September 2016
In This Issue
Wingman
Important Upcoming Events
15 September 
Executive Committee Meeting
16 September 
Board of Directors Meeting 
17-18 September 
National Convention 
19-21 September 
Air, Space, & Cyber Conference 

Field Operations Update
This will be my final Newsline message to you all. It has been a great pleasure to work with you all during the past two years as your Vice Chairman for Field Operations. As one of my final duties, I had the great privilege of attending the Chartering ceremony and first Executive Committee meeting of the newest AFA Chapter, the P-47 Thunderbolt Chapter in Evansville, Indiana, last week. There were approximately 50 people at the ceremony, including staff representatives from the offices of Indiana Senator Joe Donnelly, and 8th district Congressman Larry Buschon. This kind of activity, to me, represents the value of our field organization to the AFA mission. We continue to represent a connection between the Air Force and the public at-large, in a time when decreasing force sizes and a force heavily weighted toward the offspring of former military members strains that connection.
 
I know you are all aware that the organization is going through some serious budget issues. I have tried to be sure that, while I agree that we in the field need to be part of the solution, we do not cripple our outreach in both advocacy and education in the process. This will get tougher before it gets better, so we'll need to try to be part of the solution. 
 
I wish you all great success in the future, and look forward to doing what I can to help the AFA weather this rough patch.

Dave Dietsch
Vice Chairman, Field Operations
It is Time for the National Convention and Air, Space, & Cyber Conference!  
As you know, our 2016 AFA National Convention, held in National Harbor, MD at the Gaylord Resort and Convention Center is just a few days away! We are looking forward to another fun, exciting, and busy weekend. For further information, click here  
Aerospace Education Council Update
The Aerospace Education Council, working closely with our AFA Staff, has had a very busy summer.  As we are in the final stages of preparing for our national convention, we have announcements from two of our major programs. To get the full update from the Aerospace Education Council, click here

To read the Aerospace Education Council Newsletter, please click here
Training Subcommittee Update
For a variety of reasons, last month I wasn't able to get out the module effectiveness surveys that I'd promised to send, and with the National Convention and Air, Space, and Cyber Conference upon us, I'm not sure I'll be able to get the ones scheduled for this month out either, but I'll try. These surveys are all very short-nine questions at the most-and should take you less than five minutes to complete, so if an invitation to take one shows up in your inbox, please click on the link and fill the survey out. Your feedback is very important because it helps us make the training we provide more useful and applicable for you.

For September, one module that's available is up for review: how to find, download, and use your chapter membership rosters. This is the first part of the two-part module on member and officer rosters. Chapter Presidents, Vice Presidents, Secretaries, and Membership and Community Partner VPs; along with all State and Region Officers should review it. 

For the full update from Ross Lampert, please click here
Air Force Memorial 10th Anniversary 
It is the Air Force Memorial's 10th Anniversary! In honor of the 10th Anniversary, there will be a Air Force Memorial 10th Anniversary Celebration Ceremony on Friday, October 14th at 10:00 AM at the Air Force Memorial. For parking and transportation information, please click here
CyberPatriot Update 
Less than one month left to register for CyberPatriot IX
Over 2,100 teams have registered for CyberPatriot IX, and it's not too late to join! Sign up to compete in the nation's fastest growing cyber defense competition before registration closes on Oct. 5, 2016. For a list of currently registered teams, click here.

Questions? Contact the CyberPatriot program office at info@uscyberpatriot.org or call 877-885-5716.

ESCEI 2.0 now available for download
The second version of CyberPatriot Elementary School Cyber Education Initiative in now available. With three new modules, ESCEI 2.0 is designed to introduce K-6 students to the basics of cybersecurity, cyber ethics, and safe internet practices. Click here to download your free kit today.
Field Spotlight
CAP NJ Wing Conference 
AFA New Jersey hosted the CAP NJ Wing Conference at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, New Jersey. This top notch event had great speakers and was highly praised from all attending. Shooting Star Chapter member Lt Col bob Vaucher, B-29 Lead Pilot of 2Sep45 Show of Force was a speaker at one of the Conference featured sessions.

 
Community Partner Spotlight      
Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium 
This month we highlight Community Partner Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium located in Sarasota, Florida.  Mote was the first Community Partner recruited by the Sarasota-Manatee Chapter after it received its charter in October 2011.  Founded in 1955 by Dr. Eugenie Clark, Mote has grown to a staff of more than 200 members - including more than 30 Ph.D. scientists.  Mote Marine Laboratory is one of the world's few remaining private marine research laboratories and, as a nonprofit organization, is funded through federal, state and local grants and through the generosity of individual donors and foundations.  From their Sarasota base of operations, Mote conducts research on six of the world's seven continents. Its education programs engage students worldwide in science and learning -- dedicated to helping create a more ocean literate society.  Check out their website at here.
2016-2017 AFA Educator Grant Application Now Open!
The AFA's annual K-12 educator grant program has opened and chapters are requested to share this information with area educators.  Information is found here.  Application dates for $250 classroom grants are July 1-November 18.  Grant recipients announced in February.  Please encourage teachers in your local area to apply. 
Explore AFA on Social Media!