All Academy Ball SNOWED OUT - boooooooo

Misery loves company so I thought I'd share. When my son was a plebe, we attended the incredibly elegant and patriotic Academy Ball at the illustrious and historic Union League in downtown Philadelphia back in 2007. Well.... left there vowing to take my parents and loved ones for his 1C year in 2010 after being without him for Christmas for two sea years (a split =sailor). What happens? Just my luck: blizzard. Soooo disappointing. that rollercoaster ride is all-encompassing....

My son is a 4/C at USCGA and we were also planning on attending the All Service Academies Ball in Philadephia last night. We were all disapointed it got cancelled, but totally understand the reason why. My dress along with my dancing shoes will have to get put away till next year! I feel bad for parents such as DinghyMom where this was their last Ball.

Proud Mom, USCGA Class of 2014

What a bummer! My ds will be class 2015. Got invitation but thought we would wait until next year when he is really there. Then heard the swim team travels to Florida for "training" right after Christmas so Is is likely he will always miss it. Now I wish we would have planned it. Can anyone verify the training trip every year? Is it for all swim team members? Who pays for the travel? Will he get to come home for Xmas even if he has to leave the day after? Where do they go in Florida? Is it the same place every year? Oops hijack attack

All Academy Ball

Kind of new.......son will be Class of 2015.......concerning the Ball.......what is it, who attends, where, when, etc?

My DS is there at swim camp now. Last year, they went during spring break so I guess the answer is no, they do not go every year at Christmas time. My DS came home for the week before Christmas and because we live along the East Coast, we were able to meet the van as it headed for Ft. Lauderdale. They traveled from KP to Ft. Lauderdale in 23:42hrs leaving on the 26th as the camp began on Monday, the 27th. We met the van at 2:30 a.m. in Jacksonville as we traveled there to meet them. Fortunately, we decided to camp at an RV campsite and was able to rest before meeting the van.
I was told by my DS that this was the fastest they had made it from NY to FL, even with the snow storms. As for the cost, the school pays for the trip, the hotel and food. The kids pay for any extra activities they may do while they are there. I do know that some of the kids decided to fly to Ft. Lauderdale instead of going to NY just to be in a van and spend the 24 hours in it.
They will spend New Years Eve in FL and drive back the next day. Yes, another 24 hour trip. But, they are young and they can do it much better than we, the parents, can.
Oh, by the way, when we met the van, we also spoke with the Coach and the Assistant Coach, and they too were already tired.

Snowed out in NC as well (deteriorating condition in Western NC, as well as Raleigh/Eastern areas.... finally Greensboro venue cancelled).
...
For parents, it is a moving experience. PS> you get to see academy kids smiling and having fun [ a complete 180 to the types of calls we often get ].

USMMA A-split kids often get 2 chances to go... 4/c and 1/c years. The rest of the time, they are usually out at sea. Some sports or other special things may modify that, but it generally holds as a rule.

Parents... GO !

Mids... GO !
You'll be surprised at how much fun you have. After sea years, you will probably have gone to the places the other academy kids were lucky to get to for their 2-week 'don't touch anything' cruises
It is all great fun, and very patriotic in the traditional parts of the program.

Go next year

NY was lucky to be able to reschedule the Ball, but there is no reason why you can't go next year after your child graduates. There are many alum at these events and it will be an opportunity for the grad to reconnect with his former classmates from the area. All should be encouraged to go if possible. So don't despair, there is always next year.

For all the midshipmen, their dates, and family members new to the Academy, you must attend the All Academy Balls. To see the smiling faces and to dance with your son or daughter is a huge experience. Not to mention the great food and conversation. I'm sorry for those whose Balls were canceled. Ours in Wisconsin is tomorrow night. We wish you all a safe, prosperous and Happy and Healthy New Year.

Lucky NY! I am lobbying for TriState to reschedule - it's a longshot. Our Committee went to a lot of time and trouble beyond the fact that so did many others (and expense too!) Undoubtedly the right call was made (safety is always first) - these things happen, but I also think a snowdate should be considered in future planning for such a big event. We had dates fly all the way from Boston and Texas Very disappointing.

As for us, I know he/we can go any other year, but the reality is we probably won't after DS's graduated. He (we) was looking forward to representing USMMA in the Grog toast - adding seaweed and salt. Once in a lifetime event blown away in a blizzard....dawgoneit...... oh well, we will look forward to the June Ball

El Bombero said:

Kind of new.......son will be Class of 2015.......concerning the Ball.......what is it, who attends, where, when, etc?

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The All Academies Ball is an annual affair usually held over the Christmas Break (I know of one club who changed their Ball to Thanksgiving break this year) that honors all cadets/mids of the 5 Service Academies. Every year, the hosting responsibilities rotate between the USNA, USMA and USAFA parent's clubs of your state. These 3 parent's clubs are usually larger and better able to host the Ball than the parent's clubs of USCGA or USMMA.

It is a formal affair where cadets/mids bring dates and parents. It is often the first time that Mom and Dad see their DS/DD in their dress uniform. There is a dinner followed by a speaker and dance. Some clubs are huge events, some are much smaller. Some have silent auctions, some don't. Some have live bands, some have DJs.

I feel so bad for the Balls that had to cancel this year because of weather.
Having worked on our AAB this year, I know how much work goes into planning one of these and it's too bad that all that work will go by the wayside, not to mention the possible loss of money. Many clubs count on the silent auction to help fund the AAB and without that source of revenue, some of these parent's clubs will take a financial hit.

I hope that everyone takes advantage of attending your AAB every year that you can. It is a special event that you can only enjoy while your cadets/mids are at the Academies. Attend while you can!

KP2013dramamama said:

For all the midshipmen, their dates, and family members new to the Academy, you must attend the All Academy Balls. To see the smiling faces and to dance with your son or daughter is a huge experience. Not to mention the great food and conversation. I'm sorry for those whose Balls were canceled. Ours in Wisconsin is tomorrow night. We wish you all a safe, prosperous and Happy and Healthy New Year.

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KP2013dramamama, The Wisconsin All-Academies Ball isn't tomorrow night, it is Thursday night, December 30th at Country Springs. Look me up if you are there. My son will be giving the toast for the Air Force Academy.

Stealth_81

Hey Stealth 81, thanks! I knew it was on the 30th, but with the holidays I'm getting all my days mixed up, especially without working on the 24! I'll look you up!

Stealth I sent you a pm

Kp2001, thanks for the expaination of the All Academy Ball. But aren't alumni allowed to attend?

Shutterbug, spring break training in Fort Lauderdale? Really? been there, done that, lost the t-shirt! as a youngster of 21 or so I actually lived in south Florida for awhile and took off of work to be a gracious host to all the college tourists, my story and I am sticking with it,

Glad the team bussed down to Florida I was worried seeing all the travel woes out of LaGuardia (sp?) on Tv.

Lynpar said:

Kp2001, thanks for the expaination of the All Academy Ball. But aren't alumni allowed to attend?

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Not sure if this was suppose to be directed at me but I'll go ahead and give an answer.

The invitation list is up to the parent club that is hosting that year. The host club can invite who they want.
In the past, we just invited current cadets/mids, parents and dates. But this year we decided to also invite the West Point Society members (Grads) and the West Point Field Force Representatives of our state as well as some state and local dignitaries.
All Balls are similar yet different. Your state's parent's clubs may have the tradition of inviting alumni. Some may not. It's definitely a club by club thing.

Sorry Buff81, I did mean to direct that to you! yes, I was thinking not much about alum and and their,,,dates. I was thinking of alumni and their mommies,,,,big difference. Uh oh. Hope ds doesn't read this!

Lynpar said:

Sorry Buff81, I did mean to direct that to you! yes, I was thinking not much about alum and and their,,,dates. I was thinking of alumni and their mommies,,,,big difference. Uh oh. Hope ds doesn't read this!

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Haha - I see where you're coming from.
Hate to break this to you, but 'most' cadet/mids don't really look forward to the AAB - especially after their first year. They usually go to please girlfriend/boyfriend and/or Mom and Dad. I don't think that your freshly graduated DS will care to go. It's hard enough to get some to go while they are at the SA.

It's understandable. They have to drag that dress uniform home. They are enjoying being a 'civilian' over Christmas break and then - boom- they have to put that uniform on, go to a formal military affair and get their picture made with proud Mom and Dad. Most would rather be at home hanging out with friends.

Hence the dilemma that our club ran into.

Who is the AAB for? The cadets/mids of course. But in reality is was becoming something that was more for the parents. They were the ones that looked forward to the event more than the cadets/mids.
Our club actually cancelled the AAB this year. It was a very difficult decision to make. We agonized over that decision but on top of getting very little interest in terms of attendance there were also some financial hurdles.

I talked to many Presidents and AAB committee members from clubs across the country to compare notes. It seems that our problem of the Ball in reality being more for the parents than the cadets/mids was common in other clubs. One particular club wants to shake things up and change the whole tradition of the Ball.

We are taking our cue from that club. We are going to really try to make some changes to the Ball next year to make it something the cadets/mids WANT to go to.

When I said, 'I hope that everyone takes advantage of attending your AAB every year that you can. It is a special event that you can only enjoy while your cadets/mids are at the Academies. Attend while you can!' I meant it to mean that the AAB is about honoring the cadets/mids. They are only invited as cadets/mids for 4 years so go during those 4 years while they are the honorees. You better believe that we will be there with our cadet for the next two years!

Buff is right on. I was more disappointed than DS about AAB being cancelled and I was definitely the instigator in our original attendance in 2007. But I want to point out that while DS dragged his feet to go four years ago during his plebe year, once he went, he had a blast and wanted to attend this, his last year as a Mid.

So I take every opportunity to prod all KP parents to strongly encourage their Mids to go to the AAB. It is a "once in a lifetime" event and I can speak first-hand that our particular Ball Committee does it up right. (Perhaps the Ball Committee should collaborate?) The patriotism, history, tradition, pomp, circumstance, commraderie of the Cadets and Midshipmen and FUN is compelling and heartwarming. This is the message I conveyed as a leader of the parent association. I did some heavy advertising and encouraging early and often which I like to think helped draw the largest KP contingency to the Ball (all for naught ). Nevertheless, I hope our community will continue to talk it up, work together and encourage the Mids to go. It is WELL WELL worth it.

Wisconsin had their All Academies Ball last night, it was memorable, honorable (history and the MIA/POW table was set with the candle, plate, rose, chair,etc) as it was last year. We had a great turnout and the Wisconsin Naval Academy Parents Association did a great job. Thank you all for making another memorable evening. There was delicious food, great dancing, meeting up with families we rarely see and a casino (no money exchange, just fun playing w/ points) and a raffle for the midshipmen. There is always a big draw.

buff81 said:

It's understandable. They have to drag that dress uniform home. They are enjoying being a 'civilian' over Christmas break and then - boom- they have to put that uniform on, go to a formal military affair and get their picture made with proud Mom and Dad. Most would rather be at home hanging out with friends.

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This is all of the reasons my cadet wasn't interested in attending. He likes to travel light when he flies home and the dress uniform would be a pain to drag along. Our club holds the AAB in different cities each year and would involve considerable travel and an overnight stay in some instances. The real killer for him was that it is held the day after Christmas and he was enjoying being a sloth. Would have meant shaving and ruining the whole grungy look. He just had no interest and neither did we unfortunately. He was ready to escape all things West Point for a couple of weeks.