May 2022
ON THE FLY — A monthly NGPA newsletter published by members, for members
Happy PRIDE Month, and welcome to the newest ON THE FLY! We're this month off strong with PRIDE, PRIDE, and more PRIDE! Join the NGPA in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for the first-ever Wings Over Iowa event, and many more pride events coming up—and coming out—this month!
This newsletter is meant to be a representation of and a resource for our NGPA membership, please take a second and provide our team any feedback you might have.
ON THE FLY FEEDBACK FORM >>
06.03
WINGS OVER IOWA - THE NGPA'S NEWEST FLAGSHIP EVENT | ADD TO CALENDAR +
Our Wings Over Iowa event will be a first of its kind NGPA Member “Fly-In” event! We encourage our members to fly in their personal aircraft and share their passions for aviation with the local Cedar Rapids community. We will be hosting NGPA social events throughout the weekend to further the camaraderie of our members and to help build new connections.
06.17
STONEWALL COLUMBUS PRIDE MARCH | ADD TO CALENDAR +
Join the NGPA Ohio chapter for Central Ohio's Annual Festival and March for the LGBTQIA+ Community. Hosted & sponsored by Stonewall Columbus since 1981.
06.18
NGPA DFW SUMMER SPLASH | ADD TO CALENDAR +
Sashay on over to Will Abbott & Jeff Pelch’s dwelling for an afternoon filled of fun in the sun!
06.24
SOUTH COAST FLY-IN | ADD TO CALENDAR +
Welcome to all, whether you own a plane or would like to rent a plane, for a fun day at Lee on Solent (EGHF).
06.25
HOUSTON PRIDE PARADE | ADD TO CALENDAR +
Join the Gulf Coast Flyers for Houston's annual pride parade, along with a pride party beforehand! Mark your calendars and help represent the LGBTQAI+ community in Houston.
07.02
NGPA AUSTRALIA AT BRISBANE AIRSHOW | ADD TO CALENDAR +
NGPA Australia is planning on attending the leading air show for General Aviation in 2022 - Brisbane Air Show at Watts Bridge Memorial Field, QLD.
07.25
NGPA AT AIRVENTURE | ADD TO CALENDAR +
NGPA will again be hosting a BBQ event on Friday July 29th for members. Registration and location details coming soon.
VIEW THE FULL NGPA CALENDAR >>
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Another month down means another month closer to Spring and Summer! For me, and others who live in the Midwest, we have had 2 run-ins with what we call “fake spring!” The temperatures shoot to the mid to upper 60’s and the sun shows itself. Everyone makes a mad dash to their favorite outdoor eatery in hopes that they raced to bring out some patio furniture. We revel in the gift mother nature has provided and we savor in every last ounce of sunshine and warmth. Shortly thereafter we get slapped right back to reality with bone chilling cold and a fresh round of snow to shovel or clean off our cars. It is the vicious cycle which we call March, but nonetheless it is a welcome sign of what is to come!
As we do make the shift to warmer weather, NGPA has so much to look forward to in the coming months. Our Transgender Social Gathering is coming up this May 20-22 in Denver. We will welcome all transgender and non-binary members to come to a safe space and join in the camaraderie, support and encouragement within our community. NGPA Europe will be representing at EBACE the very next week in Geneva, Switzerland. On The heels of that will be the kickoff to PRIDE month with our NEW Flagship Event- Wings Over Iowa landing in Cedar Rapids June 3-5. Multiple PRIDE events continue through the month as well with NGPA having a presence and growing our visibility.
In July we will join our friends at PAPA (Professional Asian Pilots Association) for their first ever Aviation Expo in Las Vegas. Right around the corner will be NGPA’s FULL return to OshKosh for the 2022 AirVenture Event. NGPA will be back to our campsite with festivities and gatherings planned for our members throughout the week. As if we weren’t busy enough- we head to Scottsdale, Arizona in August for the OBAP Conference and before we know it we are right back in our beloved Provincetown for the 2022 Cape Cod Classic Event! All the while, local chapter events continue to take shape across our network ensuring there is something for everyone across our now 28 Chapters worldwide!
As you can tell our organization is non-stop busy through September of this year and we won’t stop there! Be sure to stay in the know of where NGPA will have a presence over the next few months so you can connect with your NGPA Family at events across the globe! I am so thankful for everyone’s continued support and trust in NGPA. We strive to continue to better our offerings for our members and we hope you will forever be a part of our journey. Until next time, thanks for reading and continue to think those warm thoughts!
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Hi NGPA family!
Since I began my role in Universities and Flight Schools, I have made it my mission to help members embody the core principles that we have at NGPA. Transitioning into the summer semesters, I began to look for new ways that our university chapters could help our organization build, support, and unite our community, as well as themselves and their own future members going into the upcoming academic year.
As I scribbled down notes for ideas of new ways to assist our university members I began to build off of resources we already have, like the scholarships opening this month. Our organization has a long list of resources available to its members, and as that list continues to grow I wanted to ensure the needs of our university members were met.
Finally I settled on the idea for NGPA Career Connections, which features jobs, internships, and career pathway opportunities for students and other members needing assistance in getting their career started. Not only is this information easily accessible on our website, but members can opt-in for email updates on new career connections as they become available on our website!
These benefits are now live on our website and available for you to utilize. Go check them out and get your career connected! It's never too late to invest in your career.
Happy connecting!
NGPA CONTACT | EMAIL | LINKEDIN
A year ago for Western Michigan University's inauguration of the College of Aviation's new Aviation Education Center was greeted with the rippling glimmer of a six-striped rainbow flag amongst the flag poles outside the front entrance. As students and facility arrive from across the area for the College's grand opening of the new building they were met with a subtle reminder that Western is a place where ALL aviators are welcome to come and fulfill their dreams of becoming a professional pilot, aircraft mechanic, or whatever else their heart desired.
I remember the scrutiny and rebuttal the College received from a numerous people in attendance that day, and from students and staff in the weeks to come, and the agitation I felt at the complaints that were received simply over a rainbow flag—a rainbow flag that had a significant meaning and impact to me and several other in the LGBTQ+ community at the College. As disappointing as it was that some of my peers saw this as an issue that effected and inconvenienced them, I think it also serves as a crucial reminder as to why that flag was up in the first place, and why we will continue celebrate PRIDE month, regardless of any negativity and hatred that comes our way.
I'm proud to walk into work every morning this month with the pride flag waving above my head, and every morning thereafter to work at a place where my uniqueness isn't merely accepted or acknowledged, but celebrated and appreciated.
Please enjoy your PRIDE month celebrations. I hope to see many of you at Wings Over Iowa and other NGPA PRIDE events abroad. Remember to always be your authentic, PRIDE-ful, self... and fly safe!
Until next month—
Clear skies!
ON THE FLY
A monthly NGPA newsletter for members, by members
Published: 06.01.2022 at 09:37 PM ET by Hunter Hayes
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