1951 Convention - SEATTLE. First convention often recalled as an 'organizational meeting' that attracted observers and potential chapters. Membership was 211. First bylaws adopted. Denver's newsletter, Wilted Wings, became the national paper. Mary O'Connor voted first Honorary Member. Charity donations from 1941-1951 were $555.

1952 Convention - SALT LAKE CITY.

1953 Convention - CHICAGO. Various charities were presented, with choice being (then-named) mental retardation, for local level participation by all chapters.

1954 Convention - SAN FRANCISCO. Member-At-Large category was created with their chairman a national appointee.

1955 Convention - DENVER. First appearance of United gentlemen who enjoyed sharing “Friendly Music” and became staples at our conventions. We dubbed them the Clipped Wings® Combo. United observed the “25th Anniversary of Stewardess Service” at major domiciles and presented current/former stewardesses with silver charm bracelets.

1956 Convention - LOS ANGELES.

1957 Convention - WASHINGTON, DC and BOSTON co-hosted.

1958 Convention - BOISE and PORTLAND co-hosted in Sun Valley. Chapter awards were initiated along with a member award for “Distinguished Service,” all to be presented annually.

1959 Convention - Co-hosted by LONG ISLAND, NEWARK (later changed to NEW JERSEY) and BOSTON chapters in New York City.

1960 Convention - SEATTLE was our Tenth Convention.

1961 Convention - SALT LAKE CITY. United acquired Capital Airlines by merger. Stewardess Training Center opened in Chicago after moving from Cheyenne. (First move had been from Chicago to Cheyenne in 1947.)

1962 Convention - CHICAGO. A Research Fund, still in the field of mental retardation, was set up for all chapters' participation as a National Philanthropy project, in addition to local level charities. United made its first official donation toward travel for our National Presidents to visit chapters. We presented the new Training Center with a bronze wall sculpture, “MIGRATION.” The piece suffered irreparable damage during an extensive remodeling project in the early 1990s and later disappeared.

1963 Convention - HONOLULU. IRS assigned tax exempt, not tax deductible, status as (501)(c)(7) with rationale: We were more social than philanthropic.

1964 Convention - CHEYENNE. United honored Founder Jackie Jos Ceaser with custom-designed diamond wings, presented at a stewardess graduation.

1965 Convention - SAN FRANCISCO. As part of the “35th Anniversary of Stewardess Service,” United arranged for over 100 Clipped Wingers to fly on May 15 as “guest stewardesses.” Honorary Member, Ellen Church Marshall, the world's first airline stewardess, died after a fall from a horse, August 1965.

1966 Convention - DENVER hosted the convention at Colorado Springs. “Best All Around Chapter Award” was originated. Members/chapters were allowed to submit names for the Distinguished Service Award for the first time since award inception. Former Capital Airlines Hostesses were welcomed into membership.

1967 Convention - LOS ANGELES. The new Ellen Church Marshall Wing was added to the Chicago Training Center. The new name was United Education and Training Center. It was for use by other UA groups as well. Plaque copies of a bronze bust original were sent to every stewardess training center in the world. United's tribute to Jackie Jos Ceaser's founding of Clipped Wings® was dedicated with a special commemorative plaque.

1968 Convention - WASHINGTON DC and BOSTON co-hosted.

1969 Convention - MIAMI. Best All-Around Chapter award was enhanced by United's gift of a traveling trophy, a silver punch bowl, tray and ladle. The intent was for each chapter recipient to inscribe its name on the tray.

1970 Convention - CLEVELAND hosted at Avon Lake Resort. We celebrated “United Stewardess Service's” 40th Anniversary. Bylaws revision and addition of policy statement. An important change was Chapters were considered 'chartered' upon receipt of dues by National Treasurer.

1971 Convention - PORTLAND. We reached an all-time high in membership of 1,436.

1972 Convention - DENVER hosted at Vail. United hired its first male flight attendant by decree of law.

1973 Convention - Several Bay Area Chapters shared host duties in San Francisco.

1974 Convention - ATLANTA. Increased hiring of males made Flight Attendant the industry-wide preferred term. We voted an Associate Member category for flight attendants of both sexes. Father of Stewardess Service, Steve Stimpson, passed away in January. He held National Honorary Membership.

1975 Convention - SEATTLE. Clipped Wings inspired a Living Memorial to “Uncle Steve” as the “Father of Stewardess Service.” A flowering crab apple tree shades a granite-mounted bronze medallion designed and executed by artist-member Jean Talboy Stein. This memorial at the entry site of the United Training Center welcomes everyone arriving there. Part of donations came from members, with United contributing the balance. At convention we assisted christening of the Boeing 747 named “The Original Eight.” Five of the living group attended and splashed the customary champagne.

1976 Convention - MILWAUKEE hosted at Oconomowoc, Scotsland Resort. This was United's 50th Year as an air carrier; many chapters participated.

1977 Convention - LOS ANGELES.

1978 Convention - First local convention co-hosted by national with multiple chapters assisting in Las Vegas. Full membership granted to former Associate Members, (current flight attendants).

1979 Convention - BOSTON.

1980 Convention - ORANGE COUNTY hosted with Los Angeles and San Diego taking a major event each. In honor of the passing of Founder Jackie Jos Ceaser (January 19, 1980) our DSA Award had her name affixed. We added a memorial band to her plaque at United's Training Center. System-wide events marking the “Fiftieth Anniversary of In-flight Service.” On May 15 many of our members, in vintage uniforms, went flying for one day as “guest stewardesses.” Clipped Wings®' charities benefited from a fashion show of uniforms from all airlines held in 6 cities. Clipped Wings® had its largest number of chapters, 39.

1981 Convention - WASHINGTON DC.

1982 Convention - DETROIT. United granted presidential travel passes.

1983 Convention - DALLAS.

1984 Convention - TWIN CITIES.

1985 Convention - O'HARE hosted at Indian Lakes Resort.

1986 Convention - DENVER hosted at Keystone Resort. Delegates voted two-year terms for national officers and biennial conventions. After 24 years, Research Fund was dropped as national philanthropy, replaced by then - International Special Olympics.

1988 Convention - SEATTLE. Delegation vote was to start in 1990 giving awards only at our biennial conventions.

1990 Convention - ORANGE COUNTY hosted with Los Angeles and San Diego sponsoring major events. We joined United's celebration of the “Sixtieth Anniversary of In-flight Service,” as well as United's entry into European markets.

1992 Convention - SAN FRANCISCO was hosted by 5 Bay Area Chapters—Marin, Oakland, Palo Alto, Redwood Empire and San Jose. United announced passes for first time out of USA Special Olympics in Austria.

1994 Convention - WASHINGTON DC hosted in Miami and a Bahamas Cruise with many chapters lending assistance onshore and at sea.

1996 Convention - MEMBERS-AT-LARGE hosted in New Orleans. We were recognized by an appreciation plaque for service back to the first Special Olympics in 1968 in Chicago. Website was established www.clippedwings.com.

1998 Convention - PORTLAND with Seattle hosting a major event. After 44 years as a “group” with delegate and voting status, Members-At-Large were chartered as a chapter. During United's “Pride Week,” a permanent plaque honoring Clipped Wings®, beneath framed artwork from Special Olympics, was enshrined in a Gallery of Care hallway at WHQ. It noted our contributions to Special Olympics.

2000 Convention - MILWAUKEE hosted in Honolulu with major events co-hosted by other chapters. The celebration of “70th Anniversary of Onboard Service” was low-key due to labor problems of United. Clipped Wings® contributions to archives would be part of the display in WHQ, later moved to the Training Center upon completion of the renovation. A vote in HNL established a new tradition: “The Memorial Roll” of members who have passed on since the previous convention. It was to be first executed in a ceremony in SAN in 2002.

2002 Convention - SAN DIEGO with Los Angeles hosting a banquet and Orange County, a dinner. New chapters: DES MOINES (DSM) and NEW JERSEY (EWR). (For newer members, we had chapters in both places long ago.) Larry DeShon, Senior Vice President of Onboard Service announced the new Volunteer Clipped Wings® Ambassador Program. Members assisted at Chicago's Training Center for several months until financial changes at United forced cancellation. November brought our 27th chapter, SOUTHWEST FLORIDA (RSW). Bylaws amendment changed fiscal year and conventions from July to September beginning in 2004.ATLANTA (ATL) and MIAMI SOUTHEAST SUNBIRD (MIA) ... 29th, 30th and 31st.

2004 Convention - PHOENIX. 45th Convention was themed “Desert Magic.” Oakland and San Jose co-hosted one event, with O'Hare in charge of another. Due to bankruptcy status, United withdrew convention and Special Olympics passes. Major questions for PHX delegates and members were how and what to support after Nagano, 2005. A philanthropy task force was appointed to study all facets. Report was due December 18, 2004. Highest membership ever was reached at year end, 1,567. In the fall, chapter 32, MARYLAND (BWI) joined us.

2006 Convention DENVER - “Purple Mountain Majesty,” September 19-23, at The Brown Palace Hotel and Comfort Inn. Results of philanthropy task force appointed at 2004 convention was national involvement only/no further international involvement due to expense and difficulty of personal pass travel to destinations outside the U.S. Brainstorm session held in DEN showed continued interest in supporting Special Olympics, with Philanthropy Options Review Committee appointed to research options for future, within and outside of Special Olympics. Total philanthropy donations to date are over Seven Million dollars and volunteer hours amount to 43 (man-hour) years. DALLAS and RENO chapters take “Inactive” status.

2008 Convention LOS ANGELES - "California Dreamin'" September 24-27, at The Westin in Pasadena.

HISTORY EXCERPTS
Vicy Morris Young, Historian
Mary K. Doherty Dana, Associate Historian