HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

228

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE HAWAII CHAPTER of the EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE GUARD AND RESERVE.

 

 

WHEREAS, the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) was established in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between National Guard and Reserve (Reserve) component members and their civilian employers and to assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee's military commitment, and, today, ESGR operates through a network of more than 4,500 volunteers, staffing 55 committees located in each state throughout the nation, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Europe; and

WHEREAS, the United States Department of Defense (DoD) tasks the ESGR to "…promote both public and private understanding of the National Guard and Reserve in order to gain U.S. employer and community support through programs and personnel policies and practices that shall encourage employee and citizen participation in the National Guard and Reserve programs"; and

WHEREAS, since the success of the nation's defense is dependent on the availability of highly-trained members of the DoD's "Total Force", the ESGR works to obtain employer and community support to ensure the availability and readiness of Reserve forces by operating a proactive program directed at U.S. employers, employees, and communities to ensure an understanding and appreciation of the role of the Reserve in the context of DoD's Total Force Policy; and

WHEREAS, ESGR uses the military chain of command to promote a better understanding of the importance of maintaining positive working relations between the employers and their Reserve component employees, and solicit the assistance of military agencies, military training schools, and military and civilian association in educating Reserve forces about their rights and responsibilities regarding the terms and conditions of civilian employment, as stipulated in the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, to work through problems and misunderstandings that result from Reserve membership, training, or duty requirements through information services and informal mediation; and

WHEREAS, the HAWAII CHAPTER OF THE EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE GUARD AND RESERVE strives to work with local employers to make them aware of their significance in the global war on terrorism and to ensure that they implement supportive human resources policies that are conducive to continued military service in the Reserve components; and

WHEREAS, as a chartered committee, the HAWAII CHAPTER OF THE EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE GUARD AND RESERVE, forming the "heart and soul" of the ESGR and staffed entirely by volunteers under the leadership of State Chairperson Major General Calvin "Kelly" Lau, Ret., consists of men and women who serve in an honorable and vital profession that responds to their communities and their country in times of need, and who carry out their mission to motivate and increase support for Reserve forces; and

WHEREAS, the HAWAII CHAPTER OF THE EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE GUARD AND RESERVE encourages Hawaii employers to publicly establish that employment will not be denied, promotions will not be delayed or barred, and that Hawaii’s employees will be granted leaves of absence without use of vacation time consistent with existing laws for those men and women serving in the Reserve; and

WHEREAS, the HAWAII CHAPTER OF THE EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE GUARD AND RESERVE has recognized the University of Hawaii, Safeguard Services, Inc., the Hawaii Foodservice Alliance, and Servco Pacific, Inc., for their exemplary service to the people of the State of Hawaii and their continued support of the National Guard and Reserve; and

WHEREAS, due to the support of employers such as the University of Hawaii, Safeguard Services, Inc., the Hawaii Foodservice Alliance, and Servco Pacific, Inc., Hawaii's National Guard and Reserve members have become inextricably linked to a strong national defense, distinguishing themselves within our community as outstanding examples of a commitment to excellence, not seeking recognition or praise for their efforts but reaping the rewards that come simply in doing what is necessary, making each of these employers a well-deserving recipient of the appreciation awarded to them by the HAWAII CHAPTER OF THE EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE GUARD AND RESERVE; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, that this body hereby commends and applauds the efforts of the HAWAII CHAPTER OF THE EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE GUARD AND RESERVE for its support of Hawaii's employees serving in the military, and extends to them its warmest aloha and best wishes for continued success in all future endeavors.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Recognizing the contributions of the Hawaii Chapter of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve