Arnold Community Council event draws huge crowd, brings new leadership

  • Published
  • By Kathy Gattis
  • AEDC/PA
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. --  The large ballroom at the Manchester - Coffee County Conference Center was packed Oct. 10 as members of the Arnold Community Council (ACC) and AEDC leadership gathered to hear USAF retired Lt. Gen. David Deptula.

Organizers registered 292 people at the event - the largest fundraiser for the ACC since the group was formed 13 years ago. There were a total of 40 sponsors... $700 (gold) and $350 (silver).

ACC, an independent organization of community leaders, area businesses and elected officials, was formed to support and promote AEDC.

An important part of the annual ACC event is the leadership changes. Outgoing ACC President Steve Cope handed the gavel over to incoming President Ben Craig, but not before Cope talked about the accomplishments ACC made during the past year.

"We've been part of a major initiative with the formation of the Congressional Range and Testing Center Caucus through the great leadership of our Congressman Diane Black with the support of other members of the Tennessee delegation," Cope said.

The focus of the Congressional Range and Testing Center Caucus is improving Congressional knowledge and understanding of the national strategic value of ranges and test centers as well as the government civilian and contractor employees who operate them.

"Caucus members can expect to receive classified briefings from high-ranking DOD officials on the role performed by the Major Range and Test Facility Base (MRTFB), site visits to see MRTFB activities firsthand, and delegation visits from the various constituent and community groups that already support MRTFB.

"The ACC has wholeheartily supported the effort and used our annual trip to Washington in March to drive the message home to Congressional and Pentagon officials. We also had the opportunity to build strong relationships with our community counterparts at both Edwards and Eglin during our Washington trip so that we may develop strategies that will benefit and protect the Test Center and its test assets," Cope said.

Cope also talked about the first annual ACC regional job fair, developed in response to the furloughs and reductions faced by AEDC employees. An ACC team worked with state officials to expedite claims, search for jobs based on skill levels, etc.

AEDC Commander Col. Raymond Toth said he was impressed.

"The crowning achievement should be the first time the ACC, along with other sponsors, hosted a job fair to help AEDC employees cope with unprecedented fiscal realities," he said.

As Cope reflected on ACC accomplishments, Ben Craig was looking to the future.

Craig invited everyone in the audience to attend future ACC monthly meetings; each received a one-year membership in the ACC just by attending the dinner. Craig also encouraged members to participate in other ACC activities, especially the group's annual trip to Washington, D.C.

"Each year we take about 20-30 ACC members to visit the Capitol; our goal is to promote and support AEDC by visiting Congress and the Pentagon. We present ideas and missions to make it easier to do business with AEDC," Craig said.

"AEDC continues to be a leader in the world aerospace industry, and we (the ACC) must continue to make the general population, locally and nationally, aware of this valuable global asset."

The new ACC vice president is Colonel Jim Jolliffe, retired. He serves as the vice this year and president next October.

Lana Woodard resigned as treasurer, a position she has held in various forms since the beginning of ACC in the year 2000. She started as secretary-treasurer and membership chair. As ACC grew, the positions were divided.

Harry Brittain will step into the role of treasurer. Brittain is a former ACC president and a previous ACC secretary; he's also an active member of the dinner planning and long range planning committees.

The current ACC secretary and membership chair, Claude Morse, will continue in his role.

ACC was formed in 2000. Its membership is comprised of residents in 13 counties in middle Tennessee and northern Alabama.

In addition to the annual trip to Capitol Hill, ACC supports the AEDC Veterans Picnic, Children's Christmas Party, Honor Flight for veterans, welcome packages for incoming military and special packages for distinguished visitors at AEDC.

In 2014, the ACC will again host the Tennessee Legislative Orientation along with State Rep. Judd Matheny. This event brings state representatives and senators to AEDC and UTSI for tours of both.

Air Force Test Center (AFTC) Commander Maj. Gen. Arnold "Arnie" Bunch said, "Your (ACC) dedication to the national ground test mission at Arnold Engineering Development Complex is nothing short of remarkable.

"You have made a deliberate effort to bridge gaps with other AFTC civilian/military support groups, and I greatly appreciate those efforts. By working together, you have strengthened AFTC's voice on Capitol Hill and within the Pentagon," Bunch said.

"Due to the challenging times in which we live, it is critical that we work together to support the Air Force, AEDC, and each of the local communities making up the ACC," Cope said. "It is only through strong relationships with each other that we will be successful."

To learn more about the ACC, go to www.arnoldcommunitycouncil.com.