Class of 2009 Graduation Festivities

Colleges and Universities A-Z Merchant Marine Academy - Kings Point
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<p>HAS ANYONE HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THIS???????????</p>

<p>I had a very disturbing phone call from my oldest son today.</p>

<p>Things were bad enough this week when my DS had a tough blow on Monday when they were forced to cancel the annual Kings Point Eagle Scout Association Camporee at the last moment. The Camporee was scheduled for this weekend coming up and they had to inform over 900 Scouters that it was cancelled because of MARAD and their restrictions. </p>

<p>Things got worse today when he was told that we need to "rally the parents" because there are NO graduation festivities planned at this point. The dinner cruise might not happen either because they have only sold 300 tickets for that. According to what he was told today MARAD is continuing to put a damper on things. Academic awards are illegal and there is no money for the awards. The Saturday BBQ can't happen because "guests" can't pay for services from Delano Hall (lunch). The Baccalaureate and Graduation Ceremony have not been planned and there is no money to pay anyone to set up the stage, etc. According to DS the only thing we have as of now is Sect. LaHood attending. He wonders if they might just be handed their diplomas and nothing else. I was speaking to my Parent Association president and she told me that Midn. MacMillan has sent an email to Shirley Anthony asking for the parents help. She is asking for monetary donations for the hospitality tent. I guess that means there is no money for coffee and donuts each morning in Land Hall.</p>

<p>What is going on, any idea? I am sure that I am not the only parent that has booked a hotel for 4 nights, sent money for the cruise and was anticipating a very joyous occasion for my son.</p>

<p>The seniors are busy studying for their licensing exams and concentrating on them and this is what they get. It is very upsetting to my son and to me. </p>

<p>I realize there are problems up there from before, I heard Adm. Worley talk at an alumni meeting and he said that graduation festivities would be scaled back. When I asked what that meant, I was told that the Saturday luncheon would not be as lavish as it used to be. I thought no big deal, I've had the horrible BBQ lunch before at Parent's weekend, what's once more during Graduation weekend. I never expected that "scaled back" meant there would be nothing. Adm. Worley also said that our "tuition" checks from the second trimester were not being used because we are paying too much money so we would be issued a credit towards next year (for those of us with under classman). This is all very frustrating to me not to mention disappointing. Should I tell all the grandparents to stay home? What can I do, who can get through to MARAD? Any help would be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>Ok all you CC people, help me out here, PLEASE. What have you heard, what can we do? Our mids big day is less than two months away and as of now things are not looking good for a celebration that they have earned and deserve.</p>

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<p>Other than the camporee being canceled, I haven’t heard about any of that other stuff.</p>

<p>But…</p>

<p>That’s just the way things are here right now - Crazy. Seems like everyday there’s “something else”!! I don’t know whether I should be thankful to be getting out now before it gets even worse, or if I’m just part of the unluckiest class stuck at the bottom of a rut and we’re just in an “off-year.” </p>

<p>I hope, for the other classes and for the school itself, that it’s the latter.</p>

3

<p>All I can say if this is true is…wow! Midshipmen please make sure to pass on your concerns to the alumni association so they can get info out to the alumni. Although I’m sure they have heard rumblings it never hurts to go down there and ‘shake the trees’ a bit.</p>

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<p>If this information is confirmed, I’m sure the KP family will step up and make something happen. I know that I wouldn’t be the only one pulling out the checkbook. The 1/C deserve a truly “first-class” celebration! They’ve earned it.</p>

<p>And I thought our problems with the ever changing 4/C DI situation was painful.</p>

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<p>Agreed 2012!! Parents & Alumni Associations must ensure that graduation is as festive as ever with all traditions in place. I have no doubt most parents in all classes would render financial support if necessary. Our first classmen deserve it all.</p>

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<p>To answer Momof2KPmids question below, yes, we have been solicited by Shirley Anthony to provide monetary donations for hospitality at graduation. The request was made by Mid MacMillan. The request was sent out to Parents Associations.</p>

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<p>It is my understanding the academy cannot ask for money from us parents. I understand they usually spend $800 a year for the Hospitality Headquarters at graduation. If each state sends $25 they would meet their quota, plus. If we send for the need, I understand they can accept.</p>

<p>Here is the address and contact for any contributions.
USMMA Class of 2009"
USMMA
PO Box 512
Kings Point, NY 11024</p>

<p>Congratulations Class of 2009
<strong><em>The great state of NC sends $25!</em></strong></p>

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<p>Just post the details when you get them - I’ll pitch in!</p>

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<p>See post above for mailing address:</p>

<p>It is for a coffee reception I undersand they do for two mornings each year for graduation. They would like to have the money by May 15th.</p>

<p>I also understand they may be having problems getting funding for the tent for parents weekend. Someone told me that was about $10,000 to lease. Do they really cost that much? wow</p>

<p>It is nice to get out of the sun in September and there are may age ranges of visitors.</p>

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<p>I don’t know how long construction is going to last but the grinder and most of the grassy knoll where they stick the tent is fensed off so if the construction isn’t completed by parents weekend i don’t know where they’re going to put it except maybe tomb field of the waterfront.</p>

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<p>Hold on folks. It’s time for a reality check.</p>

<p>If the President of the US wanted to underwite a festive graduation for midshipmen and their families, he would have included the authority and funding to do so in his budget. If Congress concurred, they would have included the legislative authority and funding for the President’s signature. This didn’t happen, and in the absence of the legislative authority and funding, the rules which govern federal procurement and funding prevail.</p>

<p>There’s a reason you don’t read about federal agencies funding big parties and celebrations, like we’ve recently seen in the financial services industry. They’re illegal, when federal funds, employees, and facilities are involved.</p>

<p>Past years’ celebrations, and especially the means by which they were conducted and funded, were/are patently illegal. No legislative authority. No expressly appropriated funds by Congress. No authority to collect private funds to defray the associated expenses, and so on.</p>

<p>It’s important to step back for a moment and recognize the value of the educational opportunity, and career opportunities, the federal government is providing to each midshipman, and by extension, to their respective families. That should be value enough. If you wish to have a party, then organize one, pay for it, and find a place to hold it.</p>

<p>I have a colleague, here, whose family member is graduating in two weeks from a college elsewhere in the country. The grandparents, parents, siblings, uncles and aunts are all flying/driving to the school, each is paying for expensive lodging and meals to attend a graduation ceremony that starts and ends in under 90 minutes. When the ceremony is over, so is the school’s role. The family will attend a prearranged dinner at a restaurant, pay the bill, have a great celebration, and then go home.</p>

<p>No school is responsible or willing to fund a Mardi Gras celebration. Given our current economic circumstances, how would the average taxpayer view an elaborate multi-day celebration held at a federal service academy where the academy is funded with federal taxes, staffed by federal employees?</p>

<p>Congratulations to each of you who have a son or daughter planning to graduate. Their graduation is both an individual and family accomplishment. Go and privately celebrate one of those great moments in family history.</p>

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<p>KPInTheKnow,</p>

<p>I’m not trying to start a debate, because in a fundamental and personal-political-beliefs way, I agree with what you say and most of my questions are more open-ended.</p>

<p>That being said…</p>

<p>How do the other academies do this kind of stuff? I’m sure their graduation ceremonies are very nice and extravogent. How come there is no clearly set policy regarding this and why hasn’t something been established as a way to privately fund this? Why is this just coming out now, with less than two months to go? All I seem to ever hear is that the government won’t pay for this or that, but making a donation is “illegal” too or has to go through so much red tape that it makes it impractical.</p>

<p>Cases in Point:</p>

<p>From what I hear, the Kings Pointer has been unable to get underway due to lack of funds to pay for licensed officers, who are required by law to be onboard in addition to the Midshipmen crew. But, faculty members with licenses (who didn’t mind volunteering an afternoon to take a training trip) were told that they can’t volunteer their time to the government. Similar thing happened to the only person here certified to teach the Fast Rescue Boat course. There wasn’t enough money to pay him for the weekend class, but even when he decided to volunteer his own time to do it anyways, he was told he couldn’t. Both of these examples relate DIRECTLY to the mission of the school. There should be no excuse to deny these opportunities to Midshipmen.</p>

<p>Something needs to change and change quickly, because the effects of this stupid policy/policies is really beginning to show itself here. The thing is, KP’ers are still the biggest bang for the buck to taxpayers when it comes to producing commissioned armed services officers, yet why are we the first “fat to be trimmed”?</p>

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<p>Fair enough.</p>

<p>The question of what other federal service academies do, and how they do it, raises an interesting point. Each federal agency, in our case US DoT, operates under legislative authority specifically granted by the US Congress. USNA, USAFA, USMA, and USCGA have their own agencies and legislative authorities. In order to “get” such authority and funding, an agency has to ask. Believe it or not, USMMA has never asked. Instead, it has elected to act as if such legislative authority and funding was granted, whether or not it was.</p>

<p>Volunteering labor is one of those dual edge swords. There is experience of people who volunteered their labor, then at a later point in time lodged a claim for compensation. Many organizations struggle to find a way in which voluntary labor doesn’t become an unfunded, unapproved funding liability at a future date in time. Just one case creates a legal nightmare. Like most organizations, the Academy strives to avoid those circumstances that can come back at a later point in time and create a nightmare.</p>

<p>There is an old phrase, or adage, that is appropriate in both circumstances: Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance. Regrettably, the Academy and Maritime Administration leadership historically failed the 4 Ps. Making up for lost time can be awkward and leads to some of the difficult circumstances we are all experiencing today. Several years from now, the Academy will look and act like a much different place–hopefully, for the better.</p>

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<p>“There’s a reason you don’t read about federal agencies funding big parties and celebrations, like we’ve recently seen in the financial services industry. They’re illegal, when federal funds, employees, and facilities are involved.”</p>

<p>“No school is responsible or willing to fund a Mardi Gras celebration.”</p>

<p>You make it sound as if KP is throwing elaborate, all expense paid “celebrations.” I have been to 3 graduations so far, and they have been quite modest. A small stage, a backdrop, a hospitality tent, maybe a few other stations set up, (probably by parent’s associations) that’s it. The food has never been free, as family (and students) pay for each meal. There is never any sort of “after party” and usually 30 minutes after graduation people are on their way home already. Any sort of celebration (i.e. booze cruise) is paid for out of pocket completely.</p>

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<p>Even a “modest” set of activities comes at a significant cost. Yet, I’m afraid you’ve missed an important point. It doesn’t matter whether previous graduation events were modest or not. Spending even $1 for which legislative authority and funding have not been appropriated is illegal.</p>

<p>Soliciting and collecting funds, which must then be expended, is not legal without the requisite legislative authority.</p>

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<p>By modest I meant the graduation as a whole, not any sort of activities. I totally understand where you are coming from regarding the issue about legally obtaining funds. However, if KP doesn’t come with a solution quickly, it looks like they are just going to hand out our diplomas and send us away.</p>

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<p>While it would be sad to see that happen, it may just come to that. Remember, colleges and universities all across the country do exactly that.</p>

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<p>The Naval Academy graduation is May 22nd. Their schedule of their graduation events is not void of Superintendents’ Parties, Award Ceremonies and “Pomp & Circumstance”. See this link
<a href=“http://www.usna.edu/SpecialEvents/CommWeeksked.pdf[/url]”>http://www.usna.edu/SpecialEvents/CommWeeksked.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Admiral Worley needs to do everything in his power to send his first graduating class off to duty with a celebration of their accomplishments. </p>

<p>Kings Point is not just another college or university.</p>

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<p>I believe all of the commissioning week “Parties, Award Ceremonies and Pomp & Circumstance” are run by the Alumni Associations of the respective academies at USNA, USCGA, USMA, and USAFA, all of which are legally chartered to allow it.</p>

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<p>L59 - I feel a CALL TO ARMS at hand. . . and KPFOOTBALL is right…we are NOT just another college or university. WHAT CAN WE DO? Our graduations should be above the rest.</p>