Mathew Horner, a Computer Science and Mathematics Teacher, updated us on the CyberPatriot Team Competition at Randolph High School, Randolph, NJ. Matthew, who was the Chapter 195 Teacher of the Year for 2019, is an advisor to the school’s computer club which includes participation in CyberPatriot. This year, he has five teams registered with possibly one or maybe two with all girls. Chapter 195, is sponsoring the team registrations.

The AFA CyberPatriot National Youth Cyber Education Program is in its 14th year and has expanded its scope from initially targeting just high school youth to now covering K-12. Other programs include summer CyberCamps, elementary school cyber guide, children’s literature series, CyberGenerations –a senior citizen cyber safety guide, and a Tech Caregivers guide program to encourage cyber-savvy volunteers to support their communities.

On Saturday, May 29th, at 2:00 PM, Chapter 195 held a virtual meeting via Zoom where we had a talk by our Teacher of the Year, Joseph Konopinski, Science Teacher, Morris Hills Regional School District, Rockaway, NJ. He has taught Physics for the past four years and, for the last three years, he has also taught courses in an Aviation and Aerospace program sponsored by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Joseph Konopinski is also regarded as an expert in teaching high school students aviation skills using flight simulators in a classroom environment. The curriculum is a rigorous four-year program that prepares students for careers in aviation.

On Saturday, Apr 24th, Chapter 195 held a virtual meeting via Zoom where we had a talk on “What Services are available from County Veteran Service Officers” by Jean O’Brien, Veteran Services Officer, Somerset County, NJ, to assist veterans with federal and state programs. She is a proud daughter who will tell you of her father who served in the Air Force for 22 years and in Vietnam. She served nine years on active duty in the Navy and 21 years within the Naval Reserve as a Naval Flight Officer on board the P-3C Orion aircraft conducting counter-drug search and rescue, and Noble Eagle operations.

On Saturday, Feb 27th, Chapter 195 held a virtual meeting via Zoom where we had a talk on Amelia Earhart – The Power of One by Susan Loricchio, an Air Power Advocate of the AFA, a general aviation pilot and historian, and a member of The Ninety-Nines, Inc. (the international women pilot’s organization of which Earhart was the organization’s first president). Amelia Mary Earhart was an American aviation pioneer and author. Born on July 24, 1897, she disappeared on July 2, 1937, while trying to become the first woman to circumnavigate the globe. Earhart was the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She set many other records, was one of the first aviators to promote commercial air travel, wrote best-selling books about her flying experiences, and was instrumental in the formation of The Ninety-Nines, an organization for female pilots.

On Saturday, Jan 30th, 2021, Chapter 195 had a virtual meeting via Zoom where Capt. Jens Peter Hinge gave a talk about CAP’s many Aerospace Education Programs. He was recently installed as, Commander, Lone Eagle Composite Squadron, Civil Air Patrol (CAP).