporting Officer, Admin Asst, Mktg Asst, Social Media Asst.
The ad will only be up until July 10 at the latest, and could come down sooner if we have a lot of responses.
Thanks for passing this on to someone you know that may be a great fit! We look forward to making them part of the Crankset family!
Visit our blog at: http://www.chuckblakeman.com
Make Your Own Business Rules
===================================================

Have a great week.

Joe Paniccia (USMA '84)
panicciaj@aol.com

Service Academy BizNet of Denver meets weekly on Tuesdays at 0700, in the Marriott Hotel at the Denver Tech Center. From I-25, exit Belleview east, then turn north onto Syracuse Street. The Marriott lots are paid parking (approx $2-4), however you can park for FREE across the street at Garcia's Restaurant (we have their permission). Look for us in the seating area inside the Marriott's coffee shop. RSVP is not required. Dress is casual. Attendance is open to graduates of the federal service academies (USAFA, USCGA, USMA, USMMA, USNA). Our schedule, roster and other information are posted on the web site at http://www.academybiznet.org/.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

When in the Course of human events

 it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Passport2Hope tickets now available

The sale of tickets for individual, groups and companies at the October 4th, 2012 Veterans Passport to Hope, in support of the Wounded Warrior Project™ event (being held at the Wings over the Rockies Air & Space Museum in Denver) ARE NOW Available. They can be found on-line at: http://www.veteranspassport2hope.org/donation/

The same website will provide you details regarding the event and its organization. We hope to raise significant funding via live and silent auctions that night. Come join the fun & help this needing class of warriors.



Veteran’s Passport to Hope (VP2H) is a non-partisan, non-paid, all volunteer group of individuals who have both military and civilian backgrounds. Our Society is helping the new organization by assisting in the area of Financial Management with our Non-Profit status.

VP2H’s mission consists of three main focus areas: Awareness, Fund-Raising, and Cooperation:

AWARENESS: VP2H’s Primary mission is to raise awareness within the Colorado area about the issues Veterans face: Multiple tours in combat zones, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), high unemployment rate, high homelessness rate, high divorce rate, and a record high suicide rate. As the military mission winds down in Iraq and Afghanistan and veterans reintegrate themselves into civilian society, we believe that this awareness will foster an understanding of their efforts and compassion for their struggle.

FUND-RAISING: VP2H’s secondary mission is to raise money for Veteran friendly non-profits. Through due diligence and research, we organize fund raising events which support local, Veteran friendly non-profits. We only support high quality charities that maximize their accountability to veteran’s causes and are transparent in their fund raising and giving practices.

COOPERATION: VP2H’s tertiary mission is to act as a rallying point for other Veteran friendly non-profits. Our goal is to organize and conduct meetings with the leadership teams of these groups within the Colorado area with the goal of finding ways for us to work together more efficiently. We believe that by working together and by sharing ideas, we can reduce competition between non-profit groups and more efficiently and more effectively help Veterans.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Weekly News & Agenda for Tuesday, 7/3/12

1. AGENDA FOR TUESDAY, 7/3/12:

0700-0800: INTRODUCTIONS, ASSISTANCE, and OPEN FORUM

This week we'll devote the entire hour to our roundtable introductions, including assistance with your networking needs and discussion on any topics you'd like to bring up.  As fequent attendees can attest, we never lack for productive discussion during our Open Forum meetings, and it's also a great chance to go into greater depth on your individual networking needs.

2. UPCOMING TUESDAY PROGRAMS:
7/3/12 (this week):  Open Forum.

7/10/12: Bill Chadick (USMA '73) will talk about Earned Value Management.

7/17/12: Dennis Orr will speak about VetPropulsion, an organization that focuses on the veteran's career search.

3.  FLASH MOB HONORING WWII VETS AT WASHINGTON NATIONAL AIRPORT:

On the morning of May 23, 2012, at Washington's Reagan National Airport, an honor flight of WWII veterans arrived at Gate 38.  Check out the video at this link to see the spontaneous tribute that took place as these veterans entered the terminal area.
 http://www.mullerover.com/2012/05/23/what-honor-looks-like-the-flash-mob-at-gate-38-of-reagan-national-airport/

Thanks to Biznet member Leo DeGreef (USAFA '79) for forwarding this item.

===================================================

Have a great week, and a Happy 236th Birthday to the U.S.A.

Joe Paniccia (USMA '84)
panicciaj@aol.com

Service Academy BizNet of Denver meets weekly on Tuesdays at 0700, in the Marriott Hotel at the Denver Tech Center. From I-25, exit Belleview east, then turn north onto Syracuse Street. The Marriott lots are paid parking (approx $2-4), however you can park for FREE across the street at Garcia's Restaurant (we have their permission). Look for us in the seating area inside the Marriott's coffee shop. RSVP is not required. Dress is casual. Attendance is open to graduates of the federal service academies (USAFA, USCGA, USMA, USMMA, USNA). Our schedule, roster and other information are posted on the web site at www.academybiznet.org