February 27, 2004

• First meeting of 106th Rescue Wing Community Partnership Program

June 22, 2004

• New York Military Days event in Washington, DC with other representatives of the five NY State Bases.

August 7, 2004 —

Community Meeting introducing GRIP to the community. Over 400 local residents attended the meeting sponsored by GRIP and the Speonk-Remsenburg Civic Association at the Remsenburg Elementary School.

Featured guest speakers:

• Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton;
• Congressman Tim Bishop;
• Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy;
• NY State Senator Ken LaValle;
• NY State Assemblyman Fred Thiele;
• Southampton Town Supervisor Patrick Heaney;
• County Legislator Jay Schneiderman.

Newspapers and television covered the event with articles and supportive editorials:

• The Independent
• Southampton Press
• Newsday
• Suffolk Life
• Easthampton Star
• Sag Harbor Express
• Channel 12 News
  

Letter writing campaign

• To date (October 14, 2004) e have collected more than 3,000 letters from Suffolk County residents from Huntington to Montauk.
• NYS Senator Ken LaValle distributes survey and has received 5,000+ responses in support for 106 Rescue Wing from residents throughout Brookhaven and the East End of Long Island.
• NYS Assemblyman Fred Thiele sent his own constituent survey and received additional 1,000’s in response for support of the 106 RQW.

Resolutions in support of keeping the 106th RQW at Gabreski Airport:

• Sense of the NY State Senate and House in support from NYS Senator Ken LaValle and
  NYS Assemblyman Fred Thiele, July 12, 2004.
• Sense of Suffolk County Legislature introduced by Legislator Schneiderman, Presiding Officer Caracappa, Carpenter, O’Leary, Foley, Viloria-Fisher requesting the US Dept of Defense not recommend closing the ANG 106th Rescue Wing at Gabreski Airport.
• East End Supervisors and Mayors Association.
• Resolutions of Support from Southold Town Board
• Southampton Town Board
• Incorporated Village of Westhampton Village

Miscellaneous

• Web site - www.gripinc.org.
• Letter of Support from the Greater Westhampton/ Dune Road Civic Association.
• Long Island Power Authority support
• Interviews on Radio (WLNG) and TV (WCBS channel 2 and WNBC channel 4)

October 2004

The Long Island Association

• Provides 106RQW Economic Impact Analysis
• Long Island Association Strategic Committee - East End Affairs adds support for maintenance of the 106RQW to it's official Goals For 2005

Financial Support from:

• Greater Westhampton Chamber of Commerce
• Greater Westhampton/Dune Road Civic Association
• Incorporated Village of Westhampton Beach
• Town of Southampton
• The Remsenberg Association
• and dozens of individual contributors