Cadet Daniel Montes, 2003, son of Dr. Ramon and Liz Montes, will travel to Ecuador on USAFA related training during first semester session this summer. Cadet Montes will return to the USAFA for second and third summer sessions to work during the second B.C.T. and C.S.T.

Cadet Erin Shay, 2004, daughter of Pat and Beth Shay, receives her Soaring IP Wings and will participate in the soaring program as an instructor this summer. Cadet Shay will also spend two weeks in Romania with Campus Crusade for Christ.

Cadet Tyler Young, 2004, son of Nancy Young, brought home an unusual guest for Spring Break. This house guest had to have his own room, where only Tyler could go. He also had special food requirements, which was hand carried from the AFA and had to be kept frozen. It was Japanese Quail! This guest had a special engagement at Luke Air Force Base, and his name was Cadet Echo! He was a little messy, Nancy wrote, as he was the AFA Falcon!!!

Cadet Casey Wallace, 2005, son of Robert and Ellen Wallace, played varsity tennis and finished the year in "Mighty Mach One." Cadet Wallace also made the Dean's List his first semester at the USAFA.

Many Cadets have changed squadrons. Please let us know this on the forms enclosed, or by e-mailing Ruth Klenk Janzik at: ruthkj@aol.com We need this information in order to send Cookie Boxes, and other mailings. Due to these, and other changes, as well as desiring Cadet News, I am enclosing this "Update Form" in order to keep our records as accurate as possible. Some Birthdays are also missing in our data base, as well as e-mail addresses. Please take a moment to fill in all the information even if you have already done so with the Membership Form, and return ASAP. This form is on the backs of the other forms enclosed. We appreciate your active participation and membership! Thank You!

After everyone has arrived by planes, trains, automobiles, campers, vans, SUV's, etc. and settled into their lodgings for the weekend; they will start to appear all over the grounds at the AFA. There will be so much to see, eat, hear, smell, and feast our eyes upon. Some of you will be experiencing this for the first time! But the very best of these wonders will be seeing your Cadet!

He or she will be smarter, better looking, taller, and more confident than you ever could imagine your child to be! They will also be tired, and about as confused as we are, about all the relaxed rules, and privileges of this eventful weekend for US at the AFA. Do not push your Cadet to answer all your questions, or even to relax.

They are still obliged to behave by their code of conduct while in uniform, so if they tip their hat to you, instead of giving you a big hug ... RELAX... Soon enough you will hear them say how glad they are you came, and how glad they are to see you. After all, we've ALL been anxiously awaiting this get together and the fun will come gradually and completely!!

As early as Friday evening, you will be very tired and ready to seek out our friendly faces. To help out, The Arizona Parents Club has a BUFFET SUPPER planned, so that you may meet and mingle with other parents and cadets. Lets hope it does not rain like last year, but even so, no ceremonies prevail at this feast except the prayer of thanks for all our Blessings, as well as the meal before us. So... come as you are, wet or dry; tired, and especially HUNGRY.

We'll be waiting for you!

PLACE: Glen Eagle Golf Clubhouse
345 Mission Hills Way
Colorado Springs, CO.
DATE: Friday August 30, 2002
TIME: 5:30pm to 9pm approx.
DRESS: Casual
MENU: Pasta Bar plus sauces, Salad,
Garlic Bread, Beverages and Dessert

PRICE: $12.00 per person.

$8.00 Cadets and 8 years old and under.

We all are becoming soldiers!

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

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

3) The Club sends boxes of goodies twice a year to the 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 graduating seniors of Club members, hosts the Doolie Send-Off Dinner, the Parents Send-Off Breakfast, as well as the Parent Weekend Buffet in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

4) Most importantly, Parents Club members are there to support and encourage Cadets and their families when they encounter difficult times. The strength of this Club is solely dependent on the strength of its membership. More members equal a stronger Club!

5) Dues cover many things such as...postage, newsletters, cookie packing goodies, supplies, gifts for graduates, and all of the social events we put on and participate in.

6) The Club also provides a link to the AFA and all their special events, news, changes, important dates, updates, and information.

Cadets sure love home baked cookies

The Cookie Packing Meeting Luncheon at Debbie and Tom Grayson's home on Saturday, May 4, 2002 was another successful and enjoyable gathering of the AFA AZ Parents Club. As Candi Prangley said, "this whole process of boxing and labeling takes 20 minutes." This means we all work like little ants, each taking a box, or two, going down the assembly line and filling each box with a variety of goodies. We also label it, and put in a personal note, on a pre-printed flyer. The second assembly line takes it, tapes it, and packs each small box into a large box that is divided into groups for shipment. This time Tom Grayson will be the one to ship each large box off to a Cadet who has agreed to receive it, and notify each individual Cadet the "BOX" has arrived, and for them to pick up. These reach our Cadets just before Exam period begins. It will give them something to munch on during the long days and nights of studying. Contained in each box are not only our treats and notes, but also love, best wishes, hopes and prayers for their success in their FINAL EXAMINATIONS.

Following this work session, we all enjoyed another Potluck meal of delicious foods with bratwurst, hot dogs, and hamburgers cooked on the grill. This is also our social time to catch up on all the news of each other and the cadets. Afterwards, President Mark Howes thanked everyone for coming and making a real contribution. Some parents could not attend this meeting, but sent monetary gifts, which we needed, as we ran out of supplies and bought more. Thanks to everyone again, who contributed so generously!

After most of the other parents left, the Board had a meeting, in which details of all the upcoming events were discussed. Presidents, Mark and Linda Howes, once again conducted this session. Each Board member reported on the progress of their responsibility as was assigned at an earlier Board meeting. Some of the other topics included and discussed were... Linda Howes brought up the fact that we no longer have a Representative for the Parents Club in Tucson and wondered if someone in Tucson might be interested in doing this. It would be so nice to be more connected with the AFA Parents from that area. So if any of you Tucson parents would like to participate more actively in our functions, please let a Board member know.

The Treasurers, Gary and June Munson, brought up some bookkeeping points, as well as reported on the Doolie Parents Send-off Breakfast reservations and the agenda which will pertain mainly to Parent'sWeekend. Details of this, along with the forms to fill out and return to the club, are in this issue of the Newsletter.

Finally, Ruth Klenk Janzik, Secretary reported that the Memberships, and the reservations for the Doolie Dinner, as well as the orders for the Football tickets, are coming in steadily each day. Receipts for each function are being mailed out in a timely fashion. These should be kept with your records to verify payment. This is especially important if you have made a one-time payment for dues to cover membership throughout the four years, or remaining years. We likewise keep these records cur-rent, and can double check for you if necessary. Ruth will be working throughout the summer months to bring the database completely up to date. So if there have been any changes in names, addresses, E-mails etc., please let us know. We try very earnestly to be current, and to keep each and every member informed, active, and fully involved with the USAFA Arizona Parents Club. Nominations for future officers for this Club are being recruited, so if you are interested in holding a Board Office please let us know, and we will put you on the nomination list. It is a very rewarding thing to do!

Let your Cadet know where you will be seated during the game. The Arizona Parents Club will have a reserved section in M12 and M16. We've ordered almost 130 tickets so far! Remember it is always easier for them to find you after the game, so specify a meeting place before the game begins to all meet up afterwards. In uniform, they all look very much alike, but the Doolies must stand throughout the entire game, so you can spot them easily with binoculars.

Directly after the football game, Cadets can leave with their parents for the weekend! Parents are then permitted to go back to the Cadet area to pick up their Cadet at this time, but a spot somewhat away from this area is better. There will be some tailgate parties going on before and after the game. To avoid the rush in and out, linger awhile and socialize with other parents and Cadets. This is the great day of days, especially when we win!

It will be a long and exciting day. Everyone will be tired and hungry, and the town will be filled to capacity. For this reason, be sure to have your dinner plans set or reserved or well planned out. All the restaurants will have long waiting lines. Take-out places will also be very busy. Sometimes friends and/ or sponsors, who live in Colorado Springs, will be open to a get-together at their homes if it is pre-planned and a joint effort in coordinating is made. PLANNING and COMMUNICATION is everything. So sit down with the calendar now, and get your thinking caps on. It is not a time to be shy or remiss.

Remember this is your Cadet's first weekend away from the Academy, so don't over plan the visit. They have been through some very challenging experiences, both physically and men-tally. Cadets can't wait to leave the cam-pus with their parents when they are finally allowed to do so. Most of them just want to go out for relaxing dinners, and then "chill-out" or sleep in their motels, leaving the rigors of the Academy behind. They may want to do some shopping or see a movie. Fourth Class Cadets must wear their uniforms at all times when outside their motel room. This includes Cadets traveling outside the Colorado Springs area for the weekend. Therefore, don't be surprised if your Cadet wants to spend most of his/her time in the room and in comfortable clothes. Watching T.V. is a real treat for Cadets. Renting, or bringing a VCR may be another consideration. The best advise is to be flexible and receptive and play it by ear. Ask questions of person-nel, and other parents.

The Doolie Parents will especially have many questions about various planned activities that the AFA puts on for them in Colorado Springs, CO, as well as wanting reassurance of being able to touch base with some of their fellow Arizona Parents while up there. We can support and inform each other, and offer some tried and true advice and friendship. Little bits and pieces of information are invaluable for first time parents. Answering questions such as -- How long is the drive from Phoenix to Colorado Springs? Where are some good places to eat? Where are some good places to stay and what is the weather like at that time of year? (Do take an umbrella, by the way.) Also: What are the best planned activities to attend, (you may not be able to do everything)? Can we get into the dorms to see the rooms, and what do we wear to classes? Can we take food and drinks onto to the Academy grounds? etc., are but a few of the questions we will be answering for our Doolie Parents. The enclosed schedule will also tell a lot about this special weekend adventure. WEAR GOOD WALKING SHOES. These and other TIPS are on page five of thisnewsletter.

This website is for communication of parents, and members, across the entire United States. Famnet sponsors a dinner during Parents Weekend to help replenish this fund. They also post, in a respectful way, the news, that no one wants to hear, if a death, or accident has occurred. Their dinner, usually on Thursday evening just before Parents Weekend officially begins, is very reasonably priced, with good selections in menu items, and decorated and attended very well. Dress is 'Nice Comfortable'. They raffle many lovely gifts, such as quilts, and sell interesting keepsakes! Unfortunately, there have been several tragedies this past year which depleted the Rando Funds. This Fund has afforded complete confidentiality to it's beneficiaries throughout the years. If a Cadet has a loss of a family member, for example, he/she can request this monetary assistance by approaching one of the AFA Chaplains and it will be passed along to The Rando Fund Officers who decides need and distribution. Please open your hearts and pocketbooks to this most amazing and worthwhile fund. Attend their dinner and give them encouragement and support and a kind word. Thank God for their efforts, and pray you never need it, but help those who do. More information is obtainable on their website:

June27-July13 BCT
July 13 Sports Day
July 14 Doolie Day Out
July 15 March to Jack's Valley
July 15-Aug.3 2nd. BCT
July 28 Chaplain's Picnic
July 30 Big Bad Basic Competition
July 31 March back from Jack's Valley
Aug. 3 Wing Returns
Aug. 6 Acceptance Parade
Aug. 8 Academics Start
Aug. 10 Doolie Parents Send-Off Breakfast
Aug. 30 Parent Weekend Begins
Aug. 30 Arizona Parents Buffet Supper
Aug. 31 Football Game......AFA vs Northwestern
Sept. 2 Parents Weekend Ends
Oct. 5 Navy Game (home)
Nov. 9 Army Game (at West Point)
Nov. 26 LMD
Nov. 27-Dec 1 Thanksgiving Break
Dec. 19-Jan. 2 Christmas Break (cadets can leave after last
final on Dec. 18th)----(Sign-in by 7PM Jan.2)

USAFA ARIZONA PARENTS CLUB
C/O RUTH KLENK JANZIK-Secretary
2324 E SAHUARO DRIVE
PHOENIX, AZ 85028