AFROGRAM African American Advisory Group Newsletter

1. AFROGRAM African American Advisory Group Newsletter NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Ca. 94035 Volume 1, Issue 7 September, 2012 AAAG 2013 ELECTIONS Very soon, the AAAG will be having a Changing of the Guard and we need you to take your rightful place in it to maintain the legacy of this group. Become a part of history at Ames in continuing support of Ames higher education interns, outreach, a member of the Diversity and Equal Opportunity Board (DEOB), Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, Black History Month Celebration, Lew Braxton Golf Open/Juneteenth Celebration, the AAAG Newsletter, the Membership Appreciation and many more exiting things. Please cast your vote. AAAG FY11-FY13 Officers Chair – Rose King Vice Chair- Denise Snow Secretary – Gilena Monroe Treasurer – Paula Harris Communication Officer Ray Gilstrap Sergeant-at- Arms Greg Bennett Newsletter Rose King - Editor Web Site Ray Gilstrap Contact: AAAG Websiteaaag@ratogi.org Meeting: Last Tuesday of the month bldg N241/237 All submissions should be sent directly to me at Rose.m.king@nasa.gov(NOT to AAAG)

2. AAAG Appreciation Day On July 25, 2012, the AAAG celebrated Appreciation Day at NACC Bldg. 3. Each year the AAAG honors those members who have played a major part in the organization: Lewis Braxton, III, Dr. Barbara Miller, Joe Shields, Robert Finnie, Ray Gilstrap, Dr. Mellissa Kervin-Brooks, Jendai Robinson, Porsche Parker and Donald James. This year we decided to also honor those who are not apart of the membership but who have supported AAAG throughout the year. People like Dominic Hart who has always supported us through his photography without him we would not have such wonderful memories. To Jessica Koehne whose unwavering devotion to the young student interns who come to Ames with open hearts and minds in order that they might reach the stars in their STEM careers. To Karen McIntyre who has supported AAAG by serving soul food in the Ames cafeteria during Black History Month. To Betty Larsen at the Moffett Field Golf Course. To Darlene Gross, Tom Claussen, Jacob Cohen in education. To John Adams in Graphics, To Kay Twitchell in the Director’s Office. Nelson Japlit and Eric Kristich in logistics. And to Paul Langton who has only asked. “what do you need me to do.” Without these wonderful and amazing people, AAAG could not do all the things we do each year and would not be as successful in those endeavors. “As we take our place in the world, we can not do it individually but collectively, it is those whose words and deeds not only give support but whose presence shine a light and fill our world with the hope of a diverse and inclusive society.”  Rose King, AAAG Chair

3. AAAG Supports Diversity and Inclusion Day at Ames AAAG members volunteer to participate in D & I Day by manning a booth. This years theme was cultural crossroads. The AAAG had two tables. One of Famous African Americans which became a prize winner. People had to guess the names of five African Americans . Also we had Motown Review . The AAAG Booth as always rocked. Also on hand was the Ames annual summer picnic and the summer interns showcased their science posters Paula and Christine enjoying the food at the summer picnic A lot of the AAAG members showed up at the booth some you may not have seen in a while AAAG members Jendai and Joy discuss their experiences as both student & employee at Ames The Ames Center Director Dr. Worden and CFO Paul Agnew stopped by the booth

4. AAAG Members in the Global News The making of a video The world’s first “space orchestra” is comprised entirely of Ames scientists, engineers, administrative professionals and other members of the Ames community helping bring the excitement of space exploration to music. Also performing in the orchestra are employees from Singularity University, the International Space University and the SETI Institute. The International Space Orchestra is founded and directed by Nelly Ben Hayoun. As part of Ames’ educational outreach activities, the International Space Orchestra merges science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) with the universal language of music and the arts, while opening new doors for the science community to communicate with the public. Ames Centerwide Sep 06 2012 Members of the AAAG showed how talented we are by both singing and playing instruments I had no idea how talented we are. This also included dialog (a mini paly about the landing of Apollo 13 on the Moon. From Left to Right AAAG Members: Lewis Braxton, III; Dr. Yvonne Cagle; Laura Shawnee; Karen Bradford and Derek Love

5. A Look Ahead AAAG Wobble, Shuffle and Slide into Victory Saturday, September 15, 2012 At the home of AAAG Member Sheila Johnson 4725 Hill Top View Place San Jose, CA 95138 408-238-4729 Please Come out and help us celebrate who we are and have lots of Fun Final Notes: If you would like to be on one of the committees, please contact any officer. Please come to our weekly meetings