EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UPDATE... Summer 2008
Bob Anderson

This particular update will be the last before the reunion in St. Louis. I recently made a visit to the hotel and facilities at the reunion site and found them exceptionally good. If you remember our host, Frank Huffman, coming down the center of the congregation at the General Membership meeting at Saratoga Springs playing "Meet me in St. Louie", then you know that we are indeed in for a good show in August. (As a side note ‑ You may want to ask Frank about the telephone poles in his driveway. It makes a great story). The Gateway Chapter folks that are running this reunion had meetings there during our stay to report on all that is taking place. Our Site Selection chairman, Dave Fiehtner, was also present and I think that he would agree with me that they have all aspects of the reunion well in hand. I personally flew into the International Airport in St. Louis, rented a car and quite easily made my way to the reunion site at the Sheraton Westport Lakeside Chalet. It is just off of I‑270 about six or seven miles west‑southwest of the Airport. If you do not want to rent a car in St. Louis they have a shuttle that runs from the Airport to the Hotel. There will be a sign at the airport welcoming NCVA members as they arrive. The facilities available at the hotel are most impressive. You will find registration as soon as you enter the hotel. They also have meeting rooms and the ship store located on the entry floor. The hospitality room is located in the Versailles room one level down from the main floor. This is where breakfast to order will be served. The Versailles room is also the area that will host the General Membership meeting and the reunion‑ending banquet on the last day. Adjacent to the hotel is a Mall area that is loaded with great restaurants and places to shop. Bring your checkbook and credit cards.

I have had several queries about smoking rooms and areas. As of 1 May of this year there is no smoking in the hotel or any of their rooms. They do have smoking areas and will make an attempt to locate guests that smoke where they will have access to smoking areas. Let them know if you are a smoker.

The program that was approved by the Board of Directors at Saratoga Springs that made available plaques to be presented to Sailors of the Year at various places by local NCVA groups has been a great success. Plaques have been presented by the Florida Chapter, the Gulf Coast Chapter, the New England Chapter and by the NCVA Staff at the Command Display, to date. Each of the sailors at these presentation ceremonies now are members of NCVA.

A reminder to all members of the Board of Directors, plan on being in St. Louis on the 20th of August for the B of D meeting. The Board meeting will be the evening of the 20th. Be safe and we will see you in August.