UNITED STATES COAST GUARD ACADEMY
PARENTS ASSOCIATION
VADM
Robert T. Nelson Chapter
Western Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia
NEWSLETTER - JUNE 2000
FINANCE -
. . .$169.56 Administration funds
. . . $213.14 net Cadet funds *
. . . plus approx. $150 salable merchandise on hand
BALANCE 6/1/00- $382.70
* Our CADET SUPPORT fund is solely for the betterment of cadets. This cannot be used for our
administrative expenses.
FUNDRAISING REPORT -
We have two sources of income: donations from families in our area
(in lieu of "membership dues"), and items we sell on Report-In Day and Parents Weekend. Mike
Shovlin donated a large supply of Academy Speaks and '00 and '01 bumper stickers. We
purchased several "pewter" CG coasters from the Wendell-August foundry. DiGaudio made
various items to sell: wicker "cadet mail" baskets; calendars, notecards, and decorations which
incorporate the Academy Call artwork (we obtained permission from the CGA to use this); and a
slideshow screensaver featuring photographs from the Summer '99 Eagle cruise.
We need new ideas. Any suggestions? [note: check with prez DiGaudio before initiating anything
- we have to follow strict CGA and IRS rules.]
One of our goals is to provide support for cadet groups visiting our area (something we were
unable to plan for the Windjammer Marching Band's visit to Pittsburgh last Fall), and to present
a donation to the Academy each year. In order to increase profitability, we need workers and
ideas. Please help!
CHAPTER MEETING - JUNE 24 - St.CLAIRSVILLE, OH
We hope that all parents and friends of the chapter will be there
on for our "kick-off" meeting, to welcome our new "swabs" and
their families, and to answer their many questions. The meeting
will be held at the home of Dan & Connie McKeever, proud
parents of ENS Kerry McKeever'99, of the CGC MIDGETT. This
will be a pot-luck affair, so bring anything (beverages and "chips"
will be provided). Bring a lawn chair, too. After mingling and
dining, we'll have a short business meeting and a long Q&A session.
Bring photos! We'll have a "gallery" table set up, so please bring many photos or your cadet-
framed or otherwise.
Also, Please! If your cadet is home, drag him/her to the meeting. Liberty is precious and short,
but our cadets are better at answering some swab families' questions than parents.
GOODBYE, Class of 2000. You Made Us Proud!
To many of us, July 1996 seems like only yesterday. To our cadets, it was a lifetime ago. On
17 May. President Clinton was on hand for Class of 2000 commencement. Our new ensigns
are reporting to their first tours of duty, across the country and around the world putting into
practice their four years of training.
Congratulations to -
Ensign Patricia Brady (Irwin, Pennsylvania)
Ensign Nick Kalin (Milan, Ohio)
Ensign Timothy Margita (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Ensign Katie Milbrandt (West Union, Ohio)
Ensign Aaron Ortenzio (New Middletown, Ohio)
Ensign Mark Rusnak (Altoona, Pennsylvania)
Ensign Andrew Schroeder (Maineville, Ohio)
Ensign Brian Smicklas (Copley, Ohio)
Ensign Stephanie Supko (Coral, Ohio)
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
LTJG Matt Baer '98 (Bedford PA) finished his tour aboard the
USCGC DILIGENCE, and is now on the JUNIPER, Newport RI ... LTJG "TK" Brasted '98 is now
stationed in Seattle ... ENS Kerry McKeever '99 (St.Clairsville, Ohio) is on the USCGC
MIDGETT, Seattle ... LTJG Scott Clementz '98 (Cridersville OH) has just finished his tour aboard
the MIDGETT, and will soon move to Miami FL for his next assignment ...
LTJG Jon Kreischer
'98 (Convoy OH) Is now with the MSO office in Houston TX ...
LTJG Ty Nagie'97 (Baden PA) is an instructor for the International training Div., stationed in Yorktown VA. He travels internationally, teaching various subjects - e.g. small boat safety, military law. Back from Peru, he's on loan to our Marines, and soon goes to Ecuador with Navy Seals ...
LTJG Jodi Popp'98 (Waynesburg PA) has finished her tour aboard the USCGC Forward, and is now in flight school in Pensacola FL ...
ENS Mark Rusnak '00 (Altoona
PA) reports to Vessel Traffic Service in Ft. Wadsworth NY ... Bruce Tucker Jr. '95 (Toledo OH)
coordinates search & rescue teams by helicopter for Hawaii ... 1/c Richard Butler is spending
this summer on the USCGC MORGANTHAL. They left Alameda CA 5/18. He called home from
Kodiak AK ... 1/c Jeff Platt just returned from a trip through the Czech Republic, and is now on
the MUNRO, Almeida CA ... LTJG Ken Shovlin '98 (Beaver PA) finished his tour aboard the
USCGC RESOLUTE, and will next be stationed in Illinois, and start on his masters in CE at the
U of I this Fall.
God Speed to them and all our men and women in the U.S. military.
NATIONAL BOARD
Each Fall, we elect parents to serve 2-year terms on the Parents Association
National Council, which meets three times yearly. Kevin & Pat Keffer (Ben'02 & Anne'04) have
served since 1998; Lynn Lachut (Regan'02) joined last year. Chapter presidents, Steve & Anna
DiGaudio, also serve, as ex-officio members. New appointments will be recruited this Fall. The
next National meeting is the day before Report-In, 4 July.
HELP NEEDED to STAFF OUR TABLE
in Leamy Hall. Lynn Lachut and Anna DiGaudio will man
our table on Report-In Day, 5 July. For Parents weekend, 15-16 September, we'll need many
volunteers to give an hour or two each. (No one should be expected to stay at the table most of
the weekend - we al want to be with our cadets, attend programs and meetings). A sign-up sheet
will be circulated during the June meeting.
We will also be distributing copies of Help-Net . Remember - the cadets will benefit from all
money raised. In addition to selling "stuff" (our primary fund-raising activity) our table serves as
a "home base" for our cadet families during these weekends.
Please Help! - we need
- a "Ways & Means" person
- two "Hospitality" people - one in western Ohio, and one in western PA
- donations of money or supplies
- revision editors for Help-Net and Academy Speaks
HELP-NET for CADET AIR TRAVELERS
- The VADM Nelson Chapter established Help-Net in
1996 (Don & Mary Brasted deserve the credit). DiGaudio upgraded the flier last summer, and
another upgrade is planned for this summer. We're looking for someone to take over this project -
let us know if you're interested.
HELP-NET for CADET HIGHWAY TRAVELERS
is our chapter's next project - a flier listing
parents near Interstates, particularly those in the "corridors" leading to the Academy in the
Northeast. We currently have a Travel and Advisories page on our website. This new Help-Net
will require some research as well as soliciting volunteers and doing the layout. Hopefully it can
be ready by Thanksgiving. Anyone willing to take on this project?
WELCOME - USCGA Class of 2004
Eustacia Caldwell, Hannibal OH - Krista Herdmann, Fairview Park OH - Kalen Kenny, Hopkinsville KY - Wendy Meyer, Beavercreek OH - Stephen Simpson, Monroeville PA - Derek Storolis, Beaver PA - Adam Dunki-Jacobs, Mason OH - Heidi Heydorn, Jeannette PA - Michael Okasinski, Milan OH - Josh Eaton, New Brighton PA - Anne Keffer, Dover OH
Unconfirmed: Michael Carr, Leeper PA - Alexandra Cherry, Maumee OH - Christina Diamond, Industry PA - Jessica France, Fairview Park OH - Nora Graham, Euclid OH - Andrew Holt, Sidney OH - Jerod Jazenski, Erie PA - Richard Jones, State College PA - Dustin Lee, Fairborn OH - Benjamin Lewis, Grove City PA - Michael McClelland, Olmsted Falls OH - Adam Miller, Fairmont WV - Samuel Moss, Charleston WV - John Oscar, Cincinnati OH - Gabriel Pannwitz, Loveland OH - Barry Petty, Kingston OH - Clint Puller, Brookville PA - Kyle Riddle, Columbus OH - Daniel Rockwell, Smithfield PA - Elisha Sivils, West Alexandria OH - Jonathan Witmer, Bay Village OH
SPECIAL INFORMATION FOR NEW CADETS
- [This info was 'lifted' from the Parents
Association website. It was prepared by Marianne Baker (Matthew'02), Pawcatuck, RI]
Reporting-In Day is Wednesday, 5 July 2000. On the evening before, parent chapters
host an informal gathering of new cadets and their families. This reception is open to all
(not just people from those Chapters). It is a chance to meet other new Cadets and
relax a little before the Big Day. No matter what hotel you are at, please stop by the
Radisson Inn, 4 July, 7-10 p.m.
Families should plan to spend the entire Report-In day at the Academy. The Cadets
will be busy, but there are several activities throughout the day for families and, at the
end of the day, you will see your Cadet one more time. Don't miss the excellent
Barbeque lunch hosted by the New England Chapter.
Pre-Reporting-In Day Hosts: Each year, parents from Connecticut's Paul Foye
Chapter serve as host families to new Cadets who are traveling to New London alone.
The Greater New York Chapter and Chesapeake & Potomac Chapters have combined
efforts to produce a Survival Tips booklet, which is being distributed to Swab families.
This year's revision was updated and printed through the generosity of Garry and Roni
Briese
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