CAP Talk

Gene Floyd, a Captain in the Civil Air Patrol is bicycling cross-country to raise awareness of the importance of fathers in their children's lives...and taking almost the whole family with him. The group will consist of Gene, plus his sons SM Stefan Floyd, C/2nd Lt Tony Davidson, C/MSgt Joshua Floyd, and C/A1c Chris Davidson. His wife. 1st Lt Bonnie Floyd will be providing logistical and administrative support from home during their 4-month journey. You can read more about the group at http://www.rideforfatherhood.org

As part of a minority group (custodial fathers) and a single dad himself for 13 years before remarrying, Gene has experienced either first-hand or through his long-time friends in the Single and Custodial Father's Network (http://www.singlecustodialfathers.org) the unequal treatment of fathers not just by the courts, but by society in general. In many cases, they are treated as second-class citizens in issues involving their children. Custody is witheld, visitation is denied - even the word "visitation" denotes that they are not full-fledged parents of their children, but simply visitors in their lives. At the same time, many fathers have not been taught that they have an important role in the upbringing and development of their children and the harmful effects of growing up fatherless; in the long run, their children suffer from that lack of knowledge. Gene hopes to change at least a few minds about the importance of fathers in childrens lives, identify some roadblocks to a healthy relationship between children and fathers, and in the process help some children have the relationship that they deserve with their dads. He needs your help to do so.

Riding across the country is an expensive proposition, not just the extra meals, lodging, and gear but in time lost from work as well. While they do have their savings and 18yo Stefan has pledged his Army Enlistment Bonus, they can use any and all help they can get, money or otherwise. All help will be welcomed and you too can see how you can help make a difference in children's lives by visiting http://www.rideforfatherhood.org and clicking the "How can I help?" (http://www.rideforfatherhood.org/help.shtml) link. Whether you offer the group a place to sleep or do laundry, help organize a father and kids rally/campover in your hometown, donate $500.00, $100.00, $50.00 (or even $5.00) or simply send this link to all your friends you can help this group of Civil Air Patrol members make a difference in children's lives. All donors will receive a thank you E-card and possibly a commemorative patch once the embroidery deal goes through with the Hock Shop (http://www.thehock.com).

A well deserved Bravo Zulu to you Sir!!  I'll see what I can do.

Best of luck. I'm out of your route, but if you take a detour into Cache Valley, Utah, I'll help out in any way I can.

We weren't planning on going that far South, but I did have a friend of mine talking about picking us up in Pocatello and taking us down to SLC to float in the lake.

Right now, one of my projects involves figuring out how to get back to Hawk Mountain and then to Oshkosh in two days after the end of Hawk. Here's the basic idea:

We plan to make it to MI/WI by early Jul. Hawk Mountain is Jul 12-20, Blue Beret (which my cadet that put chose it will probably be selected for based on his 8th-place ranking wing-wide) is Jul 22-Aug 4

We are looking for a way to get back to Hawk Mountain for a week, then make it to Oshkosh in two days. Greyhound is one option, but that is mucho expensivo when you start counting 4 people. Renting a car is another, but none of my other drivers are 25, so I'm stuck driving the whole way...and it's still not cheap. Yet another option is to share driving with other CAP members going there as well.

Ideas? I'm not naming specific locations to meet a carpool because I don't want to stifle any ideas that may provide for interesting detours. Our basic route is to come in through Pittsburgh, continue West through Youngstown, OH and turn Northwest after we pass Detroit. After visiting relatives in Paw paw, MI we will go North to Ludington to catch the ferry across to Manitowoc and on to Oshkosh. We are flexible to meeting a vanpool somewhere roughly along that route within the time constraints imposed by the activities.

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