Chapter 134

Did You Know? The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

/ Ian L. Sitren / Leave a comment

Did you know that the Air & Space Forces Association has an organization devoted specifically to the study of aerospace power and its importance to our national security?

It is the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, an affiliate of AFA and the only aerospace power-focused think tank in our nation’s capital. The Institute is an independent, nonpartisan research organization that informs the national security debate, educates about the essential role of aerospace power, and develops fact-based research, analysis and policy options for decision-makers, experts and the public.

For many of us at AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134, the Mitchell Institute may be one of the less familiar parts of the larger AFA organization. Yet its work addresses many of the issues that are important to the Air Force and Space Force today.

Mitchell examines subjects ranging from air combat and command and control to emerging technologies, unmanned aircraft, air base defense, force design, space superiority and sustaining operations in space. Its work includes research reports, policy papers, workshops, wargames, symposia, roundtables, webinars and the weekly Aerospace Advantage podcast.

There is a great deal more to AFA than what most of us encounter through our local Chapter activities. Part of improving communications at AFA Palm Springs is making sure our members know about resources like the Mitchell Institute and have an opportunity to explore them.

You can learn more about the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies at:

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

September 11, 2001 We Remember 25 Years Later

/ Ian L. Sitren / Leave a comment

Twenty-five years ago today, September 11, 2001, our nation changed forever.

Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives that morning in New York City, at the Pentagon and aboard Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. They were people going to work, boarding airplanes, beginning another ordinary Tuesday morning, never knowing how profoundly that day would become part of American history.

We remember them.

We remember the firefighters, police officers, emergency medical personnel and countless others who ran toward danger while others were trying to escape it.

We remember the passengers and crew of Flight 93, who learned what was happening elsewhere and acted with extraordinary courage.

And we remember the service that followed.

In the years after September 11, an entire generation of Americans answered the call to serve. Members of our Armed Forces deployed around the world, often repeatedly. Their families served alongside them through long separations, uncertainty and sacrifice. For some, that service continues today.

Twenty-five years later, September 11 remains a day to remember those we lost, those who ran toward danger to help others, and those whose lives of service were shaped by what happened that morning.

At AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134, among our members are veterans, military families and people whose lives have been closely connected to the defense of this country. Today is not about politics or policy. It is about remembrance.

We remember September 11, 2001.

We remember the lives lost.

We remember the courage.

We remember the service that followed.

Thank You!

Air Commandos Lunch Today!

/ Ian L. Sitren / Leave a comment

There is a lot happening at AFA Palm Springs, and the best way to be part of it is to join us today, Wednesday, September 9, for our Air Commandos Lunch.

We will be gathering at 11:30 a.m. in our “Ready Room” at ROC’s Firehouse Grille in Palm Desert for good food, aviation conversation and a chance to continue the discussions that came out of our very successful Chapter meeting last week.

We are expanding our communications, moving forward with Cyber Education, continuing our Teacher of the Year program, developing our relationship with EAA Thermal Chapter and Young Eagles, reaching out to Civil Air Patrol Palm Springs and local veterans organizations, and working on new programs and ideas for our 519 Chapter members.

But all of this becomes more meaningful when more of our members participate.

Our Air Commandos lunches are an opportunity to sit down together, exchange ideas and help shape what comes next. You don’t need to be an officer or volunteer for a program. Come have lunch, meet some of your fellow members, listen to what is being discussed and tell us what you think.

If you have not been to one of our lunches in a while, come back. If you have never attended one, this is a great time to start.

The lunch is informal, everyone is welcome, and you only pay for your own lunch and beverage.

Can’t make it to ROC’s? Join us online. We want our members to participate wherever they happen to be.

Air Commandos Lunch
Wednesday, September 9
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

ROC’s Firehouse Grille
36891 Cook Street
Palm Desert

Join us on Google Meet:
https://meet.google.com/gmc-nnwk-rnw

Or join by phone:
(650) 597-2588
PIN: 834 686 340#

Additional Google Meet phone numbers:
https://tel.meet/gmc-nnwk-rnw?pin=6888571928258

There is a new energy at AFA Palm Springs, and we want more of our members around the table. Come join us today.

Thanks!

Air Commandos Lunch and the Conversation Continues

/ Ian L. Sitren / Leave a comment

Tomorrow is another Air Commandos Lunch at our “Ready Room” at ROC’s Firehouse Grille in Palm Desert.

We get together at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, September 9, and as always, everyone is welcome. There is no charge to attend. You only pay for your own lunch and beverage.

Our Air Commandos lunches are intentionally informal. They are an opportunity to get together, enjoy lunch, talk aviation, Air Force and Space Force, and whatever else happens to come up around the table.

But there is certainly plenty to talk about this time.

Following our very successful Chapter meeting last week, we will continue the conversation about all of the new things happening at AFA Palm Springs. We have new leadership, a much larger membership than many of us realized, improved communications, year-round operations, expanding Cyber Education, our Teacher of the Year program, and plans for stronger relationships with local schools and colleges.

We are also looking forward to more aviation activities through our relationship with EAA Thermal Chapter and its Young Eagles program, along with building relationships with Civil Air Patrol Palm Springs and local veterans organizations.

And there is much more in the planning stages as we modernize the Chapter and look for new ways to Educate. Advocate. Support.

Most importantly, we want to hear your ideas. The future of AFA Palm Springs is not something that should be decided by just a few people. These lunches give us a chance to sit around the table, talk about what we can do, and find ways for more of our members to participate.

So come have lunch with us, bring your ideas, and be part of what is happening at AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134.

Wednesday, September 9 at 11:30 a.m.
ROC’s Firehouse Grille
36891 Cook Street, Palm Desert

Everyone is welcome!

Thanks!

A Very Successful Meeting for AFA Palm Springs

/ Ian L. Sitren / 2 Comments

The September 2 meeting was much more than a regular business meeting. It was a very successful first meeting under our new leadership, with some new faces around the table and members also joining us remotely. It was our first opportunity to bring everyone together to talk about the changes already underway and where AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134 goes from here. Our new President, Ian L. Sitren; and our new Secretary/Treasurer, Frank Iain Parsons.

The discussion began with AFA’s mission and its three central areas: Educate. Advocate. Support. That mission provides the foundation for what we want to accomplish as we move forward.

One of the biggest surprises has been the actual size of our Chapter. We now know that AFA Palm Springs has 519 members, including 333 free Mission Members. A major priority will be doing a much better job of communicating with that membership and giving people more opportunities to participate.

Communications are already being expanded. Our website has been revitalized and is being updated regularly, and we are increasing our presence on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. We are also moving to year-round Chapter operations rather than going dark during the summer.

Cyber Education will continue to be an important part of what we do. The Chapter conducted a very successful Cyber Camp this summer, and we are now working to continue and expand our Cyber Education programs and opportunities for young people.

We are also continuing our successful Teacher of the Year program. AFA Palm Springs has had three consecutive honorees go on to be named AFA California State Teacher of the Year, an extraordinary record that we want to continue.

Aviation will become a larger part of our activities as well. We are developing our relationship with EAA Thermal Chapter and its Young Eagles program, which introduces young people to aviation and gives them an opportunity to experience flight firsthand. We also plan to build a stronger relationship with Civil Air Patrol Palm Springs and explore other ways our organizations can work together.

Behind the scenes, we are modernizing how the Chapter operates. Records are being digitized, administrative systems are being updated, and information will become much more accessible to our members. We are also beginning the process of updating our Chapter By-Laws to better reflect how an active organization should operate today.

As new programs and activities develop, we will be looking for members to serve as Program Leads. This gives people an opportunity to take responsibility for something that interests them without creating unnecessary additional officer positions.

And our regular gatherings will continue. We meet for lunch every two weeks in what has become our “Ready Room” at ROC’s Firehouse Grille in Palm Desert. Once each month that gathering includes our formal Chapter meeting. The other lunches are casual, and everyone is welcome.

There is a lot happening at AFA Palm Springs right now, and the success of our September 2 meeting was a very encouraging start. Seeing new people around the table, longtime members returning, and others participating remotely showed us what is possible as we reach out to more of our 519 members.

With new leadership, better communications, expanding programs and new relationships throughout the Coachella Valley, we have an opportunity to build a much more active Chapter.

Now we need our members to be part of it.

Thank You!

Tomorrow’s Air Commandos Lunch Takes on Added Importance

/ Ian L. Sitren / Leave a comment

Tomorrow is our Air Commandos Lunch, but this one takes on some added importance for AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134.

Our Air Commandos Lunches are normally informal gatherings with no agenda, and that has not changed. Good food, good conversation and camaraderie are still very much the idea. But there is a great deal happening at Chapter 134 right now, and tomorrow gives us our first opportunity to get together and talk about it.

We have new Chapter leadership taking shape, modernization already underway, improvements in communications and organization, expanding aviation and Cyber Education activities, new programs and partnerships in development, and greater opportunities for our members to become directly involved.

So while there is no formal agenda tomorrow, there is certainly plenty to talk about.

We want to hear your questions, your ideas and your suggestions. More importantly, we want you to be part of what comes next. The direction and strength of Chapter 134 will depend on members getting involved, participating and bringing their experience and enthusiasm to the table.

Join us tomorrow, Wednesday, August 26 at 11:30 a.m. in our “Ready Room” at ROC’s Firehouse Grille, 36891 Cook Street in Palm Desert.

Everyone is welcome. There is no charge to attend. Simply pay for your own lunch and beverage.

This is a particularly good time to come to an Air Commandos Lunch. There is a lot happening, a lot to discuss, and a great deal ahead for AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134.

We hope to see you tomorrow.

Three Great Reasons to Join Us at ROC’s Firehouse Grille

/ Ian L. Sitren / Leave a comment

AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134 is growing in exciting new ways. We’re expanding our aviation activities, growing our Cyber Education programs, building new partnerships, and launching initiatives that will strengthen our Chapter while creating new opportunities for our members.

Now we need your participation. Everyone is welcome.

Whether you’ve been a member for years or have recently joined us, we encourage you to attend our events in person as often as possible. Meeting face-to-face builds friendships, generates new ideas, and helps all of us move the Chapter forward together.

We have three great opportunities coming up, all beginning at 11:30 a.m. in what has become our “Ready Room” at ROC’s Firehouse Grille in Palm Desert. It is now equipped with our new 65-inch big screen for presentations, along with an improving sound system and faster internet service to enhance our meetings and gatherings.

Wednesday, August 26 is our Air Commandos Lunch. These lunches are informal, friendly, and have no agenda. They’re simply an opportunity to enjoy good food, good conversation, and the company of fellow members and guests.

Wednesday, September 2 is our monthly Chapter Meeting and Lunch. In addition to Chapter business, we’ll present a review of our successful Summer Cyber Camp and discuss the continued expansion of our Cyber Education programs. If you’d like to learn more about the exciting direction our Chapter is heading and how we’re helping inspire the next generation through aviation and cybersecurity education, this is a meeting you won’t want to miss.

Then, on Wednesday, September 9, we’ll gather again for another Air Commandos Lunch. Every lunch brings new friendships, new stories, new ideas, and another opportunity to enjoy the company of fellow members and guests.

There is no charge to attend. Simply pay for your own lunch and beverage.

We hope you’ll join us for all three of these upcoming gatherings, or as many as you can. Your participation, ideas, and enthusiasm are what will help make AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134 even stronger as we continue to grow.

Thank You!

AFA Palm Springs Congratulates EAA on Mission 2.5

/ Ian L. Sitren / Leave a comment

Today we want to congratulate EAA and the thousands of volunteer pilots, chapter members, and supporters who have reached an extraordinary milestone: 2.5 million Young Eagles flights. Since 1992, the Young Eagles program has introduced millions of young people to the wonder of flight, often sparking a lifelong interest in aviation and aerospace.

Here in the Coachella Valley, we’re especially proud of our friends at EAA Chapter 1116, who conduct Young Eagles rallies almost every month, giving local young people the opportunity to experience their very first flight in a general aviation aircraft. Their dedication has made a lasting difference in our community.

As Frank Brabec, President of EAA Chapter 1116, recently wrote in the chapter newsletter, aviation needs more than pilots. It needs mechanics, technicians, engineers, cybersecurity professionals, and many other talented people who will design, build, maintain, and protect the aircraft and systems of tomorrow. That vision closely aligns with the work our Chapter is already doing through Cyber Education and the Air & Space Forces Association’s CyberPatriot program.

We are excited about the growing relationship between AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134 and EAA Chapter 1116. Together, we have an opportunity to inspire young people, introduce them to aviation, and help them discover the many career paths available throughout aerospace and the Air and Space Forces.

Congratulations again to EAA, EAA Chapter 1116, and every volunteer who has helped make Mission 2.5 such a remarkable success. We look forward to working together to inspire the next generation.

Thank You!

Exploring AFA.org – A Resource Every Member Should Know

/ Ian L. Sitren / Leave a comment

The Air & Space Forces Association national website at AFA.org is much more than a place to renew your membership or read the latest news. It is an extensive resource that reflects the many ways AFA supports our Airmen, Guardians, families, veterans, aerospace education, and our nation’s future.

As you can see in this video, simply moving through the menus reveals just how much information is available. Every section opens the door to even more resources, from advocacy and aerospace education to CyberPatriot, professional development, scholarships, conferences, publications, legislative issues, and support for the Total Air Force and Space Force.

Whether you’ve been an AFA member for years or recently joined our Chapter, I encourage you to spend some time exploring AFA.org. You may be surprised by the depth of information, programs, and opportunities available to every member.

It is truly one of the best resources available for learning more about the Air & Space Forces Association and everything it does to support our mission.

Thanks!

Air Commandos Lunch Tomorrow – Join Us and Check Out Something New

/ Ian L. Sitren / Leave a comment

Just a reminder that our Air Commandos Lunch is tomorrow, Wednesday, August 12, at 11:30 a.m. at ROC’s Firehouse Grille, 36891 Cook Street in Palm Desert.

Tomorrow we’ll also be trying something new. We’ll be testing out our new 65-inch big screen in the back room, along with external speakers, and we’ll have aviation videos playing to do it. It’s another step toward making our gatherings even more enjoyable, so come check it out with us and have some fun.

The lunches are informal, friendly, and have no agenda. They’re simply a great opportunity to enjoy good food, good conversation, and the company of fellow members and guests. There is no charge to attend. Just pay for your own lunch and beverage. Whether you’re a long-time member, a veteran, currently serving, or simply interested in aviation, military history, or the Air and Space Forces, we’d be glad to have you join us.

If this will be your first time attending, you’re especially welcome.

We look forward to seeing you tomorrow!

If you’d like to learn how these lunches began and why they have become such a popular tradition for us, read The Story Behind Our Air Commandos Lunch.

Thanks!