Below is all I know for now. Updates as received.

Bob K

(See "God's own Lunatics" below.)
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LVC Flight, Fellow Pilots / Aviators and Friends,

I am writing to bring you all up to speed on the formation of the US Combat Helicopter Pilots Association, aka CHPA.

The organization was founded to include and embrace all helicopter pilots with USA military combat aviation service in all wars, conflicts, times, services and ranks. There is also a membership provision for Crewmen and Crew Women; Guys in Back / GIB's. Also included with an honored status are Legacy Memberships. These memberships cover married and blood kin of Pilots Lost in Combat.

Key to CHPA is inclusion. By design, CHPA is organized to last over time.

CHPA is Headquartered in Washington, DC. Through the good offices of Steve Reilly, his wife's law firm has represented CHPA pro bono during the formation. The firm has CHPA filed (legal and tax) as a recognized Veterans Service Organization, VSO. While drinking beer and telling lies are an important part of the CHPA, by design it will be more than that.

For organizational purposes, Officers have been elected as immediate place holders until the first Annual Meeting. By acclimation and unanimous vote, recognizing superior leadership, Steve Reilly was elected to the position of President. An initial group of Regional Directors has been elected, too. Further Regional Directors will be added as the organization grows and leaders in those Regions take on the rewarding work of organizing CHPA membership.

Regional / Local sub-units of CHPA are aggressively encouraged. Projects of regional design and leadership, such as Veterans Services assistance, employment search and networking, relocations, and business start up counseling for our brethren departing active service, are being developed via that Regional Leadership. CHPA has been formed to allow for Corporate Sponsorship in an effort reach a wider and more inclusive potential membership, and to contain costs to the members.

At Steve Reilly and the CHPA Board of Directors instruction, Rhea Rippey and I were assigned to the Logo Design Committee. Rhea has recommended, and CHPA has retained, a professional designer for the logo artwork. We expect the logo design effort to be final in March. A professional management firm, Association and Foundation Services (AFS), has been retained. AFS will manage the CHPA day to day activities and maintain our soon to be published web site. The reserved website URL is www.CHPA-US.org,. Joe Galloway, the award winning War Correspondent and Co-Author of We were Soldiers Once and Young, has permitted CHPA the use the phrase he coined during his speech at The Wall, "God's own Lunatics".

From a structural point, the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of CHPA establish open and transparent financial reporting and member access. Elections will be conducted in a "representative" fashion, with members not attending an Annual Meeting having their voices and choices represented by a Delegate system.

Annual General Membership cost $30.00 per year. There is no provision for Life Memberships. However, there will be a window of time (now being determined) wherein Founding Memberships are available. A Founding Membership costs $500.00. A procedure for installment payments over time for Founding Memberships is being developed by Steve Reilly, the CHPA Treasurer, the CHPA VP of Administration, and other Board Members.

Along with others, I am honored to be a General Member and Founding Member of CHPA.

We hope you will associate with CHPA and add your experience and leadership to what will be the definitive organization representing the warrior class that knows how to serve our nation's freedom, salute our flag and swing a wing.

Those interested in becoming a member, General Member, Founding Member or both, may forward the appropriate membership amount, along with a short bio of your training and National Service to:

Combat Helicopter Pilots Association - CHPA
C/O Steve Reilly
120 11th St. SE
Washington, DC 20003

Needles all Green,

Lad Vaughan - Founding Member
US Combat Helicopter Pilots Association / CHPA (Formed)