Greetings Fellow Chiefs!

You are receiving this email as you are listed as the president of your CPOA chapter.  This is your personal invite to this year’s CPOA Convention in New Orleans, LA.

The rule book says you, as the Chapter President, are to come to the convention to represent your chapter, but we all know that only a handful of actual presidents come every year. This is due to such things as operational commitment, no money to travel, and the infamous “I don’t wanna go” attitude.  Hey, it’s the truth!  But if you care enough to be “The Prez” I think you care enough to have your chapter represented. 

All I ask, as the convention chairman, is that your chapter be represented at this year’s convention. If you can’t go, please ask your Vice if they can attend. If they can’t, ask for volunteers.  After all, everyone wants to visit New Orleans at least once!  I can’t do anything about the operational commitment thingy, but I may be able to help financially. Or more correctly, National can. There is a paragraph about how chapters can get a loan!  You may want to check it out.  Personally, I got hooked going to conventions as a young pup because I loved listening to, and asking questions, of the “old” guys that showed up. Getting firsthand accounts of The Old Guard were great! (the problem now is there are getting to be quite a few “Chiefs” starting to ask me about MY first hand experiences….) I can also embrace the seeing no reason to go attitude.  I think you are wrong, but I can understand it.  The convention is a lot like the CPO Academy.  A lot of folks don’t want to go to the academy, but once they attend it, they loved it! Or at least saw the solid reasoning of attending.  The convention is a lot like the academy… Slow to start, some boring speeches/presentations, the possibility of some “fireworks,” some great times after hours, and some very strong friendships forged during the process. 

This convention is special in several ways.  First, it is being held almost 5 years to the day after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans.  Many of us were involved directly in Katrina, and many, many more were involved indirectly.  This is a chance to see what has been done during those 5 years and participate in celebrations I suspect will be planned.  Second, this is the first year that we, as convention participants,  will be breaking to participate in a community project.  This is a new program voted on last year to further CPOA goals. Lastly, THIS IS NEW ORLEANS!!!! We will be 2 blocks from the French Quarter, about 3-4 blocks from the Riverfront, about 3 blocks from Harrah’s Casino, maybe a mile from the World War II Museum, and well within walking distance to the many fine dining establishments of New Orleans. Its going to be a blast!

But, as usual, we are having issues getting the word out.  There was some confusion (oh hell, I’ll take the blame) regarding the information I was putting out so the hotel and convention reservation pages didn’t get into the last Chief’s magazine. Then we started having issues with the National web site.  So I’m going personal. The pages are attached on Word 2003 and 2007. If you can’t open them let me know. Feel free to make copies and pass them out.  Even to the young guys.  Where else can you get 5 days permissive orders to visit New Orleans??

If you have never attended a convention before, I am also attaching a piece I did years ago called “Convention 101”.   It gives insight into what to expect.  It’s also on the convention page on the National Website. 

Think seriously about attending Guys and Gals.  This is surely going to be a convention to attend! If you have any questions at all, please write back and ask. 

I hope to see you in Nawlins!

AETCM Tim Sheffler, Ret.
National Convention Committee Chairman
cpoa.conv@uscg.mil
www.uscgcpoa.org