Most USMMA parents are not aware that the Academy and the Maritime Administration provides ABSOLUTELY NO FUNDING FOR PARENTS WEEKEND! Last year we became aware of this new MARAD decision only 8 weeks before the scheduled Parents Weekend. In those 8 weeks, we had to completely create a fully-funded Parents Weekend and Acceptance Day Ceremonies, with absolutely no budget. We managed to pull it off, but the weekend had long lines, extremely poor food service and even a lack of food at times. Coupled with rain and a shortage of tent areas for food and sales booths, it left much room for improvement.
This year, we had our systems in place, which included opening bank accounts, choosing a national treasurer and volunteer executive advisory board, filing for 501C3 status and having more time to organize Parents Weekend. We needed to completely create an entirely new financial structure to provide this event! Parents need to know that their National Parents Association has to pay for all the tents, tables, chairs, food set-ups and food services, Beat Retreat, all programs, lighting and sound for the Beat Retreat, and we are charged for every single item, including each napkin, cup of coffee and every doughnut provided each morning. The Academy provides nothing but the campus on which to hold the event. So the National Parents Association now has to provide all those services like tents, chairs and table,etc., even if only 10 parents show up! Additionally, we do not have the available manpower to offer the "smorgasbord" of ticket seletions that the Academy used to offer. Knowing that, we had to arrive at the decision to provide a full day pass to all events or a discounted two day pass. Additionally, based on complaints from last year, we decided to improve food services by using Melville as our food supplier instead of NANA services that supplied such poor quality food service last year. Using Melville allows us indoor air-conditioned seating, indoor registration, faster food service and better food choices, as well as larger tents outside for sales tables and seating out of any possible rain.
We have carefully reviewed the total of the "smorgasbord" prices from previous years and we are close to previous charges for past weekends, except that food services at Melville are slightly higher. Knowing the tight economic situation across the country, we have done everything in our power to keep costs down and provide needed services. Trust me--- at $150 for a two day pass, with New York supplier costs, no one is making any money on Parents Weekend and Acceptance Day! And if we could give this event planning and expense back to the Academy, we would be delighted to do so! Unfortunately, under the new MARAD laws, that would mean that there would be no Parents Weekend at all.