Workshop/Conference Report Resolutions The Pennsylvania National Guard Senior Leadership Workshop and 25th Annual Conference of the Pennsylvania National Guard Associations were  held on 30 April to 3 May 2009 in Erie.  This was the third occasion where the Senior Leadership Workshop and PNGAS Conference were held in conjunction with one another. The 2009 Workshop/Conference was held at the Erie Bayfront Convention Center located on the shore of Presque Isle Bay.  Participants stayed at seven different hotels, including the Sheraton Bayfront, adjacent to the Convention Center.  As in the past, the workshop program featured important briefings on official business issues, while PNGAS sponsored several fun events and opportunities for networking.  The annual business meetings of PNGAS, NGAPA and PNGEA were unofficial events held at the end of the duty day on Saturday, May 2. PNGAS kicked off the Erie event with the annual PNGAS Golf Tournament, held at Cambridge Springs.  LTC Jim Orr reported that a great time was had by all and that most golfers wrapped up their rounds before the rains came on Thursday afternoon.  Next the focus shifted to the Great Hall in the Bayfront Convention Center where PNGAS sponsored a reception on the evening of April 30.  More than 50 exhibitors filled the Great Hall with interesting, informative and dynamic exhibits.  PNGAS provided hors d'oeuvres and beverages to all workshop participants. The official portion of the Workshop started bright and early on Friday, 1 May.  The theme for the day was Reintegration Awareness, and Major General Thomas S. Jones (USMC, Ret.) provided a keynote address at the beginning of the day and a summary at the end.  In between, participants attended several breakouts with outstanding presentations on "Coaching for Stress," "Sensing the Signs - Recognizing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder," "Know your People" and "Effects of Deployments on Children." After a day of learning, the Soldiers and Airmen in attendance gathered for the Annual Dinner sponsored by PNGAS.  The dinner started with a reception (open bar) in the beautiful vestibule of the Bayfront Convention Center.  This was followed by a dinner that featured welcoming remarks by Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper, member of Congress from the Erie area, and a great musical presentation ("A Soldier's Lament") by LTC Robbie Robinson.  Dinner was followed by genuinely funny entertainment provided by Bill Rosenquest of JRs Last Laugh Comedy Club and nationally-recognized comedian, Mike Green. Saturday's session featured important presentations on safety by Brigadier General  William T. Wolf, Director of Amy Safety, followed by insightful presentations on Leadership Ethics by the Honorable Jack Panella, judge of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, and Sexual Assault Response by Anne Munch, Esq. of Denver, Colorado.  We were honored by the presence and participation of General Craig McKinley, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, who spoke at the breakout sessions and addressed the general session about the challenges facing today's National Guard.  General McKinley presided over awards of the Air Force Commendation Medal to COL Regis Cardiff for his leadership of Task Force Pennsylvania at the Inauguration of President Obama and the Pennsylvania Cross of Valor to Chief Master Sergeant Gary Sharp, for his decisive response in a life-saving situation after a vehicle accident. After Army and Air National Guard breakout sessions, PNGAS, NGAPA and PNGEA held their annual meetings.  Among the highlights was the approval of resolutions and a presentation on legislative priorities. One of the great new ideas at this year's event was a silent auction to benefit our family readiness groups and liaison offices.  More than $5,000 was raised and more than 50 baskets were bid on and purchased by participants in the conference. Sunday, 3 May, marked the final day of the conference with presentation of Soldier and Airmen of the Year awards, followed by recognition of the Bayfront Convention Center for the outstanding accommodations.  Breakout sessions for Army and Air, as well as senior NCOs, was followed by the closing ceremony at which TAG recognized the hard work of the Workshop/Conference team, led by LTC Robert Robinson. More information on, and photos from, the Workshop/Conference will be posted soon at this site,