Forty-six of the National Association Board members were
present. CGA Parent’s Association President,
Dave Gamble, opened the meeting,
at approximately 1300,with welcoming remarks and introductions.
RADM Teeson,
Superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy, welcomed the Parents
Association and thanked them for the new liberty van donated by the Parent’s
Assn.
Admiral Teeson discussed some recent national news stories in which the
Coast Guard had played a prominent role. These included the JFK Jr. search
and recovery, Hurricane Floyd and Cuban immigration. The incidents all
reinforced some of the Commandant’s current themes for the service:
1. Preperation = Performance
2. Team Coast Guard
3. Partnering with other federal, state and local agencies
All three incidents raised the visibility of the service in ways never
dreamed of even a few years ago.
- The academy is in the process of re-validating all four engineering
majors and attempting to get accreditation for the management major
for the first time from the New England Assn. of Schools and Colleges.
- Three senior faculty retired over the summer. There were many excellent
candidates for the jobs. All three were filled by the first choice.
- A dozen faculty members are partnering with Coast Guard HQ in their
area of expertise this year.
- A renovation is underway in the 1932 annex of Chase Hall. New plumbing
is being installed.
- A renovation is underway in Billard Hall.
- A $5M renovation is planned for Satterlee Hall next year.
- A renovation in Munro Hall is finishing up.
- The BOQ will be moved to Munro Hall leaving more room for cadets in
Chase Hall.
- The Coast Guard foundation has started a $12M fund raising campaign
for the library.
- The latest edition of the Princeton Review rated CGA against many
major U.S. schools in several different areas. The results included:
- Best Academic Experience #5
- Toughest to get into: #2
- Professors Available #3
- Stone Cold Sober School #4
- Good town-gown relations #3
RADM Teeson yielded the floor to Dr. Haas,
the Dean of Academics. The Academic Department continues to prepare
for the upcoming accreditation process. The accreditation visit will take
place in April of 2000. A self review is currently underway and is expected
to be completed ahead of schedule. Forty people are involved in the self
study.
The board of trustees has endorsed a language program and
a computer science major for the Academy. Next spring, Chaplain Garcia
will double as a Spanish language and culture instructor.
The dean was followed by Commandant of Cadets,
Captain Brooks.
- Reports from the summer program are available in the newsletter and
on the Parent’s Assn. website.
- Captain Brooks summarized the summer program. Cadets logged over 6,000
days underway on ships.
- Concerned about the large number of resignations this past summer
in the class of ‘03. The Academy is studying the issue to try and
improve results in the future.
- Dr. Ballard, noted marine archeologist, took a cadet intern with him
last summer. Academy hopes he will take more on future undersea explorations.
- Alcohol awareness, though rated the #4 stone cold sober school in
the nation, still trying to improve. Striving to help cadets make responsible
choices about alcohol.
A brief question and answer session followed. That concluded the presentations
from the CGA Senior management Team.
Parent’s Association Business
The meeting began by accepting the minutes from the
last meeting of 5 July, 1999.
Mr. Dick Whitehouse gave his last
report as treasurer after many years with the Parent’s
Assn.
Class fund balances:
1997 $1,000
1998 $ 490
1999 $1,695
Class funds have been discontinued. All donations now go into the gift
fund or endowment fund as requested by the donor.
Current balances:
Endowment Fund: $45,904
Gift Fund: $ 3,822
The mini van recently purchased cost $20,213.
The new dues of $50 are non-refundable if your cadet quits before graduation.
Parents of graduated cadets are urged to continue to stay active in local
and National Chapters and continue to pay their national dues at the rate
of $15 per year and/or join the Alumni Assn. as an Associate member for
only $42 per year.
Mr. Whitehouse also pointed out that local chapters may not use the National
Assn. tax exempt number. They may get a number from a local bank or the
IRS or they may set up a separate account with the Alumni Assn. The Alumni
Assn. will then pay out $ upon request by the local chapter. Money will
be deposited in interest bearing accounts. Chapters interested in setting
up a chapter account with the Alumni Association may contact Mr. Bob Tuneski.
This is a voluntary program and is not mandatory.
Old Business
Mr. Bob Mohr, Vice President and chairman of
the membership committee reported that at the last spring meeting
we voted to change the dues structure to a one time fee of $50 for the
whole four years your cadet is at CGA. Bob & Lisa sent out renewal
notices to all expired memberships. As a result, memberships have increased
from 178 to 321. That is still far short of the nearly 1,000 parents that
currently have sons or daughters at CGA. More work needs to be done to
increase membership.
The fund raising committee will meet at 1600 in Yeaton
Hall to discuss ways to increase contributions to the gift fund.
New Business
321 ballots for office were sent out to currently paid up members to
elect new council members. Ten families were running for the council this
year. We really have never had competitive elections. The vote is really
just an affirmation of volunteers. 124 ballots were returned. 112 voted
the full slate and 12 had some reservations. Everyone on the ballot was
elected.
The new council is as follows:
Term 98-00
Marianne B. Baker (Matthew 02)
Kevin and Pat Keffer (Ben 02)
Bob and Lisa Mohr (Rob 00)
Chris and Janet Malzone (Jillian 00)
Bob and Cathy Pray (Chris 01)
Bob and Tamara Slivinski (Luke 03)
Gregory Zike (Gregg 00)
Term 99-01
Frank and Christine Garcia (Kevin 03)
Hank and Vickie LaBrie (Henry 03)
Lynn Lachut (Regan 02)
Ed and Denise La Rue (Liam 00)
Jon McMillan (Sean 00)
Clifford and Janet Meeks (Corey 02)
Gerry and Mary Queen (Meridith 01)
All council members are asked to attend all three annual meetings.
A new slate of officers was proposed by Mr. Bob Mohr and subsequently
approved by voice vote.
The officers for 1999-00 are:
President: Bob Mohr
Vice-President: Bob Pray
Recording Secretary: Joe McMillan
Corresponding Secretary: Chris Malzone
Treasurer: Denise LaRue
President Dave Gamble presented Mr. Whitehouse, the
outgoing treasurer, with a gift in recognition of his many years of service
as the National Assn. treasurer.
All members of the Parent’s Assn. are urged to contact
their congressman by letter or phone and request increased funding for
the Coast Guard in general and the Academy in particular.
Chapter Reports
Delaware Valley was represented by
the Yezefski’s. Their reception at the Red Roof Inn for new families
and new cadets on Reporting in Day was very successful.
C&P was represented by Anne Walker.
The reporting in day reception at the Radisson Inn sponsored by C&P
had over 125 people in attendance.
The Nelson Chapter was represented
by Pat & Kevin Keffer. They also held a meeting in May. Twelve families
attended but only one new cadet.
New England was represented by Bob
Pray. The New England Chapter hosted the annual cookout for new cadet
families on the lower field on Reporting in Day. Over 600 people were
served lunch. Captain Brooks was the guest speaker at the annual fall
meeting. The meeting was very well attended.
Paul Foye was represented by Don Tarkanian.
The last chapter meeting was on September 6th. The primary business was
planning for the cadet ice cream social they will host during finals week.
Florida Chapter had nothing to report.
San Francisco Chapter was represented
by Captain Larry Hall. They hosted a picnic for cadets during Eagle’s
visit to San Francisco this past summer.
Greater Los Angeles was represented
by Steve Crecy. They presented cadets on Eagle with a momento bag of souvenirs
during the Eagle’s stop in Los Angeles.
San Diego was represented by Ken Hoag.
The last chapter meeting was in June to welcome new cadets and their families.
Great Lakes was represented by Brad
Graves. Nine new families attended the pre-swearing in day picnic. Sixteen
of seventeen new cadets from Great Lakes survived Swab Summer.
Greater New York was represented by
Justine Ferrera. Planning for Eagle’s visit to NYC during OPSAIL
2000 next year.
Texas was represented by Jim Whitehead.
They are taking an aggressive approach to recruiting for new cadets. Held
a spring meeting for new cadets and their families.
VADM Nelson was represented by Pat
& Kevin Keffer. They are a very spread out chapter and normally only
have one annual meeting in the spring for new cadets.
Nebraska was represented by Linda
Corteville. They had a picnic in July for incoming cadets and parents.
They sent toy pumpkins full of candy & trinkets to Nebraska cadets.
Planning to send “Care” packages during finals week.
Desert Coast Guard Association was
represented by Penny Kienow. During the CGA Glee Club visit to Arizona,
they raised $12,500 and put the Glee Club up in a hotel for their stay.
The new Rocky Mountain Chapter
was represented by Rich Casavant. They are just starting up and may include
as many as five or six states.
List of Attendees:
- Dave Gamble National President
- Pat Gamble
- Bob Mohr National Vice-President
- Lisa Mohr
- Bob Pray National Recording Secretary
- Denise LaRue C&P
- Neil & Marianne Baker Paul Foye
- Par & Kevin Keffer VADM Nelson
- Janet & Chris Malzone Delaware Valley
- Anne & Jack Walker C&P
- Anne & Steve Di Gamdio VADM Nelson
- Don Tarkenian Paul Foye
- Dick Whitehouse National Treasurer
- Justine Ferrara Greater NY
- Jon McMillan Georgia
- Capt. Larry Hall San Francisco
- Jim & Jeanne Whitehead Texas/Gulf Coast
- Robert & Kathleen Byrd Texas/Gulf Coast
- Ken & Carol Hoag San Diego
- Janet & Cliff Meeks Delaware Valley
- Bob & Tamara Slivinski Delaware Valley
- Frank & Kristine Garcia Delaware Valley
- Hank & Vickie LaBrie New England
- Penny & Paul Kienow Desert Coast Guard Assn.
- Rich & Gessi Cosavant Rocky Mountain
- Linda Corteville Nebraska
- Brad Graces Great Lakes
- Steve & Mary Ann Crecy Greater LA
- Cliff & Carole Yezefski Delaware Valley
- Bob Mitchell Georgia
- RADM Teeson - Superintendent
- Captain Brooks - Commandant of Cadets
- Dr. Tom Haas - Dean of Academic
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