ARIZONA PARENTS CLUB NEWSLETTER

JULY 2000

 

DOOLIE SEND-OFF DINNER-A BIG HIT

The Appointee Send-Off Dinner was held on Saturday, June 10, at Monti's La Casa Vieja.The evening was well attended by new Appointees and their families, ALO's, current cadets and their families.The 137 guests were honored by the presence of our guest speaker, Brigadier General David Wagie, Dean of Faculty at the United States Air Force Academy.During his presentation, he challenged and encouraged new appointees to prepare themselves, for the opportunities that are part of the Academy experience.Wagie's speech was inspirational and informative.Special thanks to C2C Brian Carpenter for taking the time to speak to the group about cadet life and answer questions of the new appointees. Brian delivered a wonderful and motivating speech, with emphasis on benefits and opportunities available to our cadets. Special thanks also to LTC Carol McKnight , MaryAnn Carpenter and LTC Jack Jessup for helping make the evening a great success!

 

NAME BADGES

You still have time to order your Parent's Club name badge.They are available for $12 each.The badges are in the shape of the state of Arizona, with white lettering on a blue background.On the badge is the first and last name of the parent, the year and name of the cadet and "USAFA".This year, you have the option of customizing your badge to read, "Parent of", "Mother of", or "Father of".Badges may be ordered by completing the enclosed order form or calling Candi Prangley at (480) 897-3363.Please include $2.50 for postage and handling, if you are not planning to attend the Parents Breakfast.

 

FOOTBALL TICKETS

The Parents Club has secured a block of tickets for the Air Force vs. CS-Northridge game during Parents Weekend.These tickets are in reserved seating at a cost of $20.00 each.The sale of the tickets will be on a first come first serve basis and are still available, but going fast!!!!Please use the enclosed form and order your tickets NOW!!Parking passes are sold for $5.00 at the gate. Tickets cannot be purchased after July 7 as the Academy is requiring all orders "paid in full" by NO LATER than July 8. Join us in cheering the FALCONS on to victory!

 

PARENTS WEEKEND BUFFET

 

Back by popular demand!!!The AFA Arizona Parents Club would like to invite all Arizona parents to attend our Parents Weekend Buffet Supper.This year, we will be having a Lasagna dinner with salad, garlic bread, drinks and dessert.The buffet supper is hosted by the Parents Club, right across the highway from the academy!! Parents will have a place to go and have a nice dinner after a tiring day of going to classes with their cadet.The supper gives us a place to relax and unwind, without the hassles of traffic, long restaurant lines and crowds. So for good food and the chance to meet and make friends with other Arizona parents and their cadets, come and join us! This year we are plannnig to have a photographer present, for parents that would like to take a photo with their cadet and family!

 

WHERE:Glen Eagle Golf Clubhouse

345 Mission Hills Way

 

WHEN: 5:30-9:00pm Buffet

Friday, September 1, 2000

 

COST:$11.50 per person

$7.00 children under 11yrs of age and cadets

 

PARENTS CLUB MEMBERSHIP

 

If you haven't joined the Air Force Academy Parents Club, please consider doing so.The purpose of our Parents Club is two-fold:

 

1)     To support all Arizona Young people who receive appointments and attend Academy or Prep School.

2)     To support all Arizona families who have a cadet at the Academy or Prep School.

The club sends boxes of goodies twice a year to all Arizona cadets, once during finals before Christmas break and again during spring finals.The club participates in the annual Holiday All Academies Ball, sends gifts to the graduating seniors of club members, hosts the Doolie Send-Off Dinner, the Parents Weekend Buffet Supper and the Parents Send-Off Breakfast.Most importantly, Parents Club members are there to support and encourage cadets and their parents when they encounter difficult times.The strength of this club is solely dependent on the strength of its membership.The more members there are, the stronger the club will be.

Dues cover postage, newsletters, cookie-packing supplies, gifts for graduating seniors, participation in the Holiday Ball etc.

 

PLEASE USE THE FORM ENCLOSED WITH THIS NEWSLETTER TO JOIN!

PARENTS SEND-OFF BREAKFAST

 

DATE:Saturday, July 15COST:$9.50 per personTIME:10:00am

 

LOCATION:Country Harvest Buffet

7720 S. Priest Drive

Tempe, Arizona

(480) 496-6490

 

Please come & join us!This meeting gives parents a chance to meet and network with other parents, gather valuable information on what to expect, and receive suggestions to enhance their visit for Parents Weekend, September 1-4, 2000. Take Interstate 10 to the Elliot exit, turn left, heading east and the Country Harvest Buffet is on the south side of the street, at Priest Drive.

 

FAMNET DINNER

Did you know there is an email network that is composed of parents and other members of cadet families, Liaison Officers and other interested individuals?They are people who can help answer your questions or clarify certain issues regarding cadet life. The current webmasters are Bob & Doni Hardy (Chris'00) from Albuquerque,NM.They can be reached at rhardy@thuntek.netto learn how to subscribe.

Every year during Parents Weekend, Famnet has a dinner and invites all the parents that subscribe to join in an evening of good food, good friends and the chance to make new ones!It is a lot of fun to put a name with a face and meet parents of cadets from all over the United States.If you are interested in attending the Famnet Dinner this year, you may make reservations with Candi Prangley at johncandi@webtv.net

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

July 15 -- Parents Send-Off BreakfastJuly 16 -- Doolie Day Out

August 8 -- Acceptance ParadeAugust 31 -- Famnet Dinner

September 1-4 -- Parents WeekendOctober 7 -- Navy Game (home)

November 4 -- Army Game (away)November 21-26 -- Thanksgiving Break

 

 

*******CADET NEWS*******

 

2001- Joseph R. VigueriaJoseph will be performing the duties of Honor Officer for the fall semester as he begins his "firstie" year.Cadet Vigueria also served as the Squadron Commander of Squadron 19 for the Spring semester.Way to go Joe!!

 

2003-Adam Keith Adam Keith is currently a member of Squadron 03.He will be soaring and working in Global Engagement during the first summer session.Cadet Keith will be coming home to vacation during the second session and third session will be participating in Cadet Survival Training. During Memorial Day weekend he was able to come home for his sister's high school graduation, much to the delight of his family.

 

2001-J.P. KilkerJP was the acting Commander for Evasion during the first summer session.This turned out to be quite an unusual CST.Nearby forest fires forced an evacuation of cadets participating in evasion maneuvers. They were relocated to Jack's Valley instead.

 

2002-Randy HeusserRandy recently moved from CS26 (Barons) to CS23 (Barnstormers).Cadet Heusser was inducted into the USAFA parachute team, The Wings of Blue, at the Blue Suit Ceremony on 25 May. His first summer session was spent at Hilton Head S.C. for much deserved R & R. Randy will be enjoying his OPS assignment at Del Rio, Texas, with rides in the T-38. During second session and third session he will return to the academy as a Jump Master/Instructor, for USAFA and ROTC cadets earning the Jump Badge. Cadet Heusser also received the Superintendents Award.Way to go Randy!!

 

2001-Mike CumberworthMike kept his perfect record of making the Commandant's List each semester- only two more to go!! He is working second CST and doing academics for the third session.He was holding his breath as his foreign exchange plans were put on hold at one point.But indeed he did make it to Japan after all and had a wonderful experience there.

 

2002- Brian CarpenterAt the Mountain West Track & Field Conference Finals, Brian captured the AFA Sophomore Record for the fastest time in the 1500-meter run.He finished fourth in the race overall.Cadet Carpenter will be off to Moody AFB, in Georgia for OPS, during second session.

 

2003-Jim BlechJim participated in cross-country and track and has received a varsity letter.He also received the Dean's Pin for academics for his first two semesters. Last year during Parents Weekend, the family stayed in Cripple Creek, a small old "casino town".At midnight the only sound on the street was (big) Jim, a former master sergeant calling cadence for (cadet) Jim as they both marched down the street.....much to the delight of the surprised tourists, on their way to their hotel!

 

2002 Stephen OlivaresDuring first session Cadet Olivares, Cadet Randy Heusser and Cadet Daniel Daehler presented a USAFA saber, in a beautiful wooden case, to their former commanders and mentors.Col. Ernest Meyer and Col. Arthur Rediske, of the Arizona Wing of the Civil Air Patrol.Cadet Olivares also earned the Superintendents Pin for last semester.

 

2002- Miranda BaldwinMiranda will be moving from CS27 (Thunderbirds) to CS16 (Chickenhawks).She will be attending OPS at Moody AFB in Georgia and during third session will perform the duties of Flight Specialist for second BCT in a peer counseling position. In her new squadron she will be working as Honor NCO with the rank of Cadet Master Sergeant.Cadet Baldwin will also play varsity volleyball and sings with the Praise Team on Wednesday nights.

 

2003-Jeremiah AlderJeremiah finishes this year with a bang, making the Dean's List and the Commandant's List.Keep up the good work Jeremiah!!

 

LAST MAILING: Due to the cost of printing and postage, this will be the final mailing to non-members. If you are not a members of the Parents Club, please consider joining this support group for our Arizona Cadets.