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NEWSLINE

June 2013
In This Issue
Field Ops Update
2013 Field Awards Announced
Email Service Update
2013 National Convention and Conference Registration Open
September Spouse and Family Forum
Wounded Airmen Program Update
Relief to Tinker Air Base
Field Spotlight
From the AFA Blog
CP Spotlight
CP Tip of the Month
Cyber Patriot VI
Team of the Year
USAF Band Summer Concert Series


AFA National Report  

Trophies National Report
 

The Chuck Yeager Chapter bought trophies--lots of them--for an AFJROTC drill meet. See "AFA National Report" in June's Air Force Magazine, with more photos online at airforcemag.com.

 


Important Upcoming Dates

15 August
Finance Committee Meeting

16-17 August
Executive Committee Meeting

14-15 September
National Convention

16-18 September
Air & Space Conference And Technology Exposition

10-12 October
Region and State President Meeting
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Important Note
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We are attempting to ensure all interested parties receive Newsline regularly.  In order to help with this effort, we request that you forward these newsletters to any interested persons in your chapters.  If you wish to be added to the mailing list, please let the Field Operations Department know at [email protected].
 

June Field Operations Update 

By Scott Van Cleef 

 

 

 

Awards

Congratulations to all the winners of AFA's Field and Aerospace Education Awards for 2013.  The announcement of all winners is provided separately in this Newsline.  Thanks to each for their outstanding contributions to AFA.

 

Emerging Leaders Program

The EXCOM has approved a Field Council initiative to create an Emerging Leaders Program beginning this Fall. The purpose of the program is to identify, motivate, develop, and encourage emerging leaders to serve actively in AFA by providing hands-on experience and unique insights into how the Association operates and is governed.  A call for nominations has gone out to all Field leaders, seeking candidates for this initial class of seven participants.   Region Presidents will select up to two candidates from their regions to compete for the seven slots.  This is an exciting new initiative for AFA leadership development, focused primarily on our younger, emerging AFA leaders.  Contact your chapter, state or region presidents for details.  Nominations are due to me NLT 24 July.

 

AFA National Convention

The summer season has just begun but, before you know it, it will be time for our National Convention at the Gaylord National on 14-15 September.  Sign up information is currently posted on the AFA website.  I hope you'll plan to attend as a delegate from your state.  There's a lot going on in AFA today and you can get all the straight information about it and take part in its governance at the convention.  Tentatively, we are planning an "open" Region President's meeting from 0900-1100 Saturday morning, 14 Sep prior to the start of the official convention sessions.  All delegates are invited to attend.  During that period, we will present a number of update briefings on Field issues including progress reports from the Field Council, the unveiling of some new training modules for Field leaders, and lessons learned from leaders who have successfully rejuvenated inactive chapters.  If your schedule allows, I recommend you plan to be there.  More to follow as we get closer to the date.

 

Scott Van Cleef

Vice Chairman-Field Operations

 

 

 

 

2013 Field Awards Announced

 

The Awards Committee is proud to announce the winners of the 2013 Air Force Association Field Awards. Click on the following links to see the complete list of recipients. 

 

2013 Unit Award Winners

 

2013 Individual Award Winners

 

Congratulations to all this year's winners! Look for more awards announcements in the coming months' Newslines.  

"Permanent" Email Service Being Discontinued

 

Since 1998, AFA has provided a "permanent" e-mail forwarding service to members (with an @member.afa.org address) through Harris Connect, the vendor which provided the online community tools.  Many field organizations are using these for their chapter or state e-mail.

 

In the '90s, a "Permanent E-mail Address" was a valuable service which allowed for one e-mail address to be used and not have to be changed when you changed internet service providers (back when your internet service provider was often your e-mail service provider).  But with web based e-mail (like Yahoo and Gmail), there just isn't a need or demand for these services and most of the providers are discontinuing this product, including AFA's provider.

 

AFA's vendor will be phasing out this part of their product line as well, so AFA's "permanent" e-mail forwarding addresses will terminate on August 8, 2013. If you or your chapter/state/region group are using an e-mail address that ends with @member.afa.org, this change applies to you.  Please notify your constituents of your actual e-mail address, rather than the @member.afa.org address.  If you have questions, please contact Susan Rubel on [email protected].


 

2013 National Convention and Air & Space Conference Registration Now Open 

 

The registration page for the 2013 National Convention and Air & Space Conference and Technology  Exposition went live on May 1st.  Both will once again be held at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center.  The National Convention will be September 14-15 and the Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition will be September 16-18.  Please note that some of the pre-conference meetings have changed on the schedule this year. 

 

For more information about the Convention and Conference, and instructions on how to register, click here.  

 

expo floor  

 

 Important Reminders Regarding Potential Delegates 

  

Who can be a Delegate? Any voting member affiliated with a chapter can be a Delegate for their state if duly selected as a Delegate by the State President. More information on the delegate process will be provided to the State Presidents in the coming weeks. 

 

All individuals who plan to represent their chapter on the state delegation must coordinate with the State President since the State President is responsible for selecting Delegates in accordance with the AFA National Constitution. The State President must provide a preliminary delegate roster to AFA National c/o Kirsten Klein at [email protected] by August 15. The official roster of selected Delegates must be presented to the Credentials Committee on Saturday, September 14.

 

What is a Delegate required to attend during the Convention? Delegates must attend the business session on Saturday, the Region Caucus held on Saturday night and the business session on Sunday. 

 


September Spouse and Family Forum              

 

Working closely with field leaders, the Airmen and Family Programs Team is planning this year's Spouse and Family Forum on September 16, 2013 to coincide with the Air & Space Conference at National Harbor.  It will be a full day of open discussion and resources on issues facing Air Force families today. In addition, Paula Roy, Cheryl McKinley, and Jody Newton are working to put together some activities for spouses during the weekend of Convention. Please make plans to join us!

 

More details to come, but Save the Date!

 

AFA's Wounded Airman Program gets Support from 2013 Air Force Association Cycling Classic               

 

The Air Force Association's Wounded Airman Program was the designated sole beneficiary for this year's Air Force Association Cycling Classic, held June 8-9, 2013 in Arlington, Va. At an awards ceremony held on Saturday, June 8, 2013, at the Air Force Memorial, AFA received a check for $18,500 raised through pledges made by those participating as part of Team Sabre in the AFA Cycling Classic.

 

"The Air Force Association is honored to be a part of this year's Cycling Classic both in name and as the sole beneficiary of the event's fundraising efforts," said Craig McKinley, AFA President. "Our nation's Airmen remain dedicated to defending our freedoms and providing national security for us all. We owe it to the men and women of the United States Air Force to take care of them when they return home in need of special assistance, and the AFA Wounded Airman Program allows us to fulfill that duty."

 

To read more about the 2013 Air Force Association Cycling Classic click here.


cycling classic check

 Photo Credit:William Douglas Graham

AFA Chapters Provide Relief to 385 Tinker Air Force Base Families                

 

The tornadoes of May 19 and 20 in Oklahoma have resulted in widespread destruction, and members of our Air Force family at Tinker AFB have been particularly affected. The F-5 tornado that struck Oklahoma City and Moore, Oklahoma on May 20th, 2013 was particularly destructive. The total impact of these two days of storms resulted in 385 Tinker personnel (active duty, reserve, guard, and civilian) suffering significant property damage including 140 whose homes were completely destroyed. It is estimated that over 1,000 people in the area are facing the challenge of rebuilding their homes and lives as a result of the storms.

 

In response, the AFA Central Oklahoma Gerrity Chapter in Oklahoma City contacted the Tinker Airman and Family Readiness Center to determine what help could be provided to those who are now in need. Tinker has established the Emergency Family Assistance Center (EFAC) to provide direct support and assistance to those affected by these storms. Their most immediate needs of food and water have been met with an overwhelming community response.

 

"AFA's mission is to support our Airmen and their families all over the world," said Craig McKinley, AFA President. "We are standing by the members of the Tinker Air Force family as they evaluate their losses and begin the process of recuperating from the destruction."

 

Looking forward, it will take several months for the Tinker families to assess the damage and return to a semblance of normal Air Force life. The Central Oklahoma Gerrity Chapter and the Texoma Region Chapters have already responded with financial donations exceeding $2,000. AFA will continue to support our Airmen and their families as they progress through this recovery period.

 

Field Spotlight 
 

On the weekend of June 7-9th, the Southwest Region held their Region and State Presidents Conference. We would like to put the Field Spotlight this month on the Albuquerque Chapter for taking such a big role in planning this event. Held in Albuquerque, NM, John Toohey (Southwest Region President), Fred Harsany (Albuquerque Chapter President) and Bob Hudson (NM State President) worked hard to make the weekend run smoothly. They went above and beyond by providing Southwest presidents and chapter executive committee members to take a tour of Kirtland AFB, listen to a panel of Active Duty Airmen and Senior Officers as well as hear from Colonel Paul Tibbets IV and Major General Sandra Finan.  Colonel Paul Tibbets IV is the grandson of Brig. Gen. Paul Tibbets Jr. who is best known for being the pilot of the Enola Gay (named after his mother), the first aircraft to drop an atomic bomb. From 2005-2007, Col. Tibbets flew the B-2 Spirit at Whiteman AFB as commander of the 393rd Bomb Squadron, one of the two operational squadrons under the same unit his grandfather commanded, the 509th Bomb Wing. We applaud the Southwest Region for working so hard to schedule these inspirational speakers!

 
Kirtland AFB tour  
 
From the AFA Blog...
Warrior Games 2013
 

Winning medals, places, and other awards were only a small part of what the Warrior Games were actually about. What was more important were the friendships formed, the support across "team" lines really defined the attitudes of the warriors there. 

 

The teamwork involved in practice and competition was transformative. Between the first hour of practice and the last, each airman learned how to work together. Many of the airmen shared stories of coming out of their shells and making new friends during the training camps, and really learned to watch out for each other as part of a larger team. 

 

In the end, it wasn't the number of medals (though there were many!) that mattered, but the resilience and the teamwork of the athletes, and the outpouring of support they received from friends, family, and fans.

 
Read more about AFA's roles at the Warrior Games and see pictures at our blog! Click here: www.airforceassociation.blogspot.com

 

 

Community Partner Spotlight

 

As we are halfway through the 2013 Year of the Community Partner, we would like to put this month's CP Spotlight on the Enid Chapter in Oklahoma. The Enid Chapter currently has 87 active Community Partners. Many of these CPs have been supporting the chapter for over 20 years! The majority of their CPs are local companies. Earlier this year we stressed the idea of local companies supporting chapters; this chapter has done an excellent job showing how well that works! We congratulate the Enid Chapter on having so many Community Partners and being able to maintain long-term relationships with many of the companies.

 

If your chapter would like to spotlight an outstanding Community Partner, please submit them to [email protected]. We can't wait to hear from you!

Community Partner Tip of the Month

  

This month, our CP Tip comes from those at the Eglin Chapter in Florida. Whenever they have companies donating to the chapter, whether to sponsor an event or otherwise, the chapter automatically makes them Community Partners. The Chapter will use $45 from the company's donation to start the membership. This not only gives the Chapter more Community Partners to count towards their quarterly goals, but it also allows the companies to be more involved with AFA. Companies that donate to the chapter are already interested in AFA, so why not extend that interest and involvement into a Community Partner membership! It is a great way to reward those who make large donations to your chapter.

 

Does your chapter have an outstanding Community Partner program? Has your chapter hosted an event similar to the idea detailed above? Send us your tips and tricks to [email protected] to be featured as the "Community Partner Tip of the Month." We look forward to hearing from you soon!

 

 

CyberPatriot VI                

 

Announcing Competition Dates for CyberPatriot VI

 

Competition Dates for CyberPatriot - AFA's National High School Cyber Defense Competition - are now available online.  The first two online rounds will take place from Nov. 15-17, 2013 and Dec. 6-8, 2013.  From there, the top teams from the Open and All Service Divisions will progress to the online Semifinals round taking placed from Jan. 17-19, 2014.  Those teams that do not qualify for the Semifinals will have another round to compete for remaining state awards during the State Recognition Round between Feb. 21-24, 2014. Top teams from the Semifinals will then compete at The National Finals Competition in Washington, D.C. between Mar. 26-30, 2014.  A complete listing of CyberPatriot VI dates can be found at www.uscyberpatriot.org.

 

CyberPatriot VI Registration is Going Strong!

 

CyberPatriot VI is well on its way to becoming the largest, most exciting CyberPatriot competition yet.  Over 560 teams are currently signed up for this coming year's competition, well above the number of registered teams at this time last year.  Registered teams have already had the chance to familiarize themselves with the CyberPatriot Competition System (CCS) and begin their preparations for CyberPatriot VI during an opening Exhibition Round.

 

Is your high school registered?  You can find out by visiting AFA's CyberPatriot website at www.uscyberpatriot.org.  If your school is NOT signed up...get started on registration now!  AFA members can order recruiting materials at no charge by contacting the CyberPatriot Program Office at 703-247-5806 or by email at [email protected].

 

Thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers who continue to recruit, encourage, and support local schools throughout the U.S. as we all work to improve STEM education in America!

 

CyberPatriot Middle School Program Progresses

 

Preparations for CyberPatriot's expansion into middle schools, announced in April, are underway.  Members of the CyberPatriot Program Office gave cyber safety and cybersecurity tips to middle school girls at the Delaware DigiGirlz Day in early May and will expand on this curriculum at an event in Los Angeles this June. The CyberPatriot Middle School Program will expand to a pilot program in CyberPatriot Centers of Excellence this fall with a full rollout across the country in 2014. The CyberPatriot Middle School Program will instruct middle schoolers how to stay safe online, will increase their interest in STEM education and careers, and will give them a taste of cyber competition. Information is available from the CyberPatriot Program Office at 703-247-5806 or by email at [email protected].


 

Air Force Association Salutes 2013 Team of the Year                

The 2013 AFA Team of the Year honors the career field of the Aircraft Loadmasters, a profession that involves being responsible for supervising the loading and unloading of cargo, vehicles, and people on a variety of aircraft.

 

"These Airmen exhibit what it means to perform above and beyond the call of duty in order to protect, serve, and honor our country," said George Muellner, AFA Chairman of the Board. "This career field plays an essential role in the United States Air Force by providing detailed support to every mission we fly. We congratulate the 2013 Team of the Year and we thank them for their exceptional service."

 

For the bios and photos of the members of the AFA 2013 Team of the Year please visit:

www.afa.org/media/press

 

 
Air Force Memorial Welcome the United States Air Force Band for a Summer Concert Series 

The Air Force Memorial is proud to announce another full summer of concerts with The United States Air Force Band. These events are free and open to the public, and will be held every Friday in June, July, and August with the exception of July 5.

 

Full list of concert dates and times:

  • Friday, June 7, 8:00pm - 9:15pm
  • Friday, June 14, 8:00pm - 9:15pm
  • Friday, June 21, 8:00pm - 9:15pm
  • Friday, June 28, 8:00pm - 9:15pm
  • Thursday, July 4, 8:00pm - 9:30pm
  • Friday, July 12, 8:00pm - 9:15pm
  • Friday, July 19, 8:00pm - 9:15pm
  • Friday, July 26, 8:00pm - 9:15pm
  • Friday, August 2, 8:00pm - 9:15pm
  • Friday, August 9, 8:00pm - 9:15pm
  • Friday, August 16, 8:00pm - 9:15pm
  • Friday, August 23, 8:00pm - 9:15pm
  • Friday, August 30, 8:00pm - 9:15pm

For more information on the Friday evening USAF Band Concerts and Independence Day event parking and shuttle transportation please visit: http://www.airforcememorial.org/Visit/SpecialEventTransportation

 

AFA Logo
1501 Lee Highway
Arlington, VA 22209
1 (800) 727-3337 


 
 
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