Our reunion is now only a few months away and it is time to get your reservations made. We really want you to come and enjoy all we have to offer here in San Antonio, home of the Alamo, our World Champion Spurs basketball team and the world famous River Walk. Now the seventh largest city in the United States, San Antonio hosts a vibrant mix of cultures, cuisines, architecture, military history and patriotism - not to mention diverse languages and music. The city's heritage and traditions are rich, as are it's modern pleasures. A cosmopolitan blend of top-notch golf courses, remarkable dining and nightlife options, art galleries, spas, and shopping dot the pedestrian cityscape along the River. San Antonio is one of America's friendliest cities and truly captures the spirit of Texas.

Our reunion Hotel is located in the heart of downtown on the bank of the San Antonio River. This gives us many advantages for the reunion. We are within walking distance of many attractions, such as the Alamo ( 3 blocks), Rivercenter Mall (5 blocks) and Market Square (6 blocks). Streetcars operate on a ten minute schedule and water taxis run routes on the river. Check out www.sanantoniovisit.com or http://www.sanantoniovisit.com for things to see and do in the area. Your registration package will include a copy of the San Antonio Travel and Leisure Guide. Come and enjoy!

FROM THE SECRETARY - LARRY BURKE

The Holiday-Inn Riverwalk Hotel continues to hold the block of 150 rooms for our reunion. To date about 50 rooms have been reserved. Room rate of $103 is available three days post and prior event based on availability. To make reservations, call 1-888-615-0726 or 210-224-2500. Request the USAF Helicopter Pilot Association rate. Click Here for direct access to the USAFHPA reservation web site at the hotel. At some point we will need to review the status of reservations with the hotel and possibly release some rooms if trends do not justify the need for current number blocked. We suggest you make your reservations now to avoid any problems later. Cancellations can be made up to 1800 hours of the first day of your reservation if necessary.

Following folks have already made hotel reservations: Robert Allen, Ashley, Bridgewater, Brake, Brattland, Burke, Covey Campbell, Damoth, De Vries, Donohue, Duchene, James Dunn, Elliff, Emrie, Field, Flournoy, Granier, Gurley, Frank Harris, Kekuna, Kennedy, Kimsey, Byron King, Langley, Lisec, Lybarger, Lyell, Marchewka, Marcum, Dale McDonald, Michelsen, Momii, Gerald Moore, Mulder, Panzer, Theresa Patterson, Peel, Purvine, Schildgen, Robert Smith, Spaur, Stamps, Steeg, Stroh, Strout, Waters, and Joan Wicker.

We welcome the following new members to our Association: Dale Langley, Corpus Christi, TX; Kyle Taylor, Enterprise, AL; Walt Zimmermann, State College, PA; and Cecil B. Jeanes, Universal city, TX.

“Gone West” - Names of Homer Hite (Jun 07) and William Takacs (Oct 07) will be added to the Memorial Roster at the next update.

Just a friendly reminder to all that recommended changes to the bylaws shall be submitted, in writing, to the Association Rules Committee (the Board of Directors) not less than 45 days prior to the scheduled General Membership Meeting (May 13^th).

TREASURER’S CORNER - BOB STROUT

Seems as if all I write about is keeping your dues current. While mailing labels on newsletters have the dues expiration date, those of you who receive E-Letters don’t get that information. If you don’t know when your dues expire, or are unsure if you are current or not, E-Mail or phone me.

Rosters are available electronically in Excel Format (Quattro folks can read Excel, and I can send in MSWord or CSV formats if requested.) Rosters will be current as of the date requested. Folks without computers can get a new roster by giving me a quick phone call. My number in all the rosters is correct.

Along with the information above, I’d like to remind everyone that Life Memberships are available. We currently have 13 Life Members. If you are 85 years of age or older, advise the Chairman or the Treasurer that you are interested in becoming a Life Member. If you are younger thaN 85, you can become a Life Member by pre-paying your dues up to the year you would turn 85. (E.g. currently 75 years old, send $100 for ten years dues and ask for Life Membership. Include your birth date.)

Association Decals are still available! Dress up the window of your car, RV, or front door by displaying an HPA decal. Send $5.00 to the Treasurer, and I’ll send you five decals. Also available are the last five Memory books from the Shades of Green Reunion - $22.00 each.

I have read through the book “Green Hornets The History of the U.S. Air Force 20^th Special Operations Squadron”, Authored by Wayne Mutza and published by Schiffer Publishing Ltd. I’ll bring a copy of it to SA for the reunion. Look at it before you spend a bunch of money.

If you have questions about your dues status, or wish to correct and/or change roster information, e-mail Bob Strout or Larry Burke. See roster for email addresses. Mail information and dues payments to:

TREASURER, USAF Helicopter Pilot Assn

PO Box 966

Medical Lake , WA 99022-0966

REUNION INFORMATION:

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Sunday May 11^th

Hospitality Room Open @ 1500 Hours - Closes @ 2200 Hours

Monday May 12^th

Hospitality Room Open @ 0800 Hours - Closes @ 2200 Hours

Bus to Rio Cibolo Ranch Loads @ 1700 Hours

Tuesday May 13^th

Hospitality Room Open @ 0800 Hours - Closes @ 2200 Hours

Business/Membership Meeting @ 0900 Hours

Mystery Entertainment in Hospitality Room @ 1930ish Hours

Wednesday May 14^th

Hospitality Room Open @ 0800 Hours - Closes @ 1600 Hours

Golf Outing - Time/Location Pending

Memory Book Photo Shoot - Time/Location Pending

Cocktail Hour / Cash Bar - 1800 Hours

Posting Of the Colors - 1900 Hours

Banquet Follows

Thursday May 15^th

Hospitality Room Open @ 0800 Hours - Closes @ 1100 Hours

Farewell!

Evening At Rio Cibolo Ranch: Come join us to experience “a little bit of Texas” at Rio Cibolo Ranch on Monday evening. We depart the Holiday Inn via bus for the 30 minute ride to the ranch site east of San Antonio (very close to the old Zuehl Auxiliary Field - for those of you familiar with the Randolph local flying area). Bring your appetite to enjoy the Western Round-Up BBQ consisting of slow smoked beef brisket, sausage, and chicken quarters with tangy potato salad, crisp coleslaw, ranch beans, rolls, and all condiments. For dessert, attack the Bunuelo Bar for a crispy sugar bunuelo with fresh strawberries, ranch pecans, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream. For your entertainment, we have a 30 minute performance by the FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN CLOGGERS, and the opportunity to swing your partner to the music of Ron Carter.

On The Menu: On the attached registration form you are requested to select your entree of choice for the banquet dinner. Following is a complete description of the options available:

#1 “Signature Meal” - Slices of Beef Tenderloin and Chicken Sonora topped with a Mushroom Demi Glace and Supreme Sauce on a bed of Wild Rice and Chefs Choice of Steamed Vegetables.

#2 “Italian Dream” - Chicken Picatta Dueted with Grilled Salmon Fillet on a bed of Penne Pasta with Basil Cream Sauce and Asparagus.

#3 “San Antonio Surf & Turf” - Sliced Strip Loin with Chipolte Demi Glace accompanied with three Grilled Tequila Marinated Shrimp, Cilantro Rice, and Zucchini Mix.

#4 “Vegetarian Plate” - Mixture of Chefs Choice of Vegetables.

All meals are served with a salad, bakery rolls and creamery butter, iced tea and coffee, and a desert of Commemorative Cheesecake with strawberry sauce, creme fresche, and blueberry sauce.

Golfing Event: Format for the golfing activity on Wednesday morning will be driven by the number of people interested. Those wanting to participate should indicate by completing that portion of the registration form.

Travel Tips:

For those arriving by air, SATrans Airport Express provides shuttle service between the airport and downtown hotels. Shuttles depart the airport every 15 minutes. Tickets are sold outside the baggage area - $14 one way or $24 round trip. Check www.saairportshuttle.com for more information and a $2 coupon. Taxi fare from the airport to the hotel is currently being quoted at about $23.

For those driving (and without gps), one way to get to the Holiday Inn Riverwalk is to exit US281/IH37 South at Commerce St (Exit 141A), turn right, 6 traffic lights to Navarro St, turn right, 3 traffic lights to Houston St, turn left, 1 traffic light to St Mary’s St, turn left, hotel is on immediate right.