Core Values Hard at Work
Core Values hard at work
Community service is a great exercise of the core values of Civil Air Patrol and Reno Composite Squadron has been putting them to work. We had a couple of great opportunities helping in our community by teaming with the Reno Tahoe International Airport and several other service groups for one of those. We helped escort the American Council of the Blind delegates to and from their gates for their annual conference held at the Nugget in Sparks. In another joint venture with Reno Tahoe Airport we supplied set up help, security, and aerospace education during the Operation Santa Claus event.
The American Council for the Blind has an annual conference where technology is demonstrated, keynote speakers, and networking between peers and businesses alike is accomplished as in any other professional conference. Margarine Beaman, the council’s advocate that helps arrange logistical help, came to a meeting to explain what we could do to facilitate the delegate’s travels to and from the event in late June and early July. Margarine had several helpful lists of how to approach them for assistance and how to expect their guide dogs if any were to interact with you. Delegates could be from 18-90 years old and over 300 guide dogs were expected. We found quickly it was going to be very hard to keep up with Margarine as she was with us every step of the way.
Sixteen RCS seniors and cadets split shifts over a three day span during the peak hours of travel for incoming delegates and very early shifts for departures the following week. As we came to find out the experience was more to our benefit then the delegates themselves. With each passenger delivered to their destination we found inspiration and had some incredible conversations. The biggest challenge of the day for incoming flights was trying to find someone else’s luggage on the carousel. We found it rewarding time spent helping our fellow men and women. If a little lady from Texas comes calling for help in your area, please answer the call. You will find a friend in Margarine as we all did.
December wind brings the joy of the holiday season to most. Some however do not always have great cheer in their lives at that time of year unfortunately. Family events, misfortune, unexpected changes in employment bring some families to the brink of not having a holiday at all. That’s where the Children’s Cabinet steps in. They help bridge the troubled waters by bringing the private sector and government services together to help families through times of trouble.
Welcome to Operation Santa Claus. RCS teamed up again with the staff of Reno Tahoe International airport along with business donations and the help of the general aviation community to give some sparkle to the holidays. Twenty five families were to receive their holiday in style at the Atlantic Aviation hanger right next door to Wing Headquarters. The huge hanger made way for tables, chairs, and 25 decorated Christmas Trees the night before the event with help from the airport staff, business personnel, and of course RCS cadets and seniors. Up went a stage and sleigh. Barber poled candy canes and games for the young were put into place by the staff. Twenty five Christmas trees were placed around the seating area awaiting gifts to be delivered.
Our guests arrived the next day before noon and were ushered out to the tarmac where in a short while 20 plus general aviation planes paraded in front of the children and parents followed by a National Guard C130 with a very special passenger in a red suit. Upon Santa and Mrs. Claus’s departure from the Hercules the hanger doors opened to reveal a feast and stacks of presents under the trees. Captain Richard Brong offered pilot seat views for the young in the Cessna 206 while the families enjoyed the festivities. Our cadets lined the tarmac for the aviation parade and then relocated to provide security to the remaining business jets in the hanger. The event concluded with the families taking their presents and trees with them.
The Reno Composite Squadron is looking forward to more community events that we can help bring our core values to use in the coming year.
Lt. Mark Silver
PAO Reno Composite Squadron
PCR-NV-054