Forwarded Message:

An update!
-----------------
9/29/2009

Parents and  Friends,

We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support. It is  heartwarming to know that so many people care.

Through your generous  support, we have raised almost $3000 for our hotel expenses -- more than enough  to meet our needs for the upcoming competition.
The AOG gave us a call Monday  night and told us they have a connection at the Hyatt. The Hyatt will provide us  rooms for the duration of our competition for less than $2000, (exact final cost  is being sent to us). We plan to contribute the left over money to the team fund  to help us cover food costs during the competition, which we originally planned  to pay out of pocket. However, since we were willing to pay these out of pocket,  we would be
happy to refund your gift if you wish; email us at _C11Nathan.Frey@C11Nathan_
(mailto:C11Nathan.Frey@usafa.edu) .

When we first faced this dilemma, we were uncertain whether or not it would be possible to garner the needed support. When the competition begins this Friday, we will use the funds you provided to go and win our regional competition with an added factor of safety. After the competition, we will post both the competition results and the details of the fundraising/When we first faced this dilemma, we were uncertain whether or not it  would be po

Again, the entire team thanks you for your assistance! All  seventeen of us owe each of you a debt of gratitude.

Thank  you,

USAFA Flying Team
> Dear USAFA Parent Clubs: 
 We have recently learned that the USAFA Flying Team has fallen into a unique situation in which they find themselves in need of urgent financial support.    The Flying Team is hosting a Regional Competition at USAFA, yet due to military regulations, they are not authorized to leave their dormatories and go TYD to prepare for this competition.  The need to be sequestered from all the distractions of the Academy Dormatory is both for safety and competative reasons.  Thus they must  pay their own way for hotels and meals off base.    The following is part of an email from a USAFA Flying Team member explaining their situation:  

The USAFA Flying Team is hosting the regional competition at the USAFA Airfield from 2 October through 10 October. Our performance in this regional competition will decide whether or not we get an invitation to the National Competition this year. While hosting this competition is an honor for our team and squadron (557th FTS), it has left us with a few rather important problems. Since we are funded through AETC, we must abide by the rules governing Appropriated Funds. According to Joint Force Travel Regulations (JFTR Chapter 4,Part F, Paragraph U5410), the Flying Team cannot be put on TDY Orders unless we are 50+ miles from our home base. This means that we must stay in the Dorms unless we can garner support from another source.

Being able to not stay in the Dorms is essential to our safety and ability to compete. NIFA (the National Intercollegiate Flying Association) competitions are inherently stressful due to the level of flying that is required to win. The team mitigates this stress by trying to get at least 8 hours of sleep each night. This will not be possible in the Dorms, due to the hectic nature of life at the Academy, as well as the homework and military requirements causing each of our roommates to stay up late each night.

It is also essential to team unity and preparedness for us to stay close to each other for these competitions. Staying together allows us to get to know the new members of the team, which in turn allows us to better compete as a group. Staying together also makes it much easier and practical to gather as a team to study for the events of the competition.

Considering the above reasons, we have no alternative but to seek funding assistance that allows us to stay out of the Dorms for this competition. Below is an outline of the support we need.

Essential to safety and competitiveness:

-- Hotel rooms for the night of 2 October through the night of 9 October (8 nights)
-- 8 rooms (for 17 cadets- we are willing to double or triple up)

Less important but still a problem (we are willing to spend as much of our own money as we can):

-- Any support to help offset the cost of meals (we will not be able to go to Mitchell Hall for any meals) for 17 cadets over 10 days

Thank you for your time in reading this request and I apologize for the short notice (we only found out about the rule at the end of last week).

   There are 17 members of the USAFA Flying Team.  They anticipate incuring the expenses for hotel and all meals for ten days.  These expenses will not be reimbursed by the Air Force and will be the responsibility of the individual Cadets.   (Also, please read the truncated email below)   The Air Force Academy Parents Assn. of New Jersey (AFAPANJ) has contacted the Cadet in Charge of the USAFA Flying Team and we, as a Parents Club, are providing a financial contribution to help support their efforts.  I am forwarding this email to all of the USAFA Parents Clubs so that you are aware of the urgent financial need of the USAFA Flying Team.   I am also forwarding this email to our AFAPANJ individual members in the event they wish to individually proved additional contributions.   Forwarded to you for your information and consideration.  
Sincerely, Stephen L. Makuka, Pres. Air Force Academy Parents Assn. of NJ    

  My name is C1C Spencer Bell, and I am the Flying Team Commander for this semester. First off, I would like to thank you for your concern and support for us. It is heartwarming to know people care.

Below is a link to a website we have created in the past few days to allow our parents to help out as they can. It has a place to pay via PayPal, but if you would rather send a check please make it out to me, because I will be the one to cover the hotel payment. My mailing address is below.
Again, thank you  and please thank the parents of the New Jersey Parents’ Club. We really appreciate the support!!! 

Website:
http://sites.google.com/site/usafaflyingteam/

Mailing Address:
C1C Spencer Bell
PO Box 1255
USAF Academy, CO  80841-1255
Respectfully, 
C/Col Spencer P. Bell

USAFA Flying Team Commander

CST Group Commander

Cadet Squadron 18: Nightriders


 This is the  email (truncated) from our AFAPANJ Membership Director which was initially sent to the USAFA Flying Team Coach:
-----Original Message-----

Sent: Saturday, September 26, 2009 4:28 PM To: Boyce, Bert D CIV USAF USAFA 306 FTG/DOC

Subject: Donation to the AFA Flying Team - Your Prompt Response to this E-mail is Greatly Appreciated  

Bert: 

I understand that you are the coach of the USAFA Flying Team.  The USAFA Flying Team is hosting the regional competition at the USAFA Airfield from 2 October through 10 October. We understand that the performance in this regional competition will decide whether or not the USAFA Flying Team gets an invitation to the National Competition this year.

We understand that due to rules regarding the team not being 50 miles away from the event, the team can only stay off Academy grounds at a hotel at their own expense.  We do not want the USAFA Flying Team to be at a disadvantage, and believe that they do need the opportunity to stay together at a hotel, eat meals together and be both mentally and physically prepared for the challenge ahead of them. They should be able to prepare and compete on equal footing with the other teams.  Team unity and preparedness are core to their safety and success.
I know that you can't change the rules.  So, we are looking to support the cadets.  The Air Force Academy Parent's Association of New Jersey will donate $250 to help defray the expenses that the cadets will incur in preparation for the event.  We know that others are looking to provide financial support as well.  Can you tell us who we can make the check payable to, and where we can mail it? 

This is the information I have for you as coach: Bert Boyce; 557 FTS;

9207

Airfield Dr.; USAFA, CO 80840; PH 719-333-2245; bert.boyce@usafa.af.mil
Thanks.

Courtesy copy sent to Air Force Academy Parents Association  of New Jersey
///Signed//

AFAPANJ - Membership Chair