Venice, Calif. – The President of the United States Barack Obama stopped by to greet volunteers and help call voters at Candidate Ted Lieu’s Venice campaign offices.
Also in attendance was DCCC Chairman Steve Israel.
(SIMI VALLEY, Calif.) –
“And I think there’s no further piece of good examples and relevancy to what this institution means and can mean, will continue to mean of building on the legacy of President Reagan than what has occurred here today in the confines of this building, bringing together some of the leading, most thoughtful individuals in our defense establishment, from Congress, from industry, from Department of Defense. So thank you all for what you continue to do and those who – once again, who helped put this together. This is an extraordinary effort.”
– United States Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, during closing remarks at the 2013 Reagan National Defense Forum
Last November the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library brought together leaders and key stakeholders in the defense community – including members of Congress, civilian officials and military leaders from the Defense Department and industry – to address the health of our national defense and to stimulate a discussion that promotes policies that strengthen the United States military into the future. Due to the overwhelming success of that event, the Reagan Foundation is honored to announce that the second annual Reagan National Defense Forum will be held on November 15, 2014.
“Ronnie’s proudest moments as President involved the men and women who wear the uniform of our country and defend us around the world every day,” said former first lady Nancy Reagan. “He would have been so pleased to know that his presidential library is now hosting important and relevant events like these defense forums so that we can give those men and women the best support on every level that we can.”
During last year’s keynote, General Dempsey remarked, “If we have the will, we can come to 2025 maintaining peace through strength with a military that is dominant, decisive and agile. The question for all of us is, will we? And if you think we won’t, are we prepared to accept a lesser U.S. leadership role globally with all that entails?” At this year’s Reagan National Defense Forum, Chairman Dempsey will deliver the luncheon keynote address again and will continue to discuss our nation’s military capacity, now and into the future.
In addition to the keynote address, multiple panels will be held throughout the day, a few of which include “Reforming How the Pentagon Does Business: What Does it Take to Roll Back the Red Tape?”, Cyberwar: The Role of Cyber in 21st Century Warfare,” and “Defense After the Election: How Will Midterm Elections and the Start of the Presidential Primaries Impact National Defense?”
“No task was closer to President Reagan’s heart or more consistently on his mind than ensuring the unquestionable indomitability of America’s military – the greatest force for peace the world had ever known,” said Frederick J. Ryan, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. “It’s our honor to be able to reconvene this remarkable group of thought leaders to share their strategies for peace through strength in our second annual Reagan National Defense Forum.”
To view the forum live streaming visit: http://www.reaganfoundation.org/live-webcasts.aspx
The registration fee for the conference is $249 per person and includes free admission into the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum and Air Force One Pavilion. A special “Early Bird” registration is available through August 31, 2014, at the reduced rate of $199 per person. Active military, government personnel and students are $149 per person. Registration details and more information on the conference can be found at www.reaganfoundation.org/
Following the day’s panels, the evening will conclude with the presentation of the second annual Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Award. This year’s recipients are Senator John McCain and Secretary Leon Panetta. The Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Award recognizes the exemplary dedication and service of individuals in the defense of the United States and its people. The evening award presentation is not a part of the Reagan National Defense Forum conference. As such, ticket holders to the daytime Forum will not also be a part of the award presentations.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the legacy of Ronald Reagan and his timeless principles of individual liberty, economic opportunity, global democracy, and national pride. It sustains the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, the Reagan Center for Public Affairs, the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Presidential Learning Center and The Air Force One Pavilion. Located in Simi Valley, California the Library houses 63 million pages of Gubernatorial, Presidential and personal papers and over 60,000 gifts and artifacts chronicling the lives of Ronald and Nancy Reagan. It now also serves as the final resting place of America’s 40th President. www.reaganfoundation.org
http://www.reaganfoundation.org/reagan-national-defense.aspx
Schwarzenegger’s action is envisioned to improve coordination of volunteer efforts between California’s state departments and agencies.
The order was signed by Schwarzenegger on Tuesday during a press conference held at California State University Northridge’s Plaza Del Sol. Newly appointed Secretary of Service and Volunteering, Karen Baker will be a member of the Governor’s Cabinet. Baker, 46, of Sacramento, has served as executive director of California Volunteers, formerly known as California Service Corps and the Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism, since 2005.
“Karen Baker does a fantastic job managing California Volunteers,” Schwarzenegger said. “By elevating the state’s volunteer profile we will make it easier for people to figure out where to go and what to do when they want to give their time or their resources.”
Schwarzenegger said that while government can give direction and impetus, real change has to come from people working together in their communities.
“I want to move civic engagement to the highest levels of state government, which is where it belongs,” said Schwarzenegger. “Californians’ desire and will to serve are there in abundance. We must do everything we can to harness this incredible resource.”
First Lady Maria Shriver – whose father Robert Sargent Shriver Jr.’s career and the Kennedy family legacy were founded upon service to country – stressed the importance her husband’s action which is expected to raise the profile of service in the state of California to a national level.
“I’m a big believer in uniting people to create change and achieve a positive legacy in their own lives, in their communities, in their state and beyond and it is through the act of service that this goal can be attained. Today as we elevate service, we elevate our fellow Californians to be 38 million strong,” said Shriver, who serves as California Volunteers’ honorary chair.
In statements to Gov. Schwarzenegger and First Lady Shriver, presidential candidates, Sen. John McCain, Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama lauded Schwarzenegger’s call to action.
“Service to one’s country and community is the most noble of things an American can give. For a state the size and influence of California to elevate service and volunteering to such a prominent position in government says a lot about the state’s people and about the priorities of Governor Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver,” McCain said.
Sen. Clinton said the new position will help to ensure that California’s volunteers are fully integrated at the highest levels into the state’s efforts to build a better California.
“I commend California for taking civic engagement and volunteerism to a new level by announcing a cabinet level secretary of service and volunteerism,” Clinton said.
Sen. Obama praised Schwarzenegger’s action as a defining moment in the nation’s history.
“The Governor’s decision to elevate civic engagement to such an important level reminds us that the call to serve is one that transcends partisanship and has the power to unite this generation around a common purpose,” Obama said. “America is a great nation precisely because Americans have been willing to stand up when it was hard, to serve on stages both great and small, and to rise above moments of great challenge and terrible trial,” Obama added.
For more information on events, programs and volunteer opportunities through California Volunteers, including the California Volunteer Matching Network (CVMN), please visit CaliforniaVolunteers.org at http://www.californiavoluntee rs.org/
In the top photo, Gov. Schwarzenegger introduces Karen Baker as the first-in-the-nation Cabinet member for Service and Volunteering. Photo by Duncan McIntosh, Office of Gov Schwarzenegger.
In the second photo, Schwarzenegger stresses the importance of volunteering. Photo by Duncan McIntosh, Office of Gov Schwarzenegger.
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