WISNAPA
membership was formed as a support group for parents of Midshipmen
at the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA). Composed of parents of current Midshipmen
and USNA graduates from Wisconsin, we hold three meetings per year to
share information of interest to our members, send care packages to
our Midshipmen and provide mentoring and assistance as requested by
our members, especially to the incoming class of Plebes. The
group organizes or participates in two major events each year: the
Army/Navy Game and the All-Academy Ball.
WISNAPA
members enjoy a number of events and services during the year. Here is a listing of some of them.
Plebe
Orientation:
In
addition to the June luncheon to welcome incoming Plebes, WISNAPA
assigns a present WISNAPA family to each incoming
family as a sponsor to answer questions and concerns, particularly
during Plebe Summer. WISNAPA
also publishes a Survival Guide for parents and incoming
Plebes with tips
about USNA and Annapolis.
Membership
Meetings: WISNAPA
holds three membership meetings, generally in October,
March and June. Speakers
discuss life at USNA and in the Navy and Marine Corps. Care
packages for current Midshipmen and deployed graduates of WISNAPA
members are coordinated for the fall and spring meetings.
Communications:
WISNAPA
publishes three issues each year of Yardtales, a
newsletter to share news from WISNAPA Mids, USNA grads and the Yard. WISNAPA maintains a web page
www.wisnapa.com,
which is loaded with current information concerning WISNAPA, USNA and current events. There are also list servers run by organizations with ties at the Academy to share
USNA news.
All-Academies Military Ball: Each
year, the Wisconsin Parents Associations of USNA, West Point and Air
Force present the All-Academies Military Ball during winter break. The three associations take turns
coordinating the formal ball,
generally held in Waukesha at the Country Springs Hotel. Students attending the Coast Guard Academy and Merchant
Marine Academy are also invited.
Group-Events:
WISNAPA arranges a
room and seating block at the Army-Navy game
in December, generally followed by a tailgate after the game.
Great
Fellowship:
Being
a Midshipman's parent is very different from being the parent of a
student at a civilian college. WISNAPA
members share the joys and difficulties associated with academy
life. |
