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Distinguished Chapter and Mountain West Tournament info

The Distinguished Streak Continues!!

It's official! Our chapter is, once again, an AOG Distinguished Chapter. This continues our Distinguished Chapter streak dating back to our Chapter's founding in 2011. Thanks to all who participated in our events last year despite all the COVID issues. Special thanks go to our Officers and Board who planned, attended, and worked to make our events successful:

Vice President: Paul McDowell '65
Secretary/Treasurer: Kelly Smith '91
Webmaster: Pat Russell '68
Network Coordinator: Jay Reese '98
Board Member: Rod Kallman '75

I encourage more folks to get involved this year. With the change in the AOG making membership free, joining is even easier than before. We are always looking for more folks to be involved with our Chapter. We have open Board seats that are just waiting for someone to fill. It doesn't take a lot of time to be a Board member, just your interest in making our chapter better and getting to know more grads in the Las Vegas area.

Mountain West Basketball Tournament Event

The AOG is hosting an event at Topgolf Las Vegas at 1800 on Tuesday, March 8th, just before the Mountain West basketball tournament gets underway. The flyer and link to get tickets are below. You can either golf or not golf. If you golf, it's $25 for two hours. If you don't want to golf, it's free, except for the no host bar. The Superintendent, Lt General Clark, is scheduled to be there as well as the cheerleaders, other alumni, boosters, and THE BIRD. Come join the fun and "pre-game" the tournament. Don't know yet when our Falcons will play, but I'll let you know.

Get Tickets

Monthly Luncheon

Now that the masking policy is over, come check out our monthly luncheons. This month's luncheon is this Thursday, the 24th. Same great place, same time, same great price. The food is all you can eat and is an outstanding bargain!
Location: Pampas Brazilian Grille

3663 Las Vegas Blvd South, Ste 610
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 737-4748
Check out their website at: www.pampasusa.com

Date: 24 February 2022

Time: 1130-1330

Cost (if eating): $20/person includes food, tip and drink. All you can eat! It's a great deal.

Cost (if not eating): $5 for beverages

Bar Available - Buy your own

Networking is one of the primary goals of our chapter, and our luncheon makes it enjoyable and productive. Feel free to invite non-grads as well, especially if they are active business people in the community who can support our networking efforts. No RSVP required, just come and enjoy. Bring your business cards!

Note: The easiest/fastest way to get to Pampas Grille is the valet parking for the Miracle Mile Shopping Mall. Once inside the Miracle Mile, check the directory for suite 610. The restaurant will be an approximate 5-minute walk from the valet. Otherwise, use the Planet Hollywood south entrance for self parking off of LV Blvd. Unfortunately, Planet Hollywood now charges for self-parking. Plan on paying $12 for the time you're at the luncheon if you park there.

Check out Max James' Book

Las Vegas Chapter member, '64 Grad, and 2010 USAFA Distinguished Graduate Max James has a new book out. If you don't know about Max, here's the info from his 2010 Distinguished Graduate write-up: 2010DG.pdf (usafa.org). His book is available on Amazon.com. Check it out.

"In The Harder I Fall, the Higher I Bounce, I offer advice based on my personal experience with success and failure. As an internationally acclaimed, Fortune 500 entrepreneur and founder and CEO of the billion-dollar company American Kiosk Management, I hope you find my story can give a business blueprint in hard reality on how to avoid pitfalls," said Max.

"Through my experiences on the farm, the Air Force Academy, the Vietnam War, and more, I forged an unshakeable ethos that propelled me into great success as an entrepreneur."

Other Stuff

Planning for our annual Founder's Day Dinner is underway. I should have a date set in the next couple of weeks. Plan on a Saturday evening in April or early May. Also, the Falcon football schedule is out for 2022, and the Falcons will be playing UNLV at Allegiant Stadium on 15 October. We'll look into getting a block of tickets once the details are set.

That's all for now. Actually, I think that was enough. Hope 2022 is a great year for you all!

GO AIR FORCE
Dave Gibbs '79
President
Las Vegas Chapter
USAFA Association of Graduate

The night before the conference the Superintendent hosted a reception for Parents' Club and AOG Chapter attendees. If you haven't been there, the Sup has a really nice house. Good food, drink, and a chance to meet a lot of folks. I was impressed by the level of knowledge that the parents' group leaders have of the Academy and its issues. The Cade dance team entertained us with a couple of dances. Didn't have that group when I was there. They are very good.

The conference began at the Polaris Center as a joint session with the Parents' chapter Presidents and the AOG Chapter Presidents. The Superintendent, LGen Clark ('86), opened the conference and was joined by the Commandant, BGen Moga ('95), the Dean, BGen Letendre ('96), Director of Athletics, Mr. Pine, and the Command Chief Master Sergeant, CMSgt Sparks.

o Superintendent's Comments:
o Priorities are:
o Develop leaders of Character
o Live Honorably
o Lift others
o Elevate performance
o Defeat COVID
o Prepare Leaders to win future conflicts, not prepare for current ones
o Create a culture of dignity and respect

o CMSGT Sparks' comments:
o USAF is 80% enlisted
o Increase and emphasize touchpoints for cadets with enlisted

o Commandant's comments:
o Priorities
o Return to normal from COVID
o Warfighting prep and training
o Increase standards, discipline, institutional pride

o Dean's comments:
o Develop and increase warfighting focus
o Apply knowledge learned to warfighting problems

o Athletic Director's comments:
o Create attitude of life-long fitness
o Physical testing

Q&A session:

o Numerous internships now exist with corporations and labs. COVID gave USAFA opportunity to explore new avenues for cadets for summer programs.
o USAFA has world class athletes - Mahala Norris won NCAA championship in 3000 meter steeplechase. Went to Olympic trials. Other cadets excelling at NCAA level in both individual and team sports.
o With UFT backlog, over 200 2021 grads have gone to grad school rather than just sit in casual status for 18 months waiting for UFT slot.
o Over 95% of cadets vaccinated for COVID. Currently voluntary but if DoD or USAF requires it, cadets will have to either comply, get a waiver for health or religious reasons, or face some type of disciplinary action. Decision on that to come soon.
o We asked AOG and Leadership to create a single located system (App, website, etc.) for AOG and parents' chapter to know when cadets, teams, etc., are coming to our area. That will make it easier for us to support them host them, etc.
o Increase in honor system focus. Staff across the board increasing emphasis. Focusing on Fourthclassmen at the beginning on the importance of living honorably recognizing the changes in society. Goal is to engage with the cadets before there's an incident. Emphasizing to all cadets that they own it.
o COVID resulted in a lot of lost opportunities. Some are lost for good (BCT changed significantly for 2024; some summer programs). It also opened to doors for others that didn't exist before. Some of those will stay as future opportunities
o Space Force (SF): USAFA is the Place for Space. Implemented SF training and principles into curriculum. Cadets "do space" and conduct active space missions (Satellite design, development, tacking). There is now a Space Force Doctrine Center at USAFA, and they are looking for a place to put a new building to increase SF capabilities.
o Officer Oath Project: Goal is to increase cadet's understanding of the significance of the oath we all took at USAFA and when commissioned.
o What does the oath truly mean?
o Support and Defend the United States - what does that specifically mean?
o Key core classes held throughout the four years
o Begin education before 1st oath taken in BCT

AOG presented a briefing on the Rando Fund
o Cadet Rando died at USAFA in aircraft incident in 1997
o Fund created in his name to support cadets to go to funerals for fellow cadets
o Also provide emergency funds for those cadets who need assistance to attend family funerals. Need is determined by AOC.
o 100% of the money raised goes to the program. Admin costs covered by USAFA Foundation.
o Raised $500K since the start.
o Need $25K/yr to sustain program.
o Check it out at www.randofund.org

Foundation Briefing:
o Foundation Goals:
o 21st Century Dominance: Focus across the whole institution for future conflict
o Build strength and Agility - renovate Falcon Stadium. Most of the fund will have to come from private sources.
o Expand Strategic Advantages
o Polaris Center
o Madera Center for Cyber Innovation under construction
o Serving with Honor
o Asked for donations: $1000 or more annually makes one a Saber Society Donor
o Finds and Gifts go to:
o Capital projects
o Academic needs
o Cadet support
o Issue they are working involves private donations being converted to DFAS dollars for MILCON projects. It takes time.

After the joint session we moved into the Doolittle Center for an AOG Chapter Presidents' conference with the AOG staff.

Mike Gould
o AOG has increased focus on instilling Academy Heritage from Day 1.
o AOG now has 2 separate 501(c)3 - one for AOG and one for Foundation. They coordinate when and where they can.
o AOG in good financial shape
o New plan is provide AOG membership to ALL graduates.
o It will be free. This is what West Point and Annapolis do.
o Reason is to make ALL graduates become practicing members of Long Blue Line, not have to pay to be part of it. The thinking is that it will increase interest in AOG.
o AOG wants to increase surveys and focus groups to increase communication back and forth to and from grads and AOG.
o Trying to get a better idea of cadet and graduate expectations.
o Get the word out on what the AOG does and contributes to the Academy and graduates
o They want to create a chapter mentorship program. Plan is to have grads meet up with new grads to help them transition better from USAFA to the USAF.

Mark Hille, 97 - COO of Foundation
o Campaign Update
o Need to raise $270M in 40 months
o To date -- $170M
o Engaging with grads and other entities to raise funds

Commandant (BGen Moga)
o Getting back to normal after last year's COVID lockdown, or whatever the new normal will be.
o Current USAFA mentor program getting a better focus. CCLD is expanding the number of members and working to speak from the same sheet.

We concluded with conversations and discussion among the attendees. Some comments and suggestions for increasing participation
o Tents at airshows
o Volunteering with local charities seems to bring folks in. Stat with small group and it seems to increase into a larger one.
o Post activities more on Facebook
o Create class contact leaders who then reach out to their local classmates
o Checked LinkedIn
o Over 40K grads there
o There's a USAFA page
o Can search by location to find those who aren't listed as AOG members
o ZoomieLink
o Young grads seem to favor it
o Can create a Chapter Group
o Can also create a chapter presidents' group
o Many chapters, including ours, have problems with transitioning leadership. Can't get folks to take on the positions. Idea was to create a succession plan to bring in folks, teach them what the current leaders do, and show what the workload and requirements are. Once they see what they have to do and learn that time demands aren't a significant as they might think, it may more amenable to taking on the jobs.

Conference concluded with a cocktail party at a local country club. Again, good food, drink and a chance to get with other attendees in a social setting. Congrats to Karina Ross and Michele Bergeman and the rest of the AOG staff for putting this great conference together.

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Greetings all,

I hope your 2021 is off to a great start. I wanted you give you all an update on what your Chapter officers have been up to as we get started on the year. We achieved Distinguished Chapter status again for 2020, continuing the streak that we’ve been on since our Chapter’s inception. Thanks to all who participated in making that happen.

We have over 750 graduates on who live in the Las Vegas area, and we invite you to be a part of our Chapter and to join in our activities. Our Chapter has been one of the more active and successful ones in the AOG.

For those who aren’t familiar with our officers, they are:

Dave Gibbs ’79 -- President
Paul MacDowell ’65 -- Vice President
Kelly Smith ’91 -- Secretary/Treasurer
Jarmica Reese ’98 -- Networking Coordinator
Pat Russell ’68 -- Webmaster

We held a meeting this week to discuss our current status and to make plans for the year. We are looking forward to having an active year while still working within COVID restrictions of course. Our list of prospective events list includes: 1.Our annual Founders Day Dinner in April or May depending on venue and speaker.
2.Combining again with MOAA and the Parents Club to participate in the annual joint Academy Appointee send-off dinner in June.
3.A family picnic in the park in late Spring/early Summer before it gets too hot.
4.Football watch parties during the season this fall.
5.Our annual Texas Hold ‘em Poker Tournament with proceeds again going to the USAFA Endowment.
6.Restarting our monthly networking lunches, depending on COVID restrictions.
7.Support USAFA athletic teams when they compete in the Las Vegas area.
8.Working with the USAFA Liaison Officers mentoring and talking about USAFA with candidates.
9.Exploring opportunities to support the activities of one or two community organizations in Las Vegas area..
We need your help to make all this happen. Our Chapter is in need of new Directors for our Board. The Board helps with planning and executing our functions and provides guidance and input to our Chapter. The Board also helps with getting more members involved and reaching out to new arrivals in the Las Vegas area. We have nine positions on the Board, and eight of them are available (Rod Kallman ‘ 75 is serving one of the three-year terms.). Terms run from one to three years. We have openings for:

3 one-year terms (through Dec 2021)
3 two-year terms (through Dec 2022)
2 three-year terms (through Dec 2023)

Anyone interested in serving on one of these positions to help our Chapter grow, serve our graduates, veterans, and community, please email me at blazegibbs@gmail.com.

FYI (and sorry for the late notice) – USAFA basketball plays UNLV today (1 PM) and Monday (6 PM). UNLV is not permitting any attendance at the Thomas & Mack, but you can catch the games on CBSSN.

That's all for now. I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you at our upcoming events.

GO AIR FORCE
Dave Gibbs '79
President
Las Vegas Chapter
USAFA Association of Graduates

The AOG Chapter President's Conference took place on 15 September 20. Due to the COVID restrictions in place at the Academy, we were forced to hold virtual through a Zoom webinar. Here are the notes I took from the speakers of what's going on with the AOG and the Academy and where we're looking to go in the future.

The first speaker was LGen Mike Gould ('76), the CEO of the AOG and Academy Foundation. He began the conference by talking about the benefits we're already seeing by combining the AOG and the Foundation under a single CEO. What he's seeing:
           • Increased efficiency between the two organizations
           •Elimination of duplication of effort and expenses
           •Better financial security for both

He commented that the direction for the future is to engage and reach out to all grads to keep everyone aware of the issues and ongoing activities. Some points he also made:
           •Many may be aware of a BLM video made by some cadets. He emphasized, as did the Superintendent, that there is NO official support for that.
           •The AOG will not engage in policy issues relating to the Academy or the USAF in general.

The mission is to get more grads involved not only in the AOG but also in supporting the Academy. Some ideas:
           •More/Better support for Athletics, especially when they come to the local area
           •Chapter Competition (yet to be defined)
           •Awards for participation, community outreach and support

He spoke on philanthropy and the focus of it is to education and train cadets to be better leaders as soon as they pin on the bars. The Academy is getting the job done now but isn't achieving the level of Excellence there can be. The program is still in development, but some key points are:
           •They need volunteers.
           •They want ideas.
           •Using the chapters to help develop this is key
           •Plan is to start in fall 2020/early 2021. Rollout has been slowed by COVID.

One success has been the fundraising effort to make the Cyber Innovation Center what it needs to be rather than just meeting the minimum capability.
           •The Foundation wrote a check for $16.8 million to the government for upgrades that will make the facility capable of providing the training to "fight the wars of the future."
           •They start building this fall.

He spoke about a bylaws change that will be included in this fall's AOG Board elections. Currently, bylaws changes have to be approved by a vote of the graduates. This cumbersome process takes too long, and currently too few grads even vote (less than 25% for last proposed change). So, the proposed bylaws change will permit approval of a change with a 2/3 vote of the AOG Board. The goal is for grads to speak through their Board reps rather than the challenge of trying to convince a sufficient number of grads to vote.

He spoke of the upcoming upgrades to Falcon Stadium. Not much has been done since the stadium opened, and it really shows. The planned upgrades include club seating, field level suites, better concession sales venues, better restrooms, better seating for all. Once it's done they will move the cadet seating area from the corner where it's been since who knows how long to the center of the stadium seating area. Other improvements will allow semis to be able to get onto the field to provide the capability for outdoor concerts and other large audience events. Fundraising will start soon, since this has to be all donor funded. Plan is to complete it by 2026.

Finally, he left us with the BIG question that the AOG is asking of all grads: What have you done for your Academy lately? It's on us as the graduates to help make it better for tomorrow's leaders.

The next speaker was the Commandant of Cadets, MGen Michele Edmondson. She spent almost her entire talk on the impact on COVID at the Academy and what they did to overcome the obstacles to be able to move forward with training and educating the cadets. Highlights of some actions:
           •In March, lower three classes were sent home.
           •Firsties stayed so they could continue to press toward completing their courses and graduate.
           •Everyone attended through virtual learning.
           •Graduation was moved up six weeks. The Class of 2020 completed academic requirements early and graduated in April. Vice President Pence was going to attend virtually, then decided to make the trip. That alone made it special for the class.

What they had to deal with since:
           •How to do BCT and be COVID complaint while still getting the mission done.
           •What to do about summer programs
           •Recognition for the Class of 2023
           •Ring ceremonies and dance for the Class of 2022
           •Bringing back the entire wing for fall academics

The Comm emphasized how hard the whole team worked to develop plans that not only could work but that would still permit the academy's mission to continue successfully. She emphasized time and again how it was a whole team effort, from the leadership to the staff, and especially the cadets. They were involved in every aspect of the process, and she commented more than once that many of the ideas they implemented came from the cadets. She is very proud of that. Some things they had to do/did:
           •Create a quarantine and isolation (Q&I) area for those cadets who test positive (they use the top two floors of Sijan). For BCT, they used the Vandenberg Tower.
           •Develop and implement a realistic, effective testing program.
                    o All cadets tested on arrival. Only 1-2% tested positive.
                    o Everyone had a two-week restriction of movement (couldn't leave the Academy grounds, limited to no contact with others)
                    o Those testing positive entered Q&I for two weeks. Challenge here was to keep them involved, especially the Basics, so they didn't fall behind or feel left alone. They had over 200 in Vandenberg Tower at times during BCT. Now same issue with the rest of the wing for those in Q&I in Sijan.
                    o Random testing. They do 15% per week, and the positive number is very small.

           •Comm commented that BCT didn't look like it did for the rest of us:
                    o Masks worn 24/7
                    o Jack's Valley march done in two groups to allow for distancing space in the valley.

           •Only stayed for five days but completed the program through busier and more focused schedule
           •Did not see an increase in COVID cases during this time

           •Develop a plan for virtual learning and reinstating airmanship programs.
                    o That has been a challenge.
                    o Virtual learning for upper classmen is going better than it is for Doolies.
                    o The issue there isn't that they aren't learning as much as what they are losing of the Academy experience: team building camaraderie, the basic institutional identity as we developed as a Doolie. They aren't getting much of that, and the Comm is concerned that they might have a larger than normal attrition rate. The staff and the cadets work hard to address that. Results TBD.

Throughout this time, she again emphasized that the cadets are more than doing their part. They are coming up with ideas on how to cope with the current situation, how to improve morale, getting cadets out of their rooms, finding/developing new things for cadets to do on the USAFA grounds, developing new ideas on how to make it better. Due to the success rate they've had, they were able to open up the area some. They initially gave day passes to cadets, then allowed overnight passes to the local area over Labor Day weekend. Results of testing since then should be back this week. If the numbers stay low, they'll keep it open. If there is a large increase, they'll have to tighten it up.

She commented that USAFA is WAY out in front of other colleges and even the other service academies. West Point and Annapolis don't allow any privileges at all. She said she gets calls and interest from a lot of colleges as to how we are doing what we're doing and how it is working. Her point was the USAFA developed a plan, executed the plan, and modified it as necessary to continue to move forward. As she put it, the whole world is watching, including the USAF in general.

Karina Ross, Director of Constituent Services was next. She announced all the Distinguished Chapter for 2019/2020 year, and we made the list. She walked us through the new Chapter guide that can be found on www.usafa.org/chapters. It details the requirements to become a distinguished chapter and ways that AOG can help chapters fulfill their mission to support the cadets. As a result of the merger of the two organizations, the AOG is changing from fiscal year reporting (Jul 1 - Jun 30) to calendar year reporting. From now on, distinguished chapter reporting and planning will use that period. She emphasized that they are there for us to use to help reach out to grads to make our chapters and, hence, the AOG more effective.

Michelle, Bergeman, VP of Alumni Relations was next. She primarily discussed ZoomieLink and some upgrades to make it more effective. She discussed a new Ambassador program they are putting together. Details to follow . . .

BIG NEWS!! Air Force - Navy and Air Force - Army games are ON! Navy game is 3 Oct and Army game is tentatively schedule for 7 Nov.

Final speaker was Marty Marcolongo ('88) President and COO of the AOG. He commented that with the merger his position as President of the AOG goes away. His big issue was working to develop among the cadets, starting when they are Doolies, a culture of service. Cadets are being taught that it is a privilege to be at the Academy, and every grad owes it to the country, the USAF, and the Academy to pay it back. The AOG is looking for chapters to support cadets, to help instill that culture of service to community, etc., that service doesn't stop when you leave the USAF. It lasts for a lifetime. The outcome of this effort will increase the Academy's reputation, not only within the USAF, but throughout our communities and the nation as a whole.

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