Note from the MIC3 Chair, Vol 2, Issue 13

Note from the Commission Chair

Vol 2, Issue 13 December 6, 2019

A Message from your New Executive Team

Don Kaminar (AR), Chair

I’m deeply honored and humbled that you’ve seen fit to re-elect me to serve as your chair. It seems not enough merely to say thank you; I can only show my gratitude by giving you my best efforts over this next year. This Commission is dedicated to finding solutions for military-connected students as their parents transfer state to state and overseas in service to our republic, and it’s an honor for us to fulfill that duty. To serve you who serve them has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. Thank you.

Laura Anastasio (CT), Vice- Chair

I'm deeply appreciative for your continued support and confidence in our leadership team! I look forward to working with Don, Cherise and our Committee Chairs welcoming two new Ex-officio representatives to our organization, monitoring legislative initiatives that may impact our Interstate Compact, and getting to work on meeting the goals on our new strategic plan. And remember, we are here to support you with the important work that you do for military children!

Craig Neuenswander (KS), Treasurer

I appreciate the opportunity to serve and look forward to joining the Executive Committee. It will be an exciting year as we implement the new strategic plan. I'm grateful Bob Buehn remains on the Finance Committee where his advice will be invaluable. We will continue the adjustment to being a “50+1” organization by operating as transparently as possible while seeking the best opportunities to utilize our resources in support of military students.

Standing Committee Chairs Reappointed

Pursuant to Article III, Section 1. of the Bylaws regarding Election and Succession of Officers,

"The officers of the Commission shall include a chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary, treasurer and the past chair. The officers shall be duly appointed Commission Members, except that if the Commission appoints an Executive Director, then the Executive Director shall serve as the secretary.

Officers shall be elected annually by the Commission at any meeting at which a quorum is present, and shall serve for one year or until their successors are elected by the Commission. The officers so elected shall serve without compensation or remuneration, except as provided by the Compact".

In addition, the Bylaws establish an EXCOM "composed of all officers of the Interstate Commission and the chairpersons of each committee."

Chair Don Kaminar (AR) appointed the following for an additional one-year term:

Compliance: Daron Korte (MN)
Communication and Outreach: Brian Henry (MO)
Rules: Mary Gable (MD)
Training: Ernise Singleton (LA)

As Past Chair of the Commission, Rosemarie Kraeger (RI) will continue to serve as Chair of the former ad hoc and new standing committee for Leadership Nomination; and as Treasurer, Craig Neuenswander (KS) will lead the Finance Committee. Committees will start meeting in January 2020.

Committee Assignments & Meeting Dates Posted

Thank you for completing the Committee Preference Survey, first choices were honored with the exception of one member. Assignments were reviewed and approved by the EXCOM, and committees start meeting in January. For more information, click on the links below:

Committee Assignments

Meeting Dates

New MIC3 National Guard & Reserve Task Force

As reported at the recent Annual Business Meeting (ABM) during General Session, in June 2019 the Executive Committee (EXCOM) created the NGRTF and appointed Hawaii Commissioner, Dr. Kathy Berg, as Chair. With 30+ years of service in the Hawaii Air National Guard and as a retired Brigadier General, she is well-qualified to lead the Task Force.

Under the Compact, our model statute adopted by all 50 states and the District of Columbia includes National Guard and Reserve children whose parents are activated under Title 10 orders.

The purpose:

Determine if the other National Guard and Reserve components (beyond Title 10) need the protections that the Compact affords the children of active duty families by examining current data and facts regarding reserve component children interstate transfers and educational impacts.
(If feasible) Identify options (by the Commission or otherwise) to extend Compact coverage to reserve component children.

The 2020 NGRTF members are:

Darcy Benway (IL)
Brian Halstead (NE)
Rosemarie Kraeger (RI)
Ben Rasmussen (UT)
Terry Ryals (AK)
Hal Stearns (MT)

The NGRTF met at the ABM and will meet again on December 11 ^th . The Task Force will brief the Commission at the 2020 Annual Business Meeting in Little Rock, AR.