Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Keeping jobs at Ft. Leonard Wood



On Thursday, September 4, we will hold our Annual Meeting at The Ark Community and Sports Center, 25625 Highway 17, Waynesville, MO (on the north side of I-44).  The meeting is open to all residents in the region and stakeholders throughout the state.  There is no registration fee.  We hope you will participate. 

The meeting will begin at 8:00 with registration, networking, and a light breakfast. The opening presentation will be at 8:30. 

In the morning Tim Ford, CEO of the national Association of Defense Communities, will discuss the importance of regional support for military installations and what other communities are doing to support their installations.  We will then have four breakout sessions, focusing on a Strong Region, to get updates on air transportation, energy, healthcare, and K12 education.

Lunch, like breakfast, will be free.  We have invited US Senator Roy Blunt and US Senator Claire McCaskill to be keynote speakers.  They will discuss the importance of Fort Leonard Wood to national security and the policy environment in which Defense decisions will be made.
In the afternoon we have invited the Honorable Katherine Hammack, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and the Environment (ASA/IE&E) to describe what is happening across the Army with respect to installations.  Dr. Rebecca Johnson from Fort Leonard Wood has been invited to provide an installation update.  Mike Dunbar, the Chairman of the Missouri Military Preparedness and Enhancement Commission, will moderate a panel that will discuss state initiatives that affect Fort Leonard Wood and other military installations in Missouri.  We have also invited our area state legislators to share their perspective on state support for Fort Leonard Wood and the region.   

We will also have three breakout sessions focused on a Strong Fort Leonard Wood.  They are Marketing the Region and Fort Leonard Wood, Community/Military Partnerships, and Focus on Military Families.  The meeting will end at 4:30.

The Ark’s address is 25625, Highway 17, Waynesville.  Exit I-44 at the Buckhorn exit (153).  Take Highway 17 north about 1/2 mile to get to the center.

Reception.  On Wednesday, September 3, there will be an SOP reception at the Hampton Inn in St. Robert.  This pre-meeting event will provide both a networking opportunity and a chance to meet some of the presenters that will speak during the annual meeting.  Reception will begin at 6 pm and last until 7:30 pm.  Appetizers and beverages will be provided.  The event is free and open to the public.  Please sign up for the reception when you pre-register.

To pre-register, please call the University of Missouri Technology Park at 573-329-8500 or by sending an e-mail to:  Erin.Kaberline@sustainableozarks.org by August 28.  More details are available on the SOP website:  www.SustainableOzarks.org.  

The Sustainable Ozarks Partnership (SOP) is building on the Fort Leonard Wood region’s strong past and preparing the region for a sustainable future. We are a nonprofit organization working to bring all of the region’s stakeholders to the table to drive regional development and advocate for new or expanded military and federal missions. Our region offers a high quality of life, excellent education opportunities, and easy transportation access. We are transforming the Fort Leonard Wood region.