DEL RIO CHAPTER AFA

NEWSLETTER

FALL 2006

The Chapter is still in recovery mode, however we are making great progress.  We continue our award winning ways with the small chapter AFA Texas Membership Award 2006 and the AFA Texas Community Partner Award.  We have been nationally recognized with the award of the Gold Community Partner Award presented to AFA Texas at the National Convention in September.  What makes the recognitions significant is the same thing that makes the Laughlin Del Rio community special.  The Del Rio support is always outstanding.

We are in the final stages for planning our annual golf tournament on 21 October at Leaning Pines.   We have a lot of support from our community partners for our scholarship and aerospace education program.  Our efforts directly support our kids in Del Rio.  Last year we were able to provide a semester's worth of  USA Today Visions program to 15 classrooms at Chavira, Buena Vista, and Garfield.  We hope to provide even more support in the upcoming semester.  Our target is 3rd through 5th grade science and math through the use of newspaper subscriptions to USA Today.

Our Chapter President, Larry Martwig was elected Southwest Texas Vice President for the Texas AFA at the State Convention in Houston.  His focus is membership for not only the local Chapter, but in our area. which includes Alamo (largest AFA Chapter) and the Ghost Squadron in the valley.  Membership growth is the key to AFA's very survival. 

AFA is still undergoing changes to finish the transition to our 501c3 status.  From a membership point of view, we welcome all to be members not just veterans.  This is a dramatic change, but necessary if we are to continue our support for a strong USAF.  We must pick up the banner handed to us by the Greatest Generation.  Together we can do this.  Can we be as great? Sure we can.  Join us in our efforts.