To the more than 150 registered attendees for the Friday night social blast and the 140 for the dinner event Saturday evening...thanks for being there! The feedback we received was very positive. Here's a brief recap and just a few highlights:

FRIDAY NIGHT: We combined the social with the corporate member / vendor displays and many provided auction items, the biggest of which was the Sako 30.06 rifle donated by John McKittrick of SMA Architects, and was won by Col (ret) Jim Hogan. John and Theresa Purpuro outbid everyone for an outstanding patriotic framed print donated by Tom and Carol Spika of Spika Welding. Many thanks to our other corporate members and vendors who contributed some excellent items for auction.Thank you TriWest Healthcare Alliance for providing the music, food and beverage!

SATURDAY NIGHT:W.L. Gore and Delta Dental of California teamed up to provide us The Bridger String Quartet. They provided a musical backdrop to an elegant dinner event. There were several items up for auction and Tom Spika won a beautiful framed print by Monte Dolack.CW4 Mike Hossfeld won the 12 guage over/under shotgun which he in turn presented to John McKittrick as a token of appreciation for all he does to support the MTNGA. LTC Mark Boettcher was the recipient of a nice .22 lever action rifle. Lt Col Mike Rand was the winning bidder for a custom hunting knife pair, one with "Army" laser engraved on the handle and a companion knife engraved with "Air". CPT Jennifer Brietbach got a fine pair of GoreTex boots and MAJ Bruce Coccoli scored some cold weather GoreTex gloves.

We also had the pleasure of the company of several special guests. Col (ret) Pete Duffy (Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs for NGAUS), MSgt Brendan and Kathy Steele (ANG NCO of the Year) along with SSgt Ryan and Heidi Brubaker (ARNG NCO of the Year).

SUNDAY: The business session was attended by over 70 members, starting with breakfast and a discussion of NGAUS resolutions and the 2011 state legislative priorities. The normal business of the Association was conducted and several were elected by the membership to the MTNGA board of directors, including BGen (ret) Jim Higgins, Maj Joe Ferda, CPT Tracy Swanson, and CW3 Rich Heitstuman. A big thanks to outgoing board members BGen (ret) Rex Tanberg and Capt Tiffany Heaton.

Col (ret) Pete Duffy gave a NGAUS legislative briefing which helped bring everyone up to date.

BGen Walsh provided his perspective on the importance and value of being a member of the MTNGA and NGAUS.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Thanks to Capt's Cody Smith, Tracy Swanson, Billie Jo Hindoien, and 2Lt Justin Hutchins for running a very smooth registration/dues operation on Friday night....best seen! Brenda Heitstuman also helped in getting materials to the right places.

Capt Janel Wiese, 2Lt Justin Hutchins, and CW5 John and CW3 Theresa Purpuro worked the registration, dinner tickets, etc...taking some of their time from the social hour to make the event run smoothly for all on Saturday night. Also, thanks to everyone that donated auction items...especially Col Bryan Fox and LTC Garth Scott for their time and generosity. Maj Keith Kelly was the photographer...thank you for the extra effort! See his work on MTNGA Facebook.