First, congratulations to our class of 2011 plebes: Scott Lowe, Kegan Irvine and Dave Bocchiocchio for their successful completion of INDOC and acceptance into the Naval Reserve. Well done!

Please add the following addresses to your parent directory:

Scott Lowe, 2011

David Bocchiocchio, 2011

Parents: Brian & Jennifer

Fairview Park, Ohio 44126

Kegan Irvine, 2011

Parents: John & Linda

Each year, the Parent Chapter sends exam goodies to the plebes and midshipmen on campus. The first exam treats will be sent for the October exams. We ask that each parent send $10 per exam or better yet, $30 to cover the year for your son or daughter. The Gary's will once again be purchasing, packing and shipping the treats. Please send your checks as soon as possible to LInda Gary at 25691 Wolf Road, Bay Village, Ohio 44140. If you have any questions, their phone number is 440-892-8801. Linda has also asked for an update of the company and split your midshipman is assigned to. Please include this information with your check. Make all checks out to Linda Gary.

Our help is needed to assist the Alumni Association with recruiting. The following fairs will be attended by the Alumni Association. Please contact both Fred Bangeman at fbangeman@comcast.net and me at sheatzls@roadrunner.com if you can assist. This is very important to our organization, so please help if you are available. We don't want to duplicate efforts so I will send quick email once I have received your responses.

October 3 - Cuyahoga Valley Career Center, 6-8 p.m. The Career Center is located in Brecksville.

October 9 - Lakewood College Night, 7 - 8:30 p.m.. Located at Lakewood High School.

October 10 - Northeastern Ohio College and Career Fair, Kent State University, Kent Main Campus, Kent, Ohio 9-11 a.m.

October 10 - Medina County College/Trade/Career Fair, 6:30- 8:00 p.m., Medina County Community Center, Medina, Ohio.

October 18 - Lorain County College Fair, 6 - 8 p.m., Lorain County Community College

October 22 - 3rd Annual College Fair, 6 - 8:30 p.m., St. Vincent, St. Mary's High School, Akron, Ohio.

Also, if you are aware of when your high school is holding its Career Night, or are willing to call to find out, please let me know. We are going to try and cover some of these high school Career Nights.

A special thanks to Julie and Blair Hamilton for volunteering to cover the La Tourette Academy Day on September 29th. And a special thanks to John Dernar for so patiently waiting for this information. John helps with many of these recruiting events for the Parent Chapter. In addition, thanks for Jim Sheatzley and midshipman, Garrick Sheatzley for covering both Tim Ryan Academy Days sessions on September 22 and the LaTourette Academy Day on September 29. Garrick spoke at both. What a difference it makes to have a midshipman speak for the Academy. (Rita Dernar has helped with this in the past as well.)

Upcoming Events:

Please mark your calendars for these upcoming events.

As many of you may know from reading the lastest edition of the Kings Pointer Magazine, the American Maritime History Project is complete. This project includes the publication of two books important to Kings Point midshipman, alumni, academy faculty, staff and anyone interested in the American Merchant Marine. The two books, In Peace and War: A History of the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Pointe, NY and The Way of the Ship, America's Maritime History: 1600 - 2000, will be available the end of October. The Academy has asked local Alumni Chapters to help promote the books. Our Alumni Association is hoping to hold a press event the last week of October (when the midshipmen are home) on the ship Mather, located Lake Erie outside of the Great Lake Science Center in Cleveland. I will notify you when the details are available. It is our hope that many of you will be able to attend this event.

Alumni Association Holiday Luncheon, December 29. Hopefully, the location will be the Cleveland Skating Club (where it was held last year). The time and location will be confirmed later. Don't forget that your midshipman is asked to wear thier uniform to this event.

All Academy Ball, December 29, 6:30 p.m., Landerhaven Banquet Facility. West Point is hosting the event this year. We are hoping to have a large group of midshipman and parents attend this year. We will have number of midshipman home this year and it will be a great year to have a strong presence at the ball. I don't have the cost yet. In addition, alumni are invited to attend. This event was opened to alumni starting in 2006.

Parents Weekend Co-Chair recap:

A special thanks goes out to Rex and Linda Gary for attending the Parent Chapter portion of the Parent weekend. It is important that we have our Chairs at this event to receive updated information from the Academy. Rex has bullet pointed the information he and Linda felt were most important.

*New incoming national co-chairs:Mary Silva and Ann Hall

*Admiral Stewart spoke on many topics, we need to put pressure on our local lawmakers to continue funding KP at an increased rate, as the financial outlook for KP for the year 2008 is not good. Next years budget was not passed, and funding will be down slightly for next year as a result. We are to write our Congressional members and ask specifically for funding increases

* He suggested we work on Alumni for donations.

* KP needs to recruit more Women/Minorities, Women make up only 9% of class of 2011, lowest number in years. Women are in all roles of leadership at KP presently.

* Class of '07 stats:68% are at sea,23% are active duty, 9% received shore side waivers, 4 waivers were denied by the Maritime Admin. that were endorsed by Admiral Stewart...They want grads to SAIL, we got that loud and clear.

* Grad School deferment is allowed for 2 years only and must relate to maritime field, it does not relieve a grad of obligation.

* A waiver is not needed anymore for a grad to work on a LNG tanker, even when foreign flagged.

** Dr. Shasi Kumar...NEW ACADEMIC DEAN...came from Maine Maritime 6 months ago, Sounds like this is the best thing to happen at KP in a while. He is going to make big changes academically. I don't believe there will be any "complacent" Professors/ instructors/ teachers with this guy in the drivers seat. He sounded sincere. He's going to hold their feet to the fire and everyone must show improvement, and do it quickly....he might even change the class hours to one hour each with less labs. He wants to give the kids, especially the Engineers more time to complete work without killing themselves.

* He wants students who are sound technologically, ethical, leaders, with exceptional organizational skills and be multi-lingual. Look for KP to offer languages in the future and possibly see a few Humanities courses in the future

*KP will prepare kids with cutting edge academia(170+ credit hrs)

* Kids testing out of math courses is a possibility

*He wants the kids to "engage the faculty,go to them for help, should not have any fear of authority". We heard some real horror stories of instructors yelling at kids and offering little/no help to them.

****Capt McManaman spoke on world-wide shortage of marine Officers, look for Tug/Barge training at KP in the near future. Newer tug is on the way for training. New simulator also.

****Capt Robert Johnson, Director of admissions spoke on recruiting. Best explanation of what KP does...WE DELIVER....everything to everyone...He wants Grads/ current Mid-Shipmen in uniform to show up at HS Senior awards ceremonies to present commission to KP.

* His email:johnsonr@usmma.edu for recruiting video on CD and printed power point presentation. We signed up to get a copy. Very good materials to use at college nights.

*** Capt. Robert Allee, Commandant, spoke on the Honor Code and it's importance,

***Capt. MJ Sweeney spoke on USAA financial/insurance benefits for Grads/students.Good deal.

**********PARENTS MEETING*********

*spoke on the need to entertain the Regiment, send $$ to fund Xmas party at KP.

*We need to call/write/email our Senators to endorse S361, a bill to allow Veteran status to Merchant Mariners during WW II

* Financial campaign ready to begin for new field house and Band building.

*Work with Alumni to get the word out to all High Schools and Academy days for KP recruitment

* A high school principal was in attendance, He suggested we become members of our state's HS councilor's association to get acess to their membership, spread the word on KP.

Midshipmen Updates:

We have just a few updates at this time about our midshipmen. Please send more! In addition, the WEB SITE for our chapter has been updated with new photos. Please take look. My thanks to the parents who sent us the new photos!

We have many midshipmen in leadership positions this year. Here are the few that I am aware of....

Craig Gary. '08: Waterfront: Regimental Waterfront Sailing Vessel Training Officer...Also in the near future he will be serving on the King's Pointer as a Deck Officer.

Chris Cunningham, '08: 3rd Company Academic Officer. Responsible for 66 plebes on academic probation as of mid-terms.

Elise Houston, '08: 3rd Company Fitness Officer. She administers the physical tests for the entire company. She is also the Co-Captain of the volley ball team.

Rita Dernar, '08:, Regimental Protocal Officer. She organizes socials and events for the regiment.

Also, congratulations to all our 1st Classmen on the receiving their class rings at the Ring Dance in August.

Jeff Hubach, '10, enjoyed his first sea term aboard the Sealand Lightning, a Maersk containinger ship. Jeff sailed from San Pedro, CA, LA and Oakland to China, Dutch Harbor, Alaska, Yokohama Japan, Kobe and Pusan, South Korea and to Shanghai and Ningbo, China and back to LA. It is reported by his grandfather, Dan Shively, that he had a great time. Jeff also worked Indoc this year as an EMT.

Anthony Galka and Max Alper, both Class of 2010, will begin their first sea term November 1. Anthony and Max are in the regimental band. Max also worked Indoc this year as an EMT.

Garrick Sheatzley, Class of 2010, will return to campus on November 1, ending a compassionate leave taken for his father's illness. During his leave, Garrick took classes and received his open water scuba diving certification. He volunteered this summer on the ship, Mather, helping to make necessary welding repairs on the deck.

Are you interested in helping to improve recruiting efforts for KP?

In a joint effort, the Alumni Association and NE Ohio Parent Chapter are going to take a hard look at how to improve recruiting for the Academy. A committee will be formed to work on this effort. If you are interested in helping to improve our recruiting efforts and information, please let me know.

Please be sure to visit the Web site. We are updating all the materials. There will be new photos posted this week as well.

Sincerely,

Sheryl