10 November 2009

ALAMO AFA
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING
10 November 2009

MINUTES

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by Alamo AFA Chapter President Gary Copsey, at 1600 hours.

USO UPDATE
Shari Jensen, San Antonio USO Director gave an update on renovation plans for the downtown facility. The funds have been allotted and contracts to totally renovate the facility are ready for signature. The projected time-frame is to close the facility in December and reopen spring of 2010. There are capabilities in the renovation design to support outside meetings such as ours. (Note: Subsequent to the meeting the projected time frame has been set for December 1st through April 2010.)

ATTENDANCE
The following individuals signed in as attending: Gary Copsey, Joan Lopez, Ralph Chalfant, Douglas Nelson, John Shroyer, Sean Habina, John Blumentritt, Mike Nishimuta, Dan O’Neal, Gina McKeen, Bill Croom, Alan Beaty, Ron Colunga, Ed Garland, John Politi, Jonathan Lacquement, Charles Lamer, and Tom Peterson.

GUESTS
Meghan McCormick, USAA Megan is a new AFA member and will be participating in future chapter events.

SPRING 2010 AFA STATE MEETING
This meeting scheduled here in San Antonio for October 30, 31 and November 1 has been moved to April 9, 10, and 11, 2010. Ed Garland gave an update of plans for the meeting.

SECRETARY REPORT
The minutes from last meeting were presented. Motion was made and seconded to approve as written. Motion passed.

TREASURER'S REPORT
The October 2009 report was accepted as presented. John Politi also gave an overview of the financial arrangements for the upcoming AETC symposium.

COMBAT BREAKFAST UPDATE
Gary Copsey expressed the appreciation of the chapter to Charles Lamer and Douglas Fletcher for the efforts they put into organizing and conducting the highly successful Combat Breakfast. Attendance this year was 234 guests.

AIR SHOW WRAP UP
Gary Copsey expressed the appreciation of the chapter to Sean Habina for her efforts in coordinating the chapter exhibit at the Randolph Air Show. Examples of the incentive items procured by Sean were shown to those members attending. Sean has also taken the responsibility for presenting the chapter wreath at the Fort Sam Houston Cemetery Veterans Day observance.

MEMBERSHIP
Jonathan Lacquement reported that total Alamo Chapter #234 membership is 3,702 individuals. This is an increase of 43 members since this time last year.

AEROSPACE EDUCATION COUNCIL
Bill Croom reported the Alamo Chapter will be well represented on the 2009-2010 National Aerospace Education Council. Vice Chairman of the Board for Aerospace Education Sandy Schlitt, with approval of the AFA Board of Directors, appointed National Director Ed Garland and former National Secretary Bill Croom as members for the coming year. Ed and Bill join Sandy, Jim Hannam and Skip Williams (VA), George Muellner and Mike Peters (CA), Rod McKinley (OK), Marv Tooman (IA), Max Friedauer (FL), John Shaud (AL) and Chuck Zimkas (CO) on the Council. In addition, the two top cadet officers of AFROTC's Arnold Air Society and Silver Wings serve as Ex Officio members. The Council is charged with envisioning, developing and implementing AFA Education issues across the spectrum of the Association. Just a few areas being addressed are developing an Education Strategy, working to revise the AFA scholarship and VISIONS programs, and seeking ways to develop and implement an "Education Branding" strategy for AFA. Of special note is the Cyber Patriot II competition in which AFJROTC and CAP teams compete to defend their computer networks from intrusion and attack during an Internet-based simulated game. Over 275 units expressed initial interest in CP II, more than 175 officially registered and 94 ended up competing. The top 36 teams from Rounds 1 & 2 conducted November 7th and 14th compete in the semi-finals November 21st. The top 8 teams that day will receive an expense-paid trip to Orlando in February to compete in the finals during AFA's Air Warfare Symposium & Exposition. SAIC and General Dynamics-AIS Corporations, the Center for Infrastructure Security & Assurance at UTSA here in San Antonio and AFROTC join AFA as primary sponsors of Cyber Patriot. Cyber Patriot III, the 2011 competition, is programmed to be opened to all high schools nationwide. You can learn more about this exciting -- and vital -- program on the AFA website www.afa.org -- link through "Aerospace Education" on the upper right of the page and look for the Cyber Patriot article(s) and link(s).

Additionally, other Alamo AFAers serving in State or National positions include Joan Lopez, AFA TX Secretary, Bob Cantu, AFA TX Treasurer, Ed Garland, National Director for the Central Area, Bill Looney, National Director-at-Large, John Politi and Bill Croom, National Nominating Committee, Don Taylor, member of the Veterans/Retirees Council, and Buster Horlen, Editor of the National Aerospace Education NEWSLETTER.




Texas Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP)
AFA Texas and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson are sponsoring an event at the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Love Field in Dallas on Veterans Day to award the newly approved Congressional Gold Medal to eighteen Texas Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). Alamo Chapter donated $1000 to support the event and Mike Nishimuta will attend the event to represent the chapter. AFA Texas President Kelly Jones will be hosting the event. All AFA members are invited to attend the ceremony and luncheon afterwards.

UPCOMING EVENTS

AETC EXPO AND SYMPOSIUM
This year’s Symposium and Ball will be AETC sponsored events. Our AFA responsibility is the conduct of the exposition. The chapter is working with a new contractor to assist in setting up the exposition, and to recruit more sponsors and exhibitors.

The meeting was adjourned by Alamo AFA President Gary Copsey. Next meeting is December 8, 2009.



Tom Peterson
Alamo AFA Chapter 234 Secretary
November 30, 2009