Silver Wings
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Silver Wings is a student, professional organization dedicated to developing civilians' leadership skills and providing service to their community. Each chapter consists of college (undergraduate through graduate) students at different universities who volunteer together to help at various non-profit organizations within their community, increase professional skills through interactions with other organizations and workshops, and benefit from giving back to the community by being able to travel across the country gaining valuable leadership skills and experience in a professional/business environment. Unlike some other organizations, Silver Wings is a self-governed organization that is run by students from the chapter level all the way up to the national level. With minor supervision, Silver Wings works jointly with the Arnold Air Society (AAS) nationwide to promote leadership skills, military awareness, and professional development.
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[edit] Objectives
Mission: "Silver Wings (SW) is a national, co-ed, professional organization dedicated to creating proactive, knowledgeable, and effective civic leaders through community service and education about national defense."
Silver Wings has three tenets to help them with their mission: professional development, personal development, and civic awareness. For professional development, the national organization allows members to have leadership opportunities where they can develop their professional skills such as public speaking, written/oral communications, and presenting to a big audience. For personal development, volunteering at various locations, such as soup kitches, nursery homes, children's museum, and cleaning up parks, help members develop a sense of purpose and responsibility to their communities. For civic awareness, members of Silver Wings are informed about aerospace power and national defense through interactions with AAS members and military personnel.
Every year during the Spring (usually on Easter weekend), Silver Wings and AAS jointly holds the National Conclave where all members of Silver Wings and AAS are invited to discuss matters within the organizations. During this event, business meetings are conducted and local chapters and regions votes on various resolutions and amendments to their manuals. Each year during the National Conclave, both organizations vote on a Joint National Project (JNP), a project that has national appeal, a specific need, and is flexible enough so that different projects can be conducted to accomplish the JNP. Currently, the JNP for Silver Wings and AAS is "The Courage to Overcome", which is directed towards the epidemic of cancer. Potential projects include raising money, organizing events, and coordinating with independent organizations to both raise awareness of the disease and contributing to its treatment and cure.
[edit] History of Silver Wings
Silver Wings, originally known as Angel Flight, was founded at the University of Omaha in 1952. Starting out as an all-female organization, Angel Flight was more of a national idea with various names. While these organizations across the country had different names, they were all focused on helping out their local AFROTC unit. In April of 1957, representatives from 16 different groups came together at the 8th National Conclave of Arnold Air Society to join their purposes under a National Coordination Headquarters. From that point on, Silver Wings became an organization on a national, regional, and local level.
As members of Angel Flight continue to make their organization more professional, service-oriented, and an image to support members for the AFROTC unit closest to their campus, all their hard work paid off in the 1980s when the Executive Board of Directors approved for local Angel Flight chapters to use the name "Silver Wings" as recognition for their growing diversity in membership.
In 1995, the General Assembly of the yearly national conclave voted to amend Angel Flight's Constitution to officially change their name to "Angel Flight-Silver Wings." Local chapters were allowed to use the name "Angel Flight," "Silver Wings," or "Angel Flight-Silver Wings."
In hopes to increase recruitment, Angel Flight-Silver Wings went through a massive restructuring of their organization in 1996 by changing their mission and goals away from being a military-support oriented organization to further diversify their organization. Their change became official in 1998 when the National Conclave voted to officially change the name of their organization to "Silver Wings," functioning as a civilian organization focused on community service, leadership, and professional development.
Even with all the major leaps of accomplishments that Silver Wings has made in the past, some people still see Silver Wings today as second to the Arnold Air Society. This problem is recognized within all levels of both organizations and staff members of Silver Wings and AAS are working desperately to redefine the image of Silver Wings as an equal and sister organization to the Arnold Air Society.
[edit] Membership
[edit] Entry Requirements
Each prospective member for Silver Wings must be an undergraduate or graduate student and within the local chapter. In addition, in order to become an active member of Silver Wings, all prospective members must complete the following things:
- Complete Silver Wings Information Workshop
- A workshop where initiates learn basic information about Silver Wings including, but are not limited to, organization structure, official positions, mission, and symbols.
- Complete Military Workshop
- A workshop where initiates are introduced to military ranks, customs and courtesies, and principles.
- Attend a chapter service project
- Because local chapters are always volunteering at various community service facilities, initiates are required to attend at least one service project to get an understanding of how Silver Wings gives back to their community.
- Plan and execute a service project
- On top of attending a chapter's service project, initiates are required to learn how to set up their own service project and execute it.
- Pass National Test
- A test created by the National Headquarters is given to all initiates to ensure prospective members have the knowledge to be an effective member of Silver Wings.
[edit] Classes of Membership
There are five different types of membership that a member can fall into.
- Active
- A member who has paid their national, region, and chapter dues, is in good standing with the chapter, and attends meetings regularly. Active members are allowed to vote and have office positions.
- Inactive
- A member who has paid their national, region, or chapter dues, but does not attend meetings or take part in any service projects. These members are not allowed to vote or have any kind of office positions.
- Associate
- Any prospective member who have paid for the national, region, and chapter dues for Silver Wings are considered Associate members until they pass all the requirements. Associate members are given one year to become active members from the date they become an associate member. Associate members are allowed to voice in chapter's activities, but are not allowed to vote or hold office positions.
- Alumni
- Members of Silver Wings who have graduated may become members of the National Silver Wings Alumni Association. Alumni members are not required to pay any national dues, but may be required to pay dues from the Alumni Association. Alumni members may retain certain rights and privileges at the discretion of their local chapter.
- Honorary
- Honorary membership is the highest tribute a person can be given to in Silver Wings without actually becoming a member. Honorary membership are usually given to a person who deserves recognition for his or her contributions and interests to Silver Wings and membership are given at the discretion of an unimous vote from the local chapter. Honorary members are allowed to attend conclaves and meetings, but are not allowed to hold office positions or receive awards.
[edit] Organization
The nation is broken up into 11 regions, which are then broken into chapters.
National Headquarters is chosen each year by the National Conclave, which takes place during the Spring time. The national headquarter is comprised of these positions: President, Vice President, Development Officer, Public Affairs Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer.
On the region level, the two main positions are the Region President(RP) and the Vice Region President. The RP may choose to create a whole staff including, but are not limited to, Public Affairs Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer, if he or she wishes to do.
On the chapter level, the main positions are the President, Vice President, Development Officer, Secretary, Treasurer, and the Activities/Project Officer. The chapter's staff may choose to add additional positions as they think fit in order for them to complete their mission.
[edit] Symbols
- Motto - "Knowledge, Wisdom, and the Courage to Serve"
- Flower - White Rose
- Colors
- Blue - Representing the sky above and the Airpower we support
- White - Representing the purity of our intent and our loyalty to our country
