GLPA Newsletter Fall 2011 Issue Published by the Great Lakes Chapter of the United States Coast Guard Academy Parents’ Association in August, January, and May. 2011-12 Chapter Officers From the Presidents Parents’ Weekend The Coast Guard has a time Parents’ Weekend is Friday, Presidents honored ceremony when a new 14 Oct through Sunday, 16 Oct. Bruce & Peg Talbot (Erin ‘13) skipper takes command of a ship. There is an excellent page on the [email protected] We attended our first Change of Academy website at http:// [email protected] Command ceremony for the Cutter www.uscga.edu/display.aspx? MACKINAW this August during id=18125. There you can find the Vice Presidents the Coast Guard Festival. A very schedule for the weekend, campus Ed & Sheri Bugyis (Stephanie formal affair, the principles all map, parking guidance, and even ‘13) dressed in their starched white on-line registration for the various [email protected] uniforms. events. Be sure to check it out. The Great Lakes Chapter This is a great time to visit Secretary change of command is a much less your cadet and the Academy. If Donna O’Brien (Kevin ‘12) formal affair with most of the prin- you can, I urge you to go every [email protected] ciples dressed in a comfy top and year, but it’s particularly good to shorts. Despite the relaxed dress go for the Swab year and the Treasurer code, the Great Lakes Chapter Firstie year. During the Swab year, Carlene Smith (Kendra ‘14) does have a tradition when the it will likely be the first good [email protected] new president (in this year’s case chance to spend time with your co-presidents) takes over. Rather cadet. They’ll really look forward Web Masters than a “passing of the torch”, we to the visit — and getting off cam- Bruce & Peg Talbot (Erin ‘13) have a “passing of the Semper pus! During the Firstie year, there [email protected] Gumby.” are meetings specifically relating [email protected] “Semper Gumby:” morphed to the final year and commence- words meaning Always (Semper) ment. Newsletter Editor Flexible (Gumby), after the Coast If you can arrive Thursday Jeff Dooley (LTJG James ‘08) Guard motto Semper Paratus evening or early Friday, attending [email protected] (Always Ready) and Gumby the one of your cadet’s classes is super flexible clay cartoon charac- good. Other highlights are meeting Facebook Page Manager ter from the 1960’s. The emphasis your cadet’s Company Officer & Donna O’Brien (Kevin ‘12) to new parents is to expect last Chief, and the Ship Simulator, [email protected] minute changes with the Coast plus many other activities. Guard and be extremely flexible in your plans. You can expect to see Ways and Means Semper Gumby at all our future UPCOMING DATES Beverly Schulz (John ‘13) Great Lakes events. [email protected] 14-16 OCT 11: During our term of office. we Parent’s weekend will be expanding the number of 9-15 DEC 11: Final Exams parent activities during the year, 16 DEC 11 – 2 JAN 12: expand the location of our activi- ties, and increase communication Winter Leave Something you’d like to see in between Great Lakes parents, all 26 DEC 11: the GLPA Newsletter? Send it to encourage greater participation All Academy Ball in Troy, MI in to [email protected]! Sub- among our members. One of the 29 DEC 11: All Academy Ball at missions are always desired. I challenges of the Great Lakes Westin Hotel, Lombard, IL chapter that other Coast Guard am the editor, but YOU are 30 DEC 11: All Academy Ball in the reporters! (Continued on page 3) Milwaukee, WI 1 GLPA Fall 2011 Newsletter CGA LEADERSHIP 44 CAPITAL CAMPAIGN The Mission “The Leadership 44 project is one of the most important and exciting projects ever under- taken at the Academy. Beyond that, one of the most important aspects of the program is that it creates a fundamental building block for cadet leadership training, which will be util- ized by every single cadet – 100% – for the next two decades.” Bob Hallock ’72 Chair, Procurement Committee Putting cadets under sail is the best way to teach our future maritime officers the ways of the sea and for them to acquire a love for its lore. Under sail, the future officer gains a greater appreciation and respect for the wind, waves, and tides. Sailing craft also provide cadets with a valuable leader- ship experience – often their first experience at com- mand and control at sea. A ship under sail tests the true character and mettle of a young officer and provides in- valuable lessons on the importance of teamwork. The Coast Guard Academy’s fleet of coastal sail training craft, “the Luders,” are long past their prime and, if they are not soon replaced, the Academy will lose one of its most important platforms for leadership and character development. The Leadership 44 Campaign seeks to raise the funds needed to replace the aging Luders fleet, which has been used for the Coastal Sail Training Program (CSTP) for more than 40 years. The Leadership 44 coastal sail training vessels • are the Superintendent’s top priority • are designed to be a floating leadership platform, providing Cadets a maritime experience that is difficult to recreate with large cutters • will be the primary platform for the 2/c Coastal Sail Training Program, which is considered by most cadets to be their seminal leadership experience while at the Academy • will provide all cadets with small craft command and control, navigation, and seamanship experiences • will be used as an extension of the cadet barracks, with each cadet Company having access to, and responsibility for, its own boat • will extend the waterfront season, providing Cadets more time underway • will allow for standardization of the off-shore sailing program • will showcase the Coast Guard Academy as one of the premier waterfront facilities in the country Partners U.S. Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association Coast Guard Foundation CGA Parents Association Above information from www.cgaleadership44.org/mission.html (©2010 CGALeadership44.org) 2 GLPA Fall 2011 Newsletter From the Presidents (Continued from page 1) parent associations do not have to deal with is the far flung geo- graphic area covered by the Great Lakes—a total of seven states make up the Great Lakes chapter. Starting this year, we have already expanded from two events, (Swab Picnic and August Parents Picnic), both held at Coast Guard Station Michigan City Indiana to six events held in four states. Based on the response, we plan on repeating these events next year: Past Chapter President Ann Corwell passes “Semper Gumby” to • Strictly Sail Chicago Peggy and Bruce Talbot the incoming co-presidents of the Great Lakes Show, USCGA booth at Chapter during the Swab Picnic meeting at Station Michigan City. Navy Pier, January 28, 2012 http://www.cgaalumni.org then We are also increasing our click on Home Parents Association partnership with other Academy • Welcome Picnic, Station Chapters and Great Lakes. The stake-holders. The Coast Guard Milwaukee, WI June 5, direct URL is: Foundation is a separate non-profit 2012 http://www.cgaalumni.org/ organization that is a major con- • Welcome Picnic, Station s/1043/index.aspx? tributor to the cadets at he Coast Michigan City, IN June sid=1043&gid=1&pgid=1293 Guard Academy. In 2009, the 9, 2012 Coast Guard Foundation contrib- • Coast Guard Foundation uted over $1.4 million to cadet Cruise, Navy Pier Chi- The other improvement to programs at the academy including cago, July 21, 2012 parent communication is our new $760,000 for a Leadership 44 Face Book page. Managed by coastal sailing program sail boat. • Coast Guard Festival super parent Donna O’Brien, This year the Great Lakes Chapter Grand Haven, MI, (mom of 1/c Kevin O’Brien) our partnered with the Coast Guard American Legion Hall, new Face Book page has been an Foundation on two events, the August 4, 2012 outstanding way to quickly post Union League Club reception for • August Parents Picnic, photos, videos, and important no- the officers and crew of the Cutter Station Calumet Harbor, tices about chapter activities and MACKINAW on July 14 and the IL August 26, 2012 cadet news. We hope all Great July 16 cruse and luncheon on Lakes parents will register for the board “Big Mac” for the start of If you would like to see other page to be in on the information the historic Chicago-Mackinac events please let us know! stream. We know some people Island sail boat race. This one have concerns about so called event had more parents participa- To increase communication “social media web sites” but tion than all our other events com- between Great Lakes parents, we please keep in mind our Face bined! I strongly encourage you to have completely revamped the Book page is a “locked page” visit their web site and become a chapter web page, which is now which means no one has access to contributor at: part of the Coast Guard Academy the page unless they are approved http:// Alumni Association home page. by Donna as a parent, alumni, or www.coastguardfoundation.org This move brings our chapter web Coast Guard staffer. Our Face page to the same sponsor of the Book page is at: http:// Coast Guard Academy Parents www.facebook.com, search Association message list/forums groups for “Great Lakes Parents Semper Paratus! page and photo-link pages. If you Association United States Coast Bruce & Peg Talbot have not seen the new web page, Guard Academy”.