Chapter Activities Plan Nov 2020 to Dec 2021
We will continue to delay in-person activities until COVID abates sufficiently to make social activities and personal interaction safe. This is in-line with the current COVID upward trajectory and Oklahoma City, Tinker AFB, state, Academy, and national restrictions and medical guidance. As much as we would like to resume normal activities, we will not host chapter events that might bring our members or guests in close proximity because we cannot manage individual interactions, mask wearing and maintaining social distancing in a diverse group. Common sense: better safe than sorry. The Board of Directors will determine the appropriate time to resume in-person gatherings.
1. The 17 Dec wreath laying for deceased veterans at Fairlawn Cemetery in Stillwater will be vigorously advertised (Matt Waldron grads and Lee Curtis OK Parents Club) and supported by both our chapter and the OK Parents Club with parents and cadets. It is outside, with no social activities or ceremonies and volunteers will be separated throughout the cemetery to lay the wreaths. Masks will be worn and social distancing will be emphasized. There are presently a number of volunteers who support this activity from both organizations. Matt Waldron will coordinate details for the event with the Stillwater coordinator, Sally Smith.
2. We will again sponsor wreath purchases of $15 for members who wish to remember specific fallen comrades at the USAFA cemetery. Submit the name and class of your nominee to the Chapter email by Dec 1. Up to 5 named grads will be paid for by the chapter. If there are less than 5 requests the remaining wreaths will be donated to the Academy cemetery.
3. The Navy parents club is sponsoring the All Academy Ball this year on Dec 27 with the proviso they may have to cancel due to COVID. We will advertise this event but we and the Parents Club President are doubtful that it will happen. Chapter grads who attend will assume their own risks. This event was cancelled on 11/7/2020 by the Navy Parents Club. The Central OK Air Force parents club has suspended all person-person contact meetings.
4. With COVID expected to continue well into 2021 we are opting for a virtual Founder's Day, say on April 2nd, rather than experiencing low turnout and multiple postponements before canceling like last year. Several chapters did a virtual event this year and more are planning it for 2021. Karina Ross from the AOG has volunteered to host the event. Nebraska AOG did this with the local wing commander being a virtual guest speaker and others making remarks with toasts and songs and all the ceremony that would occur at an in-person Founder's Day. We will request the Superintendent or similar official speak as well as other AOG officers.
5. We will donate $150 to the Tinker Airmen Readiness Center again this year for support for airmen over Thanksgiving and Xmas. We will also donate $150 to the Oklahoma Food bank this year to help get food to children, families, and seniors facing hunger in central and western Oklahoma this holiday season. Finally we will donate $100 to the Red Andrews Xmas dinner foundation to support Xmas toy donations to needy families. The dinner is a Christmas day tradition since 1947, it provides warm meals and toys to approximately 5,000 citizens each year at the Cox Convention Center. A final decision on whether to hold the event has not been made yet by city leaders. Idea by David Wilson.
6. Once there is consensus it is safe to meet in person again there is a whole host of possible events previously discussed: blood donor, beer and wine tasting, monthly in-person meetings, parties, sporting events (possibly with other military chapters), tours, Tinker Thunderbirds, Operation Air Force with Academy cadets at Tinker, more joint activities with parents club, and mentoring cadets. Other ideas are Ok City cruises, dinner or theater out, continuing the OKC Thunder social and game night, mystery night, and a chapter running event. It is hoped the fund raising event put forward by member Ron Murray may come to fruition next year with the Academy Foundation when it is able to host events in the community again.
7. Our flight orientation program for cadets and recent graduates continues to be studied by the USAFA AOG. They are reviewing program operation, legal concerns, hold harmless agreements, COVID issues and other aspects of a program offered by several of our members. The chapter would advertise the program which would be conducted under the auspices of the individual light aircraft pilots who have offered these motivational flights.
8. We are looking to find or purchase a flagpole and stand to attach our Distinguished Chapter flag to so we can eventually unfurl it at a chapter live event. We also have USAFA silver pins to distribute to our contributing members who helped win the 2020 award.
Approved by Central OK Chapter Board of Directors
Nov 10, 2020
1. The 17 Dec wreath laying for deceased veterans at Fairlawn Cemetery in Stillwater will be vigorously advertised (Matt Waldron grads and Lee Curtis OK Parents Club) and supported by both our chapter and the OK Parents Club with parents and cadets. It is outside, with no social activities or ceremonies and volunteers will be separated throughout the cemetery to lay the wreaths. Masks will be worn and social distancing will be emphasized. There are presently a number of volunteers who support this activity from both organizations. Matt Waldron will coordinate details for the event with the Stillwater coordinator, Sally Smith.
2. We will again sponsor wreath purchases of $15 for members who wish to remember specific fallen comrades at the USAFA cemetery. Submit the name and class of your nominee to the Chapter email by Dec 1. Up to 5 named grads will be paid for by the chapter. If there are less than 5 requests the remaining wreaths will be donated to the Academy cemetery.
3. The Navy parents club is sponsoring the All Academy Ball this year on Dec 27 with the proviso they may have to cancel due to COVID. We will advertise this event but we and the Parents Club President are doubtful that it will happen. Chapter grads who attend will assume their own risks. This event was cancelled on 11/7/2020 by the Navy Parents Club. The Central OK Air Force parents club has suspended all person-person contact meetings.
4. With COVID expected to continue well into 2021 we are opting for a virtual Founder's Day, say on April 2nd, rather than experiencing low turnout and multiple postponements before canceling like last year. Several chapters did a virtual event this year and more are planning it for 2021. Karina Ross from the AOG has volunteered to host the event. Nebraska AOG did this with the local wing commander being a virtual guest speaker and others making remarks with toasts and songs and all the ceremony that would occur at an in-person Founder's Day. We will request the Superintendent or similar official speak as well as other AOG officers.
5. We will donate $150 to the Tinker Airmen Readiness Center again this year for support for airmen over Thanksgiving and Xmas. We will also donate $150 to the Oklahoma Food bank this year to help get food to children, families, and seniors facing hunger in central and western Oklahoma this holiday season. Finally we will donate $100 to the Red Andrews Xmas dinner foundation to support Xmas toy donations to needy families. The dinner is a Christmas day tradition since 1947, it provides warm meals and toys to approximately 5,000 citizens each year at the Cox Convention Center. A final decision on whether to hold the event has not been made yet by city leaders. Idea by David Wilson.
6. Once there is consensus it is safe to meet in person again there is a whole host of possible events previously discussed: blood donor, beer and wine tasting, monthly in-person meetings, parties, sporting events (possibly with other military chapters), tours, Tinker Thunderbirds, Operation Air Force with Academy cadets at Tinker, more joint activities with parents club, and mentoring cadets. Other ideas are Ok City cruises, dinner or theater out, continuing the OKC Thunder social and game night, mystery night, and a chapter running event. It is hoped the fund raising event put forward by member Ron Murray may come to fruition next year with the Academy Foundation when it is able to host events in the community again.
7. Our flight orientation program for cadets and recent graduates continues to be studied by the USAFA AOG. They are reviewing program operation, legal concerns, hold harmless agreements, COVID issues and other aspects of a program offered by several of our members. The chapter would advertise the program which would be conducted under the auspices of the individual light aircraft pilots who have offered these motivational flights.
8. We are looking to find or purchase a flagpole and stand to attach our Distinguished Chapter flag to so we can eventually unfurl it at a chapter live event. We also have USAFA silver pins to distribute to our contributing members who helped win the 2020 award.
Approved by Central OK Chapter Board of Directors
Nov 10, 2020
Blueprint for FY 2020 Chapter Growth
Create an activities schedule, planned and announced to the membership early in the year and share with the AOG so they can support your events. CURT WAGNER '90 AND RON MURRAY, '65 REPRESENTED OUR CHAPTER AT THE AOG CHAPTER PRESIDENTS'S CONFERENCE 28-29 AUG 2019. REPORT SENT TO GRADS SEPT 10, 2019. READ REPORT.
calendar year 2020 events need to be fleshed out.
9. OTHER CHAPTER ACTIVITIES FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR WILL BE FINALIZED IN NEAR FUTURE. First is founders' day, apr 4, 202o. other events to be determined ARE
A. CHAPTER MEET AND GREET WITH CURRENT MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS.
B. SOCIAL EVENT WITH NEW AND RECENT GRADS FROM TINKER AFB and young alumni that have graduated since 2005
c. Thunder basketball social event sign up is underway for feb 21 or 23.
D. A MIXED SOCIAL EVENT FOR MEMBERS AND SPOUSES/FRIENDS SUCH AS CRUISE, DINNER OUT, THEATER, MYSTERY NIGHT, BEER/WINE TASTING, RUNNING EVENT
e. PARTICIPATE IN NEXT YEAR’S TINKER ARMED FORCES DAY
f. PLAN A MEMBER OUTING SUCH AS GOLF, BOWLING, PICNIC, TOUR OF LOCAL ATTRACTION
G. put Ron murray in touch with aog/foundation experts to plan fund raising event
H. Possibly set up event witch dallas chapter. CURT Wagner MET THEIR PRESIDENT, RICK WRIGHT, AND THEY TALKED ABOUT THIS.
1. Worked with Tinker AFB to support Operation Air Force cadets visiting last two weeks in July. Hosted 6 cadets at Hideaway pizza for Meet and Greet. ESTABLISHED EXCELLENT RELATIONSHIP WITH TINKER AFB DURING OPERATION AIR FORCE SUPPORT cadeT TRAINING EVALUATION REQUESTED BY MATT WALDRON RESULTED IN FAVORABLE COMMENTS FROM BASE COMMANDER AND BRIG GEN MICHELE EDMONDSON, USAFA COMMANDANT. BRIG GEN CHRIS HILL, ACADEMY GRAD, HOSTED CADETS AT HIS HOUSE FOR BBQ AND HAS BEEN ASKED TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR CHAPTER.
2. Schedule monthly member luncheons for camaraderie, chapter growth and event planning (Now every 4th Thursday of month. Held every month starting in June. (See web site documentation)
3. Sent two reps to President’s Conference 28-29 Aug 19, 2019, Ron Murray and Curt Wagner. click to see their report and ideas to further our planning for chapter growth for the remaining year. Appointed them and Matt Waldron to committee to guide us to Distinguished Chapter award for 2020.
4. Completed Oct 2019 Considering establishing a more formal chapter structure before calendar year 2020 starts: tailored bylaws, dues, getting chapter flag by winning 2020 Distinguished Chapter Award, formal election of board of directors and officers, and types of activities we want to plan for the whole year. (Received well by members attending Aug luncheon, goal is to achieve this by end of calendar year).
5. Football watch parties already planned for USAFA vs CU 14 Sep at Garage Burgers and Beer and Navy 5 Oct at Deep Deuce Grill with Naval Academy grads. Army nov 2 and other games will be added. Watch party officer appointed: Dave Wilson. Possible Yearly softball and flag football games against Army and Navy grads.
6. Appointed Oklahoma Parents Club liaison, Lee Curtis, who is now chairman of the organizing committee for all-services cadet Xmas ball in Dec. Continue to participate in their activities. We attended their cadet appointee sendoff luncheon; they attended our cadet pizza party. Reached out to 44 cadets at USAFA via email in OCT 2019
7. Matt Waldron, my assistant, continues to update Chapter Web Site on a weekly basis. Appointed Jeff Wagner as Social Media officer. Created Facebook page to supplement our active Web Site.
8. Participated in Wreaths across America program with AOG sponsorship of Academy Cemetery. Collected funds to purchase five wreaths for classmates that made the ultimate sacrifice. Wreaths will be placed 14 Dec.
9. Other chapter activities for this fiscal year will be finalized in near future. Under consideration are
a. Chapter Meet and Greet with current members and non-members.
b. Social event with new and recent grads from Tinker AFB
c. A holiday event
d. A mixed social event for members and spouses/friends such as cruise, dinner out, theater, Mystery Night, beer/wine tasting, running event
e. A service project to support military or civic needs such as support for homeless veterans, volunteering at Tinker Retiree Office, Several programs for holiday support underway Oct 2019
f. Participate in next year’s Tinker Armed Forces Day
g. The OK ALO is a chapter member. Plan a local supporting event with her, Maj Alicia Cramer. guest speaker at Oct 24 meeting
h. Plan a member outing such as golf, bowling, picnic, tour of local attraction.
i. See if we can nominate AFA friend, Distinguished Graduate Award candidate, Young Alumni Award candidate
j. Start planning for 2020 Founder’s Day event
k. Plan Fund Raising Campaign with possible assistance from Ron Murray.
l. Karina Ross, aog gave us many good ideas about events that might attract young alumni, those graduating in the last 15 years. Young alumni are known as group non-joiners.
11. Keep adding material to president’s Forum on Facebook.
12. Set up event with Dallas AOG Chapter. Curt met their president, Rick Wright, and they talked about this.
calendar year 2020 events need to be fleshed out.
9. OTHER CHAPTER ACTIVITIES FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR WILL BE FINALIZED IN NEAR FUTURE. First is founders' day, apr 4, 202o. other events to be determined ARE
A. CHAPTER MEET AND GREET WITH CURRENT MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS.
B. SOCIAL EVENT WITH NEW AND RECENT GRADS FROM TINKER AFB and young alumni that have graduated since 2005
c. Thunder basketball social event sign up is underway for feb 21 or 23.
D. A MIXED SOCIAL EVENT FOR MEMBERS AND SPOUSES/FRIENDS SUCH AS CRUISE, DINNER OUT, THEATER, MYSTERY NIGHT, BEER/WINE TASTING, RUNNING EVENT
e. PARTICIPATE IN NEXT YEAR’S TINKER ARMED FORCES DAY
f. PLAN A MEMBER OUTING SUCH AS GOLF, BOWLING, PICNIC, TOUR OF LOCAL ATTRACTION
G. put Ron murray in touch with aog/foundation experts to plan fund raising event
H. Possibly set up event witch dallas chapter. CURT Wagner MET THEIR PRESIDENT, RICK WRIGHT, AND THEY TALKED ABOUT THIS.
1. Worked with Tinker AFB to support Operation Air Force cadets visiting last two weeks in July. Hosted 6 cadets at Hideaway pizza for Meet and Greet. ESTABLISHED EXCELLENT RELATIONSHIP WITH TINKER AFB DURING OPERATION AIR FORCE SUPPORT cadeT TRAINING EVALUATION REQUESTED BY MATT WALDRON RESULTED IN FAVORABLE COMMENTS FROM BASE COMMANDER AND BRIG GEN MICHELE EDMONDSON, USAFA COMMANDANT. BRIG GEN CHRIS HILL, ACADEMY GRAD, HOSTED CADETS AT HIS HOUSE FOR BBQ AND HAS BEEN ASKED TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR CHAPTER.
2. Schedule monthly member luncheons for camaraderie, chapter growth and event planning (Now every 4th Thursday of month. Held every month starting in June. (See web site documentation)
3. Sent two reps to President’s Conference 28-29 Aug 19, 2019, Ron Murray and Curt Wagner. click to see their report and ideas to further our planning for chapter growth for the remaining year. Appointed them and Matt Waldron to committee to guide us to Distinguished Chapter award for 2020.
4. Completed Oct 2019 Considering establishing a more formal chapter structure before calendar year 2020 starts: tailored bylaws, dues, getting chapter flag by winning 2020 Distinguished Chapter Award, formal election of board of directors and officers, and types of activities we want to plan for the whole year. (Received well by members attending Aug luncheon, goal is to achieve this by end of calendar year).
5. Football watch parties already planned for USAFA vs CU 14 Sep at Garage Burgers and Beer and Navy 5 Oct at Deep Deuce Grill with Naval Academy grads. Army nov 2 and other games will be added. Watch party officer appointed: Dave Wilson. Possible Yearly softball and flag football games against Army and Navy grads.
6. Appointed Oklahoma Parents Club liaison, Lee Curtis, who is now chairman of the organizing committee for all-services cadet Xmas ball in Dec. Continue to participate in their activities. We attended their cadet appointee sendoff luncheon; they attended our cadet pizza party. Reached out to 44 cadets at USAFA via email in OCT 2019
7. Matt Waldron, my assistant, continues to update Chapter Web Site on a weekly basis. Appointed Jeff Wagner as Social Media officer. Created Facebook page to supplement our active Web Site.
8. Participated in Wreaths across America program with AOG sponsorship of Academy Cemetery. Collected funds to purchase five wreaths for classmates that made the ultimate sacrifice. Wreaths will be placed 14 Dec.
9. Other chapter activities for this fiscal year will be finalized in near future. Under consideration are
a. Chapter Meet and Greet with current members and non-members.
b. Social event with new and recent grads from Tinker AFB
c. A holiday event
d. A mixed social event for members and spouses/friends such as cruise, dinner out, theater, Mystery Night, beer/wine tasting, running event
e. A service project to support military or civic needs such as support for homeless veterans, volunteering at Tinker Retiree Office, Several programs for holiday support underway Oct 2019
f. Participate in next year’s Tinker Armed Forces Day
g. The OK ALO is a chapter member. Plan a local supporting event with her, Maj Alicia Cramer. guest speaker at Oct 24 meeting
h. Plan a member outing such as golf, bowling, picnic, tour of local attraction.
i. See if we can nominate AFA friend, Distinguished Graduate Award candidate, Young Alumni Award candidate
j. Start planning for 2020 Founder’s Day event
k. Plan Fund Raising Campaign with possible assistance from Ron Murray.
l. Karina Ross, aog gave us many good ideas about events that might attract young alumni, those graduating in the last 15 years. Young alumni are known as group non-joiners.
11. Keep adding material to president’s Forum on Facebook.
12. Set up event with Dallas AOG Chapter. Curt met their president, Rick Wright, and they talked about this.