Dotson Named Chairman of New Armed Forces Committee

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 13, 2011) − Vice Mayor Linda Gorton recently announced the creation of the Bluegrass Armed Forces Community Covenant Committee, which will support deployed service men and women and their families in all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. University of Kentucky Veterans Resource Center Coordinator Tony Dotson will chair the committee.

“I am excited to be a part of this wonderful community effort to raise awareness of Kentucky’s military and their families,” Dotson said.

The Bluegrass Armed Forces Community Covenant was signed Feb. 13, 2010, by business, military, nonprofit, and government leaders from 17 Central Kentucky counties, as well as Lieutenant General Jack Stultz, chief of the Army Reserve and Major General Edward Tonini, chief of the Kentucky National Guard. It is a partnership with the Bluegrass Area Development District that provides local support for Central Kentucky families that have a family member deployed overseas.

The committee will work to obtain support from local businesses and organizations to provide free or discounted products and services to the families of deployed service members. Businesses and organizations that participate will be recognized on the Bluegrass Armed Forces Community Covenant website and will also be given a sticker that they can display in their storefront to communicate to the public that they support U.S. troops and the sacrifices they are making every day.

UK also has signed on to the Covenant. The university offers benefits such as application and advising fee waivers to members of the military and their families.

Dotson said the Covenant is unique because agreements such as these usually are signed in communities surrounding military installations such as Ft. Knox or Ft. Campbell. Lexington may be far from these installations, but Dotson pointed out that Central Kentucky is home to many members of the Armed Forces.

"It's really an awareness campaign," Dotson said. "It's raising awareness that we do have a lot of service members in the area, both reserve and active duty."

The committee includes representatives from each of the 17 central Kentucky counties included in the Covenant. These representatives will work in their communities to increase the number of businesses and organizations that pledge support for service members and their families. Dotson said those who sign on will benefit from the recognition as military-friendly businesses.

“I initiated this Covenant because each of the 17 central Kentucky counties has Reserve and National Guard military members who have or are currently deployed away from home," Gorton said. "This is a way for all of us to embrace and support their families”

To request more information or to become a Bluegrass Armed Forces Community Covenant participating business or organization, contact Gorton at (859) 258-3828 or lgorton@lexingtonky.gov