Minutes of the General Meeting of

the Southeast Texas USAFA Parents’ Association

 

January 25, 2004

Ellington AFB

 

          The meeting was called to order at 3:05 p.m. by President John DeFilippo. Motion was made, seconded and approved to open meeting.

 

          Treasurer, Nelly Pena, gave the following report: present balance $949.61; expenses of $150.00 due from today’s meeting; proceeds from today’s meeting, $300.00. Motion to approve Treasurer’s report made, seconded and approved.

 

          Mike Berry took the floor to report on USAFA gymnastics. There is to be an all academy meet in Tomball on February 14, 2004. There are five members from our association on team (Berrys’ two sons and the Godars’ daughter). Mike asked that we try to attend to show support for our team.

 

          Next, Suzie Phelps and Dorothy Finch spoke about the upcoming meeting where the senior cadets are recognized. Parents are encouraged to bring photos, scrapbooks, etc. to show off their cadets. Also, requested items be sent to Matt Godar to publish in newsletter. Dorothy added that since she is “graduating” a new person would be needed to take care of purchasing and distributing the butter bars the association provides to the graduating cadets and also, she will no longer be in charge of sending out the birthday cards to the cadets and a volunteer would be needed for that position.

 

          The next item of business was to vote in a new Executive Vice President since Suzie Phelps would no longer be involved. The Omohundros, John & Peggy, volunteered for the position. Nominations were requested from the floor, and since there were no other nominees, the Omohundros were voted in by acclimation. Suzie’s last official duty will be to obtain a meeting place for the July, 2004 meeting.

 

          Sandy Carp and Elizabeth May, ‘07 parents, have volunteered to take care of obtaining the “recognition” coins and getting them to the appropriate persons to hand out to the cadets at the final phase of acceptance.

 

          Next, John asked for volunteers for the tailgate for parent’s weekend and for the military ball committee. Marilyn DeFilippo, Lynn Brooks, Nelly Pena and _______ volunteered for the military ball committee. (I did not have anything in my notes about someone volunteering for the tailgate - if someone did, let me know so I can put that in here.)

 

          John informed the members that Spring Break for the Academy would be March 20^th through March 28^th.

          After discussion, it was decided that the next meeting would be held on a weekend in April following Easter weekend. The meeting will be at Fudruckers on Westheimer and the program will be presented by the senior cadet parents.

 

          John then asked Karen Coffman to introduce our guest speaker, her cousin, Lt. Col. Eric Paul, an 85 grad of the Academy. Col. Paul spoke about his career in the AF as a pilot and as a pilot trainer. Col. Paul is also a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, received for a mission flown during the Gulf War.

 

          John then asked Donda Thomasson to speak to the members about the “Make My Day” group. This is a group of volunteers who respond to requests from AOCs to help out cadets who may be struggling emotionally because of family illnesses, deaths, etc.,or maybe with financial difficulties - no family assistance available to travel home for holidays, etc. Donda asked the membership for volunteers. All those interested should contact her.

 

          John then asked Maj. Gary Morgan to give us a brief report on his recent ALO meeting at the Academy. Maj. Morgan reported the Academy was redesigning the training at the Academy to more closely resemble regular AF training, and disciplinary actions were being redesigned to more closely resemble regular AF methods. Maj. Morgan then reported that Maj. Kathy McDonald, our liaison between the parents’ association and the Academy, would be retiring. Our new liaison officer would be Capt Pedro Rivera.

 

          John then asked the membership for corrections to the minutes from the prior meeting. Two corrections were requested, one-to correct the spelling of DeFilippo, and to change wording in the report on the tailgate to reflect “a sponsor parent” instead of stating a specific sponsor parent. There being no further corrections, John asked for a motion to approve minutes. Motion was made, seconded and unanimously approved by the membership.

 

          There being no further business to come before the meeting, a motion was made seconded and unanimously approved to close the meeting.

 

          Signed on ____________________________, 2004.

 

 

                                                                   ________________________________

                                                                   John DeFilippo, President

 

ATTEST:

 

_______________________________

Lynn Brooks, Secretary