UPDATED
01.22.08
 

This page is designed to address some of the more frequently asked questions or problems that can occur while visiting the FMA site. Find your question or one similar to it in red below then click on that question to find the answer which will appear in the upper most portion of your browser window. When finished reading the answer, click your mouse on the Red UP Arrow graphic below and to the right of each answer to return to the questions at the top of this page or use the Back Button of your browser.
These FAQs are based on visitors using PC (IBM) systems running Windows 95. If anyone would like to address any problems experienced specifically for MAC or Linux users or later versions of Windows, please feel free to submit them to me. Credit is always given where credit is due. The software that designs these pages is supposed to generate browser friendly pages; however on some occasions, my experience has been that they seem to work best with MS Internet Explorer at a screen resolution of 800 x 600 or greater. You may experience Java problems with early versions of Opera and Netscape 6 in using the dynamic menus that appear as the Site Map button at the left and the Photo Page drop down menu. Every effort has been made to make this site accessible to all visitors with all types of browsers. I discovered that by upgrading to Netscape 6 and MSIE 5 for a Windows 95 system screwed-up my Java plug-ins so that some browser functions that worked before the upgrade, now, no longer worked.  Following the prompts that I needed a later version of Java installed was a waste of time as the huge program did not fix anything. It's all a plot to get people to buy new computers!  Please contact the Webmaster if you experience a problem with your browser or find a misaligned page while using this site. Since I am human you may find a grammatical or syntax error.  If so, or if you have a suggestion that would improve this web site, please contact me through the link at the very bottom of every page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a password and/or user name?

Why do I need both a user name and password to enter the Alumni Only site but only a password to see Alumni Only pages on the public site?

Do I have to pay Alumni dues in order to get my password?

Why can't I hear the MIDI samples on the Bugle Calls Page.

When I click on a Bugle Call or any other sound file, I get a page full of garbage but no sound or I get a warning that I am about to download an unknown file type .

How do I save a bugle call, graphic or other file on my computer? What does the underscore mark for in front of image file names on files that I save?

Are the Bugle Calls copyright protected and may I use them on my site?

Why do I have to "sign" my e-mail address to messages on the FMA Bulletin Board or Guestbook?

Why isn't there sheet music of the bugle calls on the FMA web site?

Do you have any brochures and how much does it cost to send my child to FMA?

Why don't we have WAV files of full length military songs like the Green Beret's or songs specific to other uniformed services? (i.e. Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines or Navy)

Why don't we have links to the military branches on our web site?

Why aren't there more photos from the 1980's (or other periods)?

Who is in charge?

How do I find out about reunions and when is the next one?

How is the money used that I send in for the FMA Alumni Association dues?

Where do I get graphics to use on my web site to link to the FMA web site?

How does the FMA Site Map work?

How do I get my old FMA transcripts or academic records?

What do the different colored links on the FMA web pages mean?

To get a password, submit your name as it appeared in the yearbooks, the year or years you attended FMA, what grade you were in for those who only attended for one year or did not graduate from FMA, which yearbook your name and / or photo with your name in the caption appears or any other physical proof of who you say you are.  You will also need to include a valid E-mail address so we may send you the password. If you were a teacher or other support person that worked on campus, please submit your name, title and the year or years you worked at FMA.  The more information you provide, the faster we can verify your alumnus status.  Registering and paying your Alumni Association dues ($10.00) is not a requirement to receive your password.  HOWEVER, in the future those individuals that have paid their dues will have access to features on the website reserved only for them in addition to the savings and discounts that association members already receive.

To get a user name: CLICK HERE if you already have a password. If you are going to apply for a new password, you will receive your user name in the same E-mail that you receive your Alumni Only password.

ALL ALUMNI ARE ENTITLED TO THE PASSWORD.  Paying the Association dues has no effect on one receiving their password; however, there are additional benefits to becoming an Alumni Association Member listed below.  If you know of a fellow classmate that does not have a password, it is perfectly acceptable to share your password with them.  All Alumni receive the same password.  This will help ensure that no one is excluded.  Please don't share it with anyone other than FMA classmates.  On rare occasions, non-alumni guests are granted limited access to the private site however, those passes are granted on an individual, "as needed" basis. Additionally, non-alumni guests receive a unique password which allows for easier monitoring and better security.  Alumni page views are not monitored.  A greater explanation of this is disclosed in the FMA Privacy Policy.

Double click the speaker icon in your system tray. This will bring up a control panel for all of your audio settings. If you do not have a slider for MIDI volume, select the Properties setting to see if that control has been selected to be displayed. If not, select it and make sure that it does not have the MUTE box checked or that the slider is set very low. MIDI files are usually significantly softer than WAV files and will probably require your turning its slider up to the maximum volume in order to hear them.

If no slider control is available, make sure your system has a MIDI compatible sound board or driver. Go to the Start Button/Settings/Control Panel and double click the Multimedia icon. The resulting panel tabs will reveal the settings for the MIDI player, if one is installed. If you don't have a MIDI player, most multimedia players nowadays will play MIDI files.

Different browsers react differently to links other than HTML files. Check the settings of your browser. If you receive a notice of an unknown file type, you should be given the option to save the file on your hard drive. Save the file where you can find it later like the Desktop or someplace else easy to find. Then start Microsoft's Media Player or a Real Player . Locate the file you want to listen to from the player's file menu options and follow the commands the player will give you. The current version of WAV files stored on the FMA Server can be played on even the oldest versions of audio players and need no special codecs. (This explains why these files are so large!)  MAC users can play our WAV files by using the SoundAP program. Smaller QuickTime compressed WAV files are available but require a QT Player or extra codecs in other players. Links to MP3 files are also available from the Bugle Calls page.

Saving a file to your computer is essentially the same as the instructions above. However, there are a couple of ways you can do it. First of all, if you have just finished listening to all the calls you want to save and haven't closed your browser, the files are already in your cache memory. They will have some unrecognizable name but all will have a .WAV extension. (If you have not set up your Windows Explorer to show all extensions, you won't be able to find the files as easily.) When you open the Windows Explorer program, usually found in Programs/Assessories, navigate your way to the cache file inside your browser. MSIE users can simply open the Recent folder inside of Windows. Locate the file you want to save and rename it to a recognizable name. Then drag and drop it into a folder that you have presumably created for all of your bugle calls.
Another method is immediately after the song has played and the "player" is in view, RIGHT Click the play button and select "Save As..." and save it to wherever you like. If you system uses a Media Player or a Real player to play WAV formatted files, you may be able to open the Save As function from the File menu at the top of the player. Once you have saved all the files you want to use, you can then transfer them to your own server for use on your own web pages. Linking directly to the FMA server slows everyone down; your page and the FMA pages plus it is just common courtesy to save your own files and not rely on someone else's server for your content.  Our WAV files are CD ready!  No other software is needed than your CD burner program to burn and play your own CDs on standard audio Compact Disc players.

FYI:  The underscore mark as in _image007.jpg is the webmaster's way of indicating that image007 has been electronically compressed as well as reduced in its physical size for use on a web page. Usually, but not always, it may indicate that there is a full size version which is uncompressed and is high enough quality for printing without underscore mark. However, full size images are not located in the same directory as the compressed files so simply removing the underscore mark from your browser's address window may not call up the full size image.

The Compact Disc from which the audio files were extracted is protected by U. S. copyright laws. However, the FMA Website has received exclusive permission to offer these Bugle Calls. Under the fair use act, individuals may use these audio files as long as they are not used on a business or personal website that is selling a product or service. In all instances of their use, the original copyright holder is to be given full credit on whatever site you post the calls. In other words, it is illegal to use these bugle calls to promote anything you're making or attempting to make money from.  It is not required to link back to this site to use the files although some acknowledgment would be nice.

This is a minor quality control feature. As my father in law used to say, "a lock only keeps honest people honest." The E-mail address helps to deter any non FMA alumni from posting anything that they don't wish to be identified with. I have not seen any problems so far and really don't expect any. I see every message, the moment I check my Inbox. (about every 15 minutes when logged-on) The people of FMA are more disciplined and live the FMA Motto, exhibiting a higher standard. The FMA Forum is being provided by Alumnus Jim Edwards through space on his server. Capt. Jim is the Forum Administrator.  Please respect his rules of usage and keep all postings related to FMA confined to his "Politically Correct" named bulletin board as he has several bulletin boards related to his business and web site customers.

The FMA Guestbook is moderated due to ongoing security issues and each new entry must be read and approved before it becomes visible in the Guestbook.  Sometimes, this process may take up to 24-hours.  Normally, posts to the Guestbook are visible within a few hours or less. Entries without an E-mail address will not be posted.  If you make two consecutive entries, the Webmaster may combine the two (or more) into one entry, if appropriate. Guestbook entries designed to deliver or link to advertisements, contain malicious code or are left blank will be deleted.

While the WAV files are offered under the Fair Use Act and the songs are Public Domain,  printed sheet music is copyright protected and it would be cost prohibitive to obtain the rights necessary to offer the printed music online. There are many other web sites that offer music that have sheet music for sale.  If you just need to see a photo of the music, I recommend visiting the Boy Scouts Home page for links to the specific songs' music on their site..  In May of 2005, the bandwidth usage exceeded the limits of our service and we have suspended the links to the WAV files for a period of time. Other formats of the bugle calls are still available on the Bugle Calls page.

Frederick Military Academy has been closed since 1985; therefore we...

 a. have no brochures
 b. have no school for him or her to attend.

 a. FMA was fashioned after an Army military school therefore the web site attempts to reflect the vision of the founders as evidenced in our uniforms, headgear, protocol, military customs, terminology and songs associated with the U. S. Army.
 b. There are several other web sites that warehouse thousands of WAV files that include military songs and sounds. It would be redundant for us to store these sounds on our server, as well. I'd recommend you visit Sound America for starters; however, on May 15, 2003, it has become a pay for use site and may not be as appealing as other free sites on line.  You might try using your favorite search engine to locate sound files in the format of your choice.

Every branch of the military is very well represented on the Internet. The FMA Alumni website is more historical and reflective rather than a recruiting tool for the military services. A new FMA Veterans page is scheduled to debut in 2004, as a public service for our former military personnel. The Veterans page will provide links to military "hubs" from which ex military alumni may explore the branch of service of their choice for services, discounts and search engines unique to the needs of Veterans.

I don't have them, yet. Many photos are unidentified. Some were discovered in a dark room drawer with no clue as to when they were taken. The new FMA2K web site features many of these lesser known photos. ANY personal photos you may have from the years not represented would make a great contribution, if you'll allow us to borrow them long enough to scan them. To my regret, it would be impossible and impractical to make this site a virtual copy of every FMA Yearbook. Therefore, not every photo ever taken will be posted. I am simply trying to select the best photos that will stir the most memories for use on the web site, which is tough to do because so many of the photos have a special meanings to so many alumni. If you think your photo is too badly damaged to use, submit it any way as several submissions started out in pretty bad shape but after some digital manipulation, turned out very nice.

Depends... The web site was originally conceived and designed by Richard Abrams way out in Oklahoma in June of 1998.  The Windows 2000 server space where the actual web site files resides has been donated to the FMA Alumni Association by FMA class of '81 Alumnus Bill Laakkonen owner of im1.com of Ft. Myers, FL. The Website Administrators are John Lash, Richard Abrams and Janice Outland.  The principals of the Alumni Association reside primarily in the Hampton Roads (formerly called "Tidewater") area of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Outland, Ray Wittersheim and Ms. Marilyn Rowland could be considered as the backbone of the Alumni Association.  Former FMA President Philip Inscoe and  Mrs. Janette Doerr also play important roles in overseeing the Association.  There are other silent members in the Association that have influenced its well-being and have helped by contributing many personal hours, hardware and software to make this website a reality.  Even though the webmaster is given artistic liberty with the design, much of the content of the site still needs approval by the Alumni Association to insure that FMA and the Alumni Association are represented in a positive manner. Due to my being a thousand miles away from the Hampton Roads Area, there is a time lag in how quickly I receive information and get it posted.

The best way to stay in touch is to employ the tools that have been provided for fellow alumni on this web site. Specifically, join the FMA Alumni Association, subscribe to the FMA Mailing List, post messages on the FMA Forum , install and use ICQ or AIM to contact your classmates and join the various Alumni services so that you may have better opportunities at finding other classmates. Relatively few alumni are "on line" therefore, you really need the Alumni Directory to complete the tools available for contacting others. The Alumni Directory is only available to paid members of the Alumni Association. All of these contact tools are available on the First Timer's Page. The Addresses and Contacts Page has the mailing address for the FMA Alumni Association where you can mail your $10.00 membership dues.

Reunions are scheduled roughly every three years. The next Alumni Reunion weekend information will be posted on the FMA What's New page as it become available. The ten dollars for membership dues covers the period of time between reunions and may be mailed to the address at the top of the Addresses and Contacts Page.  Membership dues may also be renewed and paid at these reunions. Divide $10.00 by three and you'll find the dues, if converted to a "per year fee", is dirt cheap! Want more information about where your membership dues go...? Scroll Down to the next FAQ answer.

Your $10 Alumni Association dues benefits you in the following ways:

• You receive reduced rates for various items and lodging fees at reunions
• Pays for the printing and gets you the only official FMA Alumni Directory which includes the most current addresses, phone numbers and E-mail addresses of all Alumni, Teachers, Cheerleaders and other Staff members
• You receive various mailings from the Alumni Association throughout the year
• Pays to keep our registered domain name of fmaalumni.org.
• Pays a low monthly maintenance fee for site upkeep and improvements.
• Grants you instant notifications of important announcements through the FMA Mailing List and other instant notification methods.
   

So, when you consider exactly how your membership dues are used, you are really getting a great bargain for only ten dollars which actually averages to about $3.33 per year.  Various members of the FMA Alumni Association donate their time to maintain the postal mailing list for use with the Alumni Directories.  Some individuals have donated thousands of dollars worth of computer equipment and software to bring you one of the best award winning alumni sites on the web.  What is the FMA Alumni Web Site worth?  If a designer was given the task of creating everything you see on both the public and private sites... well over $7,000.00

CLICK HERE to get to the graphics with full instructions on how to use them. If you need a special FMA graphic feel free to contact me and I will design a custom graphic for your website at no cost. Please note: I have a full time job designing and maintaining web sites. I will gladly design a graphic for promoting this web site when time allows but I would have to refer you to my personal business website at www.athomewebdesigns.net for any other requests. If you simply want a graphic that incorporates your site theme or background, send me the link to your website and/or the background you want to use and I'll customize your graphic.

The new FMA Site Map is an index of each page on the FMA server. By clicking on the site map button located on each FMA web page, a menu will roll out from the left and reveal an alphabetical list of our web pages. You may click on any of these links to go directly to that page. If you want the index to roll back up, just click on the Site Map button a second time. There are two arrows at the bottom of this window that will allow you to scroll up and down the list. To increase the speed at which the index scrolls, simply click and hold over the arrows at the bottom. Redirect, text only - printable pages and certain other specialty pages do not appear on the site map. Please note: The FMA Site Map and Search capabilities only lookup or reveal information for the site on which they occupy.  The public search engine will not give you results from the Alumni Only site.  At this time, the Search Engine has been removed from the protected site as Atomz free search engine does not search password protected pages.  The Webmaster is persuring alternative Search Engine programs and codes so that visitors may search for names, places, etc. on the protected site.  Hopefully, the search engine will be returned to the protected "Alumni Only" site shortly.

You may obtain your Official FMA Transcripts by writing to:
The Beazley Foundation
3720 Brighton Street
Portsmouth, VA   23707-3902
Phone: (757) 393-1605
NOTE: You must send a signed letter of request which includes your date of graduation or attendance, social security number, your return address and $4.00
A FMA Salute goes out to David Knies (Class of 1974) for obtaining this valuable information.

Different types of hyper links have color coding because some people have turned off the underlining of links from their own browser. The meaning behind the various colored text links that appear on this site are as follows: Red or Maroon colored links take you to another page on the FMA Website. Green links will take you to sites that are not located on our server. Links that are simply underlined and are the same color as the text surrounding them within the same paragraph take you to one of our third party services or a text only page on our server. Third party services such as our GuestBook or Bulletin Board are maintained on another server of which we have no control as to their advertising content or links they provide. At times, third party services may be unavailable due to net congestion or other problems beyond our control. The best suggestion would be to try that link again at a later time. Our goal is to have all of these services and features managed directly by the Webmaster or fellow FMA Alumni. As more and more "free services" are becoming "fee services" we are being motivated to become more self sufficient and less reliant on these third party services. While every effort is being made to make sure that the multitude of links on this site are current, due to the numbers of links on multiple pages, sometimes a link will get overlooked and result in a 404 Error - Page Not Found. If you find such a link, please inform the Webmaster as to where you found the bad link as not every page is checked everytime a new item is added to the What's New page.

It was first thought that a password would be sufficient to protect the contents of the Alumni Only pages.  After talking with our host, it was determined that the only real way to secure the information and photos contained in that site would be to have the server actually generate the request for the username and password.  Therefore: The highest level of security is provided through the use of a password and username combination for the Alumni Site.

There are a few Alumni Only pages on the public site that will ask for a password.  These are not security pages and do not involve names, E-mail addresses or other information that has not already been made public through the media.  Additionally, The Private (Alumni Only) Site is a totally separate web site from the public site.  If you jump from one site to the other, you are still on our host sever and may cause several browser windows to open, if you aren't watching.