When you buy a pair of shoes, a spicy chicken sandwich, or a gym membership, does that mean you endorse everything about the company -- including the CEO's religious beliefs?
It's a question that has long plagued socially conscious consumers, but sites like Change.org now mobilize grassroots campaigns against companies like Curves fitness centers, whose CEO donates millions to anti-abortion groups, and Chick-fil-A, a fast-food chain that supports faith-based groups opposed to same-sex relationships.
While protests haven't stopped those corporate leaders from supporting conservative Christian agendas, the head of TOMS shoes has felt compelled to apologize for agreeing to a June 30 interview with Focus on the Family president Jim Daly.
Blake Mycoskie, 34, an evangelical Christian, founded TOMS in 2006, promising every pair would be made with fair labor and would provide a second pair for a needy child.
The for-profit California-based company, which has given away more than a million pairs of shoes, is popular on the West Coast, particularly with young adults attracted to no-frills fashions and social justice activities.
After gay-rights and feminist groups criticized Mycoskie and his customers threatened a boycott, the CEO apologized on Saturday (July 9).
Story continues below
"Had I known the full extent of Focus on the Family's beliefs, I would not have accepted the invitation to speak at their event," he wrote on his Start Something That Matters blog.
Comments on his blog and Facebook page doubted that Mycoskie was ignorant of Focus' activism against homosexuality, especially since some had warned him when the event was first advertised.
TOMS could opt to block the radio broadcast of the interview, but as of Wednesday, Focus still hopes to air the 45-minute program this fall, reaching up to 2.8 million listeners.
"We approached TOMS because Blake attracts a certain audience and because his story is inspirational," said Gary Schneeberger, a Focus spokesman. "The idea that out of his faith, as a Christian, he created this company, we thought this was inspiring and was something our listeners would like to hear."
Mycoskie has credited faith as inspiring his business, but the TOMS website proclaims the company is nonpolitical and nonreligious.
"While we are happy to work with organizations from all religious and political backgrounds, we prohibit the giving of our shoes from being associated with any religious or political ideology," the website states. In its application materials, the company requires potential partners to agree they won't try to convert aid recipients or require them to participate in any kind of religious activity to receive shoes.
Companies and their leaders are free to support religious or political causes, but Chris MacDonald, a business ethicist affiliated with Duke University's Kenan Institute for Ethics, said consumers should take such actions into account.
"If you have a sense that your money is somehow, even indirectly, contributing to a cause that you find morally problematic, then it seems somewhere between reasonable and obligatory for you to vote with your dollars," he said. "Your individual purchasing decision isn't doing a lot to further the cause of the company's CEO -- maybe just a few pennies -- but there's also symbolic value, and you're responsible for that."
In the past, consumer complaints over gay issues were more likely to come from conservative Christian groups, with organizations like the American Family Association objecting to the corporate policies of companies like Walgreens, Wal-Mart and Proctor & Gamble.
It's one thing to put your money where your mouth is, but it's not practical for consumers to avoid doing business with any companies whose policies or leaders support opposing religious or political beliefs, MacDonald said.
"A lot of people like the idea of companies being socially involved in their community," he said, "but if you want big companies to get involved in social issues, what makes you think they're going to come down on your side?"
Gay rights petitions have achieved limited success in the past year: Apple pulled apps for conservative groups like Exodus International and the Manhattan Declaration from its iTunes store, and Chick-fil-A's president issued a statement that "while my family and I believe in the biblical definition of marriage, we love and respect anyone who
disagrees."
The quick, direct apology from TOMS is an anomaly, MacDonald said, speculating that the company's small size and social responsibility mission made it vulnerable to criticism from its core audience.
2011年7月14日星期四
2011年7月12日星期二
Once More Unto The Bleach: Debbie Harry Interviewed
Unusually for a bona fide pop icon, Debbie Harry was already 33 when Blondie released their UK breakthrough album Parallel Lines in 1978, and had even turned 34 when 'Heart Of Glass' was a colossal debut hit in the US a year later. In pop terms, the dynamic core of the group — Harry and her then boyfriend, the guitarist Chris Stein — were already neighing skittishly in the shadow of the glue factory when they hit paydirt. And this ascent to fame goes from being improbable to downright astonishing when you cast your eye over Harry's full CV. It seems unlikely that anyone attempting to tread in her footsteps would have any kind of life left to live by their mid-thirties.
Born on July 1, 1945 in Florida to parents who gave her up for adoption, Debbie Harry grew up in suburban Jersey, where she spent her time formulating plans of escape and daydreaming that Marilyn Monroe was her biological mother. In 1965 she moved to New York City, clicking naturally with the bohemian set, and joined the whimsical folk rock group The Wind In The Willows. Their one album on Capitol, released in 1968, was produced by Artie Kornfeld, who was determined to earn some of that hippy dollar. The year after the record flopped, he got his wish, becoming the musical booker for Woodstock. Harry, meanwhile, became a barmaid at Max's Kansas City in Manhattan where she met Andy Warhol and his retinue, served drinks to Janis Joplin and had sex with glam rocker Eric Emerson in a phone booth.
As the 60s began to sour, so did her experiences. She got hooked on heroin. She married a millionaire but left him a few months later. She became a Playboy Bunny. She moved into a Harlem drug den with a dealer and his armed gang. She eventually crawled out of New York, her life in shreds, only to get lured back by the advent of glam rock. Inspired by hanging out with the New York Dolls at the Mercer Arts Center she ended up forming her own group, The Stilettos, in 1972. A year later Stein watched the group and was so impressed he ended up joining. Although they never made it, this band were essentially part of New York punk's first wave along with other CBGB's house acts Television, Suicide and Wayne County. In 1974 Harry and Stein quit to start afresh and what was originally Angel And The Snakes became Blondie; the nomenclature derived from the name that lascivious New York drivers yelled out of their car windows at her.
Born on July 1, 1945 in Florida to parents who gave her up for adoption, Debbie Harry grew up in suburban Jersey, where she spent her time formulating plans of escape and daydreaming that Marilyn Monroe was her biological mother. In 1965 she moved to New York City, clicking naturally with the bohemian set, and joined the whimsical folk rock group The Wind In The Willows. Their one album on Capitol, released in 1968, was produced by Artie Kornfeld, who was determined to earn some of that hippy dollar. The year after the record flopped, he got his wish, becoming the musical booker for Woodstock. Harry, meanwhile, became a barmaid at Max's Kansas City in Manhattan where she met Andy Warhol and his retinue, served drinks to Janis Joplin and had sex with glam rocker Eric Emerson in a phone booth.
As the 60s began to sour, so did her experiences. She got hooked on heroin. She married a millionaire but left him a few months later. She became a Playboy Bunny. She moved into a Harlem drug den with a dealer and his armed gang. She eventually crawled out of New York, her life in shreds, only to get lured back by the advent of glam rock. Inspired by hanging out with the New York Dolls at the Mercer Arts Center she ended up forming her own group, The Stilettos, in 1972. A year later Stein watched the group and was so impressed he ended up joining. Although they never made it, this band were essentially part of New York punk's first wave along with other CBGB's house acts Television, Suicide and Wayne County. In 1974 Harry and Stein quit to start afresh and what was originally Angel And The Snakes became Blondie; the nomenclature derived from the name that lascivious New York drivers yelled out of their car windows at her.
2011年7月10日星期日
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2011年7月4日星期一
China is one of VeriFone Systems Inc.'s fastest growing markets
Mr. Hayes says that in anticipation of rising labor costs, the company will likely ramp up automation efforts in its factories in China. For instance, UTC has replaced some workers at a smoke-detector assembly factory in Guangzhou with machines that place components on boards, says Mr. Hayes. The machines, while expensive, eliminate labor and drive productivity, he says. As labor rates increase, Mr. Hayes says, automation would help in reducing the size of its work force in China.
UTC is also looking at factories in Vietnam and Malaysia as China becomes less competitive on a cost basis, he says. But moving production to other countries can be costly, can expose UTC to currency fluctuations and is a lengthy process, says Mr. Hayes. "Unless we saw a dramatic increase on labor costs, it would be very difficult to move factories," he says.
Because of competitive pressure, UTC isn't considering price increases.
Harman International Industries Inc., an audio designer and manufacturer, buys about 25% of its parts from Chinese manufacturers. As contracts expire, the cost of such items will increase, so Harman is looking at suppliers elsewhere, and its research and development team is looking at ways to substitute some of the parts, says CEO Dinesh Paliwal.
Harman is also working with its Chinese suppliers to help relocate them to other parts of China where wage inflation isn't as severe. He's already persuaded some component manufacturers and magnet makers to move to Western parts of China where costs are lower.
Still, Harman is gearing up to expand in China, opening two additional factories this summer, adding 460,000 square feet of capacity and 1,100 more employees. While labor is more expensive than in years past, and rising under a stronger yuan, Mr. Paliwal says the opportunities for revenue in China outstrip the rising costs.
Indeed, an appreciating yuan may be a boon for China's growing middle class and the multinational companies selling products to them. U.S. exports to China totaled $92 billion in 2010, more than double the $41 billion exported in 2005, according to Department of Commerce data.
China is one of VeriFone Systems Inc.'s fastest growing markets as consumers build wealth and adopt credit cards, says Doug Bergeron, CEO of the electronic-payments company.
Still, Mr. Bergeron says he's willing to raise prices to offset an increase in export costs. "There's no question we'll pass it along to preserve margins," he says.
UTC is also looking at factories in Vietnam and Malaysia as China becomes less competitive on a cost basis, he says. But moving production to other countries can be costly, can expose UTC to currency fluctuations and is a lengthy process, says Mr. Hayes. "Unless we saw a dramatic increase on labor costs, it would be very difficult to move factories," he says.
Because of competitive pressure, UTC isn't considering price increases.
Harman International Industries Inc., an audio designer and manufacturer, buys about 25% of its parts from Chinese manufacturers. As contracts expire, the cost of such items will increase, so Harman is looking at suppliers elsewhere, and its research and development team is looking at ways to substitute some of the parts, says CEO Dinesh Paliwal.
Harman is also working with its Chinese suppliers to help relocate them to other parts of China where wage inflation isn't as severe. He's already persuaded some component manufacturers and magnet makers to move to Western parts of China where costs are lower.
Still, Harman is gearing up to expand in China, opening two additional factories this summer, adding 460,000 square feet of capacity and 1,100 more employees. While labor is more expensive than in years past, and rising under a stronger yuan, Mr. Paliwal says the opportunities for revenue in China outstrip the rising costs.
Indeed, an appreciating yuan may be a boon for China's growing middle class and the multinational companies selling products to them. U.S. exports to China totaled $92 billion in 2010, more than double the $41 billion exported in 2005, according to Department of Commerce data.
China is one of VeriFone Systems Inc.'s fastest growing markets as consumers build wealth and adopt credit cards, says Doug Bergeron, CEO of the electronic-payments company.
Still, Mr. Bergeron says he's willing to raise prices to offset an increase in export costs. "There's no question we'll pass it along to preserve margins," he says.
2011年6月30日星期四
Back to basics at the First Church of Savion Glover
Stepping back from his recently complex productions, Savion Glover takes us straight to the altar and back to his roots, dancing solo and with fellow hoofer Marshall Davis Jr. in “SoLe Sanctuary.”
The stage is practically bare. A little nook in the back brick wall gleams with lines of red votive candle-holders, flames flickering within. High in the air dangle photos of tap ancestors, notably the late Gregory Hines and Jimmy Slyde. Black speakers send out the sounds of Glover's incredibly articulate dancing, and the occasional quiet monologue or song addressed to the dancers whose images hang overhead.
Glover, wearing white down to his tap shoes, sets his extraordinary feet in motion, his body quietly swinging above them, channeling the inspiration and the riffs of generations of dancers from whom he learned his craft.
Davis, in green and beige, has a different style and attack, more the “hitting” of Glover's middle period. Pay attention to both of them; their rhythms sound like pre-verbal rap. They tap different patterns with each foot; sometimes Glover hangs back, providing the bass line for Davis' riffs.
“SoLe Sanctuary” is a magnificent, sophisticated evening of dancing-as-percussion; you could close your eyes and just listen, but then you'd miss the beatific expression on Glover's face and his obvious pleasure in his sweaty, sacred work.
The stage is practically bare. A little nook in the back brick wall gleams with lines of red votive candle-holders, flames flickering within. High in the air dangle photos of tap ancestors, notably the late Gregory Hines and Jimmy Slyde. Black speakers send out the sounds of Glover's incredibly articulate dancing, and the occasional quiet monologue or song addressed to the dancers whose images hang overhead.
Glover, wearing white down to his tap shoes, sets his extraordinary feet in motion, his body quietly swinging above them, channeling the inspiration and the riffs of generations of dancers from whom he learned his craft.
Davis, in green and beige, has a different style and attack, more the “hitting” of Glover's middle period. Pay attention to both of them; their rhythms sound like pre-verbal rap. They tap different patterns with each foot; sometimes Glover hangs back, providing the bass line for Davis' riffs.
“SoLe Sanctuary” is a magnificent, sophisticated evening of dancing-as-percussion; you could close your eyes and just listen, but then you'd miss the beatific expression on Glover's face and his obvious pleasure in his sweaty, sacred work.
2011年6月28日星期二
Fly Guy: Frequent flier tips that only the pros know
I don't know how some frequent fliers manage. Travel can be so discombobulating and disruptive, yet some road warriors spend half their lives on planes, sometimes just to collect miles and attain elite frequent flier status. But with the work comes the perks, as that same group knows how to make the best of it, collecting as many frequent flier miles as possible and using the status they earn from traveling so much to their advantage. Here are some of their tricks that any flier can put to good use.
1. Getting into business class lounges even if you're in economy class
Airports aren't much fun, but one way to make the whole flying experience more pleasurable is to wait for your flight in an airline lounge. Savvy fliers know that even if they are flying in economy class, they can access business class lounges when flying overseas. If you're a member of Air Canada's Maple Leaf Lounge, Continental's Presidents Club, the United Red Carpet Club, or the US Airways club you can access any Star Alliance business class lounge when flying internationally. No matter what class of service you are flying or elite status, show your club membership card and you gain access to alliance member lounges across the globe.
2. Getting elite status
Elite status is an important tool in every road warrior's bag of tricks, but achieving status can be troublesome if your travel patterns change each year. But did you know that most airlines award elite status for life upon reaching the one million miles flown mark? Sure, it takes a lot of flying to get there, but you are a road warrior and you will live a long time.
Most airlines are very specific about what miles they count towards the accrual of elite status, usually including only flown miles on the airline and its alliance partners. However, American stands out of the crowd to include any miles earned (such as credit card spending and promotions) towards its AAdvantage program as part of its million mile status calculation. This makes it the easiest program in which to earn lifetime elite status. United counts elite levels from only its own UA-coded flights towards elite status whereas airlines like Delta and Continental also count its alliance partners' flights towards lifetime accrual.
And speaking of elite status, frequent fliers know that if they attain status in one airline's program they can often get a competing airline to match that status; here's an airline-by-airline guide on how to execute that.
3. Getting elite status faster
Want a fast track to Grand Poobah status on your favorite airline? There are easier ways to achieve alliance-wide status if you are willing to collect miles in foreign programs. Aegean Airlines, for example, awards Star Alliance Gold elite status at a much lower threshold than many of its alliance partners bringing with it lounge-access benefits and baggage fee waivers.
4. When it's wise to buy miles
Ever seen those promotions about buying frequent flier miles and wondered if it was worth it? Well there are some promotions (often with US Airways) where buying miles can save you big bucks and help you to fly business class overseas for as little as $1,000, a bargain since most business class fares cost $4,000-7,000. And if you collect American Express Membership Reward points, check their site frequently for bonus transfer offers. Recently, for example, British Airways was offering a 50% bonus on transferred points (transfer 100,000 points and you actually get 150,000 miles).
And speaking of American Express points, you're probably aware that later this year Continental Airlines will no longer participate. But since Continental has merged with United, you can take advantage of your Amex points with Continental after the cut-off date by transferring points from Amex to Continental now, and then immediately transfer them, if you wish, to United.
For more on this topic, we published a detailed guide to when you should buy miles and when you should steer clear on Airfarewatchdog.com earlier this year.
5. Hacks to finding award seats on partner airlines
When you have miles burning in your account, what's the best way to redeem them? The process can be complicated, and calling an agent to have them do the work for you is a bad idea because they may not do a great job! You have to do the homework first. Star Alliance has a secret backend tool to finding the award availability for your next trip thanks to partner airline ANA All Nippon Airways of Japan.
SkyTeam has its own method of searching for availability (that luckily does not involve the clunky Delta website). Sign up for Air France-KLM's Flying Blue frequent flier program to search for award inventory on Delta, Air France, KLM, CSA Czech, Alitalia, Kenya Airways and other partners.
There's also an easy way for oneworld alliance fans to find seats on partner airlines. If you collect miles in any of the oneworld alliance member programs, you can scour award availability by using the British Airways and Qantas Airways websites. These give access to most partner availability online so you can do your homework before calling your airline's reservation number to make the booking.
6. Shopping for bonus miles
Experienced mile collectors know that it's a sin to buy anything online without checking first to see if there are bonus frequent flier miles to be had. Sure, they collect a mile or maybe 1.5 miles for each dollar charged to their credit cards, but that's chump change compared to the bonus miles. Buying a Mac iBook? How about collecting your additional 5000-10,000 miles? Continental might be awarding an additional four miles for each dollar spent at Apple.com, but only if you reach Apple's website by clicking over from Continental's shopping mall first. Buying a $200 pair of shoes at Saks? You might earn an additional 2,400 frequent flier miles with British Airways. Each airline has their own shopping portal through which you can access your favorite stores (you know, the ones you already use for your online shopping). And, of course, online shopping is always a good way to prevent your miles from expiring.
1. Getting into business class lounges even if you're in economy class
Airports aren't much fun, but one way to make the whole flying experience more pleasurable is to wait for your flight in an airline lounge. Savvy fliers know that even if they are flying in economy class, they can access business class lounges when flying overseas. If you're a member of Air Canada's Maple Leaf Lounge, Continental's Presidents Club, the United Red Carpet Club, or the US Airways club you can access any Star Alliance business class lounge when flying internationally. No matter what class of service you are flying or elite status, show your club membership card and you gain access to alliance member lounges across the globe.
2. Getting elite status
Elite status is an important tool in every road warrior's bag of tricks, but achieving status can be troublesome if your travel patterns change each year. But did you know that most airlines award elite status for life upon reaching the one million miles flown mark? Sure, it takes a lot of flying to get there, but you are a road warrior and you will live a long time.
Most airlines are very specific about what miles they count towards the accrual of elite status, usually including only flown miles on the airline and its alliance partners. However, American stands out of the crowd to include any miles earned (such as credit card spending and promotions) towards its AAdvantage program as part of its million mile status calculation. This makes it the easiest program in which to earn lifetime elite status. United counts elite levels from only its own UA-coded flights towards elite status whereas airlines like Delta and Continental also count its alliance partners' flights towards lifetime accrual.
And speaking of elite status, frequent fliers know that if they attain status in one airline's program they can often get a competing airline to match that status; here's an airline-by-airline guide on how to execute that.
3. Getting elite status faster
Want a fast track to Grand Poobah status on your favorite airline? There are easier ways to achieve alliance-wide status if you are willing to collect miles in foreign programs. Aegean Airlines, for example, awards Star Alliance Gold elite status at a much lower threshold than many of its alliance partners bringing with it lounge-access benefits and baggage fee waivers.
4. When it's wise to buy miles
Ever seen those promotions about buying frequent flier miles and wondered if it was worth it? Well there are some promotions (often with US Airways) where buying miles can save you big bucks and help you to fly business class overseas for as little as $1,000, a bargain since most business class fares cost $4,000-7,000. And if you collect American Express Membership Reward points, check their site frequently for bonus transfer offers. Recently, for example, British Airways was offering a 50% bonus on transferred points (transfer 100,000 points and you actually get 150,000 miles).
And speaking of American Express points, you're probably aware that later this year Continental Airlines will no longer participate. But since Continental has merged with United, you can take advantage of your Amex points with Continental after the cut-off date by transferring points from Amex to Continental now, and then immediately transfer them, if you wish, to United.
For more on this topic, we published a detailed guide to when you should buy miles and when you should steer clear on Airfarewatchdog.com earlier this year.
5. Hacks to finding award seats on partner airlines
When you have miles burning in your account, what's the best way to redeem them? The process can be complicated, and calling an agent to have them do the work for you is a bad idea because they may not do a great job! You have to do the homework first. Star Alliance has a secret backend tool to finding the award availability for your next trip thanks to partner airline ANA All Nippon Airways of Japan.
SkyTeam has its own method of searching for availability (that luckily does not involve the clunky Delta website). Sign up for Air France-KLM's Flying Blue frequent flier program to search for award inventory on Delta, Air France, KLM, CSA Czech, Alitalia, Kenya Airways and other partners.
There's also an easy way for oneworld alliance fans to find seats on partner airlines. If you collect miles in any of the oneworld alliance member programs, you can scour award availability by using the British Airways and Qantas Airways websites. These give access to most partner availability online so you can do your homework before calling your airline's reservation number to make the booking.
6. Shopping for bonus miles
Experienced mile collectors know that it's a sin to buy anything online without checking first to see if there are bonus frequent flier miles to be had. Sure, they collect a mile or maybe 1.5 miles for each dollar charged to their credit cards, but that's chump change compared to the bonus miles. Buying a Mac iBook? How about collecting your additional 5000-10,000 miles? Continental might be awarding an additional four miles for each dollar spent at Apple.com, but only if you reach Apple's website by clicking over from Continental's shopping mall first. Buying a $200 pair of shoes at Saks? You might earn an additional 2,400 frequent flier miles with British Airways. Each airline has their own shopping portal through which you can access your favorite stores (you know, the ones you already use for your online shopping). And, of course, online shopping is always a good way to prevent your miles from expiring.
2011年6月26日星期日
A change at the Joint Base
"I'm ready to go to work."
The message was short and direct as Col. John Wood addressed members of the 87th Air Base Wing after officially taking over as the new commander of the joint base at a change of command ceremony on Friday.
Wood, a California native, became just the second commander of the military post since Fort Dix, McGuire Air Force Base and Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst merged into the first tri-service joint base in the nation in 2009.
Wood most recently was commander of the 437th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. He also served as the 32nd Air Refueling Squadron commander at McGuire Air Force Base.
On Friday, Wood returned to New Jersey to take the command from Brig. Gen. Gina Grosso, who will head to the Pentagon outside Washington as deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services.
"I know how proud you are of this wing," Wood told Grosso during the ceremony. "I'm walking into a great wing."
Hundreds of guests as well as 253 service members of the 87th Air Base Wing took part in the ceremony inside a large aircraft hangar near the airstrip.
After receiving the Legion of Merit, an Army Commendation Medal and a final salute from her former staff, Grosso said goodbye to the many people who touched her life over the last two years at the base.
"As a commander, you know when you take the flag, you have the privilege of command for just two years," she said. "But it's truly impossible to prepare for this day, the day you have to give up the flag and let someone else lead the way."
Grosso also thanked the surrounding communities, with which she formed a strong bond.
"To the community members I've had the great pleasure of spending time with these past two years, thank you for making me feel so welcome in the community," she said. "Thank you for your friendship, but mostly thank you for caring about America's men and women serving in the United States military. I enjoyed every event you included me in, and I hope our friendship will endure far beyond my time here in New Jersey."
Grosso was known as an ambassador to local community leaders, forming strong bridges of communication between the base and the towns.
"She always did a great deal out in the community," said Michael Gorman, superintendent of the Pemberton Township School District. "She was always responsive to any needs we had."
Wrightstown Mayor Tom Harper said he hoped to continue a good relationship with the base under Wood's command.
"He's going to have to hit the ground running to compare to what she did," Harper said with a laugh. "Gina was always very helpful to Wrightstown and the surrounding communities. She was very good at her job."
Pemberton Township Mayor David Patriarca waited in line after the ceremony to personally greet Wood and shake hands.
"He's got big shoes to fill," Patriarca said. "But I look forward to working with him on many projects, and I hope the base will continue to be receptive to the concerns of the communities as Gen. Grosso was."
The message was short and direct as Col. John Wood addressed members of the 87th Air Base Wing after officially taking over as the new commander of the joint base at a change of command ceremony on Friday.
Wood, a California native, became just the second commander of the military post since Fort Dix, McGuire Air Force Base and Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst merged into the first tri-service joint base in the nation in 2009.
Wood most recently was commander of the 437th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. He also served as the 32nd Air Refueling Squadron commander at McGuire Air Force Base.
On Friday, Wood returned to New Jersey to take the command from Brig. Gen. Gina Grosso, who will head to the Pentagon outside Washington as deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services.
"I know how proud you are of this wing," Wood told Grosso during the ceremony. "I'm walking into a great wing."
Hundreds of guests as well as 253 service members of the 87th Air Base Wing took part in the ceremony inside a large aircraft hangar near the airstrip.
After receiving the Legion of Merit, an Army Commendation Medal and a final salute from her former staff, Grosso said goodbye to the many people who touched her life over the last two years at the base.
"As a commander, you know when you take the flag, you have the privilege of command for just two years," she said. "But it's truly impossible to prepare for this day, the day you have to give up the flag and let someone else lead the way."
Grosso also thanked the surrounding communities, with which she formed a strong bond.
"To the community members I've had the great pleasure of spending time with these past two years, thank you for making me feel so welcome in the community," she said. "Thank you for your friendship, but mostly thank you for caring about America's men and women serving in the United States military. I enjoyed every event you included me in, and I hope our friendship will endure far beyond my time here in New Jersey."
Grosso was known as an ambassador to local community leaders, forming strong bridges of communication between the base and the towns.
"She always did a great deal out in the community," said Michael Gorman, superintendent of the Pemberton Township School District. "She was always responsive to any needs we had."
Wrightstown Mayor Tom Harper said he hoped to continue a good relationship with the base under Wood's command.
"He's going to have to hit the ground running to compare to what she did," Harper said with a laugh. "Gina was always very helpful to Wrightstown and the surrounding communities. She was very good at her job."
Pemberton Township Mayor David Patriarca waited in line after the ceremony to personally greet Wood and shake hands.
"He's got big shoes to fill," Patriarca said. "But I look forward to working with him on many projects, and I hope the base will continue to be receptive to the concerns of the communities as Gen. Grosso was."
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