Arlington, VA, September 17, 1998--The Air Force Association (AFA) awarded the Ark-LA-Tex Chapter its prestigious Donald W. Steele, Sr. Memorial Award, naming it the most outstanding chapter of the year. The award was presented at the AFA National Convention and Aerospace Technology Exposition, held in Washington, D.C., September 14-16, 1998.

According to South Central Region Vice President Ivan McKinney, of Bossier City, Louisiana, during the past year the chapter "really caught fire, making a big difference in the local area, the state, the region and in the nation as a whole." The chapter excelled in every category, McKinney said, describing it as "absolutely superior." For two years running, the chapter has recruited the highest number of new members, more than any other chapter in the nation, and it met every quarter's membership goal, also earning it the Jack Gross Membership Award for 1998.

Community involvement is high on the chapter's list of "things-to-do." It maintains a good "command support" relationship with the 2^nd Bomb Wing and the 8^th Air Force, both headquartered at Barksdale (LA) Air Force Base. The chapter provided trophies for Barksdale's outstanding Honor Guard, donated funds toward "Bright Christmas," a charity for lower-income Air Force families at Christmas time, contributed to the Barksdale 8^th Air Force Museum, the Barksdale Senior Enlisted Advisor's annual awards banquet, and it has contributed considerable funds over the years to events honoring Barksdale's aircrews.

The chapter's outreach activities extend far and wide. For example, Ark-LA-Tex donated $150 to add the names of two 2^nd Bomb Wing B-52 crew members who were mistakenly left off the Mackay Trophy which hangs in the Pentagon. Chapter members donated funds from Barksdale's Holiday-in-Dixie event to area schools participating in cadet activities. Thirty-eight members voluntarily ushered at an Independence Bowl Game featuring Louisiana State University versus Notre Dame. Chapter members helped bring a replica of the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Wall to Bossier City, assisting in both its erection and removal. Members have also been guest speakers at several civic clubs (Exchange, Rotary, Lions, Optimist), spreading the message of airpower and national defense. And the list goes on and on.

The chapter also reaches out to the community through AFA business partnerships. AFA's Community Partner Program provides a way for local businesses to add their support to a chapter's outreach programs. Beginning with only 27 AFA Community Partners in October 1995, the chapter now boasts a whopping 255 on board.

For years, the chapter has been a faithful provider of mobile aircraft simulators to area junior high schools for hands-on flight simulation to help promote aerospace education. It has also provided a member from its Executive Council to present AFA medals to deserving high school and college AFROTC students. Two local colleges, Louisiana Tech and Grambling State universities, benefit from scholarships set up and funded by the chapter and its Community Partners.

Overall, the Ark-LA-Tex Chapter stood above the rest during the past year in community activities, recruitment, and continued educational support. The chapter continues to support the AFA mission of educating the public about the role of aerospace power in our nation's defense and supporting the needs of Air Force people. In his nominating letter, McKinney stated that "under the active leadership of its president, Peyton Cole, [the chapter] is without any doubt the best chapter in the AFA for 1997-98."

CONTACT: Melissa Braxton, AFA Assistant for News and Information
(703) 247-5843
E-mail - mbraxton@afa.org