The Candidate Guidance Office at the U.S. Naval Academy recognized many years ago that the right kind of parental guidance could greatly help to ensure the success of a Midshipman. They felt that the development of this guidance could be best accomplished by uniting parents of Midshipmen to form local Parents' Club. The main purpose of a Parents’ Club would be for informational guidance and support with a lesser emphasis on social activities. This concept was approved by the Naval Academy, the Alumni Association and the Midshipmen themselves.

In April of 1973, under the guidance of Tom Teshara, West Coast Regional Director of the Blue and Gold Program at the Naval Academy, the first Parents’ Club was formed in the San Francisco Bay Area. Since then, the concept of Parents’ Clubs has spread across the country. There are now eighty clubs, some of which are joint service academy clubs, across the continental US, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. At the request of the Superintendent, Parents’ Clubs are administered by the Naval Academy Alumni Association.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Parents' Association (SPPA) is an official Parent's Club associated with the USNA and has been established within the framework, guidelines, and policies developed by the USNA Alumni Association.

The concept for a parents group in the Southeastern Pennsylvania area was initially formulated in mid-December of 1989, as a result of the urging of the Midshipmen sons of Ms. Helen Callas-Reiner (‘91/’92) of Willow Grove, PA, and Ms. Barbara Kolbe (‘92) of Perkasie, PA.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Parents’ Association was officially recognized on February 26 1990.

SPPA LEADERSHIP
1990-1991	Helen Callas Reiner Co-Chairperson Barbara Koolbe Co-Chairperson
1991-1992	Barbara Koolbe Chairperson
1992-1993	Joseph Bartish - President
1993-1994	Joseph Bartish - President
1994-1995	Richard Coe - President
1995-1996	Peggy Thomas - President
1996-1997	Robert Miller - Co-President Florence Miller - Co-President
1997-1998	Jo-Ann Skubin - President
1998-1999	Susan Twiggs - President
1999-2000	Dindy Liebert - President
2000-2001	Deborah Feigel - President
2001-2002	Bruce Vermeychuk - President
2002-2003	Carole Capps - President
2003-2004	Carole Capps - President
2004-2005	Cheryl Kerrick - President
2005-2006	Jim Carlson - President
2006-2007	Vira Homick – Co-President Marie Schroth – Co-President

CHRONOLOGY - Important Events in SPPA History
December 1989	Informal Meeting is held by S/E PA Area Parents at the Helen Callas-Reiner Home to discuss any interest in the forming of a Parents' Club, as a result of a letter of inquiry sent out by Helen Callas-Reiner (‘91/’92) in the late Fall of 1989
February 1990	First Official Meeting is held at the Helen Callas-Reiner home to formally establish our Parents' Club At this Meeting, Helen Callas-Reiner (‘91/’92) and Barbara Kolbe (‘92) agree to jointly chair this new Organization for Fiscal Year 1990-91
February 1990	Bob Gantert (’89) agrees to be the Club's first Newsletter Editor
June 1990	SPPA Members begin to attend Plebe Luncheon to solicit incoming Plebe Parents to join the Club. This Luncheon is held annually at the Officers' Club at the Naval Air Station (NAS)/Joint Reserve Training (JRT) Base, Willow Grove, PA, and is sponsored by the USNA’s Southeastern (S/E) Pennsylvania’s (PA) Blue & Gold (B&G) Officer, Captain Donald A. McRae, USNR (Retired)
June 1990	First Welcome Aboard Picnic for Plebe Parents is held at the Helen Callas-Reiner Home
September 1990	Club selects TELL TALES as the Newsletter Name
October 1990	Bob Gantert (‘89) designs the initial SPPA Logo, The SHIP!
	First Football Tailgate Party is held at the Homecoming Football Game at USNA’s Navy/Marine Corps Memorial Field
July 1991	SPPA Members attend and distribute the first Club Parents’ Handbook to the incoming Class Of 1995 Plebe Parents at the Plebe Luncheon, held at the Officers' Club, JRT/NAS, Willow Grove
December 1991	SPPA initiates Group Seating for the Army/Navy Football Game
December 1991	First All Service Academies' Military Ball is held and hosted by the U. S. Military Academy (Army), with major support from SPPA and NAVY. It is also agreed by All Concerned / Involved Delaware Valley Service Academy Parents' Organizations that the subsequent Affairs will be hosted, in a rotation based upon each Institution's founding date. Those Founding Dates are: US Military Academy, 1802; US Naval Academy, 1845; US Coast Guard (CG) Academy, 1876; US Merchant Marine Academy, 1943; and US Air Force Academy (AFA), 1957
July 1992	Joseph Bartish (‘93) agrees to be the next Club Newsletter Editor
September 1992	By-Laws are adopted by the Club Membership
December 1992	Yard donates an USNA Banner for utilization at SPPA Functions
July 1993	Plebe Care Package Program is adopted by the Membership
	First Plebe Care Packages are distributed to our Plebes (Class of 1997)
September 1993	The USNA Alumni Association (AA) Parents' Club Coordination Group initiates and holds the First Parents' Club Presidents and Officers Seminar at Alumni House in Annapolis, as part of Firstie Parents' Weekend. Joe Bartish attends as SPPA President.
October 1993	Helen Callas-Reiner (‘91/’92) implements the Club's Phone Chain to expedite Information Exchanges
July 1994	Club's Adult Sponsor (Shipmate) Program, similar to the Yard’s Plebe Sponsor Program, is adopted and initiated for the Class Of 1998 Parents
July 1994	Club's Fiscal Year is changed from January-to-December to July-to-June, with a decision made to hold Elections in either April or May, depending upon Meeting scheduling
November 1994	SPPA adopts and authorizes the utilization of the Name Badge Design
July 1995	First Officers' and Directors' Executive Meeting is conducted by President Peggy Thomas (‘96)
July 1996	Florence and Robert Miller (‘98) initiates the holding of regularly scheduled Club Officers' and Directors' Executive Meetings
September 1996	Tailgate Committee, under the leadership of Sue Twiggs (‘99), initiates the holding of SPPA Tail-Gates at ALL Navy Home Football Games
November 1997	Officers and Members of the USNA Alumni Association, Philadelphia Chapter, attend SPPA Meeting and pledge more interactive support
February 1998	The concept of Dark Ages Packages for Mids is initiated, and the Packages are prepared and delivered to the Yard
May 1998	USNA Alumni Association, Philadelphia Chapter institutes the First Annual Richard J. Chuday Memorial Award. Award’s criteria is based upon a MID’s military standing. All MIDs from the S/E PA, South Jersey, and Northern Delaware Area being eligible to receive this Award. First recipient is MIDN 1/C David Coe of Newtown, PA (Anne and Richard Coe, David’s Parents, are active SPPA Members)
May 1998	MIDN 4/C Joshua B. Stewart, USNA ‘01, becomes the first S/E PA MID to climb to the top of the Herndon Monument, which was conquered in 2 Hours, 22 Minutes, and 55 Seconds. His Parents, SPPA Members, are Deidre and Randy Stewart of Downingtown, PA
May 1998	Club petitions area Congressional leaders to supply flags flown over Capitol as graduation gifts for SPPA Firsties. Congressional leaders reply that all S/E PA USNA Graduates are to be given flags -- To distinguish SPPA Firsties, Dave Twiggs builds flag boxes for each flag. It is these boxed flags that are presented to Firsties whose parents are SPPA members
June 1998	Sue Twiggs (‘99) initiates attending USNA Alumni Association, Philadelphia Chapter, Meetings and agrees to be SPPA’s Liaison
May 1999	The First Annual Social (Cocktails and Hors d’oeuvres) is held at the Orion Club (Officers' Club), NAS/JRT Base, Willow Grove, in Willow Grove, PA
September 1999	Pot Luck Dinner is implemented for SPPA meetings and is successfully initiated, providing more camaraderie amongst SPPA Members
February 2000	SPPA WebSite is unveiled by President Dindy Liebert (‘00), who was motivating force behind its creation
February 2000	Helen Callas-Reiner (‘91/’92) is presented with the First Life Membership Award in appreciation for her SPPA service and dedication
March 2000	USNA Alumni Association, Philadelphia Chapter initiates First Annual USNA Information Day at Hatboro-Horsham High School; USNA Admissions, Blue & Gold, MID, Philadelphia Alumni, and SPPA Members host potential MIDs and Parents; purpose is to provide Information on Admissions Process, MID Experiences, Summer Seminars, Trips, and Parents’ Clubs
March 2000	Tenth Anniversary is celebrated with a Brunch at the 94th Aero Squadron on Red Lion Road in Philadelphia, PA
May 2002	SPPA re-initiates the issuing of the Club Newsletter, TELL TALES
April 2004	First Annual Firstie Parents’ Salute – Recognition of SPPA Parents of 1/C Midshipmen
July 2004	SPPA Club Newsletter, TELL TALES, is accessible on-line at: www.sppa.net -- News Master is Joseph Bartish (’93)
October 2004	Jim Gormley (’02) organizes SPPA First Annual Bus Trip to a Navy Home Football Game; NAVY played Rice -- Score: NAVY, 14 -- Rice, 13
January 2005	MIDN 1/C Anne O’Donnell (‘05), Swarthmore, PA, is selected as Marshall Scholar -- Scholars chosen based upon distinction of intellect and character, as evidenced by academic records, achievements, and activity participation. Her parents, SPPA members, are Pat and Charles O’Donnell of Swarthmore, PA
March 2005	MIDN 1/C Anne O’Donnell (‘05), Swarthmore, PA, is recognized by USA Today as member of 2005 College Academic All-Star 1st Team. Criteria designed to find top 20 students excelling not only in scholarship, but leadership on/off campus. Winners received Trophies and $2,500. Her parents, SPPA members, are Pat and Charles O’Donnell of Swarthmore, PA
July 2005	SPPA Membership grows first time to over 100 families.
August 2005	SPPA Web Site is re-launched with enhancements including picture pages for SPPA events and web page for each SPPA Midshipmen.
October 2005	Fifteenth Anniversary of the founding of SPPA is celebrated. Brunch is held at Torresdale-Frankford Country Club.
October 2005	Nancy Burd (’03) is presented with a lifetime SPPA membership in respect for all she and her late husband, James, have done to support the mission of SPPA.
April 2006	DVD is produced of the Third Annual Firstie Parents Recognition Ceremony. This is the first time this media has been used to record an SPPA event.
April 2006	MIDN Jordan Kehrer, USNA ’07 named Trident Scholar, son of Patti Kehrer, SPPA Member and Keith Kehrer of Middletown PA. Jordan is the first Trident Scholar from SPPA. His project involves Smooth AdS Solutions to Einstein's Equations, with Scalar Fields Advisors (Physics):
Page last updated March 8, 2007

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