From rforno at infowarrior.org Sun Dec 6 23:33:37 2009 From: rforno at infowarrior.org (Richard Forno) Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 18:33:37 -0500 Subject: [sticklist] - 3rd Annual Wreath Laying Ceremony Message-ID: <73B6590D-D004-4C45-84A0-650C1F2AA504@infowarrior.org> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 (c/o Pete Robinson and the FOG) The Third Annual Remembrance Service and Wreath Laying Ceremony honoring the memory of those buried around the Chapel of St. Cornelius the Centurion at Valley Forge Military Academy & College. Participants included the Reverend Herb Freeland, 73; Jeff Winans, '66; Brian Boru Pipes and Drums; John Rapp playing Taps. Bill Smith assisting with laying of the wreaths. The event was held on November 27, 2009. For a video, please click here -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWb60PtSS3o - -- Pete Robinson, '59 D Troop Colonel, U.S. Army Retired President, Founders' Old Guard www.foundersoldguard.org http://thefogsblog.wordpress.com/ email: info at foundersoldguard.org -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 9.9.0.397 Comment: Rick's Current Public Key @ http://infowarrior.org/pgpkey.txt wj8DBQFLHD9TKWZyO29ebPYRAkYaAJ9bzuCGDGnrkl8y4fqOt7spnemJiACgia7c OVS6EUsnUTcL2927z/gZO3Q= =xvCV -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- From rforno at infowarrior.org Fri Dec 18 16:02:08 2009 From: rforno at infowarrior.org (Richard Forno) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:02:08 -0500 Subject: [sticklist] - McGeorge Departure, All Hands Message-ID: <6D6526CF-BD69-4A0C-9F54-806731B9D248@infowarrior.org> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 All, As of this morning, it is my understanding that: (1) The Board of Trustees has removed Tony McGeorge as President of VFMAC. Reportedly Bill Floyd, Chairman of the BOT, will assume the role of VFMAC President. (2) There is an all-hands meeting set for 1500 today in the Chapel. Add'l departures/changes likely will be announced at that time. (3) COL Doyle will stay on through June 2010. IMPORTANT: Although I trust my sources, please treat this news as "unconfirmed" until an official statement is released by the Administration or Alumni Office. I will pass along such statements and keep you updated as this situation/story develops. Cheers, Rick Forno '90 '92C Sticklist Administrator -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 9.9.0.397 Comment: Rick's Current Public Key @ http://infowarrior.org/pgpkey.txt wj8DBQFLK6eCKWZyO29ebPYRAgr6AJ4pTTRVVDBGO493dYhHKgCodMndMgCfTu4W oKCbGU3e0n5FCMNShy/yks0= =hs9i -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- From rforno at infowarrior.org Fri Dec 18 20:03:16 2009 From: rforno at infowarrior.org (Richard Forno) Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:03:16 -0500 Subject: [sticklist] - Philly News announces resignation Message-ID: <120D52B5-2E0F-402C-8C72-FB510A7713D5@infowarrior.org> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20091218_Valley_Forge_Military_Academy___College_head_resigns.html Posted on Fri, Dec. 18, 2009 Valley Forge Military Academy & College head resigns By Martha Woodall INQUIRER STAFF WRITER Charles A. "Tony" McGeorge, the controversial president of Valley Forge Military Academy & College, has stepped down, the school announced today. John Miller, who handles public relations for Valley Forge, denied some insiders' accounts that McGeorge was fired earlier this week by the board of trustees. McGeorge, who has been president of Valley Forge since July, 2005, resigned to take a senior position with a consulting firm, Miller said. Staff were being informed this afternoon. William Floyd, chairman of the board of trustees, will serve as acting head, while Valley Forge launches a national search for a permanent successor. "We will always be grateful to Tony for the many great qualities he brought to Valley Forge and for setting us on a course for an exciting future," Floyd, a 1963 graduate, said in a statement reporting McGeorge's departure. In April, McGeorge had announced plans to build a $32 million academic facility that would allow the coed junior college to more than double its enrollment. But many Valley Forge alumni have been at odds with the school through McGeorge's tenure and have challenged the leadership of Valley Forge's first civilian president. In the spring, they gathered more than 1,000 signatures on petitions calling for McGeorge's ouster. They also sent letters to Gov. Rendell, Attorney General Tom Corbett, and other state officials, charging that McGeorge and the board were mismanaging private and state funds. Valley Forge later sued the Valley Forge Old Guard Inc., a group of the disgruntled alumni, alleging the organization had infringed on the institution's copyrighted symbols and images on its Web site and literature. The suit is continuing in U.S. District Court. Miller said McGeorge is taking a post at Miller/Cook Associates, a consulting firm in that handles enrollment campaign for private colleges and universities. Prior to arriving at Valley Forge McGeorge was employed as a health and marketing executive. Valley Forge was founded in 1928 as a private, all-male college-prep boarding school. The two-year college later became coed. Enrollment figures compiled in October showed 250 students were enrolled from seventh grade through high school at the military academy, and 315 cadets at the junior college. Contact staff writer Martha Woodall at 215-854-2789 or at martha.woodall at phillynews.com -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 9.9.0.397 Comment: Rick's Current Public Key @ http://infowarrior.org/pgpkey.txt wj8DBQFLK+AGKWZyO29ebPYRArTCAJ9piGz+h1ceFpzMRZ5GgROap4sE7wCfaHU7 8TiMFIGGyG+/r37jp3rkzgI= =ul3P -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- From rforno at infowarrior.org Mon Dec 21 20:57:56 2009 From: rforno at infowarrior.org (Richard Forno) Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:57:56 -0500 Subject: [sticklist] - The time has come ... Message-ID: Gentlemen -- I encourage all Alumni to read the letter shown below (and/or attached to this message). Although I helped write this letter, I am also one to whom it refers. Therefore (and despite being a Corpsman!) I am publicly announcing a $1000 restricted gift to the VFMAC Band, to be used at the Bandmaster's discretion. This follows a similar gift of $1000 to the Band made by John '74JC and Susan Rapp earlier today. I am sending the check to the school, c/o Mr. Bill Floyd '63, Interim President & Chairman of the VFMAC Board of Trustees, with e-mail notification of the donation sent to the Bandmaster and Development Office (dspizuoco at vfmac.edu ). Friday's news of the McGeorge departure represents a significant milestone toward improving the current VFMAC situation. Accordingly, as interested Alumni, we must demonstrate to the Administration, Trustees, parents, and the public that the Alumni of Valley Forge not only care about our Alma Mater, but can transform our strong words into strong action and deliver on our promises as interested Alumni. Otherwise, the Alumni community will be marginalized and our Alma Mater will move into the future without our constructive and collaborative input and involvement. That must not happen! This is a watershed moment for our school, and I invite you to join me in this effort. Thanks for reading. Happy Holidays to All! - Rick Forno '90 '92C Sticklist Administrator < begin letter > 21 December 2009 Dear Friends, As all of you now know, Tony McGeorge has departed as President of Valley Forge Military Academy and College. His 3+ years were marked by significant staff turnover, a great deal of anger by Alumni and others, and a continued decay of the institution that many once considered the greatest private military academy in the United States. Many of us have stated that, as long as Tony McGeorge was there, we would withhold financial support until he left. He is gone now. And, while we do not know what the immediate future holds in terms of his replacement or the direction of the school, a promise is a promise. It is a matter of honor now, not only to make good on that pledge of support, but also to keep Valley Forge available for the next generation of Alumni. Resuming financial support also has another, equally important benefit. It sends a powerful message to the Board of Trustees and Alumni Association?s Board of Directors. While there were repeated statements from the school that the Tony McGeorge detractors were merely ?a few disgruntled Alumni,? we all know that the reality was, and is, very different. Over a thousand Alumni, parents and friends of Valley Forge have voiced their concerns about Tony?s leadership this past year. Since news of his departure broke on Friday morning, the numerous websites, blogs, private communications, and public responses to the news that there will be a new senior administration has more than demonstrated that Valley Forge?s Alumni care deeply about the direction in which their Alma Mater should go. Thus, providing the financial support we withheld during those years of unrest and unhappiness is a tangible demonstration that the Trustees finally made the right decision. It also provides another important chance for the collective voice of Alumni to be heard. The Board of Trustees, and most especially the search committee that will identify a new president of Valley Forge, is clearly on notice. They no longer have the luxury of making a poor choice and expecting that Alumni simply will go along with a bad decision. The Alumni can be a powerful force, but only if they ensure that their actions follow their words. Financial support, either made or withheld, can be a powerful motivator for a struggling institution. Words alone will not drive change or help Valley Forge endure. So, as we come to the close not only of this year, but also of an administration marked by rancor and discord, it is time to think of the future. Things at the Forge are far from perfect, but this past week?s news is a dramatic step towards ensuring the longevity of our Alma Mater. We hope that you can join those of us who have made the decision to renew our financial support to keep this wonderful institution alive so that, once again, it will be the greatest private military academy in the United States. Thank you. W. Thomas Sykes ?50 Richard F. Forno ?90 ?92C John R. (?74JC) and Susan M.S. Rapp Ronad E. Tschiegg ?52 -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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