Dear Fort Schuyler Graduate:

One year ago, your Alumni Association sent out a Summer Sea Term (SST) Appeal asking for donations to help support the cadets embarking on the SST. We denoted this appeal as a "one-time extraordinary appeal for financial support".

As we are all aware, the economy and the market have started to recover, but neither is back to the levels they were in 2008. Since the spring of 2008, the value or the FSMAA endowment has dropped over $600,000. If we applied all interest and dividends to scholarships, we would further reduce the value of the funds and the long term sustainability of the SST Scholarship Program.

At our last meeting, the FSMAA Board voted to allocate $100,000 of the endowment income to the 2010 SST Scholarships. This number is substantially less than the $175,000 in scholarship money that was awarded by FSMAA in 2009 when 115 cadets received $1500 to offset cruise expenses.

In order to allow the FSMAA endowment to continue its recovery and to meet the immediate SST Scholarship needs - we are reinstating our Summer Sea Term Appeal for 2010.

I realize that we have all felt the sting of the economic downturn, but the SST is critical to the careers of our cadets and the mission and training of Fort Schuyler. They need our help now. All of the money donated will be designated for 2010 SST cadet scholarships.

This extraordinary effort will end on March 15, the same date on which SST applications from cadets close. Please do what you can to demonstrate our support for the cadets who carry the Fort Schuyler tradition forward.

A Donation Form and return envelope are enclosed. Please act now - I assure you that your generosity is deeply appreciated. Since FSMAA is an IRS 501(c) (3) charitable organization, your donation is tax deductible.

Please give generously according to your means. Thank you.

Fraternally,

John Bradley '83
President