We are a nonprofit corporation, registered in the state of West Virginia on Nov. 22, 2005.
IRS 501(c)3 tax-empt status.
Ron Wroblewski, President
Ron is a U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam veteran who has dedicated 30 years to veterans-related advocacy. He was instrumental in organizing one of the best attended Marine Days in the country, in Charleston in 1998, which was attended by 12,000 people. He was on the committee to organize the “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day,” which did not occur till 30 years had passed since the war’s end. He did significant work to honor World War II veterans on Sept. 2, 2005, to celebrate the end of that war. Ron heads several organizations and he helped form the Vietnam Veterans of America chapter in Huntington. Ron expects the best from people, and when he leads, people are positive and productive. He remembers the elderly soldiers. From his first introduction to Thanks! Plain and Simple, in April of 2005, he has been a tireless, bright, well-liked, encouraging and leader. He received the Governor’s Distinguished Citizen Award for his long-standing array of community activities. (Resume available on request.)
Anne Montague, Executive Director and Founder
Anne returned home to West Virginia after many years in other states and a year in Tokyo, Japan. She received two MA degrees without having to finish the B.A., based on her professional-level research, writing and contributions. After her second M.A., from Harvard University, she stayed in Boson, where she was a partner in a consulting firm that helped launch new organizations and technologies, then she founded a nonprofit organization based on work she had done for several years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. She is recognized as a visionary who sees the big picture, with skills to put the details in place for work that will make a difference. Her dream to make a difference for and with West Virginia, by focusing on and unifying our people’s strengths. Anne is creative and even penned the organization’s theme song, “West Virginia with a Wild Sweet Smile.” She hoped never to leave the state again.
Patricia Shafer, CPA: Treasurer
As Chair of the Department of Business Administration at West Virginia State University and CPA of long-standing experience and high reputation, Mrs. Shafer is our Treasurer. She is a native West Virginian, a graduate of West Virginia State, and her goal is to make successful students, so she relates to TPS’s concerns to help strengthen our state and communities by guiding West Virginia’s peoplepower to work with those who have gained leadership and teamwork training, for successful individuals and projects. She has been on the WVSU faculty for nearly 25 years and has taught in post-secondary education for nearly 30 years. Her M.B.A. is from the Marshall University Graduate College. Patricia has worked in business and industry and has real-world experience in topics she teaches. If you have lots of time to talk, ask her about her wonderful grandchildren!
Emma Lou Johnson, Secretary, Pro Tem
Emma is a Gold Star Mother, meaning that she lost a child in action. He was Lance Corporal Adam Crumpler, who fell in June, 2005 in Iraq. Emma is a sterling example of the kind of people we reach out to and involve. She is invaluable day to day, with her practical approach to problems, and in being able to speak on behalf of Thanks! Plain and Simple about her loss. She is the mother of eight children, and after losing her daughter, Dorthea, who was 37, she and her husband became legal guardians of Adam and his sister, Brittany, who will received a law degree from West Virginia University in record time in 2007.
Jeff Bosley
Jeff is an audio specialist and teaches communications at Marshall University. He is on the Mountain Stage staff and understands both the technical and creative sides of events management and implementation. Jeff is known for his common-sense and encouragement of others and his help with defining and meeting non-profit organization missions.
John Haulotte
John is a two-time Iraqi veteran who chose West Virginia as his home and has learned much about the state, in part from his position as cameraman and reporter for Fox News, Charleston. He is quick to recite the seven Army values -honor, duty, loyalty, respect, integrity, personal courage, and selfless service. He is sensitive to transition issues of the new veteran and is committed to helping the new veteran make a successful transition to civilian life.
Lt.. Colonel Pauline Shaver
Pauline is a native of Morgantown, where two of her children are on the staff of West Virginia University. In addition to very significant successes in medically-related aspects of the National Guard, she has worked in public health, creating and implementing new programs. She received the 2001 Annual Celebrate-Women Award for her Mountaineer Spirit which is tireless. She is also on the Board of Directors for the West Virginia Council of Churches.
Harry M. Siegel, Ph.D.
Harry is a 1973 Graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis Maryland and holds a Master's Degree in Computer Systems from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He has over 25 years project -resource management and marketing experience, the last 20 years of which have involved directing large organizations and multimillion-dollar operations. Harry is CEO of HMS Technologies, one of the fastest growing companies in the country, headquartered in Martinsburg. As a Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Business, Harry operates his company on the basic principles of duty, honor, and commitment to excellence.
H. Woody Williams, Medal of Honor Recipient
Woody served the United States Marines from May 27, 1943 to Nov. 6, 1945. He was in combat on Guam and received the Purple Heart when he was wounded at Iwo Jima on March 6, 1945. On October 5, 1945, Woody was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by President Truman for his action on Iwo Jima. Woody belongs to many major veterans groups and holds the position of National Chaplain of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society of the United States. He is a retired Commandant of the W. Va. Veterans Home at Barboursville and also retired after 33 years as a Veterans Services Officer with the United States Veterans Administration. He is the only surviving Medal of Honor recipient in West Virginia, and he is frequent national speaker.
Courtney York
Courtney is a recent graduate of Ohio State University in Mass Communications. She was invaluable to Thanks! Plain and Simple in preparing for the first annual event, which was covered broadly by media, before, during and after Oct. 7, 2006.. Because of her high professionalism and clear understanding of TPS;s mission, she was invited to join the board, where she adds valuable perspectives on operations and planning.
Terri Barrett
Terri is the mother of a Army soldier, Isaac Barrett, who has served twice in Iraq. She has a M.A. from West Virginia State University in management and works in ethics in hospital health-care delivery. Terri is known for excellent skills to organize and plan.
We chose board members carefully, for their understanding and respect for our mission
to make positive change, as well as for their expertise.
If you would like to suggest a member, please let us know.
----- Resumes available on request -----
5313 F Carleton Court; Charleston, WV 25313
(304) 776-4743
(304) 545-9818
thanksplainandsimple@earthlink.net
www.thanksplainandsimple.org
IRS TAX-EXEMPT NUMBER: FEIN: 42-1684691
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