Class of 2009 Graduation Festivities

[chiefnerdnc]

<p>Greetings, It’s been awhile since I’ve chimed in so this topic sparked my interest. Being that I work for the government as a contractor, I understand the funding issues very well. My question is why isn’t the Alumni Association taking the lead on the graduation festivities. Yes I think that KP should already fund the basic graduation (stage, chairs, speaker, diplomas, etc.) outside of that if funding is needed the Alumni association seems like the right organization to get the funding ball rolling. With thousands of graduates I’m sure they have some talent in raising funds. And no I don’t expect only the Alumni to open their wallets.</p>

<p>If somebody wants to ask for funds, I don’t mind opening my wallet when I can. I know the NC Parents Association has contributed and I’ll bet more funds will come in if in June it looks like more is needed. Someone just has to ask.</p>

<p>Let us know what’s needed.</p>

<p>Over seas US Citizen and 2012 Dad</p>

[SUPPORTMOM]

<p>I just have one comment to add…these mids deserve a proper graduation. As I recall many of these mids took time from their studies to march in the Inaugural Parade this year. Who is complaining about that money spent? They have ‘preformed’ many times over the years. </p>

<p>I do not know of any university private, state or Federal that does not have a proper graduation that family can attend and celebrate with their graduate. At each of my other children’s graduation (private and state) there was a small reception for student and immediate family. The reception included coffee, juice and small food items. I think there was a $15 per family charge and the school food services provided. The food was not to fill everyone up but to place something in their hands to make them for socially comfortable. Hospitality is what it is called in the south.</p>

[suzannegra]

<p>Ok everyone. First of all, Graduation will go on…the usual celebrations will go on. The only difference is there may be a minor charge for June Ball.</p>

<p>The problems arose because the fees that are collected from the Mids as part of their “tuition” included “activity” fees so in fact, taxpayer money NEVER paid for any of the social activities on campus, including the graduation parties, etc. </p>

<p>Now, the problem is that MARAD has taken over complete control of funding anything at KP, including graduation activities, and until recently that money has been frozen. There is a big involved process to get the funds out of MARAD. Example. KP wants to get money to pay for the June ball band and the other activities associated with graduation. Under government rules they need to send all the requests for services out to 3 separate contractors for bids first (i.e., 3 DJ’s, 3 food providers, etc.). Once the bids come in, they then pick the contractor to use. Then KP must submit a line-by-line item request for the funds to MARAD. MARAD then looks over the request and either grants the funds or denies the request. If the request is granted, MARAD then instructs the Treasury Dept. to release the funds to KP. Another problem KP has run into it that once they send in requests it has been taking MARAD up to 2 months to either grant or deny the requests (this is for everything, from buying stamps to graduation activities). From what I understand, the process will get quicker once all the bumps are smoothed out and everyone understands the process completely. </p>

<p>The next step would be to go to the Alumni Foundation and ask them for help. As in the past, the Alumni are very generous with their contributions to the Mids at KP, but once again, the funding issue raises its head. In order for the Alumni foundation to give money to KP, they have to send the funds to the Treasury Department, then, send a line-by-line report stating for what the funds are to be used, then MARAD will either allow or not allow the gift. If allowed MARAD then authorizes the Treasury Dept. to release the funds to KP. Again, this takes time, and in the past, the Alumni just wrote a check, which they cannot do any longer.<br>
This brings up another concern. In order for the Alumni to be able to use their donations for things that are needed they need their donations to be in the form of unrestricted cash, so if you are a contributor to the Alumni Foundation, make sure that you mark your donations as unrestricted. That way the funds can be used for whatever purpose is necessary, be it new bats for the baseball team or a tent and food for graduation and/or parent’s weekend. </p>

<p>Since this is the first time KP has not had a discretionary midshipman fund with easy access this has caused most of the problems with how to fund graduation activities. As you all know, KP has under gone a big change in administration staff, and because of this there is a learning process on the part of Administration.<br>
Again, I assure you that the normal graduation activities will go on. I am looking at the proposed schedule, and once it is approved I’m sure it will be published.</p>

[chiefnerdnc]

<p>Greetings all,
Suzannegra (who “owns” FaceBook) is correct in describing the process. I work in government and that is how it works. If I need 50 computers I have to get 3 quotes and so on and so on… This is the real world that many of our MIDS will be working with so there is no reason to complain. Having owned my own business and now working for the government I can say it isn’t easy to understand in the beginning, but it does work and the process tries to monitor the spending of tax payer money. And we all want that.
Congratulations to the class of 2009…My 2012 MID is right behine you…</p>

[LFWB_dad]

<p>Suzannegra and Chief are right that is a process. But it isn’t the only government acquisition process. I just got done running the $38 billion AF Installations, Environment and Logistics operations world-wide and something as relatively mundane as a graduation shouldn’t be that much of a hassle. MARAD is totally hosed up and the fact that there is no confirmed leadership there is only making it worse because everybody is afraid of their shadow and there is an Associate Counsel there who is doing a disservice to everyone by only saying what can’t be done as opposed to providing alternatives to make the system work more effectively.</p>

[suzannegra]

<p>LFWB is 100% on the target. The new national Co-Chair of the Parent’s Association is in the process of getting to the bottom of this, and hopefully very soon will have information so that we as a parent organization can take action with our Congressional Leaders.</p>

[CMAC]

<p>please check Graduation 2009! thread of the schedule of events for Graduation Weekend.</p>