SALEM -- Col. (ret.) Rick McReynolds received the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Spirit of Volunteerism as the Oregon ESGR Volunteer of the Year at group's annual Planning and Awards Conference (APAC), in Bend, May 18.
The retired Medford School District science teacher also received the Oregon ESGR Jack Cronise Volunteer of the Year Award.
McReynolds serves as the Southern Oregon Area 4 Chairperson. This year he has presented 154 Statements of Support to Southern Oregon employers and businesses. An Army Reserve retiree with 37 years of service, McReynolds has represented ESGR at many mobilization and demobilizations events during the past year for the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
“I saw the ESGR as an opportunity to do something constructive in supporting the mission of our troops. Maintaining positive relations between civilian employers and their reserve component employees is something I think is important,” McReynolds said. “I also enjoy the association with those who serve.”
A highlight of the evening was presenting Oregon State Attorney General John Kroger the ESGR’s Seven Seals Award for his work in drafting and presenting legislation in 2009 (House Bill 3256) which mirrors the Federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) as State law. Oregon is the first state to have a law to compliment USERRA.
Kroger also received the My Boss is a Patriot award for his support of employee Navy Reserve Capt Eugene Ebersole who was deployed in 2009.
Both laws ensure that persons who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, Reserves, National Guard or other “uniformed services” are not disadvantaged in their civilian careers because of their service; are promptly reemployed in their civilian jobs upon their return from duty; and are not discriminated against in employment based on past, present, or future military service.
The Seven Seals Award is the highest award given by ESGR, and was created to publicly recognize American employers who provide outstanding patriotic support and cooperation to employees and families of those who have been called to serve.
During the awards dinner, several employers and businesses were also recognized for their outstanding support of reservists in Oregon: The City of Eugene Police Department, Central Oregon Trucking, PatRick Corp., Jubilee Products, Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, SAIF Corporation, Schlotzky’s Deli in Bend, and Kaiser Permanente.
PHOTO CAPTION KROGER AWARD_ESGR:
Oregon Attorney General John Kroger (right) accepts one of two awards from the chairman of Oregon’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Committee, Brig. Gen. (ret) Bill Doctor (center). Navy Reserve Capt. Eugene Ebersole works for Kroger in Salem. –Photo courtesy of Oregon Military Dept. Public Affairs |