Friends of SJAFB gala set for end of March
By Steve Herring
Published in News on March 15, 2015 1:50 AM
Jimmie Edmundson is a firm believer in the old adage that the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
He believes as well that the nonprofit Friends of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base supported squeaking played a role in gaining approval of a new control tower at the base.
Now, Edmundson and Julie Daniels, chairman of the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee, hope that the public will lend its voice, and financial support, to the squeaking in order to shore up efforts to protect the base.
However, those efforts are not without cost and later this month the public has the opportunity to make an investment in those efforts, they said.
Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Larry O. Spencer will be the speaker for the second annual Friends of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Gala that will be held Saturday, March 28, at Walnut Creek Country Club.
Former 4th Fighter Wing Commander Lt. Gen. Steve Kwast has been asked to introduce Spencer.
A silent auction will start at 6 p.m., offering a variety of items including fine jewelry, food catering services, trips, and sporting event tickets donated by area businesses and individuals.
Dinner will be served at 7:30 p.m.
Officials with the Military Affairs Committee, McGuire Woods Consulting and Cassidy and Associates will make presentations.
The cost is $100 per person and reservations for the semi-formal event are required by March 19 by visiting www.501auctions.com/friendsofseymour 2015 or by calling the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce at 919-734-2241.
The proceeds from the gala will fund the organization's efforts in support of the base.
As of Thursday, individual ticket sales have not been as strong as had been hoped, said Edmundson, who serves as chief liaison between the city, county and Friends of Seymour Johnson investors.
By purchasing tickets, people can say they helped make possible the accomplishments made over the past year as well as accomplishments to be made in coming years, Edmundson said.
"You always want to accomplish more, but everything we are working on is such a slow-moving process," he said. "From day one that control tower was the No. 1 on our priority list because it was No. 1 on Seymour's priority list."
Edmundson said he thinks that the next priority twill be getting the new and larger KC-46 tankers.
"All of this talk about a BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure Commission), and there is going to be a BRAC," he said. "I don't think anybody doubts there is going to be a BRAC. The question is, when is it going to happen?
"With a BRAC there are going to be winners and losers. We want to make sure we are one of the winners. There are missions that are going to get moved from other Air Force bases in the country. We want to figure out through our consultants what those missions are that are going to be leaving what base. Is it compatible with Seymour? Then if it is, that is where our work is at -- making sure that Seymour is well positioned to receive that mission."
All of the similar military affairs committees and other organizations across the country have consultants working for them as well, Mrs. Daniels said.
"So basically we are just making sure that our voice is continually being heard amongst all of the other voices out there," she said. "And again, delivering the message that is going to benefit us the most."
Consultants with Cassidy say they are hearing the BRAC would be in 2017, Edmundson said.
The Air Force has said it has between 25 to 30 percent too much infrastructure, he said.
"So they are looking to close some bases," he said. "We don't think Seymour is on that list. We just want to make sure we are positioned well if any of those (missions) are a good match for Seymour. We have got to be prepared."
"And it costs money to be prepared," Mrs. Daniels added.
Goldsboro and the county have "stepped up big time" to help Friends of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Mrs. Daniels and Edmundson said.
"We could not have asked for them to be more supportive," Edmundson said. "We keep them in the loop. FSJ has a finance committee that is made up of three people from the Military Affairs Committee, three people from the city, three people from the county. Anything that we do over a couple of thousand dollars, we have a meeting and talk about it. They approve it.
"The truth of the matter is pretty much anything over a thousand dollars I pick up the phone and call (County Manager) George Wood and (City Manager) Scott Stevens and say, 'This is something I think we need to do, but don't have time for a meeting.' That is all that they ask for -- that we keep them in the loop. We don't let them get blindsided."
Some of the accomplishments over the past year include.
* Secured partnership and funding from both the Goldsboro City Council and Wayne County commissioners.
* Hosted fundraising campaigns including the first Friends of Seymour Johnson AFB Gala.
* Made three congressional visits.
* Met with Gen. H.D. Polumbo, commander of the Ninth Air Force, twice while he was visiting Seymour Johnson AFB.
* Hired Washington, D.C.-based Cassidy and Associates to serve as a consultant/lobbyist.
* Assisted in the development and securing the new veterans cemetery.
* Hired Raleigh-based McGuire Woods Consulting for a minimum of six months to continue to watch the Pantego wind farm development as well as assist state representatives with matters pertaining to the Friends of Seymour Johnson AFB cause.
* Hosted dinners and social functions for visiting Air Force leaders.
* Participated in and/or hosted functions for Air Force leaders including Air Combat Command staff at Langley AFB, 9th Air Force Command at Shaw AFB, Air House staff at Bolling AFB Washington, D.C., attended Air Force Charity Ball in Washington, D.C.