Committee of 100 welcomes Airmen and families to Altus

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class J. Zuriel Lee
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS, Okla. --  The Committee of 100 hosted a dinner to welcome newcomers and Airmen returning from deployment and their families to the Altus community in the Altus High School cafetorium March 24, 2014.

The dinner is held in various locations quarterly, each focusing on a different community event. These events include a rattlesnake derby, a business fair, a cowboy cookout and a museum tour.

"We want to welcome you to Altus, America," said Holly Urbanski, City of Altus Chamber of Commerce president. "We hope your time here is enjoyable. We want you to feel this is your home while you're here."

Along with the dinner, the Committee members gave out door prizes and invited members of the Fang Masters from the Mangum Rattlesnake Derby to bring a couple of rattlesnakes to entertain at the event.

The Airmen that are new to the base are encouraged to attend the event and witness the close relationship the base shares with the city of Altus.

"This community does an exceptional job taking care of Altus Air Force Base and [its] Airmen," said U.S. Air Force Maj. Jared Tanner, 97th Air Mobility Wing director of staff. "This event really highlighted this relationship and just shows how much the community cares about the people at this base."

"The dinner gives a good home-like feeling to Altus," said U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Weston Lysyczyn, 97th Communications Squadron focal point technician. "The community is very welcoming of Airmen and that's pretty cool."

Originating in the 1980s, the Committee of 100 was founded by dividing a group of 100 Altus Chamber Board of Directors members into four groups of 25. Each of these groups would host one of four annual functions.

Since its founding, the Committee of 100 has welcomed approximately 38,000 people from Altus AFB.