REUNION RECAP by Don Cruz <Click Here>

What happened at Pittsburgh, NWSA #32 ??
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Lots!  You missed a great one!  Tom Miovas and all his committees (Mary Ann) had everything organized, watched for any potential mess-ups and got them corrected right now.  The Holiday Inn just couldn’t do enough for the 80 some attendees; the restaurant was quick and good choices, and the bartender delivered the gin and tonic to waiting” patients” at the meetings next door!  This does not include the fact that the hotel allowed our own “refreshments” at the Hostility Room.  There was ONE fault with the hotel.  The Airport Holiday Inn was 7.5 miles from the airport !!!  After depositing Hertz rental car at the airport, you assumed it was just a short walk to the Airport Holiday Inn…..wrong….you received a piece of paper with a map and 4 lines of instructions on where to turn.  You knew the agent just handed you the wrong direction for the “airport hotel” and handed it back – that’s when you found out that it was a “really LONG walk” and instead got your Hertz car back so you could drive there.  The hotel did have a courtesy car every half hour.  The ONLY hotel at the Pittsburgh Intl airport is a Hyatt.  Even the city of Pittsburgh is a half hour drive in the other direction.  Tom also priced a couple hotels in the downtown area but prices were over $100….more important…..no NWSA liquid refreshments in the Hostility Room….so that makes the 7-1/2 mile trip worthwhile!  There was one mystery that never got solved. We all know that Dan Hewins always comes to these functions via the same transportation but we could never find where the nearest Trailways was in relation to our hotel….maybe next year someone can track him.

   Almost everyone offered their name when they registered with Prez Tom as potential workers in the Hospitality Room. Tom had a watch bill posted, often with two persons working together, or certainly with ever-present John Rodriquez nearby to help out….we thought a couple times that he might have been held prisoner there, but he just wanted to help!

Sea-stories may have gotten just slightly harder to believe since last year but never did they stop!  At least 2 or 3 tables had the ladies in  deep concentration/conversation with 2 coffee pots (free) constantly needing refilling…and of course, there were gedunks available to all from early morning 0700 till 2300+ each day….not to mention the free donuts and muffins that did a disappearing act each morning.  A word of warning re: those donuts – they were NOT approved by NutriSystem but for those requiring their ration of transfats, Tom came across again!

The first ExecBd meeting (printed elsewhere by S/T Jim Stone) was, as always, the lengthiest, taking most of the afternoon of the first day. Much was accomplished in preparation for future general membership meetings, future reunions, scholarship awards and financial accounting.  Followed by NoHost Cocktails in the ballroom, where again, Manhattans were delivered when losers of a sea-bean muster paid off.

Next day…Thursday 15 June was General Membership at 0900.  Again, Jim has official notes elsewhere but probably include that we have $121,000 + CD in investments, ~615 members of which 379 are Life Members, cost of Aerograph has gone down since Editor Charlie Jordan is sending many via e-mail vice post office (consider this if you want an almost immediate copy of each issue; editor also requests items from members re: exotic duty stations (No,  that does not mean X-rated)

Or maybe some really neat persons that have been in our business.

Tom reiterated that he has nearly all copies of the past Aerographs on CD’s and when completed, will forward to all chapters….and probably for a minimum shipping and handling charge will be able to send to individual members.

During the course of these meetings, and discussion during the past year, there has been considerable reference to our demise….the END of the NWSA.  Members decrease each year as evidenced by our longer Necrology List.  While we had ~13% active duty USN membership in early years, that number is closer to 3 to 4% now with little response to many attempts to increase today’s sailors.  Although we DID do the  Oceanography bit in years gone by, weather observing and forecasting has changed in the past decade(s), compliments have decreased on ships and shore stations and while we had 1600 AG’s in the middle 1970’s, that number is down around an even 1000 now.  The NWSA had 1000-1100 active members 25 years ago- now cut in half.

Friday 16 June was an off day except for the golfer’s who had a short 9-hole day scheduled. Jim Romano kinda kept track of the 18 who needed rides to the course, it is believed that no more than two to four got lost on the way. Winners included John Rayley and Chuck and Libby O’Brien.  There is considerable discussion about some of the scores (about 15 it seems) and the need for a Notary Public to verify accuracy (of the writing – not the flight of the ball).

A good time was had by all and for a change, all participants were back at the hotel right around high noon.

With no other day schedule, the H-Room was crowded all morning.  Walks to the nearest shopping area and selected restaurants was just 2-5 blocks from the Holiday Inn.  Other nearby hotel restaurants were sampled with fine results.

We did have a dozen or so hardy soles drive downtown before this trip to see the Pittsburgh Pirates play a ballgame.  The Pirates WILL NEVER forgive them…..as this is being written, the Pirates are in a slump losing their 11^th game in a row.  One of the gents that went to the game also caused a stir by running up the stairs toward the snack stand, overloading his pace-maker and getting a recommendation from the police that he get to a hospital right away….luckily, some Medics  arrived, did some checking, and after a short while said he would be OK. They also suggested that he walk slowly after the Iron City Beer and hotdogs in the future and a little less hurrying !  

OK…we finally arrive in the gigantic parking lot for the 3-4 boats that sail the three rivers…Ohio, Monongahela and Allegheny. There are 3 large boats and one small one at the pier. One gangway (that’s sea-duty talk for “way to get on board”) for everyone and alas, no “after-brow” for us enlisted to exit the boat. We all immediately chose a seat at the table where we will later be eating, and while waiting to get “underweigh” (don’t you love these nautical terms??) a sample was taken of the bar-stock…drinks were $8, so buying stock in this company may be a plus!  There was a 8-piece orchestra and dancing was acceptable….course, with all the “walkers” we use now adays, its harder to lead. Folks were invited to the buffet line where we had there was pork, chicken, lasagna, salad with various dressings, and cake  for dessert. It was a grand meal as we plied up and down the river (counting bridges). A really funny thing happened just after getting away from the pier….5 min later we pulled nose-in to 3-River Stadium and well over 100 folks got off and went in to watch the ball game (the next game the Pirates were to lose). We couldn’t understand why they all got on and then got right off…but we found out, parking in the boat parking lot was free, they paid $5 to ride the boat to the stadium, but had they parked a block away at Heinz Field (the football stadium) it was $10 and to park at the ballfield was $15, plus two giant traffic jams at the last two after the game.  Evidentially, the walk to the boat parking lot wasn’t that far compared to the traffic tie-ups. Make that note if you’re ever in P’Burgh for the Pirates game!  And on the way home, the second bus was able to see a gigantic fireworks display after the ballgame…first bus was too far ahead….guess they shoot the fireworks whether they win or lose!  Back via freeway in time to open the Hospitality Room for another hour or so. Also received a warning from the hotel staff that Vic Milford had been skate-boarding out in front of the hotel on the cobblestones ……and they preferred he went next door to the Marriott.

   Saturday  AGCM Mike Joern introduced Capt Tidley from the CNOMC command in MS who both presented us our usual one hour session of  “what’s going on in today’s Navy”. The Captain also has a Doctorate in Meteorology from Penn State….a goal for some of our scholarship awardees this year????  THINGS ARE CHANGING ! There are now about 360 officers, 1000 AG’s and about 1/3 are female.  CNO wants the Nav to be down to 313 ships (not too long ago it was 500).  It won’t be too long that all dash-1’s in the US (you remember, DD-175-1???….weather clearances for pilots???) will be done in Norfolk, at what used to be FWF and later FWC – great scott see how those names come back to us!  OTSR and WEAX will still be done at the big “paper-factories” but the small NWSED and FWF’s may soon be a thing of the past.  Observations are or will be getting more automated and automatically put into the system.  Can this possibly be the end of WBAN-10A & B?  Heavens! And will this put Asheville out of business for correcting obs?  How about only 7-8 AG’s  of ships company on the “bird-farms”? Actually, there are more working when you go to sea but they are coming from the “det-teams” in San Diego and Norfolk and when the ship gets back to its homeport, they come off.  Well, at least they won’t have to go thru “yard periods”….do we still do that?  Also, AG’s are now assigned TAD to SEAL teams – nothing like hitting the beach with you’re AN/PMQ-3 ! Kinda makes you wish you were into today’s USN.  Well, some are and we’re just as proud of them as we were of our shipmates years back.  One part of this annual session that was not as reassuring was the answer to the question asked every 2-4 years…..is there any talk of doing away with the AG rating?  There MAY have been just a bit of tap-dancing.  Instead of the usual response of “not a chance”, we heard reference to “original QM rating”, combining with OS (that used to be a RD Radar Tech)), “CNO wants……..”, more civilians (800) in CNOC and 125 at Monterey), possible merger down the road….this was not the year for a definite NO!  This portion of the NWSA reunions is always an interesting part of our get-together!

After a short recess, the 2^nd annual General Membership meeting was called to order.  The CMAA led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.  A note here:  During the past year, three members of a group (one USA LtGen, One USMC LtGen, and another General Officer) have sent a proposal to many of the veteran groups (VFW, Disabled Vets, FRA, and others) asking that Veteran’s salute during the National Anthem and Pledge to the Flag, rather than placing their hand over their heart such as civilians do.  This DOES NOT break any law or code since the placing of the hand over the heart is for CIVILIANS.  They propose that vets salute AS THEY ALWAYS DID when on active duty.  This is being accepted at many public affairs!

Followed by the Chaplain giving a short prayer and then reading our Necrology List for the year. There were many names of passing.

The first order of business was the reading of the names of our awardees of the Scholarship Committee.  Next item was by the Nomination Chairman and the actual vote gave us  AGCM P J O’Brien as President-elect, CWO Bill Bowers as 1^st V-President and Earl Kerr as 2^nd V-President.  They will take office immediately following the banquet in 2007 and be in office for 1 yr.  The Audit Committee reported that they met with the Secy/Treas and were satisfied that our financial records ARE IN ORDER. A total of $101,000 is in the Scholarship Fund and $21000 in the Life Member Fund, for $133940 + change.

Again, the S/T has complete notes of the meetings. Additional signatures will be required in the future for the signing of checks by the NWSA Secy-Treas, for investments and also for large daily checks.

Under NEW BUSINESS, a group photo will be sent to all USN weather activities via the website of AGCM Joern and our Sailors of the Year.  An electronic copy of the Aerograph will be sent to all USN weather activities from the Command Master Chief.  The Northwest chapter has bid, and it was accepted, for the 33^rd NWSA reunion in May 2007. Full details will be published in coming Aerographs.  Meeting was adjourned at 1145.

XO Board meeting at 1300 Sat 17 June 2006 (again found in S/T notes) had PJ O’Brien scheduled to make Scholarship report in 2007 at Seattle. An attempt will be made to obtain current METEOROLOGICAL schools with degrees. Scholarship awards will be $1000 minimum in the future. Finance committee has a membership of 3 years with the chairman rotating. They can be re-appointed by the President.  New business…future S/T will need “Access” (computer) training.  Cost for transportation/berthing for S/T was accepted by XO Bd. Meeting was adjourned at 1350.

And finally, the last event of #32….the banquet.

AG Sailor of the Year (SEA) was presented to AG1 Jonathan Osl from  Det JAX while SHORE Sailor of the Year was presented to AG1 Chance Snell from the command in San Diego. Beside individual medals presented by Captain Tidley from SECNAV, the NWSA also presented a plaque, one year membership in the NWSA and a check for $100 (usually given to the wife who put up with the sailors absence, hard work (and not with these two, but occasional brown-nosing) to get this award.  Our best of luck to them both….and if only we could be invited to their CPO initiation which usually comes next !  We found that more golf scores were somehow approved as correct and Willy Sanders, the Graham’s, Dave Driggers, E.R. McLeod, and  Marty Nemcosky were winners….and in some cases (no names mentioned) there be a lack of sleep from potential guilty consciences.   

Morrey Summey and John Rodriquez both traveled the farther distance to get to Pittsburgh from our Socal chapter in San Diego but folks seemed to come from every point of the compass.

Anyone remember what happened to the fez we had many years ago?  You’ll never find out.

One final reminder to ALL MEMBERS. Look thru the B. List and find a former buddy, shipmate, name you knew in Navy Weather and send them a gift MEMBERSHIP.  This will double our present group to 1200 people!

Tom Miovas, outgoing (in more ways than one) President, turned over the gavel to Peter Weigand of the Potomac chapter, who now assumes the watch for the next year.                It was great !                    

See you at NWSA #33.

WHO WAS THERE

ROBERT and SHIRLEY AGNESS, - BILL and CAROL BOWERS, - LAWRENCE D. CAIN,. - ALEX and WINNIE and DIANE CHAPATES, - FLORENCE COYNE-McDONALD, - DON and MARGE CRUSE, - DAVID L. and JANE DRIGGERS, - PHILIP D. and VINNIE DUNCAN, - ROD and PAM ELLIOTT, - SAMMY K ERWIN,. - LARRY and CAROL FIELD, - SADIE FINNEY, - ROBERT and REMEDIOS FREEMAN, - JIM and JOAN FUTTNER, HERB and LORRAINE GOODLAND, - WILL and ELLA GOULD, - HOWARD and SHIRLEY GRAHAM, - RAY HENNESSEY, - DAN HEWINS, - MARY KALINYAK, - TIM and LINDA KENEFICK, - EARL KERR, - DAVID LEIB, - NORMAN and MARILYN MACOMBER, - FREDERICK and VIRGINIA MARTIN, - ELROY and PATRICIA McLOED, - VICTOR B. MILFORD, - THOMAS M. (MOOSE) and MARY ANN MIOVAS, - MARSHALL and KAY MONROE, - CLAUDE R. (MOON) and NADINE MULLEN, - MARTY NEMCOSKY, - PATRICK and LIBBY O'BRIEN, - LLOYD "PETE" and DIANE PETERSON, - LEWIS and RUTH PITTELL, - JOHN & CAROL RALEY, - JOHN RODRIGUEZ, - JAMES M. and ROSALIE ROMANO, - VIRGIL SALA, - WILLE R. and SHIRLEY SANDERS, - DONALD R. and SHARON SAVAGE, - ELLEN and ROBERT SHANNON, - KEN and JOYCE SMITH, - DAVID and HARRIETT SOKOL, - C. G. STEINBRUCK, - JIM STONE, - GERALD and ANNIE STRUCK, - MORRIS SUMMEY, - A. JOE and ROSEMARIE SYCURO, - ROBERT and SYLVY TITUS, - ARLEN M. and ELLEN UPTON, - PETER  and MARCIA WEIGAND, - HARRY and PATRICIA WHITWORTH, - RALPH A. and MARY ZETTEL