From rforno at infowarrior.org Thu Jul 2 11:09:57 2009 From: rforno at infowarrior.org (Richard Forno) Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 07:09:57 -0400 Subject: [sticklist] - Report: VF to expand college, trim academy Message-ID: <4E036B58-682F-4FA8-B134-60C7BA25502E@infowarrior.org> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 http://www.mainlinemedianews.com/articles/2009/07/01/main_line_suburban_life/news/doc4a4adb46783d8471862578.txt Main Line Suburban Life Valley Forge to expand college, trim academy Wednesday, July 1, 2009 By Sam Strike Valley Forge Military Academy and College is planning a $32-million building project that would allow the institution to double its college population to about 500 men and women. At the same time, leadership of the 81-year-old school is looking to create a smaller, “more elite” population of students in its academy, which contains grades seven through 12. By the year 2028, the school hopes to have a total population of 775 students, 500 of them in the college, according to its president Charles A. “Tony” McGeorge. The school had 306 academy students and 219 college students for the 2008-09 school year. Valley Forge Military College, the only one of its kind remaining in the Northeast, was recently designated as the official Military College of Pennsylvania by the Pennsylvania State House. This designation means, among other things, that the school will be one of the prime commissioning sources for officers for the Pennsylvania National Guard and the national guards of surrounding states. “Valley Forge Military College will be to Pennsylvania what Virginia Military Institute is to Virginia and the Citadel is to South Carolina,” McGeorge said. The college is aiming at a 35-percent population who will become military officers either at graduation or after going to a U.S. service academy. The college would also up the number of students that would after one year be accepted into the country’s five service academies through the school’s service-academy preparatory program. For the 2010-11 school- year the largest number of college cadets will be qualified to be accepted for West Point the following year, McGeorge said. While historically the academy of Valley Forge has taken the spotlight at the school – for reasons good and bad – McGeorge maintains that it’s the college that will ultimately allow VFMAC to be successful. While across the country and even locally there are many options for similar schooling at the academy level, the number of “character- based” higher-education institutions is small, he said. And the demand is there from people who want the challenge of an honor code, early-morning exercises and limits of free time and technological fancies. Still, many of the school’s buildings are woefully outdated and many face an eventual replacement. The proposed new college facility includes classrooms, administrative and faculty offices and cadet living spaces. The proposed Georgian/colonial-style buildings were originally and ideally planned for a 19-acre parcel that is contained by Eagle and Radnor Street roads and Walnut Avenue in St. Davids. But that was before the economic crisis hit. Now, McGeorge said, the school is considering two other smaller sites on the campus for the college buildings, which would in that case be constructed without new barracks. The last new building constructed on the campus was in 1995. VFMAC will likely build without the need for any zoning relief from Radnor Township. The school is seeking grants, matching pledges and donations from individuals and state entities to fund the project. McGeorge said that the vast majority of alums support the recent changes and proposed project, while what he calls a “small but vocal minority” opposes his very existence in the position. He is the first non-military president of the school. Despite not having all of the funding in place for the project, McGeorge stills aims to construct the new college facility in all of its glory and raise the college’s status so it remains alive as one of the few military colleges left in the country. “It’s my legacy and I am going to get it done,” he said. In the movie “Taps,” filmed at VFMAC, the fictional military academy is closed down by its Board of Trustees – an action that the cadets violently protest. George C. Scott’s character tells a young cadet, “There’s a feeling on the outside that schools like this are anachronistic.” But McGeorge doesn’t believe that is the case. In fact, he thinks VFMAC might see its finest hour yet. http://www.mainlinemedianews.com/articles/2009/07/01/main_line_suburban_life/news/doc4a4adb46783d8471862578.prt -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 9.8.3.4028 Comment: Rick's Current Public Key @ http://infowarrior.org/pgpkey.txt wj8DBQFKTJWIKWZyO29ebPYRAlhvAKCkwx0LkWflG3oW2AxvPfygG3pwWwCgv9Gc 2cNltJ1wt76NEaWKbSPM8bM= =R8rx -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- From rforno at infowarrior.org Thu Jul 9 23:21:26 2009 From: rforno at infowarrior.org (Richard Forno) Date: Thu, 9 Jul 2009 19:21:26 -0400 Subject: [sticklist] - 2 AABOD Members Resign Message-ID: <5A27241E-0760-4092-8B20-78A8619823D8@infowarrior.org> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 All, In the past 48 hours or so, 2 of the newest members of the AABOD have resigned for similar reasons. I have enclosed their letters below as FYI material to the Sticklist. I join with others in thanking Joel and Dave for their willingness to support the Forge and trying to make a difference in the current and future state of our Alma Mater and our Alumni community. Cheers, Rick '90 '92C ============== From: Joel Gruenke - Your Realtor [mailto:JoelG at LNF.com] Sent: Wednesday, July 08, 2009 3:02 PM Subject: My Resignation Importance: High Gentlemen, It has been truly a pleasure serving my alma mater these past few years and I hope that my input over my term has helped enhance the association. It has been great getting in touch with my roots and I was pleasantly surprised to touch base with so many of my old classmates. But recently, starting with the precursor to Alumni Weekend, I have to say that I have been very concerned with the recent activities of the association. I feel that the focus and mission of the AABOD is transforming and that my values and yours are drifting apart. To just speak my mind, I think that it is important that I outline the decisions of the AABOD that I am having trouble with: ?? The AABOD taking a stance against our fellow alumni brothers. This is a situation that we should have tried to stay neutral on. Administrations come and go but our alumni brothers will always be there. The perception that was given by sending the email out by the President of the AABOD and then endorsing the lawsuits is that we support the administration and not our alumni brothers. Right or wrong, we just should not have taken a stand. ?? My Saturday night event on alumni weekend. It has been decided that we will not ever charge anything for this event. This is a sponsored event paid for by an alumnus and it would just be insulting to charge a cover charge on top of the donation. ?? The instructions from the AABOD to restrict membership to my Regiment. This is just not acceptable. Regiment events were supposed to be just a social club. I will not now or ever not let anyone come to an event because of some disagreement with the administration. To this end, Effective immediately, I am resigning from the Valley Forge Military Academy and College Alumni Association. I am also resigning my post of Regimental Commander of the Sanelli Regiment. Please do not take this letter the wrong way. I just respectfully disagree with you. I really enjoyed working with all of you and look forward to working with you more in the future. I just believe in an alumni association that is more accepting of everyone, no matter what their positions are. Sincerely, Joel Gruenke Realtor 215.962.4326 http://www.linkedin.com/in/joelgruenke ============== From: David Welsh [mailto:davidtwelsh at gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, July 09, 2009 6:52 AM Subject: Re: My Resignation All, I agree with and support the views of alumni brother Joel Gruenke '86. We all have our personal principles and ideals that should not be forsaken. The members of the board each have their own goals and ambitions that they work diligently to attain. The efforts are obvious, respected and appreciated. My own is that the efforts put forth should be strictly in the benefit of the alumni. To develop the social and business network that can provide a mutual benefit to as many alumni as possible. I have no requirement of loyalty, no expectation of donations. Fundraising already has a department of qualified persons employed to execute the task. Therefore, a conflict exists. Rather than cause any more disruption with your own efforts and distract you with further idle debate, I will respectfully excuse myself from the association. I, David T. Welsh, hereby submit my resignation of membership to the alumni association board of directors. Please consider this to be effective immediately and in good spirit. I will continue my efforts in the benefit of the Alumni and the Academy. On My Honor, David T. Welsh '87 A note: Alumni may be more willing to contribute on their own volition if there were a sincere effort to reach out to them as brothers instead of bank accounts. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 9.8.3.4028 Comment: Rick's Current Public Key @ http://infowarrior.org/pgpkey.txt wj8DBQFKVnt4KWZyO29ebPYRAmaqAKDOQnrpqNdL3CQwpM7MDGwaAgxhMQCeMo24 u4Gxuqmek5P199SbddbXwpE= =jRlS -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- From rforno at infowarrior.org Sat Jul 11 13:47:02 2009 From: rforno at infowarrior.org (Richard Forno) Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2009 09:47:02 -0400 Subject: [sticklist] - MidWest Alumni Regiment Commander Resigns Message-ID: -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 (c/o the FOG Mail List and Pete Robinson): Following email dated 7/10/2009 was addressed to the alumni relations office of Valley Forge. Erin, I you would be so kind as to forward this to the correct individuals. Effective July 13th 2009 I am resigning my post as Regiment Commander for the Midwest Regiment. In addition I had recently submitted a request to Erin Wooley to obtain a Alumni Board Position for the 2009 School Year. My reasons are similar to those of my classmates David Welsh and Joel Grunke , however I have the advantage of looking at my Alma Mater from the outside not from an internal board appointment. My disenchantment with the current state of affairs has been growing for the last 4 years, I attended Silver and Gold Star Dinners, assisted in forming the second Alumni Regiment and have been speaking with Joel Grunke to secure a board appointment with the hope that I could effect change. The resignations of my classmates are a key indicator that this strategy is not effective and I feel to pursue an appointment would lead to a futile utilization of my time. Valley Forge Military And College no longer maintains the founding principles I believe are the cornerstone to my success in life, family and business. Our cadets are seen at Valley Forge Mall with their Chapel Caps on backwards or sitting sideways on their heads. Their uniforms are dirty and un-pressed and shoes are in such poor shape you would think they where vagabonds not from an institution that has a tuition rate of $30,000 a year. I attended several Silver and Gold Stars dinners and each time the table I was seated at the cadets, officers included they where rude and viewed the entire event as a joke. Furthermore I took my 6 year old son to see my Alma Mater and a JC Football game in 07, We toured the campus and secured permission to enter several of the halls. Locks on the doors, floors filthy just deplorable and the rooms that where open, I could not believe what I was looking at.. We attended the football game where only a small number of cadets attended, and unlike my time at the academy they spent the bulk of the game at the concession stand pushing each other throwing food on the ground again just deplorable behavior. In addition to my first hand experience, the loss of the key personnel with tenure of 30 years is a mystery to me. Col Medearis who I believe represented the highest level of professionalism, discipline and overall true character of Valley Forge Military Academy resignation after 32 years is beyond logic. His reasons I feel where a farce to insure he protected his pension/401K and any other agreements that he was subject to monetarily. One who loved his career and made such an effort to insure the principles that the founded the Academy would only resign if he felt that they could no longer stomach the directives he was given as Commandant of Cadets and the erosion of the core Values. If we continue at the current rate the Academy will have no faculty who believed in the core values, to that end I believe that is the objective of the current administration. In addition we are all aware of what happens if you question the current administration on why they have made the choices you become banned from all events and even access to the school. My family paid $50,000 in tuition for my time at VFMA and where very lucrative donors to the Golden Sword with endowments exceeding $30,000 over a 3 year period. So I challenge the administration to attempt to attack me I believe $80,000 gives me the right to walk on campus anytime I feel the need. I understand the issues with competition for the small group of individuals who have children that can afford $30,000 a year is becoming ever more difficult to entice and convince that VFMA is the right direction for their child. However if we continue to remove or ignore the founding philosophies we are no longer a Military Academy we have become a left wing liberal academy that will position the school as needed to fill beds. Until 4 years ago I was proud of the efforts I made to graduate as a first LT, giving up my summer for Camps and NCO and OCS processes. Today I sit pondering what will become of the institution that set the core values that I live my life today. Sadly I believe VFMA will continue to slide away from the values that positioned the school to have the reputation it does today and become just another prep school on the main line. My resignation will most likely have no effect on the activities that surround the school today but for me the opportunity to express my concerns and overall dismay regarding my Alma Mater is enough and I hope more alumni have the courage to express their discord as well. Regards, William C Vain -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 9.8.3.4028 Comment: Rick's Current Public Key @ http://infowarrior.org/pgpkey.txt wj8DBQFKWJfZKWZyO29ebPYRAiR4AJ9HpiT12gip1RYDdcrsJlsR0JNA0wCfTtgS fKn76GFBHv4N6JfD2lMF6Zs= =f3Yi -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- From rforno at infowarrior.org Sat Jul 11 17:37:12 2009 From: rforno at infowarrior.org (Richard Forno) Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:37:12 -0400 Subject: [sticklist] - NJ Regiment Commander resigns Message-ID: <8280F6E4-BE14-4C7D-9A4E-056474EC1871@infowarrior.org> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 (c/o the FOG Mail List and Pete Robinson): Following email dated 7/10/2009 was addressed to Gordon Hanscom of the VFMA&C Alumni Association. Gordon, I am tendering my resignation of the President of the North Jersey Regiment. The reason for my resignation is that I cannot be a member of a group that is not permitted to allow fellow alumni to participate in events. I want to be supportive of the Valley Forge Military Academy in all aspects.I cannot continue to support the Alumni Association and its events where my fellow brothers are not permitted or welcome. We have to work together as one voice and we have shown the administration that we are a group that is divided. A great American President said “A house divided against itself cannot stand” Our groups must become one. Until the Alumni Association begins to work with Alumni instead of becoming adversarial your ranks will diminish. I am truly sorry it has come to this. My values to be true to my fellow cadets was instilled in me by a great man. His name is Thomas Puyans. A man who loves Valley Forge with every fiber of his body. He was told not to let the door hit him on the way out. This man has given 60 years of his life to VF. This is the man who should lead the Alumni in the crusade to retake VF. Thank You for your time. Joshua Wang Class of 88 C Company -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 9.8.3.4028 Comment: Rick's Current Public Key @ http://infowarrior.org/pgpkey.txt wj8DBQFKWM3LKWZyO29ebPYRAk9BAJ9p4iR4at2i5GNmIfHwCnB6Srcq9wCfcSoQ u5nClu5xkxSAykEWANRgYUA= =nuC/ -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----