USMMA National Parents Assoc., Inc. Official Response to USMMAAF situation

kpmom2011

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Dear USMMA National Parent Officers, and all USMMA Parents and Friends,

As all of us are aware, the USMMAAF is experiencing one of the most difficult times in its existence. Though financially and organizationally as sound and stable as they have ever been in their history, they are at risk of being removed from the fundraising and mentoring position they have held on campus since 1957.

On behalf of the USMMA National Parents Association Executive Board, we are standing in solidarity with our collaborative partner, the USMMAAF. Many of you may be unaware that our USMMA National Parents Association would almost cease to exist as we know it without the full support of the USMMAAF. They host our website, help with our contact lists, support our facebook and website messages, allow us to use their Alumni House for events, and allow us to use their office staff to assist our programs. They have included us by giving our National Chair a seat on their Foundation Executive Board, which I have held for four years. They collaborate with us on projects, legislative action, local chapter events and social events for our midshipmen.

More importantly, they are one of the principal reasons our midshipmen are as successful as they are and why our midshipmen are sought after by employers. On campus they provide daily mentoring support for our midshipmen, financial support for midshipmen clubs, sports and group events, assist with internships and networking for jobs. Everyone, including Admiral Helis and numerous officials in Washington, have marveled, and often been surprised, at the tight closeness and cohesive unit that is formed by our alumni around the world. No other university or Academy can boast the strength our Academy has in their alumni. Like any close family, they may occasionally disagree among themselves, but if anyone outside their ranks attacks them, they immediately join forces as one cohesive unit. All of this goes without mentioning the millions of dollars the USMMAAF has raised and donated to the Academy over the years, including the millions they still hold and plan to continue giving to the Academy in the future.

HIstorically, the USMMAAF is the reason Kings Point still exists today. Many attempts have been made over the years to close the Academy, but all have been thwarted by the strong concerted efforts of our USMMAAF. Now, as an Academy, we are the beneficiary of the strongest congressional and senatorial support our Academy has ever seen. NO ONE in Washington wants to close Kings Point. Certainly, no one in the USMMAAF wanted to pursue litigation to resolve what should have been resolved with simple communication and cooperation. Unfortunately, when communication becomes one-sided, it is no longer a dialogue and legal intervention and a request for mediation were the only options.

Now that the USMMAAF is in a court battle to maintain their presence on the USMMA campus, and to remain the principal fundraising entity for the Academy, it is hoped that our USMMA Parents across the nation will realize the value and benefit our midshipmen derive from having direct access to the most supportive alumni base in the nation and that they will join with us, the former Maritime Administrators, and legislators who have joined us in supporting our USMMA Alumni Foundation. We encourage you to contact your legislators and administrators in Washington, DC. Ask the pressing questions about why this is happening and encourage them to submit to mediation on these issues.

As USMMA Parents, one of our principal concerns should be to provide a productive environment that allows our midshipmen to successfully complete the most difficult academic and regimental program of any of the U.S. Service Academies. Now especially as our First Classmen are going into licensing exams, it is their duty to focus on their academics. We want them all to graduate and become sucessful alumni. It should be our position to assist them by encouraging support for our alumni and allowing them to focus on their studies.

Whatever the final outcome of this current legal battle is, the Alumni Foundation will continue to be the strongest supporter of Kings Point. As a National Parents Association, we will continue to be a supporter and collaborator with our USMMAAF. Governmental Administrations will come and go, but our USMMA Alumni Foundation and Association will forever remain an integral part of our beloved Academy. We will continue to stand in unison with them in their efforts. It is the least we can do for those who have done so much for all of our midshipmen and for our USMMA Parents Association.

Thanks to all of you for all you do for our Academy.

Sincerely,
Mary Jane Fuschetto, USMMA National Parent Association Chair,
Member of the USMMAAF Executive Board, on behalf of the USMMA National Parent Association Executive Board
 
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I was wondering if the Parent's Association would weigh in.

(I've moved the thread to Academy news subforum as it fits a bit better there)
 
kpmom2011 & Mrs Fuscetto:

As an individual alumni I would like to thank you for weighing in the way you both have and posting this letter on this and other forums. This kind of support and grass roots groundswell may in the end be the only thing that gets this issue resolved and the USMMAAAF transition from Babson Center to new quarters, hopefully, the Lehrner Property in a smooth and non-disruptive manner.

ANV,
Jasperdog :smile:
 
Yes, thank you for the posting and Jasperdog for your comment on this and on other postings. Check your PM
 
Where is the Academy news forum thread?

You are in it now :biggrin:

It is one of the subforums under "General Discussion" and by clicking the link in the USMMA subforum you were redirected to this subforum. If you look at that top of the screen just below the large banner for the site you will see the subforums that the current thread you are reading is under.

My apologies for the confusion, in hindsight I wasn't the clearest.
 
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