CAPNYNEWS ONLINE

By: Captain James Ridley, Public Affairs Officer

LAKE GEORGE - With his state-of-the-wing theme taken from the popular Billy Joel song, Col. Kenneth Andreu propelled the wing conferences general assembly into a "New York State of Mind" as he related accomplishments of the past year and ever-upward prospects to come. The New York Wing commander zeroed in on the growth of the wing, safety improvements, increase in flying, and continuing incentives in all those areas, declaring that "the sky is the limit."

He took a moment to explain what the letters CAP meant to him -- compassion, can-do attitude, confidence, achievement, pro-active, professional and proficiency, among other things.

Colonel Andreu singled out South Central Group for the inaugural Aviation Excellence Award, presenting a striking trophy of a mounted propeller, and announced incentive awards for six units who had significant growth James P. O'Connor Composite Squadron, Albany Senior Squadron, Col. Francis Gabreski Squadron, North Castle Composite Squadron, Floyd Bennett Composite Squadron, and Suffolk Cadet Squadron.

The past year also saw an increase in fund-raising efforts from Groups seeking grants from state and county government to a wing-wide Harley Davidson motorcycle raffle (with groups and squadrons sharing in the revenue based on ticket sales).

The Wing Conference, which took place May 2-4 at Ft. William Henry Resort and Conference Center in Lake George, also featured a number of awards.
They included:

-- Group of the Year: Finger Lakes Group.
-- Senior Member of the Year: Lt Col Charles B. Jones, Western NY Group.
-- Senior Chaplain of the Year: Chaplain, Maj Edwin R. Kopp, Central NY Group.
-- Squadron Chaplain of the Year: Chaplain, Capt William E. Wonders III, NY City Group.
-- Moral Leadership Officer of the Year: Lt Col Blair C. Biddle, Mid Eastern Group.
-- Cadet Program Officer of the Year: 1st Lt Eric W. Schenck, Central NY Group.
-- Cadet NCO of the Year: CMSgt Katie L. Tiedemann, Finger Lakes Group.
-- Cadet of the Year: Cadet Maj Jacob T. Miller, Finger Lakes Group.
-- Most Cadet Orientation Flights: Central New York Group.
-- Wing Staff Officer of the Year: Lt Col Edward V. LeFeber & Lt Col Leslie Mendez.
-- Outstanding ES Program: Long Island Group.
-- Check Pilot of the Year: Lt Col John L. Hosp, NY Wing.
-- Aerospace Education Officer of the Year: Capt Diane L. Rothberg, Western NY Group.
-- Inspector of the Year: Capt Antonio Ramos, Long Island Group.
-- Safety Officer of the Year: Capt Stephen M. Denes, Catskill Mountain Group.
-- Counterdrug Officer of the Year: Maj William I. Cox, NY Wing.
-- Legislative Officer of the Year: Lt Col George L. Fillgrove, Western NY Group.
-- Logistics Officer of the Year: Capt Paul Zuckerberg, Long Island Group.
-- Squadron of Distinction: Condor Composite Squadron, Finger Lakes Group.

NYW NEWS ONLINE