Chapter 155 was granted a charter from
the Air Force Sergeants Association in February 1976. That same month
approximately 25 members held their first meeting in the Pease AFB
NCO Club where a slate of officers were elected. Since then, chapter
membership has grown to almost 700 members, and its activities are
instrumental in the support of many community activities throughout New
Hampshire and Southern Maine. In 2000, Chapter and Auxiliary members
volunteered more than 5, 000 hours of their time to these activities.
Chapter meetings are held monthly with
our Auxiliary on the second Tuesday, at 4:30 p.m. at the Air National Guard
Base
on Pease International Tradeport in Newington New Hampshire.
Remembering Others During The Holidays.
Every year since 1980 Chapter volunteers have supported the
Auxiliary sponsored Christmas party for the 175 residents of the Edgewood
Center, one of New England’s most comprehensive Rehabilitation Facilities,
located in the heart of historic Portsmouth, NH. Since then, the Chapter
and Auxiliary have provided the residents some 3500 gifts.
Betty's
Dream.
Betty Taylor was a victim of both multiple sclerosis and muscular
dystrophy, and was living in the only type of facility available to her – a
nursing home. Betty dreamed of being able to have her own place. In 1976
Chapter and Auxiliary members began planning and raising funds to build a
24-unit complex in Portsmouth, New Hampshire to accommodate wheelchair-bound
adults. The project took nine years, and on June 14, 1985 Betty’s Dream
became a reality when she moved into one of the apartments in the complex
that is called “Rainbow Apartments”. In addition to the funds provided by
the Chapter to build Betty’s Dream, the Chapter continues to provide
donations that have made it possible to purchase 3 handicap assessable vans,
and pay the salary for the drivers and maintenance, build a recreation room,
purchase exercise equipment, equip a laundry room, and update the fire
suppression system. Donations in 2000 alone totaled $57,000. Betty's Dream
is well known throughout the Seacoast area and beyond for the unique
opportunity it offers wheelchair-bound adults. The 24 apartments are all
occupied and there is a waiting list.
Remembering The Veterans
The Chapter and Auxiliary began participating in a monthly bingo for the
residents and patients at the VA Hospital in Manchester, New Hampshire in
1991. Since then, volunteers have traveled to Manchester on the second
Sunday of each month to serve refreshments, and to assist those who may need
help playing bingo.
Supporting The American Red Cross
In June of 1997 and again in 2000 we worked with the Seacoast Area Chapter
of the American Red Cross in a mock plane crash drill at the Pease
International Tradeport runway. The drill is required every three years, and
designed to test emergency personnel in their response techniques. Members
of our chapter cooked hot dogs and hamburgers for the volunteer victims of
the crash, and members of the NH Air National Guard, Pease Development
Authority, Red Cross, local and state police and fire departments who
participated in the drill. The Chapter also donates funds every month
and for major disasters. We also have members volunteering more than
130 hrs a month as the for the Armed Forces Emergency Services Program
Junior ROTC Training
Following the Junior ROTC training exercise at the New Hampshire
National Guard facility at Center Strafford, New Hampshire each September,
Chapter and Auxiliary volunteers cook and serve hotdogs and hamburgers for
several hundred cadets and their families.