EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UPDATE... Summer 2004
Bob Anderson
On the 1st of May I traveled to Charleston, South Carolina and the reunion site at the Embassy Suites/Hilton Garden complex to visit with Spike Pelletier and Dick Best our co-hosts for the 2004 reunion. They, and the hotel staffs, of both hotels have the reunion well laid out for the entire period. The check-in for the reunion will be at the Convention Center, which is co-located/attached to Embassy Suites. (The primary Hotel is Embassy Suites and the secondary is the Hilton Garden.) The Embassy Suites will have a sign directing you to the registration for the reunion. The hotels are in the same complex in North Charleston approximately 5 minutes from the airport. Although the Embassy Suites is the primary hotel, the Hilton will be providing the meeting rooms. The price at the Hilton was misquoted in some of our documentation at $105.00 daily. It is $109.00 daily and has been since negotiations started. I understand this has been a concern with some of you who have talked with the Hilton. It was not their fault; it was a misprint by NCVA. Both hotels have been very accommodating through negotiations for the reunion and they definitely were during the three days of my visit. I took full advantage of the happy hour in the afternoons and the breakfast to order in the Atrium at Embassy Suites.
Meetings for this reunion are scheduled for later than usual so that we can be assured all who are coming will be in attendance. Most meetings are scheduled for Friday the 17th at meeting rooms in the Hilton Garden. Groups wishing to have meetings during the reunion are encouraged to contact Spike or Dick, prior to the reunion.
In addition to dinning facilities at the hotels there is a Wendy's in the same lot as the Hilton. Other fast food places, including a Waffle House, are an easy 15-minute walk from Embassy Suites. Many other restaurants are available in the area as well. There will be a shuttle service between the airport and the hotels. Additionally, shuttle service will be provided between the hotels. Possibly a couple of golf carts will be available to move back and forth between registrations/hospitality suite/ships store and the Hotels.
I mentioned in my last article that dues would increase to $20.00 annually. This increase was approved at the Boston reunion in 2001 will go into effect in January of 2005. The new rates are as follows: 1-year - $20.00, 3-years - $32.00, 5-years - $80.00 and 10-year - $140.00. Family dues are: 1-year - $30.00, 3-year - $78.00, 5-year - $120.00 and 10-year $225.00. Current rates, as they now stand, will be accepted through December 2004.
The Naval Security Group Command Display at Corry Station and some Gulf Coast members of NCVA in Pensacola played host to a NSGA Todendorf, Germany reunion the 6th through the 9th of May 2004. A group of about 80 former members of the site at Todendorf were in Pensacola for 4 days of tours of local sites including the Command Display (museum). One thing we found out for sure about our former shipmates and families, the sea stories have added a little color since we lived through them and it is really amazing how young everyone looked (smile folks). The reunion was organized by Red Fraser, with help from the American Legion Bar Manager, Bill Flietz, and our NCVA Archivist, Bill Lockert. If other groups are looking at future reunions in the Pensacola area and want assistance locally, contact the Gulf Coast Chapter of NCVA or the Naval Security Group Command Display.
Congratulations are in order for the newly established “Lone Star Chapter”. They had their first get-to-gether, hosted by Lee Mobley, on the 16th and 17th of April in Austin, Texas. The Lone Star Chapter will, no doubt, be a major player in hosting the annual reunion in San Antonio in 2005.
One final thought. We have had some trouble with mailings this year. If any of you are having trouble getting CRYPTOLOG, Membership Directories, renewal cards etc., please notify me at 3235 Kinard Avenue, Pensacola, Fl 32507-9256 or at PO Box 16009 Pensacola, Fl 32507-6009. Mass mailings this year to date were: the Winter CRYPTOLOG in late January; Spring issue mailed the 30th of April; annual renewal notices (for those whose dues expire in 2004); a Membership Directory in February; and this issue of CRYPTOLOG (summer 2004) that is scheduled to go to the post office the last of June 2004. See you in Charleston…
Archived Executive Director Updates:
Fall 2007
Summer 2007
Summer 2004
Spring 2004
Last Modified: Saturday, 27-Oct-2007 12:30:33 EDT