Last year was a banner year for the local Air Force Association Chapter 334

Thanks to a robust community partner program - which swelled to 138 members - the chapter received a gold award at the AFA National Conference and was named one of the AFA's top three Community Partners Programs in the U.S., according to chapter president Tommy Carson

"Our goal is to hit 200 (community) members in 2011," Carson said

The chapter also hosted its first-ever joint meeting with the local Association of the U.S. Army chapter at the Fort Lewis Golf Course in April. Nearly 70 corporate leaders and individual members met up and got a better idea of the advantages of dual membership. While Army Col. Tommy Brittain, Joint Base Lewis-McChord commander, and Air Force Col. Kenny Weldon, JBLM deputy commander, explained the finer points of the joint base merger and its effect on the local community, members of both groups got a chance to see what each other had to offer

"A small percentage of people are members of both (AFA and AUSA chapters)," Carson said. "Why not become members of both? They're both the same thing. You get a plaque to hang up at your business that shows you support the military. You meet military leaders, you get involved with events and activities at both of the bases.

The two chapters also united to host a community partner appreciation dinner at the Great American Casino in Lakewood in September

The event originated as an AUSA and AFA event, but quickly expanded to include all members of the community that support the militar

"It's just a way to say thank you," Carson said. "This community realizes you do not have to wear a uniform to serve those who serve.

Carson said people can expect a variety of similar joint events in 2011, starting with a joint meeting on Jan. 21

While strengthening the Army and Air Force relationship between AFA and AUSA chapters was something the AFA chapter hung its hat on, the success of the Pilot for a Day program also set a high standard for 2011

After Lt. Col. Rod Lewis, 4th Airlift Squadron commander at McChord Field, reached out to the chapter for help getting started, Carson embraced the relationship

"They provide the funding and selection process while the 4th AS provides the execution of the program," Lewis said

The children are identified through Mary Bridge Hospital in Tacoma or the Seattle Children's Hospital. During the event, they are given a flight suit complete with patches and a nametag so they look just like a pilot

The day also includes a briefing of the day's events, a tour of the base, lunch with the AFA chapter (during which they will sit next to the president and help run the meeting), an official debrief before going out to the flightline and a chance to sit in the cockpit of a C-17 and have their photograph taken. They also receive a ride in a C-17 simulator and a pizza party with family and friends

Carson was inspired by the success of the program in 2010 and is pushing for more of the same in the future.

"It's remarkable the lives that we are touching (with Pilot for a Day)," he said. "My vision - not so much as president of AFA - but as a human being is if we get a large amount of children that want this opportunity, then why not try to do more?"