We are a very young group now. We've been in existence for a little more than a month. In this early stage, the tasks to keep us operating are not daunting. But consider this fact. We started with 8 people just 30 days ago. We are already double that number now with 16 (by my last count). And this only includes those who have shown a strong interest in the Association. As time goes on, word of mouth will have its effect. Word will get out there about us through various web sites, newsletters, and other publications. Our numbers will begin to grow over time.

We need to begin to prepare for when those numbers increase. We need to have a pool of people who can donate their time, expertise, and skills in helping this organization work. Do you have a special area of expertise that the association could use? How about writing? Maybe you work in cyber space and would like to help out with the web site? I work for the National Park Service as a park ranger. I have a great deal of experience in dealing with tour groups, Convention and Visitor Bureaus, and in setting up schedules for large groups. I will work on planning reunions. I also try to pass as an editor for this newsletter.

We need to get two committee going at the present moment. One is the Reunion Committee. Right now that consists of myself and Rob Browning. This committee would be the one in charge of looking into locations for reunions, dealing with the Convention & Visitor Bureau, looking into hotel facilities, local attractions, etc. They would do most of the planning for the reunions.

We could also use a General Membership Committee. This committee would keep track of who belongs to the Association, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, etc. They also would be trying to put the word out there about our organization. Should the time come when the membership feels that dues are necessary, one of the committee members would probably administrate that. Right now the General Membership Committee is Dean Myers who runs the website, and myself who edits the newsletter.

Both committees could use a few individuals to help share the load of work ahead of us. If you would like to work on the Reunion Committee, let me know here at Malonedave@aol.com. For General Membership Committee, let Dino know you want to work with him at Myersvac@penn.co

The question now is where should we hold our first reunion? Originally, I had hoped to make plans with a bunch of guys from the ship who have already been meeting for the past several years. They all served together in OI division, which happens to be the division I was in except that these guys were serving about 5 or 6 years before my time. They were all RD's, as opposed to the newer, Zumwalt approved OS designation, and were aboard in the early 1970s. They have been having periodic get-togethers, mostly in the mid-western part of the country. They are planning to get together again next year in Omaha, and Dino had the bright idea of combining our first reunion with them.

I contacted Marc Falkenham who is one of these guys, and he gave me the e-mail address of the guy who is planning. I e-mailed him with a proposal about expanding next year's reunion, and maybe kicking it up a notch.

That was over a month ago now, and I have heard nothing from him. This means that we are back to square one. A decision has to be made about where we would like to hold our first reunion. We don't really have a reunion committee in a formal sense. Right now, Rob Browning and myself are working together in planning the first reunion, at which point we can all get together and better organize. For the time being Rob and myself will serve as the Reunion Committee (see the previous article), and will make decisions based on what info you give us. Right now, we need to know where to hold our 1st reunion.

We could really hold it in any part of the country. The one exception would be San Diego, the ship's home port. I would like to save that particular city for the 40th birthday reunion in 2002. The city should be one that would have a navy connection to it, and would provide some attractions. This is especially important when we start to think about bringing our wives with us. We will want a place where there would be fun things for them to do as well as some activities for the membership.

Some ideas are Charleston, SC which is a big navy port. It is a city with many attractions, including Fort Sumter (where you would most likely find me) and an historic downtown area. In a navy port, arraignments can be made to visit one of the modern destroyers, where we can proudly tell the crew that "this thing ain't a tin can", and educate them on the protocol of hot racking (as situation that has probably vanished from the scene in these new spacious looking destroyers which have smaller crews).

Another idea would be Pensacola, another navy town. There may be a connection between Buchanan and this city, and it is still be investigated. Maybe Corpus Christi would be a good city, or perhaps Boston?

What I would like you to do is to e-mail me and tell me where you think the reunion should be held. Rob and I will take your suggestions, and try to come up with three semi-finalist locations. Rob and I can then explore what these cities have to offer in ways of facilities, attractions, etc. I will inform the membership of what the advantages and disadvantages are, and then we can vote via e-mail on where to host our first reunion.

You've got 30 days from the date this letter goes out to contact me. Give me your suggestions as soon as possible, so Rob, myself, and who ever else might be on the Reunion Committee can move forward with this.