NATCA 2019 Scholarship Winners
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NATCA Charitable Goes Green on Earth Day
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NATCA Remembers Former GFK Member and FacRep
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Members Take their Spring Break to Sun 'n Fun
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Award Deadlines Approaching
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NATCA Provides Scholarships to Deserving Students
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NATCA President Paul Rinaldi and Executive Vice President Trish Gilbert announced the selections on April 11. "We were pleased to see so many applicants take part in the process this year," said Rinaldi. "It is both interesting and meaningful to hear perspective from young people about their experiences during the government shutdown. The essays repeatedly showed that the shutdown didn't just affect their parents and family members." Gilbert added, “Congratulations to all the recipients of the 2019 NATCA Scholarship. We enjoyed reading your essay submissions and wish you great success with your academic endeavors.”
The students were asked the question, "How does a government shutdown affect the aviation system in general, and NATCA members and their families in particular?" Out of the 22 scholarship winners, two recipients, Brian Henn and Kiara Kennington, were given the President's Award, a $2,000 scholarship.
The other winners received a $1,000 scholarship.
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Brian Henn, son of Region X member Joseph Henn, Engineer/Eastern Region (EEA)
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Kiara Kennington, daughter of Northwest Mountain Region member Richard Kennington, Portland ATCT (PDX)
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Brian and Kiara took the time to discuss and compare their experiences with a teacher strike in their school district, coming to Capitol Hill to participate in the NATCA rally on Jan. 10, the detriment the shutdown had on the National Airspace System, as well as on the morale of federal workers. To view the essays of the President Award winners, please
click here
. The names of all the scholarship winners are listed below.
The NATCA Scholarship Program was established for the spouses and children of active, retired, and deceased NATCA members with continuous membership in good standing of at least two years. These scholarships are awarded for full-time attendance at accredited colleges and universities within the United States and its territories for an undergraduate degree program.
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Jeffrey and Dawn McElvain
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NATCA Charitable "Goes Green" on Earth Day to Encourage Philanthropy & Volunteerism
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In honor of Earth Day, the NATCA Charitable Foundation (NCF) is announcing a new effort to encourage volunteerism and philanthropy that will make a difference to the environment and help NATCA members give back to their communities. To support this and NCF’s other important charitable work, the Foundation will be selling “NATCA Goes Green” T-shirts and reusable shopping bags. In addition, NCF is announcing a new grant program, where NATCA members may apply for their local to receive one of five $1,000 NCF “Going Green” grants toward an an environmentally-focused charity in their community.
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Jen Malloy from Cleveland Center initiated this effort. “For years, I have been wanting to see NATCA continue to make a big impact, while creating a smaller footprint," she said. "Years ago, we started such efforts with reusable cups at CFS. In 2019, I want to encourage our Union to grow their efforts. Together, I know we can channel NATCA giving and volunteerism towards many deserving community organizations doing great work to improve the environment and improve the communities where NATCA members live and work. This program is one way we can demonstrate how each day we can choose to better our future as a Union and for our families to be more sustainable and respectful.”
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NCF President Corrie Conrad added, “The NATCA Charitable Foundation is really excited about this program. It demonstrates NATCA members’ commitment to volunteerism and supporting vital local charities. And it’s great that we can focus fundraising and some of our giving to green initiatives. We hope that many NATCA members will buy these shirts and grocery bags and submit proposals for grants to support green activities in their communities.
”
Orders for NCF "Goes Green" items and applications for NCF "Goes Green" grants must be received by May 22.
Orders for the shirts and bags will be produced and shipped once the order period has closed.
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NATCA Remembers the Life of Longtime GFK Member and FacRep
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The NATCA family lost a beloved brother earlier this month. Longtime Grand Forks ATCT (GFK) member and FacRep Chuck Adams died after a long battle against a glioblastoma brain tumor. He was 58.
He was a leader, an instructor, a mentor, and a friend to so many, both inside and outside the ATC profession, leaving a profoundly positive and uplifting impression on everyone he met. Those who knew him and worked with him said he took great pride in his work and was an instructor and mentor to numerous other air traffic controllers.
Adams was born in St. Paul, Minn. He joined the U.S. Air Force after his high school graduation in 1979. He proudly served as an air traffic controller and combat controller until his honorable discharge in 1988. He served at the Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas and the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base in South Carolina. After the military, Chuck joined the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an air traffic controller. He started with the FAA at Detroit ATCT (DTW), and then worked at Saginaw ATCT (MBS). After that, he worked at Grand Forks (GFK) for the next 23 years. He retired in 2015.
Read more
.
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Adams worked as one of the well-respected “pink shirts” at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh for 15 years. It was an annual highlight in his ATC career. This group photo of AirVenture controllers, taken in 2012, includes Chuck at the far right.
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Members Take Their Spring Break to
Sun 'n Fun
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Dubbed “spring break for pilots,” the 45th annual Sun 'n Fun International Fly-In and Expo, held April 2-7 in Lakeland, Fla., was a shining moment for aviation. Approximately 50 controllers and more than 3,500 volunteers gathered to prepare and run the event that raises more than $2 million annually for aviation education.
“Sun 'n Fun was one of the most impressive operations I have ever seen," Southern Regional Vice President Jim Marinitti said of this year’s gathering. "The ultimate in teamwork, and a lot of fun."
“Some of the greatest teamwork and professionalism you’ll ever see in ATC happens here!” said Daytona Beach ATCT (DAB) FacRep Mike Driscoll, who worked Sun 'n Fun traffic this year. “It’s such a great event and I’m honored to have played a part in it.”
Sun 'n Fun is largest annual fundraiser for the Aerospace Center for Excellence, which provides educational opportunities and scholarships for students interested in aviation, including those at neighboring Central Florida Aerospace Academy.
Among the exciting activities things attendees saw this year were six U.S. Navy Blue Angels F-18 fighter jet pilots competing against the latest drone technology. The event also featured a wide variety of high-powered aviation performances, exhibitors, and educational classes at Lakeland Linder International Airport.
The annual fundraiser is the second-largest aviation expo of its kind in the world, behind only EAA AirVenture Oshkosh held in Wisconsin in July.
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NATCA Prepares for 2019 Pride Celebrations
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NATCA is helping members and staff who want to join 2019 LGBTQ+ Pride celebrations in Washington, D.C., and in other communities around the country.
Shirts for Charity:
We will again sell NATCA logo Pride T-shirts in our Union's store. Each shirt sold will include a $10 donation for The Trevor Project. Trevor is a national nonprofit that
provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ young people. Trevor also offers guidance and resources to parents and educators in order to foster safe, accepting, and inclusive environments for all youth.
The 2019 T-shirts will be a platinum color. They are union-made in the U.S. and union-printed. In addition to the short sleeve T-shirts we sold last year, we plan to sell tank tops. We are accepting orders now, so you can receive them in time for your June Pride events. The NATCA Charitable Foundation once again agreed to match the dollars raised for charity on the sale of the first 100 Pride shirts with an additional $1,000 donation to Trevor Project. In 2018, through the sale of NATCA Pride shirts with the matching NCF donation, we raised $4090 for Trevor Project. With your participation, we hope to raise an even greater amount in 2019.
D.C. Pride Parade:
In addition to arranging shirts, NATCA once again is arranging a contingent in the Capital Pride Parade in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, June 8. In addition to marching, we plan to have a float in the parade. All NATCA members and their family and friends who plan to be in Washington that day are welcome to join us for the parade. We will provide a shirt to anyone joining NATCA in the D.C. parade.
Pride Events in Other Cities:
In addition to the Capital Pride in D.C., our Union wants to help any NATCA members who want to organize groups from their locals to march in LGBTQ+ Pride parades in their communities around the U.S. We will print and ship a banner to any any local organizing a contingent and ordering shirts for their group.
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The National Legislative Committee (NLC) and the NATCA in Washington (NiW) Planning Committee recently met to prepare for the upcoming NATCA in Washington. "The NiW Planning Committee and the NLC have worked hard over the past year to put together a great event. We are confident our attendees will have a great experience," said NLC Chair Steve Weidner.
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Controllers Take Charge in the Final Four
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As NCAA basketball fans headed to Minneapolis-St. Paul for the Final Four, they did not have to think about their safety in the air thanks to members in the Great Lakes Region, continuously ensuring the safety and well-being of passengers in the skies.
Click here
to read (via FAA News) about all the planning and prep work that happened behind the scenes.
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Members Attend LEAP Training
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The NATCA Academy recently held a highly-immersive Leadership Experience Acceleration Project (LEAP) class at the Inn on the River in Glen Rose, Texas. NATCA leaders and activists were taught principle-centered leadership skills and other tools to successfully serve their members. "The energy of this class was high from the first hour of the first day," said Southern Regional Vice President Jim Marinitti. "They were attentive, focused, and eager to use what they learned with their locals." You too can register for NATCA Academy classes at
portal.natca.org
.
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NATCA Hosts Media Training
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NATCA recently hosted a media training class for NATCA FacReps and leaders throughout the country. Led by the National Office Public Affairs Department, members were given insight into how reporters work and conduct interviews,
tips to help prepare for any media engagement, and advice on what to do and what not to do when being interviewed, with a special emphasis on developing and delivering a strong, clear message and helping our Union best achieve our advocacy priorities. Participants had the opportunity to hear from a Washington, D.C., local television reporter, try out their newly-learned skills with two mock interviews in a recording studio, and ask general questions of the Public Affairs Department, NATCA President Paul Rinaldi, and Executive Vice President Trish Gilbert.
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A Tradition Unlike Any Other at The Masters
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ATC at Augusta ATCT (AGS) just concluded one of their busiest weeks, ensuring the safety and efficiency of all those involved with The Masters tournament in Augusta, Ga. “We plan months in advance for this event each year and there are a lot of great people involved that make Masters week a successful event,” said AGS FacRep Jonathan Sampson.
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Atlanta Center's (ZTL) Traffic Management Unit (TMU) spearheaded the coordination with ZTL, Jacksonville Center (ZJX), Atlanta TRACON (A80), Greer ATCT (GSP), and Columbia Metropolitan ATCT (CAE). “All of these surrounding facilities really come together for this week and work great with us to handle the increased traffic we see," said Sampson. "Our controllers here at AGS as well as the extra controllers we bring in rise to the occasion and work extremely hard to handle 10 times the traffic AGS usually sees on a normal week throughout the year.”
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NNE Safety Reps Gather in Charlotte for ASI Training
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New England Region (NNE) Safety Rep Seth Myers (ZBW) and NNE Alternate Regional Vice President Curt Fischer (A90) serve on NATCA's Air Safety Investigations (ASI) committee and attended their annual training recently in Charlotte, N.C. They reviewed ASI standard procedures and outbriefed investigations done over the past year. They also had a roundtable session with NTSB's Brian Soper and Boeing 737 First Officer Mike Douglas from American Airlines.
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NATCA Members Host Crawfish Boil
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Now in its 12th year, the Houston Crawfish Boil continues to attract active and retired members, family, and friends to this delicious and entertaining event. Houston Center (ZHU), Houston TRACON (I90), Houston Intercontinental ATCT (IAH), Tomball D. W. Hooks ATCT (DWH), and Houston Hobby ATCT (HOU) members hosted more than 150 people to a day filled with fun, food, and solidarity.
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NATCA Members Compete in ATC Hockey Tournament
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NATCA members joined dozens more aviation safety professionals from around the world this month in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to play the "coolest sport" in the world. Teams of air traffic controllers, flight data and service specialists, ATC equipment technicians and engineers, and their family and friends traveled to Halifax to face off on the ice for the title of ATC Hockey Global champions.
The tournament benefited three charities local to the event: the New Brunswick SPCA, Special Olympics New Brunswick, and Feed Nova Scotia.
“We had teams from the U.S., Canada, Russia, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Dubai,” said Denver TRACON (D01) member Deidre Hatchard, who played in the tournament for the Detroit Muggers. “The winner this year was the team from Prague.”
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NATCA Policy Change: Cellular Service National Level Reimbursement Policy
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At their recent meeting, the NATCA National Executive Board
discussed supporting labor friendly wireless carriers. The
NEB voted unanimously that effective Nov. 1, 2019, NATCA will provide reimbursement from the national level only for preferred wireless service providers.
It was decided that a wireless service provider whose employees are represented nationally by an AFL-CIO union could be considered a NATCA-preferred wireless service provider. Currently, AT&T is the only major U.S. wireless carrier with a union-represented workforce. About half of AT&T's employees are union-represented, primarily by the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of-Electrical Workers.
This policy applies only to members seeking reimbursement from the national level. It’s does not affect local reimbursement.
If you have questions about this new policy,
email here
.
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NATCA Award Deadlines Approaching
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Deadlines for NATCA award nominations are quickly approaching. Don’t miss this opportunity to recognize the exemplary actions of your brothers and sisters. All of these awards will be presented during Communicating For Safety (CFS), which will take place Sept. 16-18 at Bally's Las Vegas.
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Store Item of the Week: Adult Gothic Tee
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NATCA's gothic-styled adult T-shirts are an absolute must for everyone. T-shirt colors are available in heather black and plum, with the air traffic control tower and plane design printed on front.
Made with a form-fitting unisex poly-cotton blend, with a slightly scooped neckline. Available in sizes S-2XL, and in women's sizes. Union-made in the United States.
Price: $14-16.
To see the item and how to order:
Click here
. Select USPS or UPS as your shipping preference on your orders. To check on stock availability or for further assistance, call 800-266-0895 or email
natcastore@natcadc.org
.
This is an exclusive and limited-time offer. Be sure to treat yourself to NATCA’s trendy clearance items while you can.
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Member Benefits: Bonus Drive
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When it comes to getting a new vehicle, you don’t want to miss out on this opportunity for a $250 or $500 reward.
Here’s how it works:
- Bonus Drive gives users a $250 or $500 rebate (depending on manufacturer) when they shop for and purchase or lease a select new vehicle.
- Eligible manufacturers: Hyundai, Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep®, Ram, and Fiat®.
- Within 60 days of purchase, owners must complete a short online application at Bonus Drive’s website and be sure to mention their NATCA membership.
- A check will arrive at the applicant’s home in 8-10 weeks.
Because you are a NATCA member, you are automatically eligible for this program.
The Bonus Drive offer is in addition to any other offers or discounts from the manufacturer and dealer.
For more information, please visit
www.natcabenefits.com
to take advantage of these great NATCA members-only savings!
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