My motivation: I remember being 14 years old, looking at every airplane in the sky, wasting all day pursuing the perfect modification to my favorite paper airplane design, or dreaming of someday being an airline captain. Ultimately I realized that dream, but only with the help of some very generous adults before me. For example, my high school electronics teacher was also a certified flight instructor, and he organized a summer school session to prepare a handful of us to pass the private pilot written exam. Also, a friend of my father offered me some free flight instruction, to the point of solo; in exchange, I did some babysitting. These are the kind of breaks that can make a difference in a life, and I want to pass the favor on to the next generation as well as I can. Those of you that know me well,  know that my focus is on delivering the best experience to all CAP members, cadets and seniors (officers) alike.  I am hoping that you will think about joining us on Friday nights at the Homeland Security building at 269 Maxim Road at Brainard Airport in Hartford.  Senior Members: Officers come with a wide variety of life experiences and interests, and I know some of you need to limit your commitment. I have some ideas designed to tailor our needs to your desires: 

• As far as I am concerned, you need not make a commitment to weekly meetings, although we could certainly use your help, as long as you can attend one monthly safety meeting. The first Friday of the month will normally be Squadron Commander's Call. It is a good time to disseminate information and discuss plans.
   
• If you are a pilot and want a way to exercise your skills for cheap, this is the place. If you are an experienced pilot and want to exercise your skills for free, even better, this is still the place. We have two C-182's with conventional gages, and one with the Garmin 1000 glass cockpit. We also have two C-172's.  All aircraft are very well maintained and they need to fly. We have lines of cadets waiting for free rides. The truth and shame of it is that if we don't fly these planes more, we stand a chance of losing one to another wing. The flip side of that is that because we have bolstered our flying infrastructure over the last year, our fleet has grown at the expense of a nearby state.
   
• If you are an EMT and want to exercise that skill, you would fit well into our emergency services arena.
   
• If you still have a bit of G.I. Joe in you, not a problem. As the Air Force Auxiliary, our organization is framed around military protocol, drill and ceremony.

• If you feel a call to civic duty, this is the place. There are so many avenues available here, from mentoring inner city kids to search and rescue, drug reduction and homeland security.
   
• If personal growth is your agenda, it's here. We have various tracks for senior members to hone their management, teaching, speaking or other skills. Classes provided from time to time can be key to earning increased responsibility and rank within Civil Air Patrol. Normally, a senior member is a Second Lieutenant after six months; and certain degrees, licenses or military service allow entry at higher rank.
   
• If you are simply a parent and want to help out with the meetings, great! We have a lot to keep track of and you can help. There is always room for improvement with responsibilities like record keeping, field trips, applications, and reports to CT wing... Trust me; we could use your help here, no matter what skills you bring. We just took delivery of a 12 passenger van which will help immensely with weekend activities.