National Conference on Ethics in America 2017 USMA 1970 Update

Barney Forsythe SENDS:

January 31, 2017

Dear Members of the USMA Class of 1970,

On January 24 and 25, I attended NCEA 2017 with classmates Jim Lovelace and Marshall Larsen. As in years past, I offer this after-action report on NCEA 2017 so you will appreciate the impact of our gift.

I want begin by thanking our classmates on the NCEA Committee for their behind-the-scenes support of this year’s conference. The assistance these classmates provided in identifying points of contact at civilian institutions paid big dividends and resulted in a strong attendance. The snow and freezing rain in the New York area that week resulted in a few last-minute cancellations, but despite the weather, we had a great turnout.

Fifty-two schools from across the country sent delegates, including Stanford, Notre Dame, Michigan, Loyola, John Hopkins, Dartmouth, Cornell, and MIT. In all, about 262 delegates attended, including 60 West Point cadets, 196 students from civilian institutions and other service academies, and 6 faculty members.

This year’s topic was Selflessness: Building Unity Through Service. The guest speakers provided inspirational stories about their lives of selfless service.

The Superintendent, LTG Bob Caslen, Jr., opened the conference by thanking the Class of 1970 and the Daniels Fund for the support of NCEA. The Supe stressed the importance of character and selflessness. He made it clear that the NCEA is vital part of West Point’s character development program, and encouraged the delegates to apply what they learn at the conference to their daily lives.

GEN Ray Odierno, 38th Chief of Staff of the Army, led off the conference by sharing his personal stories of selfless service and commenting on other successful people he knows who are making a difference in their communities and in our country.

Ms. Shena Wright, CEO of the New York City United Way, shared her personal story growing up in the South Bronx and spoke about the sources of her motivation to serve: her moral compass, her appreciation for her gifts and skills that can help others, her appreciation of those who came before her, and the people who encourage her and keep her grounded.

Mr. Rajiv Vinnakota, VP of the Youth and Engagement Division of the Aspen Institute, shared the story of how, at age 26, he and a friend established a publicly-funded boarding school for low income inner-city kids. This was an amazing story of how two young people saw a need, quit their high-paying jobs, and made a difference in the lives of others.

Dr. Darryl Adams, recently retired school superintendent, shared his personal story of transforming the poorest school district in America into one of the most successful, earning praise from President Obama.

Former Congressman and Under Secretary of the Army Patrick Murphy kicked off day 2 of the conference with personal stories about how and why he seeks to serve others. He emphasized the importance of character, and shared his experience of being trapped in a commuter train that derailed and killed eight people. He and an Army veteran worked to free the people in his train car who were trapped and injured. His point—you never know when and how you will be called to serve others.

Jim and Marshall presented their reflections on the NCEA theme in a Class of 1970 Panel. Their personal stories, delivered with humility and candor, made a strong impression on the delegates; they did us proud.

Mr. Max Kenner, founder and Executive Director of the Bard College Prison Initiative, talked about the horrors of mass incarceration in the US and how he tried to bring hope to prisoners through education.

Mrs. Dana McDonough, New York State Teacher of the Year, and Ms. Beach Pace (USMA ’91), CEO of Big Brother and Big Sisters in Portland, Oregon, concluded the conference with a panel discussion of the importance of investing in young people.

During table group discussions that occurred throughout the conference, delegates reflected on the speakers’ remarks and applied the lessons to their own campuses. Jim and I listened to several table group conversations and were impressed by their depth and substance.

Initial feedback from delegates was quite positive. They appreciated the quality and diversity of speakers, the opportunity to meet other student delegates from diverse backgrounds, the inspirational and challenging content, the table discussions, and the pace of events. Suggestions for improvement included providing more ethical challenges for table group discussions, enhancing training for small group facilitators, and offering more time to tour the campus (note: the weather was terrible during the first day of the conference). The SCPME staff will use this feedback as it designs next year’s conference, which is currently scheduled for February 13-14, 2018.

This was Jim’s first time attending the NCEA; his fresh perspective was helpful to those of us who have been deeply involved in the conference for so many years. Here are his impressions: “The format of leaders sharing their stories followed by group discussion was powerful, impressive and motivating…I recommend not changing this learning/internalizing dynamic. Opening the program up to those emerging leaders beyond the “walls of West Point” has proven so critical to the success of our vision. I liked everything I saw…so how do we help in sustaining it?”

My impression is that NCEA is now a reflection of our original vision, and the SCPME has it well in hand. As their staffing increases with the addition of full-time faculty members in the next few years, the future of the NCEA remains bright. They have a model for an external conference that works; the next few years will bring refinements and enhancements. In conversations with the SCPME staff, we talked about the importance of following-up with delegates after the conference and assessing the NCEA’s longer-term impact.

COL Scott Halstead turned this year’s conference over to Dr. (COL, retired) Jeff Peterson, who holds the Chair for the Study of Officership in the SCPME and will provide long-term continuity. Jeff was an Academy Professor in the Department of Social Sciences before his retirement, and brings to the SCPME and the NCEA invaluable experience running SCUSA. Scott is doing a one-year tour in Afghanistan and will return to the SCPME for his last assignment. Both Scott and Jeff will provide much needed continuity. During the conference, I had a conversation with the Superintendent’s strategic planner about even more fully integrating NCEA into the overall program of cadet development at the Military Academy. An encouraging sign, indeed.

The Class of 1970 panel was well received, and Jeff Peterson indicated he would like to make it a regular session in subsequent conferences. This will provide other classmates an opportunity to participate in the NCEA in a meaningful way. Details to follow.

I anticipate the SCPME will continue to seek suggestions from the Class of 1970 on potential conference topics, possible speakers, and institutions. As Jim Lovelace so eloquently said, “We most definitely should keep our hand on the helm of this ‘gift,’ but we need not oversteer it.” To that end, the NCEA Committee will remain your liaison to West Point in support the conference, as appropriate. We welcome your feedback.

Many dedicated classmates helped steward the NCEA during a difficult time, and thanks to their efforts, the strong leadership of LTG Caslen, and the commitment of the SCPME staff, our class gift is in a strong position. The NCEA is now an established part of the West Point program. Well done, Class of 1970!

Serve with Integrity,
Barney Forsythe

Creation of USMA 1970 "Singles" Facebook Group

I created this group at the request of Carol Myers Elliott - she is the admin/moderator. Her idea: "So many of us have lost our loved one, in one way or another. It would be nice to have a sharing website or chat area of people with similar background and character." Please pass on to USMA 1970 widows, widowers and "singles" who may be interested. Ask them to request membership https://www.facebook.com/groups/USMA1970Singles/ Thanks!

Pete Cramblet, USMA1970

Pete Cramblet, USMA 1970 - Lacrosse Award!

West Point Glee Club - 26 January 2015 - Leesburg, VA

The West Point Alumni Glee Club will be performing a concert to honor American Veterans at the River Creek Country Club in Leesburg, Virginia.  The concert is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Leesburg and is open to the public on a space available basis.  The concert includes a dinner at only $35 per person.  Anyone interested in attending need to contact Chuck Reavis at 703-401-8891 or reavisaviation@aol.com.