Naval Weather Service Association

** NWSA Lone Star Chapter **

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NWSA 2010 REUNION
Dallas , TX ~ April 28th – May 2nd, 2010
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Source: Aerograph, February, 2010

On November 14th, the semi-annual meeting of the NWSA Lone Star Chapter was held in Arlington , TX . In attendance were: Mel Bourn and Pat, Harry and Jeanie Hale, Charlie and Ann Jordan, Larry Kennaley, Jim Maxwell, Joe McKinzie , Bill Orvis , and Jim Reed. On Friday evening, early arrivals went to dinner at the Mexican Restaurant adjacent to the Motel and had an excellent meal while reminiscing. On Saturday morning, some took the time to visit the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium. We had planned to take the escorted tour ($15 each) but no tours were being conducted due to the High School State Football playoffs in progress at the stadium. We found that tickets for the games were only $12 each so we gave ourselves a tour. If you ever to take the opportunity to visit the stadium at Reunion #36, we highly recommend it and you will be impressed.

President Jim Reed called our business meeting to order at 2 PM on Saturday. Secretary/Treasurer Joe McKinzie reported that the Chapter treasury has $869.56 as a balance and indicated he would report of the status of Reunion funds later in the meeting when the Reunion was being discussed. The president then asked if there were further nominations for the office of President for the next year. There being none, Harry Hale was elected President and Joe McKinzie accepted the position of Sec/Treas for one more year.

Historically, the Sec/Treas has provided meeting minutes, notices etc. by email followed up by regular mail to all members. In the future, this information will be provided by email and only those with no email address will be receiving the information via regular mail. The business portion of the meeting was dominated by the planning and reports of progress for the coming Reunion .

The attendance roster is now activated on the Military Reunion Planners website and shows only 5 registrations to date, only 2 of which were from our Chapter. The Roster will be updated every 2 weeks and the next update is scheduled for November 22nd. All who plan to attend are encouraged to register now. We have had queries from other Chapters about the roster and we feel that the more people that register early, the more others will be inclined to register. Please register now!

The Sec/Treas reported that the shirts, ball caps and cups have been received and showed samples at the meeting. The numbers of these items received is limited and we have received is limited and we are receiving advance orders so if you want to assure getting them, it would be a good idea to order in advance.

Last years reunion committee suggested and encouraged us to have a Master at Arms for the reunion with duties to include: Keeping up to date notices of meeting locations, tour information, assuring the meeting rooms are properly set up and conducting the Pledge of Allegiance at the General Business Meeting. Jim Maxwell volunteered to take this responsibility.

The Hospitality Room committee plans to meet at the hotel on the evening of Tuesday, March 27th to prepare the welcome kits and do the final setup of the Hospitality Room.

Harry Hale showed us the forms he has prepared for Registration, and Silent Auction sign ups.

The Sec/Treas is maintaining running spreadsheets to keep the books balanced on income and expenses. We did receive $750 seed money from NWSA which will need to be repaid after the reunion. We are also receiving funds for advance purchase of drink and 50/50 tickets, shirts, caps and cups. We are obviously in the hole at this point but still anticipate recovery of our investment.

NWSA President Earl Kerr has requested an informal meeting with the Reunion Committee, Military Reunion Planners and Hotel Representatives, on February 22nd at the Hotel to review plans and progress. We will also be continuing our monthly planning meetings with the Lunch Bunch, the next meeting being scheduled for December 14th.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

A few of us did gather for dinner Saturday evening at BJ’s Restaurant Brewhouse and were all duly impressed, planning to return often.

Submitted by LCDR Joe McKinzie USN RET

Source: Aerograph, November 2009

Yesterday, August 27^th, we gathered for lunch at the Wyndham Hotel Restaurant (The hotel where we will be hosting the reunion next Spring). In attendance were: Joe McKinzie , Ben McCaig, Bill Orvis, Gerry Schultz, Jesse Lofton, Harry and Jeanie Hale, Charlie Jordan , Vic Corbelli, Marty and Eli Martinez.

We were met by Hotel representatives and given a tour of the facilities that we will be using for the reunion including the hospitality room (a 3 bedroom suite with bedroom furniture to be removed and tables and chairs brought in. The room includes three bathrooms; one of which we will use to fill a bathtub with ice to cool drinks; refrigerators, microwave, coffee machine and all the free ice we need). We were also shown the meeting rooms for the Executive Board meetings and all member meetings (the larger meeting room will have a microphone and US Flag available). The room for the “Meet and Greet” and the Banquet room were looked at and the Banquet room will be set up with a small dance floor, head table and microphone.

We talked about the plans for the free breakfast to be provided and it was decided, it would be better that instead of a buffet in the hospitality or meeting room, the hotel will provide coupons to registered guests and the coupons may be redeemed in the hotel restaurant for ordering from the menu at anytime.

Later, after lunch, Joe McKinzie brought everyone up to date on the reunion preparations progress. A report was relayed from Jim Maxwell, who couldn’t attend, that he has been in contact with the Dallas Visitor and Convention Bureau who agreed to provide 125 packets for our welcome kits. At a previous meeting, Bill Orvis reported having contacted the Grapevine and Arlington Visitor Centers and is in negotiation with them as to what they will provide. Joe McKinzie has contacted to Ft Worth Center and they have agreed to provide as many brochures, maps, etc. as we need. Joe McKinzie also reported that coffee mugs have been ordered and received then passed a sample around for all to see. He also reported that the caps and shirts are on order. Bill Orvis reported that he had met with Moose Miovis (who happened to be in town recently visiting relatives) and Moose encouraged him to plan ahead to make sure the duty roster for the Hospitality room was complete. Harry Hale, who has attended many previous reunions, has volunteered to prepare the sign up roster. Charlie Jordan volunteered to prepare a notice for the next Aerograph asking Chapters to buy ads for the Welcome booklet. Joe McKinzie, Lone Star Chapter Sec/Treas, will handle the books and all receipts/expenditures for the reunion.

Most in attendance have never attended a NWSA reunion and we continually try to enlighten everyone on what takes place at a reunion to better prepare them to assist.

At our next meeting, tentatively set for Saturday, September 19^th, we will establish milestone dates for completion of different specific reunion preparation items. LCDR Joe McKinzie , Sec/Treas

Source: Aerograph, August 2009

The first Lone Star Chapter Meeting of the year was held in Arlington on 26 – 27 June. In attendance were: Mel Bourn and Pat, Harry and Jeanie Hale, Larry Kennaley, Marty and Eli Martinez, Jim and Suzanne Maxwell, Ben McCaig, Joe McKinzie, Bill and Helen Orvis and Gerald and Terri Schultz.

On Friday evening, we all enjoyed some great Italian food at the Bravos Restaurant near the Quality Inn, where some of the attendees were staying. On Saturday afternoon, we had a business meeting (see details below) and on Saturday evening, Jim and Suzanne Maxwell hosted a BBQ at their home. Everyone indicated a thoroughly enjoyable time at both the dinner and the BBQ. Thanks Jim and Suzanne!

The business meeting was held at 2: PM at the Quality Inn. The meeting was dominated by discussion and planning of the NWSA Reunion being hosted by the Lone Star Chapter, next April but we also had nominations for Chapter Officers to take office after our next Chapter meeting which is scheduled for 4-5 December. Joe McKinzie agreed to continue as Sec/Treas for the coming year and Harry Hale was nominated for President. Nominations are still open until the next meeting when the election will be held and the new President will take office. As noted above, the BBQ event was enthusiastically received and we are now planning a “Dinner Theatre” or similar event for our December meeting.

We had a lengthy discussion about the preparation and planning for the NWSA Reunion #36. Bill Orvis, Reunion Committee Chairman, provided an overview of his interaction with Military Reunion Planners and took for action some items brought up by attendees, to check-out with MRP. Jim Maxwell of the Hospitality Room committee has been joined by Gerald Schultz, Ben McCaig, Marty Martinez and Mel Bourn to assist in: Registration/reception; refreshments; arranging for a room host watch bill; caps/shirts/cups sales; raffle and drawing tickets. The Hospitality Room committee will also be responsible for putting together the Welcome Kits and in this regard, Joe McKinzie has contacted the Fort Worth Visitors and Convention Bureau, Jim Maxwell will contact the Dallas Bureau and Bill Orvis will contact the Arlington and Grapevine Bureaus. Joe McKinzie has been in contact with vendors in preparation to purchase of coffee cups, hats, shirts and is assisting Charlie Jordan in the preparation and formatting of forms and announcements for the Aerograph. The golf outing at the Tour Eighteen Golf Course is being coordinated by Joe McKinzie. MRP is responsible for scheduling and contracting for all tours, the welcome BBQ and reunion banquet.

The Reunion Committee has agreed to meet monthly until the reunion dates and will be meeting in conjunction with the (now traditional) monthly Lunch Bunch gatherings.

As a recap, this was probably our best business meeting since the Chapter was formed. We accomplished a lot and all had a thoroughly enjoyable time.

I would like to encourage all of our members to get involved. Come to our December meeting and I believe you will find it worth the trip and will be returning regularly for our meetings. Joe McKinzie, Sec/Treas

Source: Aerograph, MAY, 2009

LONE STAR CHAPTER

On February 28, the North Texas members of the Lone Star Chapter met for their monthly meeting as “The Lunch Bunch”. The luncheon was held at Esparza Mexican Restaurant in Grapevine TX (near our April 28, 2010 to May 2, 2010 NWSA Reunion #36 hotel location).

Present were Harry & Kithy Hale, from O’Donnell TX, Gerry and Terri Schulz, from Fort Worth TX, Charlie & Ann Jordan, from Abilene TX, Jim & Suzanne Maxwell, from Burleson TX, Joe McKenzie, from Fort Worth TX, Ben McCaig, from Wills Point TX, Reunion #36 Chairman Bill Orvis, from Arlington TX, Mel Bourn & Pat Partesius, from Fort Worth TX, and President Jim Reed from Nassau Bay TX.

As our Secretary/Treasurer, Joe McKinzie collected chapter dues, the conversation turned to the death of one of our members, Sammy Erwin. There was concern that the chapter should have sent flowers to Sammy’s home. However after due consideration, it was determined that the Secretary/Treasurer was to purchase appropriate memoriam cards and forward a card from the chapter to the decedents home.

The majority of the meeting dealt with our preparations for the DFW Reunion. To be held next year. Bill Orvis urges the group to tour the Wyndham Hotel where the reunion will be held. Discussion concerning tours, both the locations and times consumed a significant portion of the meeting. It was determined that the orders for caps and coffee cups for Reunion #36 would be judged from the attendance at the JAX Reunion.

Submitted by AGCM Charlie Jordan USN RET

The Lone Star Chapter Lunch Bunch met at the Stagecoach Inn Restaurant in Salado , TX on March 28^th. We had a nice turnout with some driving up to 4 hours to join us. Charlie Jordan was unable to join us as he is recuperating from a sea cruise and is busy getting the Aerograph ready to print. Harry Hale had planned to be there but he didn’t show which I can understand since they had a blizzard in his neck of the woods yesterday.

Those who did make it are pictured above standing left to right: Curtis Ford (prospective member), Ben McCaig, Bill and Helen Orvis, Steve Arbogast (prospective member), Jim Reed, Suzanne and Jim Maxwell, Marty and Eli Martinez, Charlie and Jocelyn Weisman, Pat Partesius and Mel Bourn. Kneeling; Joe McKinzie.

We had an enjoyable lunch and made acquaintance with new and prospective members.

Submitted by LCDR Joe McKinzie USN Ret

NWSA Reunion 36
April 28th – May 2nd, 2010

Dallas , TX
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Source: Aerograph, February, 2009

Pres ……………..….….. Jim Reed
Sec/Treas ………… Joe McKenzie
Reunion 36 Chmn ….. .. Bill Orvis

The “Lunch Bunch” (DFW area members of the Lone Star Chapter) journeyed westward about 175 miles to Abilene TX to have lunch with Charlie Jordan and Harry Hale (who traveled about 150 miles south from O’Donnell Texas).

As expected, the sea stories were abundant, however, the luncheon at the Beehive Steakhouse turned to our commitment for hosting Reunion #36. (Logo provided by CAPT Neil O’Conner USN RET) (See Picture in the Aerograph) See page 31 for more info. The committee will attempt to gain some insight of the members desires by polling the attendees at Reunion #35 regarding desired tours (Dallas’ South fork Ranch, The Dallas Book Depository, a very large outlet mall vs. The Galleria, Dallas Arboretum, etc.). Additionally the Reunion #36 booklet is attempting to compile a list of sites that Reunion #36 attendees might want to attend individually on self-guided tours.

The work continues with further information in the next issue of the AEROGRAPH.

SOME OF THE LONE STAR LUNCH BUNCH
(See Picture in the Aerograph)

(Left to Right) Ann Jordan, Charlie Jordan, Kithy Hale, Joe McKenzie, Harry Hale, Jim Maxwell, Suzanne Maxwell, Bill Orvis and his wife, Helen Orvis.)

Submitted by AGCM Charlie Jordan USN RET