Minutes of the General Meeting of

The Southeast Texas USAFA Parents’ Association

April 24, 2005

Fuddrucker’s in the Woodlands

The meeting was called to order by President Michael Berry. Motion was made, seconded, and approved to open the meeting.

Michael thanked everyone for attending and welcomed new appointee parents. He asked John and Marylyn DeFilippo, Matt and Margie Godar, and Lynn Brooks (who arrived later) to stand and presented each one with a gift to thank them for their service as outgoing officers of the club. John commented that he enjoyed his time as president and his time in the club and thanked everyone for their support.

Michael asked all new appointee parents (5) to stand and asked each to tell their appointee’s name and what high school they attended. Frankie Berry spoke briefly about the bed and breakfast program and the availability of the Cadet Parent’s Guide put out by the Colorado parent’s club. Michael reminded everyone we are in a new membership year so please register with and pay dues to Nelly Pena, treasurer. Michael announced the appointee/parent meeting on May 22 at St. Mark’s Methodist Church and the pool party on June 5^th at the Omohundro’s home. More information on these two events will be posted on the website.

Today’s meeting is a recognition of seniors – cake, scrapbooks, and photos are available on a side table to view after the meeting. Graduation is June 1, 2005. Two degrees’ ring dance will be held on Friday, May 27^th. Pinnacle finished up yesterday for cadets and a few parents acknowledged their cadets were glad to have Pinnacle behind them and now 4 degrees have received their Prop and Wings.

Michael asked everyone to update the membership roster at the front table so an accurate master can be made and kept updated.

Military Ball – Louanne Reeves announced the ball will be held December 26^th, 2005 at the Woodlands Waterway Marriott. A discounted room rate of $69.00 (regularly $180.) per night will be offered for those who wish to stay overnight. The speaker will be TX Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson. It was announced that West Point turned over $4,500 seed money and an additional $4,600 to each of the 3 clubs due to excess funds left after the ball. SETXAFAPA forwarded their check to the ball committee and Navy has announced they will do the same. Committee members were introduced and Donda Thomasson (Communications) passed out a volunteer sign-up form. She announced the form (as well as other ball information) has been put on the club website. Louanne announced the crystal piece chosen as a ball fundraiser is the triangle-shaped plate with the academy log of choice engraved in the center. They will sell for $40. each and can be ordered at meetings and picked up at the following meeting. The committee suggests these plates will be great for graduation, wedding and cadet sponsor gifts, as well as parents. The committee will begin selling these plates immediately instead of closer to Christmas when everyone has the expense of the ball itself. Robyn Tompkins, ball treasurer, spoke to the membership concerning solicitation. She asked anyone willing to take solicitation letters to their employers or people they know who would like to contribute, to please do so. Bruce May, golf tournament co-chair, announced the tournament will be held August 20, at Timbercreek Golf Course in Friendswood. We need 36 teams, 144 players. Bruce and Larry feel they can raise $12,000 - $13,000 on the tournament and Larry handed out flyers and asked for volunteers to help put on the tournament. Teams, sponsors, helpers for that day are needed.

Lynn Brooks, outgoing secretary, arrived and was thanked for her past efforts and dedication to the club and was given a gift of appreciation.

Laser Craft Fundraiser-Frankie Berry announced the Laser Craft fundraiser is doing well but we need someone to take over for Sandy Carp who is handling solicitations for the ball. This fundraiser is set up on the website and orders are coming in periodically but someone is needed to process the orders and forward funds to treasurer.

Mentor Moms-Elizabeth May was asked to give an update on the Mentor Moms program. She asked for volunteers to be mentor moms to new cadet families. She will pass around a list for sign-ups to be divided up between new appointees.

Before turning the program over for ALO comments, Michael asked if there were any questions. The question was asked about the current rumors of pilot washout. The general consensus is that it can’t be as bad as Famnet says. While this is causing a great degree of talk and supposition, no official information has been released. John DeFilippo stated after investing four years in a cadet it would not make sense for the military to terminate them on a whim. He also stated there would be options and encouraged parents not to take things too seriously until more information is known.

ALOs-Michael turned the meeting over to Lt. Col. Morgan for comments and questions. Lt. Col. Morgan thanked John DeFilippo for his past work as an instructor in setting up an integral part of pilot training, a program called Lead In Flight Training. He then introduced his ALO’s – Maj. Steve Voohries, Captain Pedro Rivera, one of top 3 ALO’s in the country, who is wanting to retire, and Col. Ray Taylor. It was announced we have 35 appointees at this time with a few weeks left, and he is expecting about 45. The new appointee orientation will be held Sunday, June 5^th at St.. Mark’s Methodist Church at Edloe and Westheimer. All new appointees and parent are encouraged to attend this informative meeting. The subject of TB at the academy was brought up and it was stated that one cadet from Europe was not screened and passed it on to others. Lt. Col. Morgan directed everyone to the academy website Public Releases for further information. He then asked for questions and the question was asked about the atheist cadets complaining of discrimination at the academy. Lt. Col. Morgan stated the academy was aware of this and the issue would be dealt with. Encouraged parents – and cadets - to go through ALO’s with any questions, by email if possible.

Lt. Col. Morgan introduced Col. Taylor for comments. He commented on the issue of TB and recommended parents check with cadets for any symptoms. On the issue of pilot washout, he stated the Air Force has been in this disproportionate state before and he feels each case will be handled individually. He suggested parents not be overly concerned at this point, that the same policies in affect 10 years ago are in force today. He also stated that due to this reduction of officers, the Air Force is strictly enforcing rules for active duty enlisted and officers and are reducing numbers by not allowing exceptions. He encouraged parents to encourage their cadets to follow rules. Regarding the religion issue, he stated the academy has done a climate survey and found the number of discrimination incidents to be small but is now requiring cadets and staff to participate in sensitivity training to correct the problem.

Col. Taylor told of an appointee whose parents were from South Africa and not familiar with the academy and the unlikelihood of the appointee being able to attend orientation and possibly not accepting the appointment. He emailed Sandy Carp about the situation and she in turn contacted two families who talked to the parents and arranged for the appointee to be able to attend orientation. Col. Taylor thanked those involved for the effort.

The program was turned back over to Michael who told, as a physician, that there has only been 1 active case of TB and he also encouraged concerned parents to check the information of the USAFA website.

Michael asked for corrections to the last meeting’s minutes. There were none noted and a motion was made, seconded, and the minutes were approved.

Treasurer-Nelly Pena gave the treasurer’s report. She welcomed new parents and stated dues for the upcoming school year are now being accepted. Our current balance is $1,552.83. She stated money is used for parent’s weekend and quarterly donations to the Rando Fund.

Next Meeting-John Omohundro announced Doolie Day Out would be Sunday, July 19^th, and our next meeting would be July 24^th at Fuddrucker’s on Kirkwood.

Michael explained Doolie Day Out to the new parents and it was noted this year’s Doolie Day Out would be at the end of BCT and would be to the rodeo. Phone calls would be allowed. He also told about the Bed and Breakfast program offered for new appointees’ in-processing if parents were not taking their cadet.

Michael thanked John DeFilippo, an academy grad, for his service to the parent’s club. Michael told of his experience as an Air Force flight surgeon and offered his expertise from a physician’s point of view regarding medical issues with cadets/pilots. His specialty is aerospace medicine. He also has a DoDmerb contact if anyone needs assistance in getting through that process. He stated Frankie was an AF nurse.

He asked all firstie parents to stand and be recognized. The meeting was then adjourned in order for each to tell where their firstie would be going. Cake was served in honor of the firsties and scrapbooks and memorabilia were viewed by the club members.