ALCOAST 138/08
COMDTNOTE 1000
SUBJ: USCG PARTICIPATION AT THE FIRST ANNUAL ECLIPSE WEEK AT USCGA
1. THE TRADITIONAL ECLIPSE WEEKEND HELD AT THE U.S. COAST GUARD
ACADEMY HAS BEEN RENAMED ECLIPSE WEEK. THE GENESIS CLUB WILL HOST
ITS FIRST ANNUAL ECLIPSE WEEK AT THE COAST GUARD ACADEMY 31 MAR -
05 APR 2008. FRIDAY EVENING IS THE KICK OFF OF ECLIPSE WEEK
TRADITIONAL EVENTS. THE THEME OF THIS YEARS EVENT IS: INFUSION -
THE INTRODUCTION OF UNIQUE ELEMENTS INTO THE CREATION OF DIVERSITY.
2. THE GENESIS CLUB, AS THE HOST, IS ONE OF THE ACADEMYS CADET
CULTURAL DIVERSITY ORGANIZATIONS AND IS A PART OF THE NEWLY
IMPLEMENTED DIVERSITY COUNCIL.  ITS PURPOSE IS TO INCREASE CULTURAL
AWARENESS, PROMOTE MUTUAL RESPECT, AND TO PROVIDE A SUPPORT NETWORK
FOR CULTURAL INITIATIVES WITHIN THE CADET CORPS.  THIS YEAR, THE
GENESIS CLUB HAS INVOLVED THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ACADEMYS
DIVERSITY COUNCIL TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EVENT.
3. ECLIPSE WEEK IS A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, NETWORKING, AND
TRAINING OPPORTUNITY DESIGNED TO ENHANCE ATTENDEES KNOWLEDGE OF
TOPICS SUCH AS LEADERSHIP, CAREER PLANNING AND MENTORSHIP WHILE
INCREASING OVERALL AWARENESS OF ISSUES AFFECTING JUNIOR OFFICERS IN
THE COAST GUARD. A HALLMARK OF THE ECLIPSE WEEK EXPERIENCE IS
OFFICER/CADET DISCUSSIONS.  THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR MENTORING,
NETWORKING AND SHARING EXPERIENCES HAS AIDED THE DEVELOPMENT OF
OUTSTANDING COAST GUARD OFFICERS AND LEADERS OF CHARACTER. COAST
GUARD CIVILIAN PERSONNEL ARE ALSO HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND.
4. ECLIPSE WEEK SUPPORTS THE ACADEMYS STRATEGIC INITIATIVE TO
OBTAIN DIVERSITY, IMPROVE RETENTION, AND STRENGTHEN MINORITY
RECRUITMENT AS PROSPECTIVE CADETS ARE INVITED TO VISIT THE ACADEMY
DURING THIS ENRICHING AND INFORMATIVE WEEKEND.
5. ONE HIGHLIGHT FOR THIS YEARS ECLIPSE WEEK WILL BE THE
INTRODUCTION OF THE WALLER LEGACY AWARD IN HONOR OF DR. WILLIAM
DEHOMER WALLER, THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN INSTRUCTOR AND A
CHEMISTRY PROFESSOR AT THE COAST GUARD ACADEMY. DR. WALLER MADE A
SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE LIFE AND DEVELOPMENT OF CADETS AND THEIR
CAREERS THAT WENT BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. THE INTRODUCTION OF THE
AWARD PROCESS WILL BE MADE AT THE CULTURAL DINNER, AND THE FUTURE
AWARD WILL BE GIVEN ANNUALLY TO A MEMBER OF THE ACADEMY COMMUNITY
WHO DEMONSTRATES EXCELLENCE IN SUPPORT OF CIVIL RIGHTS, DIVERSITY,
AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES.
6. COMMANDING OFFICERS ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO PROMOTE ATTENDANCE
AT THE CONFERENCE, AND ARE AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE TAD ORDERS AT GOVT
EXPENSE FOR ATTENDANCE. IF UNIT FUNDS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, PERMISSIVE
ORDERS ARE ALSO AUTHORIZED.
7. A BLOCK OF ROOMS HAS BEEN RESERVED AT THE HOLIDAY INN NEW LONDON
AT THE GOVERNMENT RATE OF 98 DOLLARS PER NIGHT. ROOM RESERVATIONS
CAN BE MADE BY CALLING THE HOTEL RECEPTION DESK AT 860-442-0631.
ALL RESERVATIONS MUST BE MADE NLT 28 MARCH 2008. A CREDIT CARD WILL
BE REQUIRED AT CHECK-IN.
8. TO OBTAIN AN OFFICIAL REGISTRATION FORM AND DETAILED ITINERARY,
CONTACT LTJG COLLEEN JONES AT 860-701-6509 OR COLLEEN.P.JONES(AT)
USCG.MIL. THE REGISTRATION FEE IS SIXTY DOLLARS PER PERSON AND
COVERS FOUR MEALS. TRAVEL CLAIMS ARE TO BE ANNOTATED TO REFLECT ALL
MEALS PROVIDED AT THE CONFERENCE.
9. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.