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CHAIRMAN'S
CORNER – JOHN ELLIFF
My
sincere thanks to Bob Putlock and his crew for the superb reunion
they hosted in Orlando. Everyone I talked to had a
wonderful event - a fine tribute to all the hard work by the
guys and gals involved. Great job!
Mark
your calendars - less than one year to go. I think
everyone will really enjoy our Fiesta here in San Antonio.
Your committee visited many hotels, both downtown and in other
areas of the city. The selection of the Holiday Inn
Riverwalk downtown represents the best place with the best
amenities at the best price.
There are many
fascinating things to do and see in and around San Antonio!
We decided not to fill your time here with so many things to
do you wouldn't have time to enjoy visiting with your comrades .
You may want to come early and stay late. We will
later provide you a list of all the activities and events around
San Antonio you may want to see.
Of concern is the number
of members who are delinquent on their dues. Please make a
concentrated effort to update your membership with Bob Strout,
who graciously agreed to another term as our Treasurer.
Do
not hesitate to contact me or anyone on the committee with any
question or concern you may have regarding the reunion or the
USAFHPA.
SECRETARY'S
CORNER - LARRY BURKE
Your
friendly new group of hosts for the 2008 reunion wish to start
off by extending our heartfelt thanks to Bob Putlock and his
directors and all the Orlando crew for the superb job done at
“Magic In Orlando”. We hope all realize the effort
that goes into preparation for one of these gatherings. Thanks
guys (and gals)! Very special thanks go to Don Damoth for
continuing as webmaster, to Bob Strout for being the treasurer
for another tour, to
historian K V Hall, and
to Bill Waters who continues to keep us posted on status of the
helicopter family.
The
majority of the new team members from San Antonio have been
exposed to USAFHPA event planning as most worked on the 1988
reunion. So here we go again. It’s time to mark your
calendar. The next reunion will be held in San Antonio on May
11-14, 2008.
Location for the reunion will be the Holiday
Inn Riverwalk in the downtown area
(www.holiday-inn.com/sat-riverwalk).
We have blocked 75 rooms for May 11th,
and 150 rooms for May 12th
-14th.
Room rate is $103 plus tax. Rate is available three days prior
and post event based on availability of the hotel. Parking charge
is $10/day for
event. To make reservations, call 1-888-615-0726 or
210-224-2500. Request
the USAF Helicopter Pilot Association rate. Reservations after
April 22, 2008, will be provided on a space available basis. We
are asking that you make your reservations early, as the number
of rooms blocked will be reviewed/adjusted 120 days prior to
event to meet what actual needs appear to be at the time.
Site
selection is always a challenge. Our requirement for a large
hospitality area and the ability to bring in our own alcoholic
beverages limited the proposals received through the requests of
the San Antonio Visitors Bureau. Holiday Inn is allowing us to
bring in our own hospitality room provisions, and providing a
large complimentary hospitality area. With the hotel being in the
heart of downtown on the banks of the famous riverwalk within
walking distance of major attractions, we feel you will enjoy
your visit.
Agenda
of activities will be similar to past gatherings with
registration and hospitality starting on Sunday the 11th,
a late afternoon/early evening at the Rio Cibolo Ranch for a
western night on Monday the 12th,
a golf tournament if there is enough interest, the normal
membership meeting, and the closing banquet on Wednesday, with
lots of open time available to be a tourist and enjoy the
area.
Coming In Your RV? There are several RV parks
available. Fort Sam Houston has a very nice park on Post, with 68
large concrete pads. They accept reservations, and are 15 minutes
from the downtown hotel. Rate is $16/day, contact at
210-221-5502. Lackland has a nice park on base with 29 paved pads
but accepts no reservations. It is about 25 minutes from the
hotel. Rate is $14/day, contact at 210-671-5179. Brooks City Base
has a small park 25 minutes away with 15 pads (no 50 amp) but do
not take reservations. Rate is $8-10/day, contact at
210-536-2881. Randolph and Fort Sam both have parks on Canyon
Lake north of San Antonio, about one hour from downtown.
“Gone
West”
The
following names have been added to the Memorial Roster since the
Orlando meeting: Tom Courtney, Charles DuPont, Victor Goudey,
Kenneth Hatton, Owen Heeter, John Link, Richard Madison, James
Murtha, Bob Overturf, Ted Sharpe, James Sweetman, and Bernie
Womble.
Other
Reunions:
The Air Rescue Association and the Pedro Rescue Helicopter
Association will hold their next joint reunion Wednesday 19
September through Saturday 22 September, 2007, at the Galt House
Hotel & Suites in Louisville, KY.
For reunion details
check out the ARA and PRHA web pages, or contact Marilyn
Nicholas, ARA Director/Public Relations
(marilynnicholas@sbcglobal.net),
John Flournoy, ARA President (jflournoy2@comcast.net),
or Ed Cartwright, PRHA Secretary (edcartwright@Yahoo.com).
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