Jade & Erin Beam & their two children Layla & Kellen

Moving to Alaska was a no brainer for us after being here for 3 years with the Air Force back in 1998. We fell in love with the area and the people back then, and looked forward to making Alaska home. We've been in Chugiak for over 5 years now, and we have 2 kids, Layla, 11, and Kellen, 10. They say kids rule your life, and that is the case with us. We are often found on a soccer field or basketball court, the local elementary school, our front yard playing, camping or floating the Kenai River for the perfect rainbow or dolly varden. We wouldn't want it any other way.

Coming to Alaska with FedEx did just that for us -- gave us more family time and allowed Alaska to be our home. Family first has always been our priority. When asked to be a part of the Family Awareness Committee, again, it was a no brainer.

Our ALPA Family Awareness Committee involvement meant playing an active role in involving families. This is especially important during contract negotiations. ALPA does a phenomenal job communicating, educating and informing our FedEx pilots. Getting information to our families is a bigger challenge. Although the finer details, contract negotiations, scheduling issues, are not always fully understood by families, we believe spouses play a KEY part in supporting the big picture. Family Awareness is an opportunity to bring families together, to connect, to inform, to support one another and try to understand and support the ALPA happenings. We hope to do that through this website, family picnics and any other opportunities to communicate to the families on what is important. We look forward to meeting all the FedEx Alaska families. It is true: never underestimate the positive influence an informed family can have!