AHOY Shipmates!
Spring
is just around the corner and I cannot tell you how
excited I am about our up and coming reunion this fall
in Branson, Mo. September 14-18. This will be our 10th
reunion. Mark your calendar now. I have worked hard
along with the Armed Forces Reunion Committee to try and
give you the best reunion possible. Granted, we cannot
please everyone but I am sure you will like our line up.
For those of you that do not know we will be staying at the
Lodge of the Ozarks. My wife Wendy and I visited this site
last year and were very impressed with this hotel. I know
you will be too. For those of you that might be arriving by
RV, there will be level space in the hotel parking lot,
although hotel rules do not allow you to stay overnight in
you camper.
Enclosed are your reunion packets. In them you will find a
sheet with all of the activities and meals available. Make
sure you fill them out and send it to the Armed Forces
Reunion with the proper monies. As far as making the
reservations for the hotel you can call them direct or fill
out the form provided. Make sure that you mention the USS
Glacier Association and that our rooms are reserved on the
remodeled first and second floors. The hotel number is
1-877-327-9894 toll free or 1-417-334-7535.
I have also enclosed a dues form for those of you that might
owe. After July 1st of this year the 2012 dues
will be due. If you any questions about your membership
status, please give me a call or contact me by e-mail.
For our business meeting on Saturday I would like you to
think about the future of the USS Glacier Association and
what direction we should be heading? Any constructive
criticism or ideas will be welcome. Also before our meeting
I would like you to talk among yourselves about where our
2013 reunion should be geographically located? I have
received feedback from our east coast shipmates that our
next reunion should be in that region.
Don’t forget about our raffle on Saturday night. Any
donation will be welcome. As in the past we will have a
grand prize drawing. Last year a 22” television took honors.
I have a couple of ideas for the grand prize this year but
you will have to wait until this fall to find out.
I have a big surprise for all of you! I was going to wait
until the reunion to tell you but I never could keep a
secret. Last year I was contacted by an artist who wanted to
do an oil painting of the Glacier in honor of his father who
served aboard the ship. After looking at some of his work,
(one that was a painting he did for former President Bush) I
decided to go ahead with the project. I worked back and
forth with the artist for over six months comparing old
photos that he and I had dug up. Steve is a perfectionist
and wanted every last detail possible to make the painting
perfect. All I can say is “wait until you see it” at the
unveiling. It is absolutely beautiful. I had prints made
and they will be available to all of you to purchase at the
reunion for a minimal price. Mailing tubes will be available
to carry your print home so no damage will occur.
I have had real good
feedback about our reunion this year in Branson, MO. It
looks like we will have a great turn out. If you know of any
shipmates that did not receive this newsletter please let me
know so they do not miss out on the fun. Hope to see all of
you this fall
