We would like to inform you of a great new opportunity for you and your organization - membership in the Gulf Coast Government Contractor's Association (GCGCA).  The GCGCA is a non-profit organization that is comprised of technology-related companies, academic institutions and individuals from around the Gulf Coast region with the common interest of fostering technology-focused economic development in the region by establishing and maintaining partnerships between industry, academia and government.  
             The GCGCA has been modeled after a similar and highly successful organization in Charleston, South Carolina - the Charleston Defense Contractors Association (CDCA). This organization and its government partners have demonstrated an enormous capability to grow business for all involved.  Our goal is to repeat this success throughout the Gulf Coast region.
             Joining GCGCA now will allow you to become a Charter Member of this initiative and to have a voice in helping to drive and shape future economic development in the Gulf South. Corporate membership will allow you to gain exposure to teaming opportunities within industry and with government agencies, participate at no additional cost in the quarterly industry outreach symposiums -the first of which will be in early August- network with other technology-focused companies and meet government leadership, agency guests and presentation participants.  Corporate members will also have voting privileges for the organization’s Board of Directors to be elected each June, including the first Board to be installed this July.
             The GCGCA will officially launch on July 1, 2010.  In order to ensure that we get off to a strong start we are encouraging technology-focused companies and academic institutions to join our organization now.  Those companies joining by 30 June, 2010, will be considered Charter Members, be able to nominate up to two candidates and will be allowed to vote for the members of the incoming Board Of Directors. Dues will be extended to the end of the first fiscal year on 30 June, 2011.

Industry Partners,

    I would like to welcome all of you who have recently joined as corporate members. Your participation and support as a grass roots member will  determine the success of this new organization and its influence upon our industry across the Gulf Coast.

    That said, now is the time to put forth your nominations for the Board of Directors for the first operating year of 1 July, 2010 through 30 June, 2011.  Leadership at the Board of Directors level is critical to our future success and I encourage all of you to consider running for one of the seven positions.  The seven persons elected to the new Board will be placed in general and the new BOD will self-elect assignment of each specific Board position; President, Treasurer, etc. There are no qualification limitations for BOD membership beyond being a corporate primary or associate member.

    Corporate Members (each company) may nominate up to two nominees for the upcoming elections. To do so, please email your nominations to me as soon as possible and please, include a short bio of each nominee that does not exceed 250 words.

    I will begin posting the candidates and bios beginning 1 June and elections will be held between 14 - 18 June. The primary member listed on your corporate membership must authorize the nominations and also register the votes (7 votes for 7 positions) unless that primary member has proxied same to an associate member listed on the corporate membership application. If you have any questions whatsoever, please feel free to contact me at the numbers listed below.

    Please forward me nominations and bios as soon as possible. Thank you for your participation and support,

Ray Bellant
President, GCGCA Founding Directors
president@gcgca.org