The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

Local news

Discussion

July 14, 2011

Enid hosts state AFA convention

Event takes place today and Saturday

By Jeff Mullin, Senior Writer Enid News and Eagle

Oklahoma’s four Air Force Association chapters will be represented as Enid hosts the organization’s state convention today and Saturday.

Scott Northcutt, president of Enid’s AFA Chapter 214, said he expects “probably 40 to 50 people” from the state’s four chapters to attend.

The group will include board members and nominees for the various awards that will be presented during Saturday’s 10 a.m. business meeting and luncheon at Costello’s Continental Cuisine.

Among the awards to be presented will be 12 medals of merit and eight exceptional service awards.

The airman, company grade officer, non-commissioned officer, senior NCO, civilian technician and civilian supervisor of the year also will be honored, as will the military unit of the year, the Civil Air Patrol unit of the year, and others.

Activities begin today with an 11:30 a.m. luncheon and 12:30 p.m. golf outing at Pheasant Run Golf Course. Non-golfers can opt for a luncheon at Panevino and a tour of the newly renovated Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center and Humphrey Heritage Village.

A reception for attendees will be 6-8 tonight at Hampton Inn & Suites.

The convention will culminate with Saturday night’s banquet at Cherokee Strip Conference Center. Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb, an Enid native, will be guest speaker.

Northcutt said the convention offers a chance to showcase Enid and its close relationship with Vance Air Force Base.

“It’s good to have the folks in from out of town,” he said. “Some of them have never been to Enid, and a lot of them are military. We all know we get a lot of retired military from the base. It is nice if they can visit Enid from some other base. Maybe we can get some more retirees.”

Besides Enid, the other state AFA chapters are No. 215, the Central Oklahoma Gerrity Chapter (which serves serving Tinker Air Force Base); No. 268, the Tulsa Chapter; and No. 342, the Altus Chapter.

The Enid chapter, with more than 300 community partners, is the largest not only in the state, Northcutt said, but also in the nation. Community partners are not individual members, but businesses.

“That is one thing we are good at,” Northcutt said. “That shows how good the relationship is between the city and the base here. That is really our pride.”

AFA’s mission statement states it “educates the public about the critical role of aerospace power in the defense of our nation; advocates aerospace power and a strong national defense; and supports the United States Air Force, the Air Force family and aerospace education.”

Text Only
Local news