West Point Alumni Leaders Conference 2016 Society Breakout Session Notes

Slides from the Leaders Conference are available online.


You will need to log into the site to access them.


Top 10 Takeaway Items:
1. Reviewing trademarking policies dos and dont's, Presidents are asked to sign the policy documents and return to avoid being in non-compliance.
2. Improving communication including the online calendar.
3. Young grad engagement
4. How to handle memberships
5. Adding individuals to distribution lists is possible. WPAOG Society Support just needs to be told so they can do it manually this includes parents.
6. Getting involved with Admissions activities.
7. 501c3 status and how to get it. More information is available here - https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/exemption-requirements-section-501-c-3-organizations.
8. Regional Advisor elections and how to utilize them. Society Support can put up voting sites for you if interested.
9. Working together with other groups within the Region. Work together with Parent Clubs, Societies, USMA, WPAOG, Service Academies, and the community.
10. Society self-assessments to review areas of strength and needing improvement. A copy of this is now available in the Society Leader Toolkit.

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Regional Breakout
 Regional Admissions Reps - 30 Mins
 Regional Advisor Elections - 10 Mins
 Regional Topic Discussions - 20 Mins
Discussion Starters for Regional Breakouts:
 Do you share your events with other Societies in the region?
 What does your Society struggle with?
 How does your Region engage and support alumni from different generations?
 How can your Regional Advisors help your Region?
 How can Societies in your Region help with Admissions activities?
 How do Societies in your Region help to promote USMA?
 What challenges does your Region face?
 Does your Society team up with other Societies, Parent Clubs, or Service Academies in the area?
 How can your Region help support Cadets – visiting and at the Academy?
 What WPAOG services do your Societies utilize?
 How can WPAOG help your Region?
Please provide your new Regional Advisor names to Society-support@wpaog.org by October 1. Contact Society-support@wpaog.org if you need to setup an online voting website.
Discussion Starters for Size Classification Breakouts:
 What challenges do Societies of your size face that other Societies don’t?
 How do you handle fundraising?
 What key positions do you think are critical to running your Society?
 What type of events does your Society conduct?
 Does your Society maintain their bylaws? There is a template in the Society Leader Toolkit.
 What type of community activities does your Society get involved with?
 Do you utilize the WPAOG services – mini-websites, online registrations, Society Leader Toolkit, email distribution lists, Society Administration portion of the website, surveys, etc.?
 Do you work with other groups – Societies, Parent Clubs, Service Academies for your events?
 How can WPAOG help Societies of your size?
 Do you have a succession plan in place? There is a template in the Society Leader Toolkit.
 How do you engage graduates from different generations?
 Is your Society a 501c3?
 Does your Society have a strategic plan? There is a template in the Society Leader Toolkit.

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Breakout Notes:
 Societies would like to know more about the cadets coming to their areas. Society Leaders should all visit the WPAOG online calendar and have the events in the Region pushed to them. WPAOG is already working to collected more information from the Academy.
 Regional Advisor selections are due to Society Support by October 1.
 Recruiting athletes dos and don’ts.
 Getting involved with Admissions.
 Utilize the services of WPAOG to ease Society Administration.
 Share information within the Region and with WPAOG.
 Contact Deb Dalton if anyone in your area is interested in starting a Parent Club.
 Anyone can added to Society email distributions (grads within the zip code radius are automatically added), they just need to request to be manually added by emailing Society-support@wpaog.org.
 Share information with Regional Advisors so they can prep for meetings and discussions with WPAOG.
 Request to make the DSA less complicated and comments that the DSA is very user friendly.
 Appealing to younger grads by offering field force, volunteer, and family friendly activities.
 Society membership – to charge dues or not to charge. How to get enough money to sustain operations with fundraising, raffles, events, etc.
 Applying for 501c3 status.
 Getting involved with the community especially high schools for recruiting.
 Completing bylaws – Societies are required to send copies to WPAOG as part of being setup.
 Completing a succession plan to ensure your Society can continue.
 Getting Academy Leaders for Founders Days at the smaller or more remote Societies.
 Offering a variety of activities – sporting events, picnics, wine tastings, field trips, brewery tours, spirit events, museums, charity activities, youth leadership conferences, widow/widower support, holiday events, active duty support, local awards.

West Point AOG Advisory Council Election - Western Region AOG Societies

Greetings from your Rockbound Highland Home.  We had the AOG leadership conference this past week, in conjunction with Field Force Training and “Reorgy Week / A-day”.  To say the least, it was a very fruitful week.  I had the privilege of assisting our senior Western Region Advisor, Matt DeHaven, in the regional break-out session.  He will put out info to y’all in the not too distant future concerning the goings-on of this week, and in particular, our session.

As the newest of the 3 regional society advisors, the upcoming AOG Western Region election has fallen to me.  Regional Advisors serve 3 year terms, and may be elected to consecutive terms.   One Regional Advisor slot is open for election each year.  Advisory Council Meetings typically are held quarterly back at West Point.  Travel costs fall to the individual.  Be advised that those serving on the Board of Directors and Advisory Council are in fact expected to donate not only their time while representing their region, but also monetarily to the AOG!

If anyone desires to run for this office, three things are required:

-          A statement of support (nomination) from their AOG Society, highlighting their support to West Point and their local Society;

-          A letter from the candidate confirming their willingness to serve on the Advisory Council; their involvement with USMA / AOG activities; and explaining what qualities they would bring to the AOG, representing the Western Region;

-          A “military bio” highlighting their military career and subsequent association with West Point and the AOG.

In order to facilitate the Western Region Advisor election, nominations and statements should be sent electronically to me at Riedler@yahoo.com NLT Sunday, 4 September.

I will be sending out election information the following week for voting by the Societies.  Note that there will be one vote per Society.   If multiple votes are received from a given Society, the vote of the senior-most person (Society President preferred) will be counted.  The 3 pieces of information highlighted above for each nominee will be sent to all of you for your consideration when voting.

Thanks again for all you have done for your country, and for that which you continue to do for West Point and your communities.

COL (Ret) Kevin Riedler

H-2 ‘81

Note - due to the large number of Society Leaders, I will send multiple copies of this email so that my email server will accommodate the number of addressees.

Kevin R. Riedler

riedler@yahoo.com

Seeking Chief Operating Officer - WPAOG

The West Point Association of Graduates, a 501(C) (3) non-profit organization with a $13M annual budget is seeking a Chief Operating Officer.  This position reports directly to the President and CEO. The Chief Operating Officer is the second in command and is responsible for managing all operational aspects of the WPAOG and assisting the CEO in the successful operation of the organization.

Through a respectful, constructive and energetic management style, the COO assists the CEO by overseeing day-to-day operations.  The COO provides the leadership, management and vision necessary to ensure that the WPAOG has the proper operational controls, administrative and reporting procedures, and people systems in place to ensure financial strength and operating efficiency. He/she will also be responsible for the day to day operations and complete integration of all staff functions of the WPAOG.  Other areas of responsibility include overseeing the gift funded construction and maintenance program, the maintenance of Herbert Hall Alumni Center, the scholarship preparatory program as well as the affinity program.   

In addition, the Chief Operating Officer will collaborate with the CEO to develop and implement plans for the operational infrastructure of systems, processes, and personnel designed to accommodate the strategic objectives of the organization.  The incumbent will assist the CEO in attracting, recruiting and retaining required members of the team and provide mentoring as a cornerstone to the management career development program of all employees. The Chief Operating Officer should expect to work closely with USMA and have the ability to provide recommendations for policy decisions for the organization.

Strong organizational skills and excellent oral and written communication skills are required.  An understanding of development, alumni support, communications, and marketing are important.  Having familiarity with the United States Military Academy and Army operations as well as experience in non-profit and volunteer organizations is a plus. Inspirational, positive, “hands on” leadership style preferred. He/she must have a respectful, constructive and energetic management style, guided by the objectives and policies set by the CEO. Some travel is necessary.

A West Point graduate with at least 10 years of leadership experience and a Master’s degree is preferred.  We offer excellent benefits and a pleasant working environment.  Salary commensurate with skills and experience.  Please submit cover letter, resume and letters of reference.  See Online application

AOG ASSISTANT DIRECTOR ANNUAL GIVING

DESCRIPTION

Assistant Director, Annual Giving and WPAOG Parent Relations The West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG) is dedicated to furthering the ideals and promoting the welfare of the United States Military Academy (USMA), and to supporting and serving its graduates.  USMA is renowned as one of the world's preeminent leader development institutions.  The student body, or Corps of Cadets, numbers 4,400 and each year approximately 1,000 cadets graduate and are commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army. This position reports directly to the WPAOG’s Senior Director of Annual Giving. The WPAOG is seeking an Assistant Director for their Annual Giving Program to secure donations for the United States Military Academy.  As part of the Annual Giving Team, this individual is responsible for maximizing all segments of the Annual Giving Campaign - with specific responsibility for the Parents Fund Program and the Long Gray Line Program. As such, he/she is familiar with all USMA/WPAOG needs requiring private funding; manages Parents Fund volunteers and Parent Club leaders; coordinates the various direct mail campaigns of the Annual Giving Campaign to ensure an appropriate solicitation timeline; assists the Senior Director in designing a fundraising strategy and provides the support necessary to oversee and execute that strategy. The primary objective of the Annual Giving Program is to increase the number of donors who give annually to West Point by concentrating on renewing, upgrading and acquiring constituents.  This program will help enhance the major gift pipeline. The applicant is expected to: be knowledgeable of  fundraising fundamentals; retain a comprehensive knowledge of the academic, athletic, and activity programs of the United States Military Academy; manage a pool of approximately 50 parent and past parent constituents;  initiate, organize, and follow through with fundraising strategies and meet deadlines as required; have experience setting priorities and successfully managing multiple projects of varying complexity and urgency simultaneously; have excellent verbal and written communication skills; be available to attend local social functions in an official capacity and be available for domestic travel 25-30% of the time. In addition, the incumbent will serve as the Development Point of Contact (POC) for major projects or programs when assigned.  The POC is responsible for: developing both a fund-raising plan and a recognition plan; tracking prospective donors for this particular project/program; and ensuring that the project/program is being managed in a way that is in-line with the desires of USMA, the WPAOG and the donors. A Bachelor's Degree and prior fundraising experience is required.  Three plus years and demonstrated success in development or an equivalent combination of education and experience preferred. Knowledge of Raiser’s Edge preferred. We offer excellent benefits and a pleasant working environment.  Salary commensurate with skills and experience.  Please submit cover letter, resume and letters of reference.  West Point Association of Graduates is an Equal Opportunity Employer For access to posting: http://chc.tbe.taleo.net/chc03/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=WPAOG&cws=1&rid=101

Two job oppeninga at USMA AOG

Associate Athletic Director

The West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG) is dedicated to furthering the ideals and promoting the welfare of the United States Military Academy (USMA), and to supporting and serving its graduates.  USMA is renowned as one of the world's preeminent leadership development institutions.  The student body, or Corps of Cadets, numbers 4,400 and each year approximately 1,000 cadets graduate and are commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army.

West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG) is seeking an Associate Athletic Director to provide professional support to the Development Team. Reporting to the Vice President of Development at the West Point Association of Graduates and with a dotted line to the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, and in the context of a $350M comprehensive campaign for West Point ($75M of which is for Athletics), this executive position is responsible for seeking major gifts and managing a five person front-line fundraising team responsible for annual and sport-specific fundraising efforts for Army Athletics. Additionally, this position will provide dotted-line oversight to seven staff members who work to support the Army Athletics revenue generating team through events and the administration of membership benefits.  The Associate AD will also serve as a member of the WPAOG’s Major Gifts team in order to maximize leverage and coordination of the Academy’s donor community.  Finally, the Associate AD will also serve on the Army Athletics executive staff under the Director of Athletics.  see more

Temporary Event Assistants

The West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG) is dedicated to furthering the ideals and promoting the welfare of the United States Military Academy (USMA), and to supporting and serving its graduates.  USMA is renowned as one of the world's preeminent leadership development institutions.  The student body, or Corps of Cadets, numbers 4,400 and each year approximately 1,000 cadets graduate and are commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army.

West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG) is seeking temporary Event Assistants to provide support in preparing for and executing all reunion activities this fall. The incumbents in these positions will report directly to the Director of Alumni Events and Operations.
The ability to work day and/or evenings September 22 - November 1, 2014 is required.  Excellent customer service and communication skills plus the ability to multi-task, establish priorities, and work in a fast paced team environment is essential. The incumbents must also be organized, detail-oriented, reliable and responsible and possess a bright and positive attitude. Lifting event material, small equipment, and boxes weighing up to 40 lbs is also required.  See more

WPAOG is Seeking a Finance Director

WPAOG is seeking a Director of Finance who will report directly to the Vice President of Finance and CFO. This position has direct responsibility and requires specific knowledge of treasury, tax compliance, construction financing, reporting and analysis, contract administration, financial systems automation, internal control management as well as the broader business, finance and accounting functions.

In this role, the Director works closely with all functional areas within WPAOG as well as the Director of Financial Services, the Controller and the Finance Team. This includes providing assistance in evaluating the accounting and reporting needs of the organization and in the design and implementation of systematic applications to meet these needs within generally accepted accounting principles of non-profit organizations. Financial reporting on a company-wide, operating division and project basis is also a critical part of this job.

A Bachelors degree in Accounting and 3 to 7 years of experience is required. A CPA and/ or an MBA, along with Financial Edge software experience within a non-profit environment is a plus. Candidates must be able to work in a fast-paced environment and provide information and results in a timely fashion. The incumbent must have strong interpersonal and communication skills. In addition, they must have strong computer skills and knowledge of all Microsoft Office applications.

We offer competitive benefits and an excellent working environment. Salary commensurate with skills and experience. Please submit cover letter, resume and letters of reference. To apply please go to www.westpointaog.org then click on “Employment” on the bottom left-hand side of the page.

Board of Directors and the Advisory Council.

The WPAOG Board of Directors would like all graduates to be aware of the Board's continuous effort to broaden the base of expertise and experience present on the Board of Directors and the Advisory Council.  The effort is intended to enrich the perspectives, characteristics, skills and attributes important to the performance of the Board and Advisory Council as groups representing the full spectrum of graduates.

On May 2, 2014, the Board offered more specific guidance to the 2014 Nominating Committee on the skills and attributes desired. (This guidance supplements the skills/attributes outlined in the WPAOG Bylaws, Section 8.4 (e) iv.) The specific guidance (in no order of priority) is as follows:

(1) Women
(2) Retired general officers (rationale: desiring to have a few serve who, because of their careers, have  specific knowledge of, access to and familiarity with DoD organizations and senior military leaders)
(3) Under-represented race/ethnicity
(4) Corporate lawyer (or lawyer with significant corporate experience)
(5) Strategic communication professional(s)
(6) Compensation/human resources professional(s)
(7) IT professional(s)
(8) Retired military career (rationale: similar in those insights and potential contributions that retired GOs bring, but without the drawback and burden of always being viewed as "the General")
(9) Age/Class diversity
(10) Diversity of work experience to include some individuals from both public and private sectors
(11) Exhibited ability to constructively participate and contribute as a volunteer based on past activity with WPAOG, West Point Class or West Point Society

Please note that volunteer service on the WPAOG Advisory Council or the Board of Directors requires in-person attendance, at personal expense, at meetings (most are held at West Point) and demonstrated consistent financial support of West Point.

Nominations are open until 1 July 2014.  Nomination applications must include a personal resume, response to the questionnaire contained on the website, nomination from your class leadership and/or your Society leadership, and a personal letter affirming acknowledgement of the personal financial requirement to travel and attend meetings at West Point.  This information is at WestPointAOG.org/nominationpolicy.

Additionally, this information posted on the website at http://www.westpointaog.org/nominations-committee-guidance.

View the West Point Channel on YouTube!

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My Son and West Point -- How Did Four Years Pass In the Blink of an Eye?

copied from FOX NEWS


How do four years pass in the blink of an eye?

That's what I wonder as I sit alongside the hallowed ground of The Plain, a wide, flat, manicured lawn on the grounds of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. Story goes that, of all the expanses of green grass in this great country, only that at the White House costs more to maintain. 

On this Friday morning, The Plain is groomed to perfection

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/05/23/son-graduates-west-point-did-years-pass-blink-eye/#ixzz1NIBrNQKl

USMA Graduation Day Info

Saturday, May 21 - Gates will open at 7a.m. Arrival of Graduating
class 9:30, Graduation Ceremony begins 10a.m. There will be a link on
the West Point home page that will go live on Graduation Day. It will
also be shown on the Pentagon Channel. Check your local listings.

Graduation Details:  http://www.usma.edu/class/2011/gradinfo.html

Friday, May 20
10:30 a.m. Graduation Parade - The Plain
                 Tickets required for bleacher seating
2 p.m. Awards Convocation – Eisenhower Hall
4:30 - 6 p.m. Pre-Banquet Reception - Eisenhower Hall
7 p.m. Banquet Washington Hall /West Point Club/Thayer Hotel

Saturday, May 21
7 a.m. Stadium gates open
9:30 a.m. Arrival of graduating class
10 a.m. GRADUATION CEREMONY

(Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen will be the
graduation speaker.)

First lady to address West Point cadets

Michelle Obama will address West Point cadets at a banquet just prior to their graduation.The May 20 visit will be Obama's first visit to the U.S. Military Academy. Commencement exercises are the next day. It also will be the first address by a first lady to the cadet corps in at least 20 years, according to school spokesman Francis DeMaro......

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20110326/NEWS/103260330/First-lady-address-West-Point-cadets?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|PoughkeepsieJournal.com|s

Army Men's Soccer Alumni & Friends Event Invitation

To All Alumni & Friends of West Point Men’s Soccer,

Hello again from sunny West Point, NY.  As a follow up to the recent newsletter distribution, we wanted to pass along the attached invitation to this year’s Alumni Weekend. 

Our staff was overwhelmed by last year’s response and look forward to building on that momentum; we’ve streamlined the weekend in question to consist of an early morning  ‘golf outing’, followed by the annual Alumni Match on Clinton ‘A’ featuring a post-game cookout.

Similar to last spring, we’ve created a number of ways for each of you to participate, contribute, and/or support this fantastic event.  The program all of you worked so hard to build is heading in an extremely positive direction and yet we’re all aware of the need for continued involvement from each and every alum, family & friend who recognizes the impact soccer had on their experience as a West Point cadet.

Thank you in advance for your consideration and for your commitment – we have merely scratched the surface on this journey as ‘Partners in the Process’ and appreciate all that you have done while at the same time look forward to seeing what WE can do together in the future.

Let’s keep building the tradition!

Hope to see each of you end of April.

Russell Payne

Head Men's Soccer Coach

USMA West Point

845-938-2420 office

845-938-7061 fax

240-997-8913 cell

www.goarmysports.com

armysoccercamp@usma.edu

Message From Maryellen Picciuto, WP-AOG

Dear Society Leaders,

This past summer at our annual Class of 1967 West Point Alumni Leaders Conference, many of you learned of the WPAOG’s ongoing comprehensive campaign “For US All” for West Point.  After the conference, so many of you pointed your membership toward our website for the conference summary, or to your own notes and summaries.  For that, we’re very grateful.  Your efforts have helped to make grads aware of this important fundraising campaign.

This comprehensive campaign is our number one priority at the WPAOG.  We need your help to keep (or get) this effort on everyone’s radar screen.  To that end, I ask that you mention it at your Founders Day event this year.  Suggested text is:

As some of you may know, the West Point Association of Graduates is spearheading a $350 million comprehensive fundraising campaign to meet the Academy’s key “Margin of Excellence” needs into the future.  The WPAOG has secured 34% of the goal to date, and looks forward to working with graduates and friends across the country to make the campaign a success. 

I am now pleased to introduce [West Point Guest Speaker] who will update us on what is happening at the Academy today and remind us why it is deserving of our involvement and support.

Should you have any campaign questions, don’t hesitate to contact the WPAOG’s Campaign Director, Vivian Shannon, Vivian.shannon@wpaog.org or 845-446-1542.

VP of Development, Kristin Sorenson, will update all alumni leaders again this summer on campaign progress at our leaders conference.

Thanks so much for your consideration.  Good luck and best wishes as the Founders Day events get under way.

Best regards,

Maryellen

Maryellen Picciuto ’86

Senior Director, Alumni Support ï West Point Association of Graduates

698 Mills Road    West Point, NY 10996

Phone: 845-446-1569 ï Fax: 845-446-1695 ï Email: maryellen.picciuto@wpaog.org 

Serving West Point and the Long Gray Line

P Please consider the environment before printing this email.

The Hon. Robert Gates address to the Corps of Cadets

Thank you General, for that introduction.  It’s a pleasure to be back here at West Point, although as I often say, it’s always a pleasure to be away from Washington, D.C.
One of the greatest privileges of serving as Secretary of Defense over the last 4-plus years is the opportunity to visit the service academies – to speak to and hear from the future leadership of the finest military in the world.  This will be the fourth – and final – time that I address the cadets of the U.S. Military Academy as Secretary of Defense.  The last time I spoke to the entire corps of cadets in 2008, it was an evening lecture on strategy and leadership that ran to nearly 50 minutes.  Rumor has it that there were a few stalwart cadets still awake at the end.  Knowing most of you have been up since dawn, and knowing that the Firsties get to start their 100^th Day weekend celebrations when I’m done here, I’ve decided to make this presentation much shorter.
Nonetheless, I did want to take this last opportunity to share some thoughts with you, and through you to the Army as a whole, about the institution you will someday lead – the United States Army – and how it can better prepare itself, and in particular its leaders, for a complex and uncertain future.  No doubt the Army’s challenges are daunting and diverse – supporting families, caring for wounded warriors, dealing with post-traumatic stress, doing right by soldiers, strengthening the NCO corps, training and equipping for the future, and finding a way to pay for it all.  Today, I’d like to focus on three interrelated issues:

To read the rest of this speech, click here

West Point Distinguished Grads Announced

Chairman and the Board of Directors, we are pleased to announce the 2011 Distinguished Graduate Award recipients:

GEN (R) William Richardson ‘51

MG (R) Carl McNair ‘55

Dr. Lewis (Bob) Sorley ‘56

GEN (R) Dennis Reimer ‘62

COL (R) William McArthur ‘73

From BG Rapp's Facebook

Cows are flocking to Ike Hall this week to meet with the USAA Bank reps and secure their "cow loans." I know this will shock old grads like me who got $8500 at 10.5% in 1984, but the cows this year can secure $35,000 at 0.49%! I am hoping that they paid attention in Personal Finance class and won't spend all of the cash during this coming Spring Break! Here is a pic of some of the cows signing up for their loans.

Ways to Give

Your gifts to West Point support cadet internships and overseas experiences, athletic teams, and clubs, as well as the Academy’s world class centers and academic programs. Each gift, be it an annual gift or a planned estate gift, reaches every aspect of a cadet’s West Point experience.
There are several ways to give to West Point. The West Point Association of Graduates offers opportunities to accommodate the giving interests and capacities of alumni, friends, and corporations and foundations.....

rest of article can be found here.

The Parting: A Story of West Point on the Eve of the Civil War

The Parting: A Story of West Point on the Eve of the Civil War                                        By Richard Barlow Adams, West Point Class of 1967                            

www.RichardBarlowAdams.com

(c) 970-471-1952; richadams67@yahoo.com                                                                                               

ISBN: 978-1-4502-3118-3 (Hardback): $32.95 retail price

ISBN: 978-1-4502-3117-6 (Softcover): $22.95 retail price

Story Description

It is July 18, 1861 near Winchester, Virginia. The Civil War has begun, and Confederate Lieutenant John Pelham, formerly of the West Point Class of 1861, is about to confront his former classmates and best friends at the First Battle of Bull Run.

The confident Pelham bears little resemblance to the seventeen-year-old who journeyed alone five years earlier from Jacksonville, Alabama, to West Point, New York, to enter the United States Military Academy. As the class begins its final year, Pelham meets Clara Bolton, a Philadelphian belle who captures his heart. In the months that follow, Pelham, Clara, and the Class of 1861 witness the unraveling of the Union and the birth of the Confederacy against the political backdrop of slavery and states' rights, the Democratic and Republican Parties, the fire-eaters of the South, and the abolitionists of the North.

The book's cover artwork is adapted from the painting Encampment on the Plain, by William Guy Wall, 1862, courtesy of the personal art collection of Thomas Petrie. Superimposed on the painting are cameo photographs of John Pelham and Edmond Kirby, West Point classmates and best friends. 

To a very great extent, The Parting authentically defines the Victorian world of West Point and embodies characters who are real and whose personalities and relationships are based on non-fictional sources. The principal protagonist, John Pelham, one of Alabama's most lauded sons, is the most popular man in his class, but also the one with the most demerits. Other cadet characters include Edmond Kirby (New York), Henry du Pont (Delaware), Thomas Rosser (Texas), George Custer (Ohio), Adelbert Ames (Maine), Nathaniel Chambliss (Tennessee), Charles Patterson (Arkansas), Henry Walter Kingsbury (Connecticut), Emory Upton (New York), Charles Hazlett (Ohio), Patrick O'Rorke (New York), Charles Ball (Alabama), and Henry Farley (South Carolina).

Woven into the story are the Academy's military and academic leadership; past graduates Ulysses S. Grant, Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, Irvin McDowell, Thomas Jackson, John Reynolds, William Hardee, Oliver O. Howard, J.E.B. Stuart, Fitzhugh Lee, and others; the venerable General Winfield Scott; the first-ever visit to North America by British Royalty culminating in an appearance at West Point; and the legendary tavern keeper and thorn in the Academy's side, Benny Havens.  

Reviews:

“…Thanks to the great work of Rich Adams in The Parting, such a terrible period in America’s history is presented in a most profound and riveting fashion. There is a truth on these pages we can all benefit from. A great read.” —Hal Moore, Lieutenant General, USA (Ret.), Distinguished Graduate of West Point, and co-author of We Were Soldiers Once…And Young and We are Soldiers Still.

"I've just now finished reading "The Parting"--a very fine achievement! I think you handled your complicated plot expertly, especially the shifting time settings. I also like the tone and general balance to the military in your love story with Clara. Really, this is very good work and I hope you're hard at work on another book (maybe a sequel?)."—Max Byrd, professor emeritus of English, UC Davis, and author of Jefferson, Jackson, and Grant: A Novel.

 “In this wonderful book, Rich Adams tells a powerful and poignant story about West Point and West Pointers on the cusp of the Civil War… A “must read” for every fan of historical fiction as well as for Civil War buffs in general. Brilliant. Stunning.”—Tom Carhart, author of Lost Triumph: Lee’s Real Plan at Gettysburg—And Why It Failed.

About the Author     

Rich Adams received his appointment to join the West Point Class of 1967 from Texas congressman, Homer Thornberry, and was the first of three brothers to graduate from West Point. Six months after graduation, he deployed to Vietnam with the 1/506^th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (of WWII "Band of Brothers" fame). Upon completion of this tour, he became an army aviator, meeting and marrying the love of his life while in flight school. After seven years in the military, he and the family returned to his hometown, Austin, Texas, and he began a career as a consulting civil/environmental engineer. Eventually moving to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he formed, grew, and later sold an environmental consulting company, and since then has consulted as a sole practitioner on a wide range of groundwater and related environmental issues.

He is active in West Point alumni affairs and in the many activities of his class, and has served as adjunct assistant professor to West Point's Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering, and as adjunct professor to the School of Engineering and Applied Science, Southern Methodist University. He and his wife reside part of the year in Destin, Florida, and part of the year in Denver, Colorado.

In his free time, he enjoys golfing, hiking, biking, and traveling the world, and during the winter season is a ski instructor at Beaver Creek, Colorado.

As an author, he is working on a number of other novels and expects to soon publish his first book of poetry.

To Book Sellers

The Parting may be purchased from iUniverse under the “Booksellers Return Program,” and is distributed by the Ingram Book Group.

New LaGuardia Boss: Tom Bosco '80

12/17/2010 LaGuardia Airport is under new management. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey named 24-year employee Tom Bosco, formerly deputy general manager, as general manager of the 71-year-old airport.

Bosco has worked at all three of the area’s major airports. He has a long career in aviation, and served in the U.S. Army, where he flew helicopters. The 1980 graduate of West Point served in Operation Desert Storm and, as a Lt. Colonel, led his National Guard battalion in providing security at Ground Zero after Sept. 11.

Bosco said his priority is “the safety, security and efficiency of the airport,” which he said will serve a total of 23 million passengers in 2010, employs 7,000 people and creates $7 billion in local economic activity.

More Tom Bosco '80, the new head of head of LaGuardia Airport ..

Army accepts Armed Forces invite

DALLAS (AP) -- Army is headed to its first bowl game in 14 years.
The Black Knights on Tuesday accepted an invitation to the Armed Forces Bowl in Dallas. Army had an agreement to play in the game if it was bowl eligible and either Conference USA or the Mountain West couldn't fill their allotments.


Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/football/ncaa/11/30/army-armed-forces-bowl.ap/index.html#ixzz16nh0Vn00