Highlights of the Quarter

• New Chapter officers announced
• Kellog-Loos Awards Banquet
• Earl North Parker essay winner
• USO re-opens
• $1K family scholarships announced
• Memoriam for George Weinbrenner

Chapter News

New Chapter officers announced

The Alamo Chapter voted in the new chapter officers for 2010 at the annual Kellog-Loos Awards banquet March 11 at the Gateway Club on Lackland Air Force Base.

The Alamo Chapter is pleased to announce the Alamo Chapter 234 officers for 2010:

President: Randy Coggins

Vice President: Mike Nishimuta

Secretary: Tom Peterson

Treasurer: Alan Beaty

We are looking forward to an excellent year with these new officers leading the way.

                                                                                        Photo courtesy Joel Martinez: Gary Copsey

                                                                                       greets Randy Coggins at the annual awards

                                                                                       banquet, March 11.

3,700+ attend 2010 AFA Expo

Alamo Chapter members Tom Peterson, Sean Habina, and Gary Copsey with Medal of Honor recipient Col. James Fleming at the 2010 AFA Exposition

The Alamo Chapter partnered with Air Education and Training Command to put on the 2010 AETC/AFA Symposium and AFA Exposition January 14-15.

"This year's event was a resounding success by all accounts," said Expo chair Randy Coggins.

Over 3,700 individuals registered for the event, which was held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center downtown. The two-day symposium featured over 90 seminars and the expo hosted 134 military and corporate exhibits.

The event culminated with the Gala Ball Friday evening. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz delivered the keynote address and the John Jay High School "Silver Eagles," the Air Force Strolling Strings, and the Al Sturchio Orchestra provided entertainment for the 950 Gala Ball attendees.

Another highlight of the event, according to Expo officials, was the presentation by five U.S. Air Force Medal of Honor recipients--Col. Bernard Fisher, Col. Joe Jackson, Col. James Fleming, Col. Leo Thorsness, and Col. George"Bud" Day.

"The exposition surpassed all expectations," Coggins said.

       Col. Bud Day with Gary Copsey                                                   Colonels Leo Thorsness and Joe

                                                                                                          Jackson with Gary Copsey

Click here to see more pictures of the event

USO re-opens in April

The Alamo Chapter has its usual meeting location back.

Officials at the USO San Antonio recently announced the newly renovated downtown USO center will reopen Wednesday, April 4.

The next Alamo Chapter Executive Council meeting will be April 13 at 4 p.m. at the USO center.

Alamo Chapter Aerospace Education Foundation News

2010 family scholarships announced

Officials at the Alamo Chapter Aerospace Education Foundation are now accepting applications for the 2010 Family Scholarship program.

The Alamo AEF will award scholarships in the amount of $1,000 to Alamo Chapter members and their families who are pursuing advanced education programs.

Mail completed packages no later than June 30, 2010 to:

David Pope, President

AEROSPACE EDUCATION FOUNDATION

8514 Fairway Green Drive, Suite 101

Fair Oaks Ranch, TX  78015

Alamo Chapter #234 members may submit a spouse, a child who will graduate high school this spring or summer, or a child who is currently enrolled in a college or university in one of the following scholarship categories:

• spouse scholarships
• graduating high school senior who has not yet completed a semester of college
• dependents who have been enrolled in a degreed college or university

Applications must include a personal statement for the board to consider that includes the following:

• Your planned Major or academic goals
• personal achievements
• community involvement or volunteer work
• other personal information you consider relevant for consideration

Applications may only be submitted by Alamo Chapter #234 members and must be 100 percent completed to be considered by the board. If you recently moved, ensure you align your membership to the Alamo Chapter #234 before submitting your application. The board will consider applications based on completeness, grammar, and how well the applicant followed directions.

Winners will be notified after the board has concluded and will be announced in a future issue of the Defender. Do not procrastinate. Get those packages completed and in the mail today!

Click here to download the application

The AEF is a nonprofit organization that serves the Alamo Chapter #234 of the Air Force Association (AFA).  The purpose of our foundation is to promote the AFA Mission:

     •    Advocate aerospace power and a strong national Defense

     •    Support the USAF and the AF family

     •    Promote AEROSPACE EDUCATION to the American people

Link to the Alamo AFA Web site

Foundation prepares for another big year, supports Airmen

The Aerospace Education Foundation has had a busy year already but the best is yet to come.

It is the time of year when our foundation is busy supporting our Air Force in San Antonio in a big way.

The following is a list of just some of the organizations and programs we support:

• Gaylor NCO Academy Distinguished Graduate programs
• Community College of the Air Force at Lackland Air Force Base and Randolph Air Force Base
• Pitsenbarger Awards programs at Lackland AFB and Randolph AFB
• University of Texas-San Antonio scholarships and Arnold Air Society programs
• Texas State University scholarships and Arnold Air Society programs
• Over 20 high school Junior ROTC scholarship awards

As always we hope you will be involved and we are looking forward to another great year!

Scholarship & Award Presentations

Chapter honors 100+ at annual awards ceremony

Photo courtesy Joel Martinez: The Alamo Chapter Air Force Association held the annual Kellogg-Loos Awards Banquet at Lackland Air Force base's Gateway Club, March 11, 2010.

The Alamo Chapter AFA honored over 100 military members and civilians at the Annual Joe Kellogg Blue Suit and Charlotte and Carlton Loos Civilian Awards Banquet March 11, 2010 at The Gateway Club on Lackland Air Force Base.

Gary Copsey, the outgoing chapter president, welcomed  the attendees and introduced cadets from the John D. Ryan Squadron at the University of Texas-San Antonio who posted the colors. Then, 11-year-old Rebekah Landry sang the National Anthem for the hundreds of attendees and Chaplain Darrell Clark gave the invocation.

Buster Horlen, the event emcee, announced the winners as Col. James W. Kellogg, Copsey, Maj. Gen. Anthony Przybyslawski, and Richard Loos, helped present the awards to the winners in nine categories: Outstanding Airmen; Outstanding Noncommissioned Officers; Outstanding Senior Noncommissioned Officers; Outstanding Individual Mobilization Augmentees; Outstanding Company Grade Officers; Outstanding First Sergeants; Civilians Grades 1-7; WS Grades 1-5 and equivalents; Civilians Grades 8-10; WS Grades 6-9 and NSPS equivalents; and Civilians Grades 11-14; WS Grades 10-14, all GM employees and NSPS equivalents.

For the complete list of winners and more information about the event, visit the Alamo Chapter Web site.

Photo courtesy Joel Martinez: The winners of the Category I-Outstanding Airmen of the Year at the Alamo Chapter Air Force Association annual Kellogg-Loos Awards Banquet at Lackland Air Force base's Gateway Club, March 11, 2010.

Click here to view more pictures from the event.

Chapter awards $1,000 scholarship to Judson HS student

Photo courtesy of Joel Martinez: Kimberly Janell Netters from Judson High School is presented as the winner of the 2010 Earl North Parker Essay Contest. Kimberly is pictured with her parents, Mike Nishimuta, Gary Copsey, and Ollie Crawford .

The Alamo Chapter recently awarded a $1,000 scholarship to a senior from Judson High School for her winning essay in the annual Earl North Parker essay contest.

Chapter officials honored the local winner, Kimberly Janell Netters, at the Chapter's annual awards banquet March 11 at Lackland Air Force Base's Gateway Club.

The Earl North Parker Essay program is a statewide essay contest sponsored by the Air Force Association of Texas. The contest is open to all high school seniors in the state of Texas and provides an opportunity for students from public and private high schools to compete for cash awards.

In addition to winning at the local level, Kimberly will go on to compete at the AFA Texas level. The 1st place winner will receive a $4,000 scholarship and the 2nd place winner will receive a $2,000 scholarship.

This year's essay topic was "Part of the Air Force Mission Statement is 'service before self.' What does this mean to you?"

Chapter Events

Quick Calendar of Events

• NCO Academy Graduation, Omni Hotel, March 31
• USO Grand Reopening, USO San Antonio-downtown, April 7
• AFA Texas Golf Tournment, April 9
• AFA Texas State spring meeting, April 10
• AFA Executive Committee Meeting, renovated USO, April 13

Link to the Online Calendar

Chapter requests volunteers for San Antonio Fiesta

Chapter to host AFA regional meeting

The Alamo Chapter will host the 2010 AFA Texas Spring executive committee meeting in San Antonio, April 9-11.

The meeting will be held at the Hilton San Antonio Airport, 611 Northwest Loop 410.

The schedule includes a golf tournament and a president's reception April 9, and the executive committee meeting and dinner at the Texas Air Museum at Stinson Field Airport April 10.

The hotel is $99 per night plus a charge for parking.

Visit the Texas Air Force Association Web site, http://sites.google.com/site/texasairforceassociation/, for more information and for the link to register for the event.

In Memoriam

Chapter remembers AFA life member, mentor, friend

Retired Air Force Col. George Ryan Weinbrenner passed away March 7 at 93 years old.

Colonel Weinbrenner was born June 10, 1917 in Detroit, Michigan, to George and Helen Weinbrenner. He graduated from M.I.T. with the class of 1940 and completed the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program 1966. He married Billie Marjorie McConnell May 2, 1955, in Arlington, Va.

He a 37-year career in the U.S. Air Force which included time served in combat during World War II. On February 22, 1944, Col. Weinbrenner was flying as an observer in a B-17 Flying Fortress over Belgium when his airplane was hit by German Fighters. After parachuting to safety he was assisted by Belgium and French patriots and evaded the enemy for seven months.

He later served as the deputy commander for the 439th Troop Carrier Wing at Selfridge A.F.B. Following the Korean War, the majority of his assignments were in the field of technical and scientific intelligence and research and development. He concluded his career Sept. 1, 1975 as the commander of Brooks Air Force Base.

Col. Weinbrenner authored numerous articles on foreign science and technology and is considered a leading authority on foreign military capabilities. He is an Associated Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

He received the following military decorations: Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Purple Heart, French Order of National Merit. Resistance Medal and Croix de Guerre.

In addition to his service in the Air Force, Col. Weinbrenner was a Charter Life Member of the AFA and served as the AFA Texas Executive Secretary from 1976 to 1994. He was named the 1983 AFA Texas Man of the Year and a 2008 AFA Texas AEF Charlotte Loos Fellowship Awardee.

His other AFA awards include: AFA National Awards Medal of Merit, two Exceptional Service Awards and a Presidential Citation, the 1992 Alamo Chapter AFA McAllister Patriotism Award, and 1993 AFA Texas General Claire Chennault Patriotism Award

Additionally, Col. Weinbrenner served on the Military Affairs Committee of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and worked on the Armed Forces Week Task Force for many years.

He was a greater mentor for all AFA Texas members and a staunch supporter of the Alamo AFA Chapter.

He is survived by his wife, Billie, and cousins: Elizabeth Anne Weinbrenner, Wellington, New Zealand; Craig Weinbrenner, Richardson, Texas; and Nancy and Joan Weinbrenner, Morton Grove, Ill.

A memorial service was held Thursday, March 11 at the Betty Cheever Chapel at the Army Residence Community and a graveside service with military honors was held at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.

Information courtesy of the Texas Air Museum and San Antonio Express-News

President's Column...

Teamwork

Teamwork is a vital attribute in any successful organization and one I firmly believe in. The Alamo Chapter is the largest AFA chapter, with over 3,700 members. Our chapter is involved in numerous activities and programs throughout the community and the state of Texas. This is a sign of a healthy chapter, but we couldn't do any of this without many volunteers and teamwork. 

I ask for every member's support as we continue to work toward AFA's initiatives to educate the public about the need for a strong national defense, advocate aerospace power and directly support our Air Force family.

Please feel free to contact me with your ideas at randycoggins@hotmail.com. I look forward to working with each of you.

Alamo Chapter AFA Community Partners

We wish to thank our Community Partners who continue to support the AFA
and make our programs possible...
We could not do it without you!
For information on our community partner program and how to join, see our
website at www.alamoafa.org. Our VP for Community Partners is John Dipiero

Alamo Chapter Air Force Association

P.O. Box 34261
San Antonio, TX 78265-4261

www.alamoafa.org