[oasis-members] FW: Invitation to AIAA-LA June 29 Dinner Meeting w/ Violet "Vi" Cowden (member of the Ninety-Nines)

[Potter, Seth D]

________________________________

From: Cojanis, Philip (Contr) [mailto:philip.cojanis at ngc.com] 
Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2006 9:30 AM
To: Potter, Seth D
Subject: Invitation to AIAA-LA June 29 Dinner Meeting w/ Violet "Vi" Cowden (member of the Ninety-Nines)



Seth, 

Could you pass this along to some your OASIS and Boeing contacts, we would appreciate it, and maybe if you have time yourself, you can join us as well

Hello, 

AIAA Los Angeles has an upcoming dinner and speaking event that you and some local members might be interested in attending.  The event is open to the public, and everyone is welcome to RSVP and attend.

Could you please pass it on to them, or let us know how we can contact them to make them aware of the event so we can invite them to a dinner as well with Violet "Vi" Cowden a former "WASP" (Women Air Force Service Pilot) and a member of the Ninety-Nines.  She was also the recent 89 year old skydiver that went skydiving with the Army's "Golden Knights"

Below is a write up and a flyer link for the dinner meeting that we have scheduled here in Los Angeles 
Vi, is one outstanding woman, and a person that we are sure that everyone would all enjoy hearing speak about her experiences, as well as having the opportunity to meet and talk with her.  

We also hope that if you are available, that you might be able to join us for the event! 
Thank you, 
Philip Cojanis 
AIAA-LA Programs Co-Chair  (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics) 
__________________________________________________________________________________________________ 




June 29, 2006 Dinner Meeting

Women Air Force Service Pilots “WASPs” & Flying with the Golden Knights
Speaker: Violet "Vi" Cowden Pilot, Educator, Skydiver

Download flyer: http://www.aiaa-la.org/flyers/2006_Jun_AIAA_June_29_06_Vi_Cowden_Dinner.pdf <http://www.aiaa-la.org/flyers/2006_Jun_AIAA_June_29_06_Vi_Cowden_Dinner.pdf> 

Come join us and spend the evening with AIAA and SCAA as we have the honor to host Violet “Vi” Cowden, as she shares with us her many experiences in flight.


Vi was qualified in and flew over 19 different types of aircraft from North American P-51 Mustangs to Douglas A-20 Havocs to Douglas C-47 Skytrains, and many more. In one of her most recent adventures, the 89-year-old went skydiving and jumped with the U.S. Army Golden Knights, a team of precision parachutists. So from flying all types of aircraft to taking her “12,000-foot plunge,” a feat that she was thrilled to do, and one that most people have never even worked up the courage to attempt, it can easily be said that                              Vi Cowden is one remarkable woman.

Vi Cowden was born and raised in a sod house in South Dakota in 1916. She attended Black Hill University in Spearfish SD and became a first grade school teacher. Her love of flying justified a hectic schedule. She would ride her bicycle to the airport early in the morning, take a flight lesson, ride back six miles and teach during the day, and then take ground school at night. After Pearl Harbor she volunteered to help with the war effort and heard no reply from Washington for almost a year. Finally, Vi received a letter inviting her to apply for the Women's Flying Training Detachment training. Vi was accepted into the program and in March 1943 began her training in Sweetwater, Texas for the Women Airforce Service Pilots, the first women to fly military aircraft. Vi then went on to serve her country.

Of the 25,000 women that applied for the WASP program, only 1,830 were accepted, and Vi is one of the 1,074 to earn military wings. The end of the war also ended Vi’s opportunity for performance plane flying. Despite an end to her flying career, Vi says that her wartime experiences changed her forever. "Being a WASP has affected me in every possible way. I think it gave me the courage to live a fun life, an exciting life, and to take challenges.”

Vi Cowden is now retired, but she is still quite active--“like going skydiving for example.” She lives in Huntington Beach with Scott, her husband of nearly 50 years. They have a daughter and three grandchildren and she still “volunteers” for any number of life’s activities.

Join us to meet this wonderful lady and hear her speak about her amazing and truly exciting life.

· Meal Selections are Beef (Sirloin Steak), Fish (King Salmon), or Vegetarian. Please indicate selection when you RSVP. 

Dinner: Thursday, June 29th, 6:30–9:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m. – Reception with Cash Bar and Dinner Check-in
The Proud Bird Restaurant – Doolittle Banquet Room
11022 Aviation Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045 


►$35* Regular
►$30* Educators/Teachers, Young Professionals, and Military
►$20* Students
* Show your AIAA membership card for $5 discount
►$5 Attendee Only – No Meal

Register by 9am Monday, June 26th to ensure a meal reservation:
online <http://www.aiaa-la.org/dinnermtgs.html> <http://www.aiaa-la.org/dinnermtgs.html> 
phone 800-683-AIAA (2422)
email <mailto: susana at westcoastaiaa.org> <mailto: susana at westcoastaiaa.org> 
Please indicate your meal selection (Meat, Fish, or Vegi) when you RSVP.

CANCELLATION POLICY: If you cannot attend, please cancel your registration 72 hours before the event – via phone 800-683-2422 or email to susana at westcoastaiaa.org. Otherwise, you will still have to pay for your reserved meal. Submit appropriate payment to: AIAA West Coast Office


Philip Cojanis 
James Webb Space Telescope 
Optical Telescope Element - Systems Engineering 
(310) 813-1633 
philip.cojanis at ngc.com 

U.S. export law as contained in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) is applicable to the information contained in this document.  

This technical information is not to be placed in the public domain, exported from the U.S., or given to any foreign person in the U.S., 

without the prior specific written authorization of Northrop Grumman Space Technology and the U.S. Department of State. 

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