Welcome to the Hampton Roads Chapter (HRC) Website
Last Update: 17 September 2024
The HRC Vision: To become the premier ROCKS, Inc. chapter in the world, focused on the “full spectrum development" of military officers and senior civilians.
The HRC Mission: To strengthen the officer, cadet and senior civilian corps of the military in the Hampton Roads Area by promoting and providing mentorship, leadership, scholarship, fellowship, counseling, good citizenship, community service, and professional networking.
The Hampton Roads Chapter, ROCKS, Inc. Goals and Objectives
GOAL 1: Sustain/increase membership at a level to ensure viability of Chapter and the accomplishment of its goals and objectives. The following objectives have been established:
Ø Objective 1: Establish program to retain current membership and recruit 12 new members. (Membership) Provide every member with the following tools in order to help recruit new members, stay informed, and to encourage participation: Program should detail specific actions and activities to:
a) Keep current members informed on what the chapter is doing and how they can get involved. Such documents may include letters, Calendar of Events, Membership Roster, Leader Professional Development (LPD) Schedule for the Year with Topics and Presenters, Treasurer's Report, and Chapter By-laws.
b) Reach out to new members, inform them on HRC activities and encourage them to attend chapter meetings, get active and get involved. At the appropriate time, provide them a copy of the Membership Application.
c) Develop a strategy to determine how to best reach "all" junior officers, cadets, and applicable civilians.
Ø Objective 2: Increase HRC ROCKS, Inc. marketing efforts. Program should detail specific actions and activities to do the following:
a) Advertise HRC ROCKS, Inc. meetings and activities in installation and local newspapers, and the Rocket.
b) Publish HRC ROCKS, Inc. brochure.
c) Develop HRC ROCKS, Inc. business cards for members to use as recruiting
tool.
d) Maintain and Update chapter and National websites with most current information.
e) Continue to update Chapter Facebook site and post archives material to Shutterfly site and other designated storage locations.
f) Leverage the use of all social media (i.e., Twitter, Instagram, etc.) to inform current members and to recruit new members.
Ø Objective 3: Promote membership through mentorship and networking. Program should detail specific actions and activities to do the following:
a) Invite BN and BDE level CDRs from surrounding installations to lead open discussions at General Membership Meetings.
b) Sponsor activities to allow for members to network.
Ø Objective 4: Conduct appropriate venues to award scholarships and recognize members.
Ø Objective 5: Conduct Outstanding Student Awards presentations as part of Leadership and Community Outreach.
GOAL 2: Explore new approaches and techniques for identifying, attracting, and mentoring junior officers. Target is to mentor at least 5 junior officers whether they are a member or not. Monitor, and where appropriate, implement the National Board Mentorship Program.
Ø Conduct career and professional development training, (forums, symposiums, and seminars) to promote the personal and professional growth of our junior officers in the Hampton Roads area. Establish collaborative boards / collaborative capability.
GOAL 3: Conduct fundraising to sustain chapter operations, with an emphasis on scholarships.
GOAL 4: Conduct one community event semi-annually.
History & Highlights
The Hampton Roads (HR) Chapter of The ROCKS, Inc. began during the summer of 2000 when a few interested officers got together to discuss the need for and benefits from starting a ROCKS Chapter in the Hampton Roads Virginia area. From September to November 2000, coordination and planning were conducted to establish an Interest Group and organize a formal structure to obtain Chapter status. In November 2000, the National Headquarters of The ROCKS, Inc. approved the establishment of the Hampton Roads Interest Group of ROCKS, Inc. The Interest Group began to implement a community service program and a cadet mentoring program. In November 2001, the National Board of The ROCKS, Inc. gave approval to the Hampton Roads Interest Group to be chartered as the Hampton Roads Chapter of The ROCKS, Inc. The chartering ceremony was held on November 30, 2001 at the Hampton University Museum, Hampton University.
The following are highlights of the Chapter’s past ten+ years:
- Conducted monthly membership meetings and Officer Professional Development presentations, featuring outstanding guest speakers
- Awarded its first scholarship in May 2002, followed by its first Scholarship Awards Banquet in 2003 awarding four scholarships to senior high school students
- Received the Urban League of Hampton Roads Silver Star Award in February 2003
- Began sponsorship of the annual "Battle of the Bay" sports competition between the Cadets of Hampton University and Norfolk State University in October 2006
- Continues to lead the Annual Joint Cookout with fellow mentoring organizations within the Hampton Roads area
- Welcomed its first ROTC Cadet member in May 2010 - Hampton University Cadet Gregory Pizarro, Jr
- Participates annually in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast sponsored by the Urban League of Hampton Roads
- Participates regularly in community service activities such as Holiday Caroling at the Hampton VA Hospital and the Wounded Warrior Run at Fort Monroe in 2011
- Awarded scholarships to over 40 Cadets in the past 10 years
The HR Chapter of The Rocks, Inc. continues to provide service to the community, mentorship for junior officers and cadets, transition mentorship from military to civilian life, and a networking forum for its members. Membership has increased significantly since 2001 and we look forward to a bigger and brighter future.
For HRC ROCKS Website assistance and/or to provide feedback and updates, please contact Toney C. Mooney at tcmooney@cox.net.