Women's Leadership Symposium

Ladies, you're invited to attend the Sea Service Leaders' Association 2010 Women's Leadership Symposium, the largest annual gathering of women in uniform from the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard!

The annual symposium routinely attracts a joint audience of more than 700 service women and has become a crucial component in the professional growth and development of women in the sea services and has featured speakers from both industry and the military. The 2010 theme is "Leading from the Front and into the Future," which will focus on leadership development and profile women who have succeeded in male-dominated career fields.

The symposium's second day, June 3, will be Service Day and in the afternoon the Navy, USMC and Coast Guard will each have breakout sessions for each community to use that time to discuss important issues and relevant topics with their community members.

Command-funded travel is authorized! This will be a great chance to connect and network with your fellow ladies in uniform. Register at http://www.sealeader.org/. Hope to see you there!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010 at 8:00am
Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 4:30pm
Washington Hilton
1919 Connecticut Ave., NW
Washington, DC

Special moments at G.I. Film Festival

Being a blogger is a very special privilege. You really get a behind-the-scenes access that you wouldn't normally get. The G.I. Film Fesitval tends to attract celebrities that are genuinely passionate about the military.

Besides having the opportunity to discuss the new Army reality show "Starting Strong" with actor Rick Schroeder, I was pleasantly surprised to see Karri Turner walk in, whom I just adored in the television show JAG!

We had a fun chat about her USO tours (she's been on a ton, and is writing a screenplay about them), and her nine years on the hit TV show. She told me she played an Ensign ("Harriet Sims") for nearly eight years (Ensigns in the Navy only hold that rank for the first two years upon getting commissioned). That sounds about right for Hollywood! When the show ended in its ninth season, she was finally a Lieutenant.

She was awesome and I look forward to seeing any upcoming projects of hers. It would be especially cool if she could join her former cast member Catherine Bell in this season of Army Wives!

Thanks to Moshe Zusman for capturing these moments!!

Casino Night

Find your inner Bond/Bond Girl for a great cause -- Luke's Wings!

PURCHASE TICKETS ONLY AT http://www.lukeswings.org BY MAKING A $40 DONATION ANYWHERE ON THE WEBSITE. ADD $40 FOR EACH GUEST YOU WANT TO BRING.

Luke’s Wings is pleased to announce its first annual Casino Royale Night:

May 28 from 8:00 pm – 2:00 am

L2 – 3307 M Street, Washington DC (in Caddy’s Alley)

Attendees of the event will enjoy specialty cocktails, gourmet hors d'eourves from Leopold’s Café, a luxury raffle table, and a night of casino gambling complete with tables, games, and dealers. All proceeds go towards Luke’s Wings to purchase airplane tickets for hospitalized wounded warriors and their families. Our 2010 host is WUSA 9’s Angie Goff. Luke’s Wings Casino Royale 2010

You will enjoy a night of casino gambling, specialty drinks, mixologists, delicious fare, and a luxury raffle auction.

Luxury Raffle prizes include: Neiman Marcus, Miller’s Furs, Mona Taner, Queen Bee Designs, and Adeler Jewelers.

Casino Gambling 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Luxury Raffle 10:30 pm

Winners Announced 11 pm

Dancing and Drinking Until 2 am

Black Tie Encouraged

Best Dressed Bond Girl Award

We are only selling 150 tickets. That’s it – period. Tickets are $40 if purchased before May 12. $60 after May 12, and $80 at the door (should there be any left)The first 20 uniformed service members will get in for free (we’d allow more but capacity is always an issue)

Flying high from the G.I. Film Festival

Everyone who had the opportunity to attend this year's G.I. Film Festival in D.C. knows that it didn't disappoint! The movies in this year's line-up were riveting. So much to discuss!

Bravo Zulu to Laura and Brandon Millet, the founders of this amazing organization. They flawlessly executed an event with fantastic films/filmmakers, great honorees, and amazing hors d'oeuvres.

I had the pleasure of meeting up with my friend Kathleen De Pol-Gagg, who is the Executive Director of Got Your Back Network, for families of fallen service members. She is a very kind and caring woman with such compassion for the military. She told me about another recent project she is involved with, Camp Better America. I am always so moved by her selflessness and I'm already scheming as to how I can help further these great causes. Camp Better America is brand new, a camp that she and her team created for families in the military to bond, decompress and have great resources at their disposal. Speakers, celebrities, and entrepreneurs all come together to help celebrate service members and offer their guidance.

On Friday evening of the festival, I had the opportunity to interview Rick Schroeder, of Silver Spoons (and later NYPD Blue) fame! He was premiering his reality show, Starting Strong. Each 30 minute episode takes an everyday civilian whose considering joining the Army, and shows them what life would be like if they were to enlist in that particular career field. At the end, they show if the person decides to remain a civilian, or swear-in into the Army.

Rick told me that he attempted to enlist in the Army a couple of times in his life. He tried to in his younger years, but his agent and family weren't very supportive. He again felt compelled after 9-11, but a physical deemed him unqualified when they discovered he had asthma.

He still wanted to contribute in some way, so he met with Army officials at the Pentagon and offered his connections and support to start a project that would show a positive portrayal of life in the Army. Thus, his show Starting Strong, which I hope gets picked up by a network.

He also tearfully accepted an award at the G.I. Film Festival, for his involvement. He is truly a patriot.

More to come about the amazing week! Thank you to the most fantastic photographer I know, Moshe Zusman for the awesome shots!