E W Rawlings Chapter Provides F2 Grant For 934th Air Wing Family Day 

The E.W. Rawlings Chapter participated in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Joint Air Reserve Station’s annual Family Day on August 3 in an effort to support the community and drive AFA membership.  

The event was made possible by an AFA F2 grant. Annual Family Day honors troops and their families for their service and sacrifices. Often these events are the only time the entire command and their families can enjoy together. Barbecue lunch was provided by a private vendor. Lots of games, giveaways, and family activities enabled the command, service families, and their kids to spend me together while also boosting moral–a key F2 grant quality of life initiative for 934th families.  

Roman Hund, Rawlings chapter president, worked with 934th leadership to set up an AFA booth onsite. Larry Sagstetter, Minnesota state president, twisted balloons to create balloon animals, flowers, and other balloon sculptures for kids, who ran to the booth with parents in tow to get a balloon animal. While kids surrounded Larry, Roman, Roger O’Daniel, Dan Murphy, and Sarah Wise informed parents about AFA and Rawlings chapter activities.   

When we set up an AFA booth at an event like Family Day or Minnesota State Fair Military Appreciation Day, it is necessary to have a way of drawing people in, to spike interest in our work. Larry’s balloon animal sculptures are a terrific way of getting attention. Folks are drawn to the booth, and then we sell them on AFA. It’s a great way to boost membership.