Minneapolis hosted the annual North Central Region NORCOM conference the weekend of October 23-25. The North Central Region meeting was held at the University of Minnesota on October 24 and the joint meeting with the AAS/SW ARCON Region VII on October 25. AFA leaders from across the region joined with support organizations like USA Today to review ongoing operations and to plan for future activities. Sandy Schlitt, AFA Vice-Chairman for Aerospace Education, was the featured guest speaker.

The NORCOM conference coincided with SNOWCON. This was an ROTC conclave sponsored by the Arnold Air Society and Silver Wings. Cadets traveled from central regional states to attend this event. Joint sessions were held between the two organizations. Sandy Schlitt gave two extensive presentations. First, he gave an update on AFA and its activities to regional and central state AFA leaders. The next day he met with ROTC students and leaders to give them a history of AFA. He asked them to join the organization.

Schlitt noted: “AFA exists in large part to support the success and development of young leaders like those here in ROTC. We want you to be successful, and in your success we want you to become members of AFA so that you can join in developing the success of those coming behind you. In that way the organization can perpetuate itself and fulfill its mission to educate, advocate and support you throughout your Air Force careers.”

AFA Cental Region President Jim Simons opened up the conference. Then AAS/SW cadet leaders Joe Carroll, Area VII Commander, and Darcy Oien, Region VII President, briefed attendees on their activities. Their leaders and teachers in ROTC, CAP, JROTC and the AFA regional states followed with PowerPoint briefings about programs and training activities.

The weekend of briefings was completed with a visit from Major Dave “Zeke” Skalicky. He is the US Air Force F-22 Raptor aerial demonstration team commander and pilot based at Langley, Virginia. Skalicky was the featured speaker at the dinner banquet held the last evening of the NORCOM/SNOWCON joint event.

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