ESGR December- January Newsletter

1. December 2009-January 2010 Illinois Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve
Don’t forget media OASD-RA McCarthy speaks to Illinois Chamber
in event planning Discusses key role
Whenever you are planning a of employers in Guard,
Statement of Support signing, Reserve success
Patriot Award presentation,
Briefing With the Boss or other Assistant Secretary of De-
event, don’t forget to include fense for Reserve Affairs,
the local press. Dennis McCarthy visited Chi-
Sending out a short media cago Dec. 11 as the guest
advisory or making a call to speaker for the Illinois Cham-
local media ahead of time ber of Commerce Board of
could pay big dividends by Directors Luncheon at the
having press show up to cover Mid-America Club.
your event. If the press come McCarthy spoke to Illinois
out to cover the event, you Chamber board members
should still have someone on about the importance of sup-
hand to take photos and send portive employers to National
out a press release with pictures Guard and Reserve members
afterward, especially in smaller GUEST SPEAKER: Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs,
media markets where the who serve their nation. He Dennis McCarthy, spoke to members of the Illinois Chamber of
also talked about the sacri- Commerce Board of Directors at the board’s December 11 meeting
chance of coverage is greater. fices these employers make and luncheon in Chicago.
If you aren’t sure how to on behalf of their employees
write a press release or what who serve in uniform and
makes a good photograph, con- challenges that have emerged Three Illinois companies - “At the Department of De-
tact Illinois ESGR Public Af- because of more frequent de- AT&T Illinois, Leo Burnett, fense we know that employer
fairs Chair, Mike Holub, or ployments due to the transi- and Motorola - signed corpo- support is critical to our na-
Executive Director, Lt. Col. tion of the Guard and Reserve rate Statements of Support at tional security,” McCarthy
Tim Franklin for tips or help. from a “strategic” reserve to the Illinois Chamber lunch- told the group.
an “operational” reserve. eon. see OASD-RA, page 3
Illinois ESGR holds Annual Training Conference,
Employer Awards Banquet in Peoria Jan. 15-16
The Illinois Committee for
Employer Support of the
PRESS COVERAGE: Include the Guard and Reserve gathered
local media in your ESGR event at the Hotel Marquette Jan.
planning. Getting press coverage 15-16 for its Annual Training
helps tell our story to a wider Conference and Employer
audience. Awards Banquet. The annual
conference and banquet gave
Illinois Committee leaders
Inside this issue: and volunteers the chance to
get together and refocus on
the mission and goals of
Message from the State Chair 2 ESGR, while recognizing the
outstanding employers in
Illinois over the past year.
Whitey’s gets Above & Beyond 6 The conference kicked off
the morning of Jan. 15 with a
ANNUAL EMPLOYER AWARDS BANQUET: Members and guests stand at welcome from Field Chair,
BNSF given Seven Seals Award 7 Michael Ayers, and remarks
attention as the 182nd Airlift Wing Color Guard, Illinois Air National
Guard, posts the colors to open the 2010 Illinois ESGR Annual Em-
from acting ESGR Executive
ployer Awards Banquet held at the Hotel Pere Marquette in Peoria
Director, Pauline Brunelli.
Sangamon County Recognized 8
Jan. 15.
see APAC, pages 4-5

2. Page 2 Illinois Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve
Message from the State Chair ...
I would like to thank every- As noted during the Annual
one who was able to attend Training Conference, we have
our Annual Training Confer- some ambitious, but achiev-
ence and Employer Awards able goals for the coming
Banquet in Peoria January 15 year. Those are:
Illinois Employer Support of and 16. The strong attendance
the Guard and Reserve and participation was noted  Increasing the number of
by our guests from National signed Statements of Support
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ESGR office. We were hon- by 20 percent. Some continu-
ored to have NCESGR Acting ing dialogue with NCESGR
State Chair leadership will be necessary
Executive Director, Polli
Michael Ayers Brunelli, along with other to ensure the numeric goal set
Employer Outreach members of the national for us, 1,482 signed SOSs
Terri Bergagna staff. We were also honored from Civilian Employer In-
Military Outreach by our two major speakers, ventory (CEI) database listed
RADM Steven Day, U.S. employers is the right goal.
Terry McCollom
Ombudsman Director Coast Guard Reserve, and  Contact and brief 100
Ron Bacci Col. Scott Thoele, Com- percent of National Guard and Michael Ayers
mander, 33rd Brigade Combat Reserve units in Illinois. State Chair, Illinois ESGR
Awards Team. They each reminded us
Gloria Guy of the importance of our com-  Close or refer Ombuds-
Public Affairs mittee’s work. man cases within 14 days.
Michael Holub have implications to the work
For those who attended, I  Recruit 21 new volun- we do. Because of this antici-
North West Chair hope you found the sessions teers onto the Illinois Com- pated change in emphasis, it
William Glynn and networking opportunities mittee. was decided we should bring
North Central Chair with colleagues worth- us all back together to decide
Terry McCollom while. The sessions were fo- Again, these are ambitious, how our plans and operations
Central East Chair cused on the need to work but achievable, goals. We as a state committee may be
together to meet the goals and have a great leadership team changed. We will keep you
Tom Murgatroyd in place that is focused on
South East Chair objectives set both by the posted as we examine the
National Committee and our- motivating, engaging and feasibility of second meeting.
Dayton Loyd selves. recognizing area volunteers to
South West Chair meet these new goals. Please Lastly, I want to note
Clyde Jones With the over 3,000 return- know the area and functional NCESGR is conducting a
Central West Chair ing National Guard and re- chairs, full-time support staff series of Volunteer Leader-
serve component members and I are all there to help pro- ship Training Program
John Sheedy having returned from deploy- vide you with the tools, train- courses this year in a variety
North West Chair ments, the pace of our work ing and other support you of functional areas. New this
Rick Pollack has picked up a bit. Thanks need to reach the milestones year, we are able to nominate
to each of you, we have met we’ve set. Don’t hesitate to select volunteers as
FULL-TIME STAFF the time and work de- reach out to any of the leader- “emerging leaders” to attend
Executive Director mands. Thanks to the Om- ship for the support you need. these courses. If you would
LTC Tim Franklin
budsman volunteers for work- like to take on a leadership
ing and closing cases in good At a January 14 face-to- role at some point with our
217-761-3642 time. Thanks to those who face meeting in Peoria, the state committee, please let
tim.franklin@us.army.mil have provided valuable work Executive Committee dis- your area chair know. When
Program Assistants and participating in Yellow cussed the possibility of con- the course and registration
Jean Collier Ribbon Ceremonies and other ducting a second training con- schedule is finalized, we will
reintegration briefings and ference during the year. This distribute the information and
217-761-3971 conference would be called to
jean.collier@us.army.mil support efforts. identify those to be sent to the
review and discuss implica- training from our committee.
Christina Dibble Your continued participa- tions of a soon-to-be ap-
708-824-6010 tion as an ESGR volunteer is proved new NCESGR Strate- As always, thank you for all
christina.rivera@us.army.mil a key to those efforts. Be- gic Plan. The NCESGR lead- you do for ESGR to support
cause of you and thousands of ership has been working to the men and women of the
MAILING ADDRESS volunteers like you across the complete the new plan for National Guard and Reserves
country ESGR is able to reach some time. It is our under- and the Illinois employers for
Illinois ESGR out to tens of thousands of standing that a new, broader whom they work. I am hon-
1301 N. MacArthur Blvd. employers in building a net- mission is contained in the ored to be your State Chair
Springfield, IL 62702 work of support for the men plan. This new mission will and truly appreciate the com-
and women of the Guard and bring with it some new/ mitment and enthusiasm you
Reserve. revised objectives that will bring to the job.

3. Illinois Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Page 3
OASD-RA:
Continued from page 1
“By signing a Statement of
Support, they are publicly ac-
knowledging the continued
importance of service in the
National Guard and Reserve,”
McCarthy added.
While the AT&T and Leo
Burnett SOS signings were
new, the one by Motorola was
a reaffirmation of a previous
signing made by the Illinois-
based company.
“The support of employers is
critical to maintaining the
strength and readiness of the
National Guard and Reserve,”
commented ESGR National
Chair, James Rebholz. “Our
Guardsmen and Reservists
would not be able to continue
to serve in uniform if not for
the continuing support of great
AT&T SOS SIGNING: James Rebholz, ESGR National Chair (standing left), and Dennis McCarthy, Assistant employers like AT&T Illinois,
Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs (right), look on as Patrick Venetucci, President of AT&T Illinois, Leo Burnett and Motorola.”
signs an ESGR Statement of Support for the Guard and Reserve. While a Statement of Sup-
port is not a binding document,
it is an important acknowledge-
ment by an employer that:
 They recognize, honor
and enforce the Uniformed
Services Employment and Re-
employment Rights Act
(USERRA);
 Their managers and su-
pervisors will have the infor-
mation and tools they need to
effectively manage their Guard
and Reserve employees.
 They recognize and sup-
port their service members who
serve in uniform in the Na-
tional Guard and Reserve.
PHOTO CENTER: Illinois Chamber
WELCOMING REMARKS: Chairman of Board Treasurer, Bill Beck, asks
the Illinois Chamber of Commerce a question following remarks by
Board of Directors, Calvin Butler Assistant Secretary Dennis
(above), introduces the Dennis McCarthy.
McCarthy, Assistant Secretary of
Defense for Reserve Affairs, to the PHOTO LEFT: Darcy Davidsmeyer
Illinois Chamber’s Board of Direc- of Motorola accepts a Statement
tors luncheon at Chicago’s Mid of Support wall display from Den-
America Club Dec. 11, 2009. nis McCarthy, Assistant Secretary
McCarthy was the featured speaker of Defense for Reserve Affairs,
at the luncheon. Dennis McCarthy.

4. Page 4 Illinois Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve
APAC:
Continued from page 1
Training on day one of the
conference included a
NCESGR update from Re-
gional Deputy Director for
Central Region, Lt. Col. Eric
Hill, as well as an overview on
USERRA trends from Joel
Samaroo, Central Region Na-
tional Case Manager.
The evening of Jan. 15 Illi-
nois ESGR Committee mem-
bers, military and civilian
guests honored the top Illinois
employers for 2010 at the An-
nual Employer Awards Ban-
quet.
The committee recognized
three employers with the Pro
Patria Award, the highest state
level ESGR Award. Pro Patria
Award winners for 2010 were
Brinks Hofer, Gilson and Li-
one; Chicago Fire Department; BANQUET PROGRAM: Brig. Gen. Robert Pratt (right), Illinois Army National Guard, and other banquet
and Northrop Grumman Infor- guests listen to guest speaker, Col. Scott Thoele, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team Commander,
mation Systems. talk about his experiences as brigade commander during the unit’s recent deployment to Afghanistan
Employers receiving the where Illinois Guard Soldiers served as trainers and mentors to Afghan National Security Forces .
Above and Beyond Award
were Alfred Benesch and Com- Sheriff’s Department; and Illi-
pany; American Buildings; nois State Police.
Belleville Memorial Hospital;
Berthold Electric; Health Care The training conference re-
Service Corporation; In- sumed the morning of Jan. 16
sure.com; Joel Berman Archi- with new member orientation
techture and Design; LaGrange and a presentation by Gary Cyr
Police Department; Merck and of National Guard Bureau on
Company; Motorola; Office using the Civilian Employer
Max; Packer Engineering; Pala- Inventory (CEI) database to
tine Police Department; Village maximize employer outreach
of Midlothian; Winnebago activities.
PHOTO ABOVE: Terry McCollom trains volunteers on the ESGR Military
Outreach Program during round-robin training sessions.
PHOTO RIGHT: Acting Executive Director of the National Committee for
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, Pauline Brunelli speaks to
members of the Illinois ESGR Committee at the 2010 Annual Training
Conference.

5. Illinois Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Page 5
PHOTO ABOVE: Bruce Weisseg of the
law firm Brinks Hofer, Gilson and
Lione makes remarks after accepting
the ESGR Pro Patria Award at the
2010 Illinois ESGR Annual Employer
Awards Banquet in Peoria Jan. 15.
The Chicago firm was one of three
Pro Patria Award winners honored by
the Illinois committee for outstanding
support to their employees who serve
in the National Guard and Reserve.
PHOTO LEFT: Col. Scott Thoele talks
about his experiences in Afghanistan
as commander of the 33rd Infantry
Brigade Combat Team and deputy
commander of Combined Joint Task
Force Phoenix VIII. Thoele prepared
and led more than 3,500 33rd IBCT
Soldiers on their mission to Afghani-
stan in support of Operation Enduring
Freedom. The mobilization and de-
ployment of the Illinois Army National
Guard infantry brigade was the larg-
est call-up of Illinois Guard troops
since World War II. Eighteen Illinois
Guard Soldiers lost their lives in sup-
port of the OEF mission.

6. Page 6 Illinois Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve
Statement of Support Signings Moline company given Above
and Beyond for troop support
FT. BLISS, Texas – The Illinois Committee for Employer
Support of the Guard and Reserve recently presented Whitey’s
Ice Cream of Moline with an ESGR Above and Beyond Award
in recognition of the ice cream company’s support to our men
and women in uniform.
“The Above and Beyond Award recognizes employers who
provide outstanding support and cooperation to members of
the Armed Services, who like the Minutemen before them,
have answered their nation’s call to serve.”
Michael Ayers
Illinois ESGR Field Chair
“The Above and Beyond Award recognizes employers who
provide outstanding support and cooperation to members of the
Armed Services, who like the Minutemen before them, have
DEKALB WAL-MART SIGNS SOS: Illinois ESGR North West Area Chair, answered their nation’s call to serve,” said Michael Ayers, Illi-
Rick Pollack (left), looks on as Sean Hamer, manager of the nois ESGR Field Chair “Supportive employers are critical to
DeKalb Wal-Mart, signs a Statement of Support for the men and maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation’s National
women who serve in uniform in our nation’s National Guard and Guard and Reserve.”
Reserve. The Statement of Support program is a way for employers
to publicly acknowledge their Guard and Reserve employees. Whitey’s owners Jon and Jeff Tunberg donated a refrigerated
rail car of their distinctive “camouflage” ice cream to Texas
Army National Guard Soldiers training for mobilization at Fort
Bliss, Texas.
Illinois ESGR Executive Committee member, Tom Murga-
troyd, presented the Above and Beyond Award to the Tunbergs
at Ft. Bliss Nov. 20, 2009 in recognition of their support for the
Soldiers training their in preparation for deployment to Af-
ghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
3M SIGNS SOS: Manager of the DeKalb 3M plant, Jim Bohlig, signs a ABOVE AND BEYOND AWARD: Tom Murgatroyd (right), Illinois ESGR
Statement of Support Jan. 13 as a way to show support for the Executive Committee member and Central East Area Chair, pre-
plant’s employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. sented Whitey’s Ice Cream owners Jon and Jeff Tunberg with the
Because the National Guard and Reserve make up more than half ESGR Above and Beyond Award during a Texas ESGR Bosslift event
of our nation’s military strength and capability, the continued sup- held at Fort Bliss in November 2009. The Tunbergs donated a rail
port of employers like 3M is critical to our security here at home car of camouflage ice cream to Texas Guardsmen training at Ft.
and around the world. Bliss for a deployment to Afghanistan.

7. Illinois Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Page 7
BNSF given ESGR
Seven Seals for
support to families
The Burlington Northern Santa
Fe received the ESGR Seven
Seals Award during the holiday
season for their support to mili-
tary families with a special train
ride on their Holiday Express.
The Holiday Express is a
unique vintage passenger train
that BNSF runs each year to pay
tribute to members of the Armed
Forces and honor the sacrifices
they and their families make in
the service of our nation.
In addition to being treated to
a winter wonderland train ride
through the Illinois countryside,
military kids on the Holiday Ex-
press had a visit by Santa Claus
during the trip.
A winner of the Secretary of
Defense Freedom Award, BNSF
has demonstrated its commit- SEVEN SEALS AWARD PRESENTATION: Illinois ESGR Employer Outreach Chair, Terri Bergagna, presents
ment to its Guard and Reserve the ESGR Seven Seals Award to Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railroad officials Andrew Johnson
employees by going above and (center) and Paul Nowicki (right) in Galesburg following the BNSF Holiday Express train trip for Illinois
beyond the requirements of the military families Dec. 8, 2009. In addition to treating the families to the special holiday train ride,
Uniformed Services Employ- 2009, BNSF presented a $10,000 check to the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund. The award of the
ment and Reemployment Rights Seven Seals recognized the railroad’s support to Guard and Reserve members and their families.
Act.
Patriot Award Presentation
PATRIOT AWARD: Illinois ESGR Central West Area Chair, Jay Sheedy
(right) presented a Patriotic Employer Award at State Farm Insur- SUPPORTIVE EMPLOYER: Illinois ESGR North East Area Chair, Bill
ance in Bloomington, Nov. 4, 2009. The Patriot Award went to Misty Glynn, presented two Patriotic Employer Awards Nov. 13, 2009 to
Vance, Director of Creative Services for State Farm. Vance was Shirley Marx and her son, David Marx, of New World Van Lines.
nominated for the ESGR award by an Illinois Air National Guard They were nominated for the awards because of their support of
member from the 183d Fighter Wing in Springfield. Willie Brown the National Guard and Reserve members who work for the com-
(left), State Farm vice president, as well as 183rd FW Commander, pany based on the northwest side of Chicago.
Col. Mike Meyer (not pictured) also participated in the presentation.

8. Page 8 Illinois Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve
AWARDS PRESENTATION: Illinois Ad-
jutant General, Maj. Gen. William
Enyart (left) looks on as Michael
Ayers (right), Field Committee
Chair, Illinois Employer Support of
the Guard and Reserve, presented
Andy Van Meter, Sangamon
County Board Chairman, with
ESGR Patriotic Employer and
Seven Seals awards at the Jan. 12
Sangamon County Board meeting.
Sangamon County was nominated
for the Patriot Award by Col. An-
thony Libri, Illinois Army National
Guard, who deployed to Afghani-
stan in 2008-09 with the 33rd
Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
Based on Libri’s nomination, the
Illinois ESGR Committee deter-
mined award of the Seven Seals to
the country board was also appro-
priate. Van Meter also signed an
ESGR Statement of Support of the
Guard and Reserve on behalf of
the county board. Photo by Staff
Sgt. April Hawes, Illinois National
Guard Public Affairs Office
Why logging your ESGR activities is important
There is a saying that goes,
“If a tree falls in a forest and
no one is around to hear it,
does it make a sound?”
Logging and reporting your
volunteer ESGR activities is
something like that saying.
You can be doing all kinds of
things with employers and
service members, but unless
you complete the process by VOLUNTEER REPORTING: Keeping
reporting your activities so that track of and reporting your vol-
information makes it up to the unteer activities is a key com-
National ESGR Committee, ponent in helping justify more
we don’t receive credit for the funding for the Illinois ESGR
great work you are doing. Committee.
Why is this important? Be-
cause the work you do for mining how much funding
ESGR, whether it’s getting we receive for the next fiscal
employers to sign Statements year. The more we do, the
of Support, presenting Patriot more money we receive --
Awards, briefing Guard and but only if National knows
Reserve units, or any of our about it.
other activities ultimately con- If you aren’t sure what
tributes our funding bottom information you should be
line. FIRST LIGHT USA RECEIVES PATRIOT AWARD: Tom Murgatroyd (left), lli-
reporting, contact Christina nois ESGR Central East Area Chair, recently presented Jeremy Ross,
As a committee, we report Dibble of the full-time sup- Chief Executive Officer, First Light USA, Seymour, with the Patriotic
our activities to ESGR Na- port staff, who can help you. Employer Award for his support of members of his workforce who
tional at the end of each quar- She can be reached at (708) serve in the Guard and Reserve. Ross was nominated for the award
ter of the fiscal year. Those 824-6010 or chris- by James Nayonis (right), who serves as a Sergeant 1st Class with
metrics are used in deter- tina.rivera@us.army.mil.
the Illinois Army National Guard.