<p>I thought any parents who are not receiving these e-mails might want to be aware of this. The local Parents Clubs will not be contacting you. We need to initiate the contact. Also, appointees may want to share this e-mail with their parents. I have heard a lot of positives about these groups and expect there will be good information for both parents and cadets.</p>
<p>Many West Point Parent Clubs host spring seminars/summer picnics, etc. every year for candidates and their families. Because of privacy laws, they need YOU to send your name(s), mailing address, phone number, and email address so they can get in touch with you. Each club handles things differently;
however, many times you will receive a call from a parent mentor who will
welcome you, give you some information about their club and answer any
questions you may have. One parent club president wrote, "The club members
are a bit farther along on this great journey, and we would love to share
our experience with [parents of new cadet candidates]".</p>
<p>Please seek out a Parent's Club in your area. If you are looking for WP
Parent Club information, you can contact:</p>
<p>Dolores L. Salvatore
Parents Club Coordinator
West Point Public Affairs Office
845-938-5650
<a href="mailto:yd2883@usma.edu">yd2883@usma.edu</a></p>
<p>A tribute to members of the Parent's Club of Alabama, as well as West Point Sponsors:</p>
<p>I've still been struggling with deciding on Navy or West Point. I have already accepted at West Point, but I just can't let Navy go. However, I went to the USNA SS, but not to the West Point IAW. I don't think I've given West Point a fair chance. So, basically, I wanted to schedule an overnight visit. Mine is scheduled for next week, but it was going to be almost impossible to get everything worked out. I'm flying into Stewart Airport, but the fare was too much for my parents to come with me. I could get up to West Point, but only the night before I had to be there. So, I got in touch with a member of the Alabama Parent's Club. She's helped me in the past, and she helped me with this as well. She got in touch with her son's (a yuk) sponsor family, the head of which is a Lt. Col. The sponsor family, without being asked, VOLUNTEERED to not only pick me up from the Airport, but also to let me spend the night at their house ON POST the night before! I was just so blown away by this... So, this is a salute to the wonderfully helpful members of the Alabama Parent's Club as well as the various West Point sponsor families.</p>
<p>Since we seem to have so many new appointees who have accepted offers, I thought I'd resurrect this thread. As so many of us are looking for information this seems to be a great vehicle. </p>
<p>The club in our state will have a meeting in early June for parents and new cadets. Current cadets will present and "experienced" parents will be there to answer questions. I assume that other clubs will have similar programs. It seems like a great chance to spend some time with future classmates (I'll bet a few familiar faces will be very nice to see in about 6 weeks!)</p>
<p>Here's another source of parents' clubs contacts:</p>
<p>As a member of a WPPC, I would encourage all parents to become a part of this important link to the Academy. The support through the others that have "been there before" by providing information was valuable in planning for trips for R-Day, A-Day, PPW, etc. As far as our club goes, we will be hosting a Hail and Farewell luncheon this weekend. This is to say "Hail" to those going not only to USMA, but also to USMAPS or one of the civil prep schools on an AOG scholarship; and to say "Farewell" to those that are graduating. There will be information for both the Prospective Cadets and the parents as they prepare for R-Day. In June the club will host a New Cadet Picnic where the same group will be able to meet and talk to Cadets that are home on summer break. This will allow time for those last minute questions to be answered, plus get a look at a potential "friend" from the area that will likely be part of their Beast Cadre come R-Day.</p>
<p>Our club has a strong relationship with the local MALO organization. This is likely true for most clubs. They supply lists of those that have accepted offers of admission to USMA and USMAPS, and those that have accepted AOG scholarships. A mentor is assigned to each family and the mentor makes the initial contact. However, other clubs may or may not do things differently and there are remote areas that may not have a club close by.</p>
<p>My understanding is that privacy policies prevent them from getting an official list, at least until after R-day. Hence, families are urged to contact their local parent club.</p>
<p>GEB, who indicates he/she is a member of a WPPC, states very clearly that "they supply lists" of persons that have accepted. While this may not be the case in ALL circumstances, apparently it happens w/out regard to privacy concerns.
In our case the USNA Parents Club contacted us w/out our having to contact them at all.</p>
<p>It helps to actually read the preceding posts.</p>
<p>
[quote]
It helps to actually read the preceding posts.
[/quote]
A bit cranky? </p>
<p>I did read GEB's preceding post, just didn't agree with it based on conversations with our local club and other sources. For example, from Prospective-Net:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Name, </p>
<p>As a Parent's Club President, I would like to stress the
importance of you contacting your local Club : </p>
<p>Because of privacy laws, it can be difficult for the Club
to make first contact. </p>
<p>The value of linking up with a Parent's Club is that you
are not alone. You benefit from other parents who have
been there and done that. Many clubs have meetings in
June where appointees get to meet current Cadets and new
parents get to meet old parents. We are a family. </p>
<p>XXX YYYY </p>
<p>President, West Point Parents Club of Central Ohio
(also, parent of an appointee to the Class of 2009)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I received the same information verbally from our local club. Note that GEB stressed that they were getting a "sub rosa" list from their local MALO's.</p>
<p>Bottom-line - Parents of candidates that have accepted should initiate contact. There is usually some sort of local function in June for local cadet candidates prior to R-day.</p>
<p>The Parents Club is not given some secret, under the table list (sub-rosa) of those that have accepted appointments, AOG scholarships, etc. The MALOs at least in our Parents Club are an integral part of the club, as well as the USMA Admissions process. The lists that are provided are merely the name and address of the Prospective Cadets. The point made earlier was that privacy issues may prevent easy contact with the Cadet or his/her parents. For example, if they have an unlisted phone number it may be difficult to establish contact except by letter, which may or may not be read by the parent. There may be other cases where there is not a Parents Club nearby, but some remote connection could be established with the nearest club. If the parent is interested and contact is initiated by the parent with the Parents Club, then there is no doubt that your son/daughter will be included in events that are held for them. The Parents Clubs are there to provide support to those that are intersted to both the parents and Cadets.</p>
<p>Some of the things that we do for the Cadets whose parents are members of the Parents Club (and in many cases for other Cadets also) are:
- Send boodle (Army term for snacks, junk food, etc.) packages throughout the year
- Provide funds for emergency trips home to those that cannot afford the transportation
- Maintain a casual relationship with a local travel agency to coordinate group sales for travel home for holidays/breaks
- Organize a tailgate party after one of the Army home games for all students from our state
- Purchase a flag flown over the U.S. Capital to honor each graduating Cadet
- Etc.</p>
<p>We are not an evil organization trying to invade the privacy of others. Invitations are extended and those that are interested participate and the others do not.</p>