Arnold Air Society seems pretty small when you are going to weekly meetings and attending events every month with the same group of Arnies from detachment 685. While volunteering for your community and getting to know people within your detachment is great, you do not realize the impact your single squadron is making until you have gone to NATCON. The National Conclave for Arnold Air Society (also called SEACON because it was held in Seattle, Washington) ran this year from 1 April to 5 April. Eleven Arnies of the 1st Lieutenant James L. Badley Squadron left for SeaCon Thursday afternoon and arrived late Thursday night at the Sheraton Hotel, where they would spend their next three days with over 1,000 Arnies, Retired Brigadier General Richard Bundy, Brigadier General Teresa A.H. Djurick, Major General Allen G.Peck, Colonel John M. McCain, and many other distinguished guests.

The first meeting was held Friday morning and was completely overwhelming, to say the least. Walking into a room where all eleven areas of Arnold Air Society are represented, with eight to fifteen squadrons per area, and a few Arnies from each squadron attending, you begin to realize the size and impact of the Arnold Air Society. The meetings involved voting on resolutions to problems, the location of the next NATCON, deciding who would hold the next National Headquarters, and announcing award recipients. Yours truly brought home six different awards of their own, including:

1. Squadron Advisor of the year (best out of seven advisors) was awarded to Capt. Nathan Kirk.
2. Squadron of the Month for February (best out of seven squadrons)
3. Most Outstanding Director of Operations of the year for Area XI (best out of seven director of operations) was awarded to Amanda.
4. Most Outstanding Vice Commander of the year for Area XI (best out of seven vice commander’s) was awarded to Miranda.
5. Most Outstanding Squadron Commander of the year for Area XI (best out of seven commanders) was awarded to Kenny.
6. Arnie of the Year for Area XI (best of approximately 250) was awarded to Keith.

Meetings were a great time to learn more about Arnold Air Society, it’s history, who all is involved, what we are doing on a national level, ideas for future events and projects, as well as just getting to meet new people and hear great speakers. After meetings, Arnies are given the night off. Most spent time hanging out with their squadrons and people they met in meetings. Seattle was stocked with good restaurants, shopping, and plenty of other activities. Overall NATCON was an awesome experience and an event that no Arnie wants to miss out on! With our new National Headquarters in Michigan and our next NATCON being held in New York, Arnies everywhere are more pumped than ever to make this the best Arnold Air Society year ever!

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