Member Promotion and Recognition meeting

Please be sure to join us at our meeting on Monday, June 13, 2011. We will once again be celebrating the latest accomplishments of our squadron members. Families are invited. This is a great opportunity for us all to get to know the families of our fellow members and for them to get to know us.

••••We will NOT be at the airport for this meeting. We will meet at the Gonzales Public Safety Center on Orice Roth Rd.

Please arrive by 6:45pm (cadets arrive by 6pm - earlier if you can! Call if you are running late.)

LPike

Catching Up!

Sorry I have been slow to update the blog. Meetings were kind of slow this last month - seems the Senior Members were often tied up with other activities. Hopefully, April will be a stronger attendance month. BUT, as usual, our cadets have maintained and are growing!

We have 3 new recruits who have decided to join. Major Smith has been doing a little recruiting and C/Sgt Tressitt is truly earning his title as recruiter. C/Rome's recruit will be turning in his application next Monday. Now we SM's need to get moving in the recruiting department to keep up.

Here is synopsis of what has been happening in LA022 these last couple of months.

SPECIAL ATTENTION NEEDED

Airport Lease agreement: Things are not looking very good in this area. The way it looks, we will be given the choice of paying a monthly rent we can not afford or moving out. We need all the support we can get from all members, parents and community leaders. Please contact a Senior Member to find out what you can do.

THIS IS AN URGENT MATTER

St Patrick's Day Parade - We had we had three Marshalls from our squadron for a total of $165.00 raised for the squadron.

CORRECTION: 5 marshals for total of $275

DAR Award to Cadet: C/Gaudin presented with award by local chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in recognition of her citizenship and patriotism through the Civil Air Patrol.

Ascension In the news (Articles that appeared in the Advocate recently):

Ascesnion Squadron Earns Honor (Ascesnion Section)

Air Patrol Cadets get turn at controls (Ascension Section)

Maurepaus Jr High Cadet Stands out (Livingston Section)

Wreaths Across America: Lt Col Collins is making progress on Wreaths Across America. It's not to early to start asking employers to consider a business sponsorship of wreaths for this very worthy event. Check this link out to see what it is all about.

Hovercraft! Thanks to Capital City Composite Squadron, we were finally able to get the long awaited hovercraft "flying." Major Smith, Major Moeller and Lt Ravey were able to get it working during the last to Aerospace meetings and all cadets and our guests were able to get a ride. Much fun ! ! !

O-flights: We had 6 O-flight Sorties this past month Plane Status: As of last Monday night, "Charlie Papa" was still not back from the 100 hour maintenance. As soon as we get it back, Lt Col Collins will be putting more Sorties in for O-Flights. REMEMBER: Our policy is 1 per achievement (promotion) and those who have not flown have first priority.

Office Clean-up: You may have noticed some changes in the office. Clean-up and reorganization is in progress. If you can't find something, ask Lt Pike! If it was in there, it's still there - it just may have a new home.

Hanger Clean-up and Uniform status: Hanger may appear more organized simply because the uniforms are getting straight. We are weeding out. We will keep an assortment of sizes in "Blues" and have kept 2 boxes of donated BDUs that were in good shape. Please see C/First Sgt Blank for uniform issues.

Upcoming:

Wing / CAC / Commanders Call meeting this weekend. These meetings are open to all if interested.

Status of DC trip - Everything is on hold until I hear from Southwest Airlines. I have made a proposal to their Charitable Giving program and it is in review. If we get the donation of tickets or even a substantial discount, the trip will be a "go," if not, the trip is a "no go" due to the cost of airfare. It could be the end of April before we know.

C-17 - O-Flight: TSA list has been finalized. Those who are going should have a Parent Information Sheet covering all details.

CTEP/Academy coming up April 8th-10th. Get your registration in! Cadets MUST have Curry BEFORE we leave.

Library Grand Re-opening ceremony at the Ascension Parish Library on Cornerview in Gonzales is April 16th. Honor Guard has been requested to post Colors and as many cadets as possible are asked to attend - Full class A's - We need a strong showing. The library is going to start working with us to get the word out about CAP. This will go a long way toward our issues with the Airport. April 26, we need ALL cadets (Class A with Service Coat) and ALL parents and anyone else you can bring to the Airport Authority Meeting. Even if you won't be speaking, we need a major show of support for C.A.P.

Cadet Program News for week of July 28

O-FLIGHTS:
Cadet Airmen Smith and Kallenberger get first O-Flight with Major Phil Smith.

NESA:
Cadet MSgt Pardue returns from NESA

RECOGNITION PROGRAM:
Plans for Promotions and Awards Recognition Program for July 12 coming together.

NEW MEMBERS:
Two new cadets have complete applications:
- Cadet Basic Mason Rome of Prairieville. Rome attends Central Middle.
- Cadet Basic Mason Dennis of Baton Rouge. Dennis attends Baton Rouge High School.

UNIFORMS:
Thanks to the abundance of uniforms Lt Col Collins and C/SSgt Blank acquired from Warner High School, we were able to fit ALL cadets with complete Class A Blues, including the semi-formal service coat and the light weight wind breaker. Any Senior members needing blue shirts should give C/SSgt Blank and note with your Neck size and if you want a Long Sleeve shirt, your chest size as well. We also have many Wind breakers left.
What we do need ASAP is Cadet Flight caps. We have some cadets who no longer participate. If you know of any, please see if we can get uniforms returned.

Wreaths / C.A.P. promoted at LHPA Conference

Kelly of Kelly Scott Heating and Air, newly seated president of the Louisiana Heat Pump Association (LPHA) and a staunch supporter of the annual Wreaths Across America Program invited Commander Collins to set up and exhibit and promote the WAA program and Civil Air Patrol at the associations annual conference. The conference was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Baton Rouge on Friday, March 5 and concluded with a banquet that included keynote speaker Skip Bertman.. Additionally, our Cadet Color Guard was asked to post the colors at the conference banquet and we were all welcomed as guest at the banquet.

The exhibition booth, prominently located in the center of the room with approximately 20 other businesses, was set up Thursday and staffed throughout the day Friday by Col. Collins, SM Brandi Covington, C/A1c Phillips, USAF-CAP Liaison John "Z" Zaremba and Lt. Pike. We had the opportunity to share information about both the Civil Air patrol and the Wreaths Across America program with over one hundred attendees plus others throughout the hotel.

The formal banquet was opened with the posting of the colors by Cadet Color Guard members C/A1c Phillips, C/A1c Delbasty and C/MSgt Pardue. After the wonderful dinner, keynote speaker Skip Bertman spoke on the very appropriate topic of team leadership.

All in all, we feel that the event was a success in all areas.

WOW! Where to begin!

The past two meetings alone have been unbelievable! The excitement from the competition was still very much alive when our newest Cadet Member, Cadet Tanner Smith sparked an explosion of recruitment. Recruited himself by C/Airman Kelley, Smith came in the very first night with ao much excitement I thought I have to tie a string to his leg to keep him from floating away!
This next week he brought another recruit, Cadet Gage Tressitt who joined as well. Last meeting we had 3 more visitors and at least 2 of these were hesitant at first but by the end of Drill with Cadet Airmen 1st Class, Blank, Delbasty and Berry, they were asking for applications before they left. We like to suggest they attend a few meetings before they decided but some of these guys are buying uniforms faster than NHq can process the applications. Ms. Covington mailed off 2 new applications last week and we look forward to sending more in next week!
As for our current cadets, we are very proud of the reputation you have built throughout the WING! I know you will continue to demonstrate that professionalism, teamwork and enthusiasm and your new fellow cadets will quickly come up to the same high standards you have set for yourselves. I feel confident you all will shine at Academy this weekend. Remember, we are all part of the same WING and there should be no "Them and Us." Regardless of others attitudes, we want to promote a spirit of Teamwork throughout the WING! Encourage Others!!!

Welcome new Members

Ascension Composite Squadron would like to welcome the following new members:
- Ms. Brandi Covington as our newest Senior Member. Ms. Covington has joined at the Parent Sponsor Level and is assisting with the Cadet Program.
- Cadet Airman 1st class Conner Berry who is returning to the squadron.
- Cadet Basic Tanner Smith, recruited by Cadet Airman Kelley.
We are pleased to have these new members join us and look forward to getting to know them.