When I first became president of USACCRA, I was concerned there might not be enough material or excitement to share every month. Boy was I wrong! Let’s start with an exciting new member benefit that has taken nearly three years to birth.
Your Board has approved an educational scholarship program for member spouses and youth to begin in 2025. Already an experienced dedicated team of fine member volunteers are coming together to structure this effort. Two of these members have pledged generous funding. Another Association member has pledged a $5,000 matching fund challenge to increase this start. More will be shared about this at our October Gathering in Columbia. The challenge is on. Can we match this gift with a collective $5,000 and help member families with educational goals? I think so.
We are less than 30 days from our biennial gathering, 22-25 October, to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Army Chaplain Corps. People can still register for the event. Unlike past gatherings we are boldly striving to find better ways to provide a stelar event for the Association and Corps.
- We changed the name from “reunion” to “The Gathering” to emphasize this is an event for everyone in the Army Chaplain Corps.
- We have a sponsor, Thrivent Financial, to help support our volunteers for this event and to share with us faith giving and volunteering of our God-given gifts.
- Thrivent is joining USACCRA and the Lexington County Mission in providing “blessing bags” for us to stuff and give to the homeless where our gathering is being held. Thrivent buys the supplies, and our members spend 10 minutes stuffing and labeling the gift bags with a message of hope. Some of these homeless are military veterans. Given the recent storms, this effort will support a lot of people in need.
- A past and present Corps Historians will share with us.
- This history will include our Religious Affairs Specialist (RAS), a first, to emphasize that we do ministry as Unit Ministry Teams.
- We are partnering with the Institute of Religious Leadership (IRL) for a four-station tour of our “schoolhouse” that has expanded and improved greatly over the years.
- Ray Kapaun, nephew of Medal of Honor recipient Chaplain Emil Kapaun from the Korean War, will share with us in story and song.
- No less than two major movies will be shown about the chaplaincy that are being introduced this year.
- Former Vice Chief of Staff, General-Retired Daniel Allyn will share with us.
- The Chief of Chaplains, CH(MG) Bill Green, Jr. and RSGM Meaghan Simmons will be presenting the state of the Army Chaplain Corps.
- We have a variety of vendors coming with displays.
- We have a new chapter joining the Association, “The North Star Chapter” from Minneapolis, MN.
Yet we live in a volatile world Storms and floods in the Southeast has numbed life for many. USACCRA encourages our members to reach out to these folks through the many ways several organizations are offering. Two ways of helping our sponsor Thrivent will offer with the blessing bags and more.
Please note, during our short business meeting at the Gathering we will hold elections. We have six positions up for selection. For the first time ever, we have representatives from both the Reserve and the National Guard to join our Board. This supports the Association’s vision and constitution that we support the entire Army Chaplain Corps.
See you in Columbia, South Carolina!
Scottie Lloyd
USACCRA President
