Chaplains and others from the national, region, wing, and squadron levels gathered April 28-May 2 for the North Central Region Chaplain Corps Region Staff College for a program featuring varied presentations.
Chaplain (Lt. Col.) James Sickmeyer led the key training event, focusing on “Suicide Prevention: Meeting the Need at the Point of Need,” for the college held at Camp Dodge in Johnston, Iowa, while Capt. Sylvia Small spoke on “Values for Living, History and Practice.” Sickmeyer is a former national and Minnesota Wing chaplain, and Small is character development instructor for the South Dakota Wing’s Lookout Mountain Composite Squadron.
Participants also heard:
A chief of chaplains briefing by Lt. Col. Shirley Rodriguez, chief of chaplains office executive officer;
A wing commander briefing by Col. Sean McClanahan, Iowa Wing commander;
A cadet program briefing by Col. David Winters, North Central Region director of cadet programs; and
A region chaplain/character development instructor briefing by Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Donald Mikitta, North Central Region chaplain.
The banquet speaker was Chaplain (Col.) David Van Horn, who spoke on the importance of the chaplain’s ministry and the importance of continual learning. Van Horn served as CAP chief of chaplains from 1993-1996 and most recently served as chaplain of the Missouri Wing ‘s Saline County Composite Squadron before retiring from the organization April 30 after 44 years of service.
The banquet included a video call from Brig. Gen. Richard Anderson, national commander from 1993-1996, extending retirement congratulations to Van Horn, his chaplain at the wing, region, and national levels.
The Region Staff College graduated two students, both from the Minnesota Wing — Chaplain (1st Lt.) Jane Ekholm of the Tri County Composite Squadron and Maj. Heike Dodge, Crow Wing Composite Squadron character development instructor.
Also participating were:
Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Jill Holm. Minnesota Wing chaplain;
Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Ron Tottingham, former North Central Region chaplain;
Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Ken Van Loon, former Great Lakes Region, Alaska Wing, and Iowa Wing chaplain;
Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Jeffrey Williams, Iowa Wing chaplain;
Lt. Col. Anna Marie Bistodeau, North Central Region character development instructor; and
Capt. Brad Luepke, character development instructor, Mankato Composite Squadron, Minnesota Wing
