January 2015
In This Issue
Membership Committee Update
Article Headline
2015 Air Warfare Symposium and Technology Exposition
Article Headline
Spotlight on Community Partners
Visions Update
#AskAFA
CAP Outstanding Cadet of the Year
AFJROTC Grants
December Mitchell Institute Forum
CyberPatriot Update
AAS/SW Newsletter
From the AFA Facebook Page...
AFA National Report

 

       

The Charleston Chapter shares tips on how to find CyberPatriot mentors. See "AFA National Report" in January's Air Force Magazine.

Important Upcoming Events
11-13 February
Air Warfare Symposium and Technology Exposition
13 February
Executive Committee Meeting
14 February
Board of Directors Meeting
11-15 March
CyberPatriot National Finals Competition
Field Operations Update

 

 

We are in the final stages of finishing up our first experience with using the web-based version of our Annual Activity Plan and some Chapters have been experimenting with the web-based Annual Financial Plan.  Our experience has generally been positive with the Activity Plan, despite some minor difficulties with browser compatibility and some education and experience with navigating through the Chapter/State/Region "dashboard" on the web.  Shannon Aud has done a great job interfacing with our field units to get them up to speed on using the process, and Dan Marrs has been exceptionally responsive when we found "glitches" in the use of the products.  All in all, this looks like it will be an improvement in our process as we get everybody experience with using it.  We have not specifically designed the Annual Financial Plan yet, and have been using a form which was actually designed for the Quarterly Report for that purpose.  This has highlighted several deficiencies, and the E-Business Subcommittee of the Field Council has the task of designing an appropriate form for this purpose as we move toward next year's planning cycle.

 

 

Peter jones, Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee is seeking help with the task of designing metrics to measure our progress toward our Strategic goals.  If there are folks among our membership who have specific experience in this area and would like to serve on the SPC to help with this effort, contact your Region President, and he/she will get your information to Peter.


 

 

We continue to look toward the next Arnold Air Society and Silver Wings National Conclave (NATCON), which occurs Easter weekend in Chicago.  Those Chapters which work with AAS/SW units in their area should be planning some ways they can assist in getting a maximum number of Cadets and Silver Wings members to the Conclave.   Many Chapters have had success by working out matching arrangements whereby they match funds raised by the AAS/SW units to increase the available funding. If a Chapter happens to hit on a really effective fund-raising technique please communicate that to the VCFO through your Region President.

 

 


 

 

Dave



Dave Dietsch
Vice Chairman of the Board - Field Operations

Membership Committee Update    
Happy New Year from the Membership Committee! This month, the update focuses on the Corporate Partner Program as well as the Arnold Air Society and Silver Wings. Click here to read the full article. 
AFA Nominating Committee - Call for Candidates 
The Nominating Committee will meet on May 9, 2015 to select candidatures for the AFA national officer and national board of director positions to be presented to the delegates to the AFA National Convention in September for election. If you would like to be considered as a candidate, please find more information here 
2015 Air Warfare Symposium and Technology Exposition

The Air Force Association's 31st Annual Air Warfare Symposium and Technology Exposition will take place February 11-13, 2015 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel in Orlando, Florida. Invited speakers to the Symposium will include the Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James, Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Mark A. Welsh, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James A. Cody and other top Air Force leaders.  To read details about the event and registering to attending, click here. If you do plan to attend, the deadline to reserve a guestroom is approaching quickly! Reservations will be accepted on a first-in basis until the block is full or until noon THIS Friday, January 16, 2015, whichever comes first. 

Field Spotlight 
Long Island Chapter Hosts Pearl Harbor "Dropping of the Roses" Memorial Ceremony           
The Long Island Chapter conducted their 19th annual Pearl Harbor Ceremony at the American Airpower Museum in Farmingdale, NY on December 7th, 2014. Over 400 people came to see the ceremony and remember those who gave their lives at Pearl Harbor. The tradition began in 1970 by Joe Hydrusko, a medic at Pearl Harbor who saved many lives during and after the attack. He started dropping roses over the Statue of Liberty in his own aircraft as a tribute to the fallen sailors - one rose for each anniversary year. The event was particularly special as three Pearl Harbor survivors were in attendance. This year the roses were dropped near the Statue of Liberty at the exact time of the attack on Pearl Harbor. 
Community Partner Spotlight      
Webster University is a military-friendly private non-profit university in St. Louis, MO that also has several other locations, including those on Air Force Bases. The Lance P. Sijan Chapter recruited the Webster University location on Peterson AFB as a Category 2 Community Partner in March 2011 and has continuing to retain their support year to year. 

Webster University and the Department of Defense have worked together for decades to create undergraduate and graduate program at military installations in the US. Over 7,700 of Webster University's 22,200 students are military students (www.webster.edu/military/overview.html). To learn more about Webster's military programs, click here!
Visions Update - Looking for Sponsorship for Classrooms!            
Visions of Explorations continues to thrive in 2015!  The USA TODAY Education team reports that they've had a surplus of 50 teachers register for the program in Oklahoma - WOW! These educators would like to begin the New Year with Visions in their classrooms, but funding is unfortunately unavailable.  If we can count on any AFA Chapters to support one (or more) of  these teachers, please contact [email protected] and/or [email protected], by Monday, January 19th.   The cost is $126 per classroom.  If your Chapter is unable to sponsor, you may wish to consider making a personal, tax deductible contribution to the Visions program.  Whichever way you may choose to donate, thank you for your continued support of STEM education in the nation's classrooms.
#AskAFA            
AFA National recently launched a new initiative, #AskAFA, that seeks to increase engagement between AFA and members, Airmen, and social media followers.  Anyone can submit a question by simply emailing [email protected] or use the hashtag #AskAFA on any of AFA's social media channels.  We anticipate questions will mostly inquire about Air Force policy, pending legislation, Veterans' benefits, etc but our goal is to highlight AFA's historical contributions, mission, and overall good work for the USAF, Airmen and families, and AFA members. Our task force will then compile an educated response and reply to the sender.  A monthly summary of questions will be posted on the social media channels and AFA website.  Please encourage your chapters to participate on social media - links to AFA social media can be found below.
Outstanding Cadet of the Year Award Packages - FINAL REMINDER!    
CAP squadron commanders must request an award package by January 15, 2015. To do so, please click here. Each squadron may select one cadet per year for this honor. AFA National encourages Chapter and State presidents to get involved by spreading this information to your respective organizations, and attending the award presentations when possible. If you have any questions, please visit http://www.afa.org/informationfor/military/medalsribbonsandcertificates or email [email protected]
AFJROTC Grants
The February 10 deadline to apply for AFJROTC grants is near. Grants are issued twice a year to promote aerospace education throughout classrooms and units. Funds may be used for any aerospace education related activity from purchasing textbooks or videotapes, to going on a field trip to an aerospace museum, Air Force base or other aerospace facility. For more information, including an application, please click herePlease encourage an AFJROTC unit near you to apply for this opportunity.
Head of Air National Guard Speaks at December Mitchell Institute Forum

Lt Gen Stanley Clarke III, Director, Air National Guard, discussed his top priorities which included the modernization of the Air National Guard's equipment and resources, at the December installment of the Mitchell Institute Program. To hear Lt Gen Clarke's full remarks, listen to the audio from the event here

CyberPatriot Update
CP-VII Regional Qualifiers Announced; Round set for January 16-18
After an exciting State Round held in December, the advancing teams have been announced and are prepping for the upcoming Regional/Category Round! The next round is scheduled for Jan. 16-18, 2015. To find out which teams in your area are advancing, visit http://www.uscyberpatriot.org/competition/current-competition/scores

The top Platinum tier teams that advance out of the Regional/Category Round will earn a spot at the CP-VII National Finals Competition. This is an in-person even held March 11-15, 2015 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md. For more information about attending the National Finals Competition as a spectator, please contact [email protected].

CyberPatriot Plans Event for Presidents' Day Weekend
Teams that did not advance out of the State Round still have one more opportunity to compete in a separate event -- the Presidents' Day Weekend Open -- held Feb. 13-15, 2015. For more information, please contact [email protected].
Wounded Airman Program Featured in AAS Area VII Newsletter             
The Arnold Air Society is organized into areas, who each publish newsletter detailing important information for AAS members. In Area VII's most recent newsletter, AAS C/Maj Jonathan Carbonara wrote an article about the Air Force Association's Wounded Airman Program to get the word out to cadets about this program. We encourage chapters to reach out to their local Arnold Air Society and Silver Wings chapters to spread the word about AFA programs that are relevant for these cadets! 

Read the Arnold Air Society Area VII Newsletter here.

From the AFA Facebook Page...

AFA Supports the Armed Forces Bowl

AFA was proud to have a booth at the Veteran's Village at the January 2 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl. Kari Hahn, AFA Vice President of Member and Field Relations, and Dave Dietsch, Vice Chairman of the Board for Field Operations manned the booth with other chapter leadership. They got to speak with service members about the Air Force Association and the many ways it supports the Air Force Family! Visit the AFA Facebook page here.  

Explore AFA on Social Media!

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