I think that our April meeting was one of the best JROTC scholarship luncheons that we have ever held. This year’s scholarship winners were terrific. If you attended, I hope you had a good time. If you didn’t, I think you really missed something special. The six Cadet winners have an average GPA of 3.92 and SAT of 1,337. What a bright future all of them have, and with our help their goal of graduating from college will become reality. The legacy of our club will be the assistance that we provide to some very deserving Cadets from our high schools in Manatee County. Your generosity has made these scholarships possible.

Thank you so very much for your past contributions to the Scholarship Fund. We did have more members attend the April meeting, which is usually the case for the special luncheon. I thank every one of you that attended to show your support for the scholarship winners. Only three weeks separates our April and May meetings, but I hope that you will make every effort to attend the May meeting. We recently sent a survey to you concerning what we need to do to increase our meeting attendance. If you haven’t done so, please respond to that survey.

We need your input. Please feel free to contact any of our chapter officers with your suggestions. Our phone numbers are listed in all newsletters. You can also email me as follows: bgneff@hotmail.com

“Patriotic dissent is a luxury of those protected by better men than they.” Author unknown.

Jerry Neff

Sarasota National Cemetery, May 30th, 2009 Saturday 10 AM Congressman Vern Buchanan will be the guest speaker. Followed by an Open House 11 AM till 2 PM.

Sponsored by the Sarasota National Cemetery Advisory Committee, Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 State Rd 72, Sarasota, FL 34241

CADET BIO'S

Cadet Amanda Agines, Southeast High School, JROTC Advisor, LTC Carl Lane: Amanda has been a leader in JROTC, active in FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America,) all four years at Southeast while maintaining a high academic level. She has been accepted to the nursing program at MCC and will continue her degree in nursing at USF.

Cadet Pascal Wagner, Southeast High Schoool, JROTC Advisor, LTC Carl Lane, Pascal was JROTC Battalion Commander, a member of the National Honor Society and Key Club, and a volunteer at the Pelican Man Sanctuary and Teen Hospice. He has been accepted at Florida State University where he plans to major in management information systems and business.

Cadet Sarah Burger, Manatee High School, JROTC Advisor, LTC. Philip Mugford: Sarah has been a platoon commander in JROTC, a member of the America Sign Club, interned at Manatee Memorial Hospital’s ER, earned her First Responder certificate, and currently is enrolled in the Fire Department Cadet program. She has been accepted at MCC and afterwards will continue to work for a Master’s degree as a nurse practitioner

Cadet Jorge Henriquez, Palmetto High School, JROTC Advisor, LTC. Peter Massman: Jorge has held various leadership roles in JROTC, was on the football and cross country team for his school, and worked at Prime Outlet Mall in Ellenton. He has been accepted at the University of South Florida and will major in civil engineering.

Cadet Andrew Mullins, Palmetto High School, JROTC Advisor, LTC. Peter Massman: Andrew was a JROTC Battalion Commander, a member of the National Honor Society, on the cross country team, an AP Scholar, yearbook business manager, and he worked part-time for Discount Tackle. He has been accepted at the University of Florida and will major in bio-medical sciences and earn a PhD in physical therapy.

Cadet Frances Sotomayor, Bayshore High School, JROTC Advisor, LTC. Benjamin Weiss: Frances assumed several leadership roles in JROTC, was an active member of the Key Club, Alpha Theta, and the French Club as well as working part-time at New Horizon Computer Learning Center and CVS. She has been accepted at USF and will pursue a degree in psychology.