The Executive Committee of National ACO Scholarships, Inc. has issued its annual call to high school seniors and college undergraduates for applications for scholarship awards for the 2010/2011 academic year.  The two-page application form is available on the Resources page, under the heading “National ACO Scholarships, Inc.”  Application forms may also be obtained by contacting Secretary/Treasurer Captain Dave Peterson, NOAA (Ret), by phone (301-921-6357) or email (kmpdhp -at- comcast -dot- net).  Complete application packages should be sent to the corporation’s post office address (shown on the form) and should be postmarked no later than Friday, April 30, 2010.

On Veterans Day, the President signed into law S.475, The Military Spouses Residency Relief Act. The law amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide certain protections for military spouses with regard to residency, voting and taxation. Spouses will have the option to adopt the state in which they reside or the service member’s state of residence.  Here is the Statement by the President on S.475.

The 15th Annual Southwestern Lunch & Social Hour plus Extra Added Attractions is being held on Wednesday March 10 – Friday March 12, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. Coast Survey/ESSA/NOAA retirees & interested future retirees are welcome! Login to the Member Area for more details.

Please update your address and email contact information in the member area of the NOFA website. A printable version of the NOFA directory will be available for the upcoming holiday season on November 1, 2009. Please update your information as soon as possible.

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2009 National ACO Scholarships! Each award winner will receive $1000 in support of his/her coming academic year.

• Ms. Casey Bulmer
• Ms. Alyssa McKay
• Mr. Daniel Moakley

RDML Kenul, RADM Bailey, Dr. Lubchenco, and Secretary Locke at the NOAA 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Outlook Announcement Event, May 21, 2009 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. (Photo: CAPT Wade Blake)

Attention NOAA Corps families! This year the National Military Family Association celebrates our 40th Anniversary, but we are really celebrating you! Your family could be named our Military Family of the Year and the winner of $1,000 and a trip to Washington, DC. This is your time to tell your personal story or recognize a special family that you know. Take a look at your family’s achievements or those of a military family you know and submit this simple nomination today. Families that are eligible for this award are any active duty, Reserve Component, or retired family of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Commissioned Corps of NOAA or PHS, as well as families of fallen service members. Nominate a deserving family today.