Membership in a West Point Parents Club offers a valuable opportunity formutual support, fellowship and access to useful information about the Academy and cadet life. Although each club is an independent, autonomous organization, it is officially recognized and supported by the Academy.

The parents club network offers a dynamic line of communication between the Academy and cadet parents. The Parents Club Coordinator at West Point passes on current information to club presidents, who then communicate with their members through newsletters, telephone chains, etc. Typical club activities are meetings, informal get-togethers, holiday balls and other events at which cadet families gather.

The Parents Clubs are not a substitute for formal communications between you and your cadet's Company Tactical (TAC) Officer. Specific concerns or information regarding your son or daughter should be referred to the TAC.

Many parents clubs communicate and interact with West Point Societies andmembers of the USMA Admissions field force in their local areas. Through this networking, these groups are able to gain a broad perspective on theAcademy and to assist in telling the West Point story across the country.

There are West Point Parents Clubs in each of the fifty states, Europe and Puerto Rico. If there is no club in your area and you would like information about forming one, please call the Parents Club Coordinator at(914) 938-5650 or write to the Parents Club Coordinator at the PublicAffairs Office, Building 600, West Point, New York 10996.

To join a parents club near you, simply locate the club in your region onthe Parents Club Roster and contact the president. (Please note the roster reflects club presidents as of March 1997.)

The Parents Club Coordinator in the USMA Public Affairs Office serves as the coordinator for the 104 West Point Parents Clubs. Tracks Club presidents and keeps a current roster for inquiries and commercial requests. Responds to specific requests for information and assistance from club officers and individual cadet parents. Designs, writes, edits and publishes a bi-monthly newsletter, "The West Point Report", which is distributed to more than 110 West Point Parents Clubs, Admissions Officers,other service academies and academy personnel. Determines what information will be of interest to parents and disseminates it. Writes an article for the bi-monthly Association of Graduates "Assembly" magazine. Prepares and publishes the "Parents Almanac", a 20-page booklet about West Point and Cadet life that is mailed to approximately 1200 candidates. Almanac includes information the cadets and parents will use throughout the four years at West Point. Plans, coordinates, and supervises special activities for parents clubs and individual parents as required. Coordinates football season support of Parents Clubs coffee hour. Plans and facilitates WestPoint Club Presidents Conference, an annual event where club officers come from all over the United States to gather information and interact with other clubs. Sends out critical information to include calendars, sportingevents, upcoming events, cadet rosters and new candidate information. Interacts with West Point Societies and admissions field officers. Prepares and presents briefings about the Academy and Parents Clubs to various groups, both on and off post. Maintains constant contact with other activities on post to keep current on all that affects the cadets. Receives both oral and written requests for information from parents and answers or coordinates with others to obtain an answer for the parents.