West Point Calendar Photos WP-ORG Website
WEST POINT PARENTS CLUB OF THE GULF COAST OF FLORIDA
Our club encompasses parent families from 16 counties in West Central and Southern Florida. We have approximately 35 current cadet families, and 15 associate member families. Associate member families enjoy all of the same benefits of regular members except that they cannot vote or hold office. A summary of our purpose and regularly scheduled activities is listed below.
Purpose – The purpose of the Club shall be:
a. To publicize and enhance the West Point image.
b. To bridge the gap between the United States Military
Academy, cadets, parents and potential cadets.
c. To improve fellowship and understanding among
parents, family and friends of cadets.
d. To promote local interest in attending the United States
Military Academy.
Spring Banquet – In March or April of each year, we hold a banquet to honor those who have received appointments or letters of assurance to the Academy or Academy Prep School. The event is normally held at the MacDill AFB Officers Club and features a dinner and a guest speaker, who is a West Point graduate and is usually a senior active duty Army officer.
Reception – During the Christmas Holiday season, our Club hosts a reception for local high school and college students who are interested in attending the United States Military Academy. The event is held at a Tampa Bay area hotel banquet facility and features speakers who are active duty military officers and West Pont graduates, as well as cadet speakers from each class at the Academy who are home on holiday leave.
June Picnic – In June we host a picnic/covered dish luncheon at a local outdoor location or church in the Tampa Bay area to honor newly appointed cadets. It is attended by new and old members and families, as well as new candidates, current cadets and recent graduates who are home on summer leave. This function serves as our annual membership drive and as an orientation for new Plebe Parents. At this event, Plebe Parent and Firstie Handbooks are provided to parents in those categories to assist them with activities and support of their cadets during those two significant years.
September Picnic – After the start of the new school year, we hold another picnic/covered dish luncheon for members and their families at a local outdoor location or church in the Tampa Bay area.
Mom and Pop Luncheons – During the school year, we hold monthly luncheons for members at a Tampa Bay area hotel. At the luncheons, club business is conducted and parents provide oral updates on the progress and activities of their cadets. Members who have experienced major upcoming events share their experiences with those that are looking forward to those events. These events include R-Day, Acceptance Day, Plebe-Parent Weekend, cadet summer assignments, Ring Weekend, and graduation week activities.
Plebe-Parent Weekend – Although not an official club function, all plebe parents who can, attend the annual event at West Point. Upper class parents provide helpful hints to Plebe parents for this weekend at prior picnics and luncheons.
Army-Navy Football Game – For those cadet parents who cannot attend the game in person, we hold an Army-Navy game party at Tampa Bay area sports facility. The past three years we have attended a party hosted by the West Point and Naval Academy Alumni Societies at Raymond James Stadium.
All Academies Ball - The WPPC of Central Florida hosts an All Academies Ball during the Christmas Holiday season. Parents and cadets of our club are invited to attend this formal event.
Club Newsletter – Four times each year a club newsletter is published and distributed to all members. The newsletter provides information concerning upcoming club functions, important dates and activities at USMA, as well as updates on each of the cadets. Newsletters are also posted on the club web site.
Club Web Site – Our club has a web site that is hosted on the west-point.org server. This site provides information about our club including club roster, newsletter, important dates and events, photographs of club members and cadets, and links to other West Point related web sites.