At 10:30 a.m. members registered and filled care packages with treats for the mids and deployed graduates. 

At 11:15 a.m. Co-President Steve Voigt opened the meeting. He welcomed and thanked everyone for coming to the EAA Museum followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.    

Families gave updates on their mids and graduates.  Co-President Karen Voigt led everyone in prayer before the luncheon. 

Karen Voigt introduced the guest speaker, 1st Lt. Brian Hafenstein, Wisconsin Army Reserve. He has been to Afghanistan and Kosovo on several assignments. He spoke about some of the pitfalls that his soldiers experience, including poor spending habits, speed and alcohol. He encouraged parents to discuss important issues with their mids concerning saving money, benefits available to them and tax exemptions. He stressed the importance of family support.

Business Meeting

 Minutes from the October 6, 2010 meeting were available for review. A motion was made to accept the minutes, seconded, voted on and carried.

Copies of the treasurer’s report were available for review. Additional disbursement figures will be added.  (Deposits:  $780 for lunches, $742.85 for care packages, $320 for memberships, and $20 for a name tag.)  A motion was made to accept the report with additions, seconded, voted on and carried.

Steve Voigt read thank you notes from Midshipmen Lucas Leonhardt (Class of 2014) and Deirdra Coulson (Class of 2011) thanking WISNAPA for their care packages.

Blue and Gold Report:
Craig Walker gave an update on the Class of 2015.  To date, there have been 213 applications. 69 candidates have completed their applications. There are currently 20 offers of appointment, 6 fully-accepted offers, 3 declines, 1 foundation offer, 1 NAPS pending offer and 1 acceptance to NAPS for 2016.

If anyone is interested in becoming a Blue and Gold Officer, please contact Craig Walker.

Yardtales/Website

Jan Haupt reminded parents of 2011 grads to submit their family salutes for the summer issue of Yardtales.  Incoming Class of 2015 members, NAPS and Foundation scholarship recipients will also be featured. 

Steve Voigt spoke on the subject of securing the Yardtales website. He read the following statement:

With regard to the topic of Operational Security (OPSEC), please note that the additional risk and danger these documents present to any Wisconsin Naval Academy graduate featured in past and current editions of Yardtales should (God forbid) any of those graduates ever be detained, captured, or taken hostage. These horrible incidents can, have, and will continue to occur to Americans and US Service members around the world. If any of your USNA graduates have recently been through a SERE (Survive Evade Resist and Escape) course, they will understand this and the need to minimize publicly available information. In its current form, Yardtales is publicly available information – accessible to any internet user at home or abroad, regardless of their intentions. The pictures and data are just as available to a CNN reporter as they are to a member of Al Qaeda as they are to a potential Wisconsin plebe. Please take this serious consideration not only as you discuss this matter, but as you consider the design, use and accessibility of the WISNAPA website in the future.

A motion was made that the WISNAPA Board develop a plan to secure the Yardtales website with the understanding that submissions are provided with the intent to publish. The motion was seconded. There was further discussion that only serious issues would be taken in consideration. Jan Haupt suggested that parents ask for their mid’s and/or graduate’s approval before making submissions and to use caution when submitting information. The motion was voted on, and carried.

New Business

 Army vs. Navy Game
The Army vs. Navy game is schedule for December 10, 2011. A map of the Washington, D.C. area with area hotel listings was distributed to those in attendance. Steve Voigt will check into hotels and bus service. It was suggested that we may want to partner with the Maryland Parent’s Club or the USNA Alumni Association. Parents were encouraged to purchase tickets for the game (ask for the WISNAPA section when ordering tickets) for resale to WISNAPA members. Mids are able to order a maximum of four tickets, which can be resold at a later date. It was also suggested that members may want to check Annapolis area hotels as the rates may be cheaper.

Craig Walker reminded members that the Navy vs. Notre Dame football game will be held in Dublin, Ireland in 2012. Packages are available through the USNA Alumni Association, but are expensive. Group rates may be something WISNAPA members might be interested in.

 Old Business

 2010 All Academies Military Ball
Mike DeVillers thanked everyone who worked on the 2010 All Academies Military Ball. The ball was a huge success with 361 people in attendance.  Those in attendance gave Mike and Chris a round of applause for all their hard work. Jan Heinitz reported that there is presently $6,147 in the academy account, $5,000 has been put into a CD and the remaining $1,147 reserved for down payments on venue, etc. for the 2013 ball – the next time WISNAPA hosts. It was suggested that volunteers for the next ball be discussed at the summer meeting.

Election of Officers
Steve Voigt indicated that the next President will be current vice president Tom Balistreri (Michael – Class of 2012).

A motion was made to elect Jan Heinitz (Rebecca Guild – Class of 2013) as vice president.  Motion seconded, voted on, and carried.

The treasurer’s position will be vacant and voted on at the June 4, 2011, meeting. If anyone is interested in the position, please contact Jan Heinitz.

Fundraiser
Maggie Coulson has researched a plan to sell polo shirts with the funds raised going towards the All Academies Military Ball. A handout with photos of the shirts and price lists was available to those in attendance. It was suggested that a committee be formed to explore this idea. A motion was made to establish an All Academies Military Ball committee with the chairperson to act as the WISNAPA representative for two years and coordinate the 2013 ball to include this possible fundraiser. Motion was seconded, voted on and carried.

Annapolis Hotels
Tom Balistreri indicated he had checked with the Doubletree Hotel in Annapolis as to possible deals if WISNAPA reserved a block of rooms for special events. The best price they came up with was $189. He indicated the price was too high and members could find better deals.

 Future Meetings
The summer meeting will be held on Saturday, June 4, 2011 at the Country Springs Hotel. Ann Roy (Logan – Class of 2013) volunteered to chair the welcoming committee for the Class of 2015. If you are interested in being a part of a parent panel to address key topics for the incoming class of plebe parents, please notify Steve Voigt. If anyone has suggestions as to future meeting venues, please contact any board member.

A motion was made to adjourn the meeting, seconded, voted on, and carried. 

The next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, June 4, 2011 at the Country Springs Hotel, Waukesha.