Baltimore County Executive Receives
ESGR 7-Seals Award and Signs
5-Star Statement of Support

On  December 8, 2005, Brig. Gen. Art Pulket (MD ARNG, Ret.), Vice Chairman of the Maryland ESGR Committee, presented the Seven Seals Award to Baltimore County Executive James Smith for his support of Baltimore County Employees that are members of the Guard and Reserve.  Before the ceremony, County Executive Smith signed the 5-Star ESGR Statement of Support.

Left to right: Brig. Gen. (Ret) Art Pulket, MD ESGR Committee Vice Chair and Awards Chairman; Col. Ben Jablecki, MD ESGR Executive Director; Col. (Ret) Rick Knauer, MD ESGR Baltimore County Chair; Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith; Lt. Col.  Butch Hensel, MD ESGR Program Support Specialist; and Lt. Col. Mike Comeau, MD Army National Guard and Assistant Baltimore County Attorney.

County Executive Smith was nominated for the award by Lt. Col. Mike Comeau, a member of the Maryland Army National Guard, for introducing and sponsoring legislation (Baltimore County Bill 107-05) to pay salary differential and extend health care benefits to Baltimore County employees that are called to federal or state active duty.   The legislation increased coverage for county employees that were called or volunteered for active duty to assist in support of clean up operations from hurricane Katrina and Rita.

Mike Comeau is a Baltimore County employee and a member of the Maryland Army National Guard.  He has deployed to Afghanistan and to Louisiana in support of various missions.


 Governor Ehrlich Asks Employers to
Support the Guard and Reserve

Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. has sent the following letter to over 137,000 private sector employers in Maryland with a copy of the Department of Labor's United Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) poster:


Dear Employer:

             As governor, I am responsible for the health and welfare of thousands of employees throughout the State of Maryland, including those who have chosen to serve in Maryland’s National Guard, Reserves and/or Armed Services. 

             It is important for all Americans to support our uniformed men and women who often must leave their places of employment to serve our Country at home or abroad in the noble effort to protect, defend, and restore freedom around the world.  Accordingly, I have asked all state managers and supervisors to post the enclosed Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) poster in their offices.  I now ask you, as a private sector employer, to assist in this supportive effort by posting the information in your workplace.

             The Veterans Benefits Improvement Act, enacted by Congress in December 2004 and administered by the U.S. Department of Labor, mandates that employers provide the notice to “all persons entitled to rights and benefits under USERRA.” Employers may meet this obligation by posting it in a prominent place where employees customarily check for such information.  For more information about USERRA, call 1-866-4-USA-DOL or visit  www.dol.gov/vets/programs/userra/. 

             The Maryland Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) can be a great partner and resource to you in improving your understanding of these valuable and necessary military employees.  They can provide free education, consultation, and if necessary, mediation for employers of Guard and Reserve employees.  The Maryland ESGR Committee may be reached by calling 410-234-3809 or visiting their website at www.mdesgr.org.

             I join Congress, the Labor Department, and ESGR in their commitment to ensure that our military men and women have the opportunities they deserve when they return to civilian life, and I encourage you to share this poster with your employees.  Thank you for your assistance in this necessary endeavor.

             Best regards. 

                                                                                     Very truly yours,

                                                                                 

                                                                        Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.
                                                                                    Governor

 

Social Security Administration Signs On for ESGR

Social Security Administration Commissioner Jo Anne Barnhart (seated center) signs an ESGR 5-Star State of Support.  She is joined at the table by Maryland ESGR Chair Maj. Gen. (Ret) Boyd Cook (left) and Mary Dougherty, a retired reservist employee of the SSA who was named by Commissioner Barnhart to be the official SSA contact for ombudsman problems in the Administration. Ms. Dougherty also became a Maryland ESGR Committee volunteer at the signing. Included in the ceremony were a number of SSA employee members of the Guard and Reserve (standing).

 

ESGR Volunteer Volunteers to "Re-serve"

Montgomery County Chair Mike Sternfeld (left) receives the Seven Seal Award from State Chairmain Boyd CookMontgomery County ESGR Chairman, Lt. Col. Mike Sternfeld, US Army Reserve (Retired), has volunteered for recall to active duty.  He reported to the US Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Affairs Command at Fort Bragg, NC, in April 2005, and is scheduled to deploy to Iraq in June.  Mike (left) is pictured receiving a Seven Seals Award from State Chairman Maj. Gen. (Ret) Boyd Cook in 2004 for his work with AMTRAK employee-reservists. 

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2004 Starts, Ends on High Notes as Governor
Signs Support Statement, Keynotes Employer Luncheon

Governor Erlich signing a Statement of Support or ESGR
Committee Chair Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Boyd Cook , Governor Robert Ehrlich, and Maj. Gen. Bruce Tuxill, Maryland’s Adjutant General (seated, left to right), at Proclamation signing. Behind are representatives of Maryland’s military services.

The year 2004 started off on a high note after Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich signed a statement of support in late 2003 and ended on a high note in December as the Governor delivered a keynote address at a luncheon honoring Maryland employers on December 10. Much of the year was spent providing assistance to units and individuals called up in support of the war effort. A bosslift in June took more than 30 employers to the Seattle/Tacoma area for a three-day exploration of Reserve/Guard activities in Washington. In April, members of the Maryland committee attended a regional training conference in Maine sponsored by the National ESGR Committee at which a featured speaker was Maryland’s own Gen. (Ret.) Dana Tawes. Several new members were added to the Maryland Committee roster during the year, and a new staff member joined the Committee as full-time staff. Toward year’s end, Ombudsman Chair Fred Samuelson passed on the chairmanship to a successor. Local committees were active throughout 2004, and Maryland Chair Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Boyd Cook and Executive Director Col. Ben Jablelcki brought the ESGR message to many Marylanders as they met with groups and associations.


Served In Iraq? Come Work For Us
Reservists -- and the skills they've honed -- are in demand at a slew of big companies
(from Business Week - December 13, 2004)