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NEWSLINE

March 2012
In This Issue
Available Materials
Annual Memorial List
Field Spotlight
CyberPatriot Finals and CyberFutures
Region Review: Midwest


AFA National Report 


Don't forget to check out the AFA National Report section of Air Force Magazine each month.  The online edition contains many pictures we couldn't fit in the print edition. 
 

Important Dates

16 March
Officer/Director Nomination Packets due to HQ

22-23 March

20 April
Region Presidents' Meeting

21 April
AFA Nominating Committee


Available Materials from AFA Headquarters 

 

Does your chapter know about the informational brochures and other materials available from AFA Headquarters?  If not, you and your members may be missing out on a valuable resource for recruitment and  information sharing.  You probably are familiar with the "Join" brochure, but we offer a variety of other materials that can help your chapter.  These brochures are available for your field events.  Just give us a call, preferably with a couple weeks notice, and we can provide you a quick and easy method of communicating with your members and potential members.

 

Join- The mainstay of membership drives.  This brochure gives a succinct explanation of our mission statement and services, and includes a membership application.

 

Share- A small pamphlet, only 2 pages, that contains a brief synopsis of membership benefits and an application form for giving a gift membership.

 

Give- This item explains the mission statement and lists the many opportunities to give donations to AFA, through planned giving, combined federal campaigns, or matching gifts.  It also includes a donation form.

 

Support-  A join application for Community Partners, this pamphlet includes a description of the Community Partner program and includes an application usable for both Category 1 and 2 Community Partners.

 

Advocate- For those interested in our government relations activities, this tri-fold lists AFA's legislative accomplishments.

 

Top Issues for 2012- This tri-fold lists the urgent priorities AFA is focusing on for the year, from defending TRICARE to advancing cybersecurity.

 

Back Issues of Air Force Magazine- Old copies of the magazine are a great way to show potential members a tangible benefit of signing up for membership.  Note: Your chapter will need to pay for shipping, as these can add up in weight quickly. 

 

To request any of these brochures, please call the membership department, or contact Bryan Larson ([email protected]).  Please remember to do so with plenty of lead time, as we can not guarantee you will receive materials requested at the last minute. 

 

 

Annual Memorial Tribute List 

Please remember to submit the names of any members who have served in a local chapter and who have passed away in the last year to Mary Nauheimer ([email protected]) so that they can be included in the memorial list at this September's Convention.  
 
Field Spotlight 

 

The San Jacinto Chapter, in cooperation with AFROTC Cadets from the University of Houston, went to work at the Wings Over Houston Airshow.  Their concession stand brought in $12,000 over the two days of the show.  The chapter kept 10%, and donated 60% of that to the cadets.    

 

 

San Jacinto Chapter members and U. of Houston AFROTC Cadets man a concessions stand at the Wings Over Houston Airshow.

 

 

CyberPatriot National Finals Competition at CyberFutures

 

 

CyberPatriot is pleased to announce the National Finalists in the All Service and Open Divisions! Twelve teams from each division have earned all expenses paid trips to the National Finals Competition held in conjunction with the CyberFutures Conference. Teams will compete for the Open Division's President's Cup and the All Service Division's Commander-in-Chief's Cup.  Last year's winning team members received scholarships through the generosity of Northrop Grumman, CyberPatriot's Presenting Sponsor.

Click here to see the list of the National Finalists.

The Second Annual CyberFutures Conference and Technology Exposition will take place March 22-23 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center. The CyberFutures Conference is a truly unique event that brings together Air Force leadership, industry experts, and academia and current cyber security specialists from around the world to discuss the cyber security issues and challenges facing America today.   

Click here to register for CyberFutures or to see the conference agenda.

 


Region Review: The Midwest Region

Belated Seasons Greetings and a Happy New Year from all the AFA members of the Midwest Region. Hopefully you had a most wonderful Holiday Season and New Year. For those of you not familiar with the Midwest Region, we are made up of the five states of Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. At last count, we have 15 chapters with an active membership of over 6200 members.  As with most AFA chapters, we continue to show a decline in membership.

 

Here in the Heartland of America we are not blessed with many permanent Air Force bases. We do, however, have National Guard installations, which yield good members and meeting sites for programs. But even more importantly, the 6200 members of our AFA provide excellent results in their efforts to reinforce the mission of our Air Force Association.  

 

Strong organizations do exist at Scott AFB and Offutt AFB. Visions programs at both are large in numbers and effectiveness. Their scholarship programs are models for all chapters to emulate. The AFA chapters can grow stronger if they work with other veteran organizations to achieve a goal.

 

The Midwest Region held their annual conference in Omaha, Nebraska. It was a single day event with Justin Fairferlick, our own Vice Chairman of the Board, Field Operations, and Marv Tooman, National Director in attendance.  

 

Discussions were held on the results of Board actions on the 3 resolutions presented by the Midwest Region; all primarily dealing with changes recommended in the voting at National Conventions. All the resolutions were recommended to be disapproved and they were rejected by vote at the National Convention. A discussion was held on the results of the committee study to look at the possibility of decoupling the AFA National Convention from the Air & Space Conference. Michael Cook served on this committee and provided the preliminary results that were briefed at the National Convention. During this Midwest Regional Conference, AFA National Awards were announced and its award is indicative of the outstanding work, dedication and volunteerism of not just the award winners but also all the AFA members of the Midwest Region.

 

AFA National honored the Region with the following awards

Exceptional Service Award:
John Daly, NE
Ron Major, IA
Robert Tovado, NE

Medal of Merit: 

Luke Ascherl, IA 

Outstanding Small Chapter of the Year:
Fort Dodge Chapter

Aerospace Education Excellence Award-Small Chapter:

Fort Dodge, IA - President Luke Ascherl

Medium Chapter:

Lincoln, NE - President Mary McGahan

Gross Membership Award: 

Fort Dodge Chapter

Storz Membership Award: 

Fort Dodge Chapter

Community Partner Gold Award: 

Fort Dodge Chapter

Sustained Performance Award: 

Fort Dodge Chapter

Community Partner Achievement Awards:

Chapter - Richard D. Kisling Chapter - President Kenneth Watkins

 

Our own Justin Faiferlick was elected at the National Convention as the Vice Chairman for Field Operations.In closing I would like to submit a quote from our own Chapter 264 Newsletter -

"The success of this Association has to be attributed to you - the volunteers and members - through the time and effort you put into carrying out the many initiatives AFA continues to push. Working together we will help improve the quality of life of our nation's Airmen and ensure that our Air Force is ready to meet the multiple challenges of the future. "

 

Submitted by Michael J.Cook, Midwest Region President

 

 

 

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