Once one of the best small AUSA chapters, the Charleston Chapter has been reorganized and revitalized.

The new chapter president is retired Lt. Col. W. Larry Dandridge, who led the chapter to best small chapter status nearly eight years ago.

Dandridge is also vice president for veteran affairs and employment assistance, and the chapter’s representative to the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center.

He is on the Customer Service Council, Quality Council, Veterans Service Officer (VSO) Council, Strategic Planning Committee, and he teaches patient and family-centered care at the local VA medical center.

The first vice president is retired Col. Joe Trez who recently attended the AUSA new chapter president training session at AUSA national headquarters.

Cindy Newman, a corporate member, is now the vice president for multi-media communications, and corporate member Carol Lowman is the vice president for congressional affairs.

Retired Col. David Taylor is a vice president and treasurer; Heather Motter, a past chapter vice president, is a vice president and chapter secretary.

Angie Gibbs is the vice president for hotel and motel relations in Charleston.

The Charleston Chapter has a board of directors led by retired Lt. Gen. Roger Thompson, the past AUSA national vice president for membership and meetings.

The board consists of past presidents of the chapter, including Larry Dandridge, Bob King, Bill Whatley, and Nat Robb, and other members of industry and government in the Charleston area.

If you are interested in serving on the chapter’s executive committee, contact Dandridge at (843) 276-7164 or LDandridge@earthlink.net .

The Charleston Chapter is off to a great start with an impressive recruitment effort to sign up new individual and corporate members, establishment of a web page, construction of a CHIMP email account for the executive committee, supporting and raising over $60,000 for Fisher House Charleston through the publication of Dandridge’s Blades of Thunder (Book One), beginning a quarterly newsletter, adoption of the local Army Recruiting Company, adoption of the following: Victory House for Veterans; The Citadel Army ROTC Program; local JROTC units to include establishing JROTC and ROTC awards programs; and the RHJ VA Medical Center.

The chapter is also planning its first general membership meeting and corporate appreciation event.

The Charleston Chapter appreciates the support it received from the AUSA Fort Jackson-Palmetto Chapter and AUSA national headquarters for the generous kick-off donations and start up support.