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Naval  Weather Service Association's
34th  Annual Reunion
Country Springs Hotel. 
Waukesha, WI.
(Waukesha is off  I-94; just west of Milwaukee)

Wednesday, Sept 10, 2008
thru
Sunday, Sept.14, 2008

NWSA #34 REUNION

HOTEL INFORMATION

 AFRI is a professional reunion planner that is in charge of planning for Reunion #34 in Waukesha , WI from Sept. 9th to Sept. 14th 2008.

Our Hotel is the Country Springs Hotel Water Park and Convention Center.  Carved into 40 acres of the picturesque Kettle Moraine countryside, the Country Springs Hotel has an established reputation for quality hospitality, comfort and service..  Their website is www.countryspringshotel.com.  Their mailing address is:

Country Springs Hotel, Attention Reservations, 
P.O. Box 2269 , Waukesha , WI   53187-2269
TEL 262-547-0201 or 1-800-247-6640; Fax: 262-547-6884

The room types are:

*Standard Deluxe           $109 per night Single or Double
*Executive Suite           
$159 per night Single or Double
*Governors & Family Suite          $219 per night Single or Double. 

Also, add prevailing city and state taxes total of 13.1% and are subject to change.  Children under 16 are free and Rates include a Deluxe Continental Breakfast and USA Today, along with free local phone calls.  Although the hotel website is not accepting reservations for our event, their 1-800-247-6640 reservations number is now accepting them per my telecom with the hotel on 1/3/08.

(From the February ’08 AEROGRAPH)

 

Email:
From: Donald A. Cruse
Sent: Friday, March 28, 2008 4:13 PM
Subject: NWSA34 Reunion


(Hospitality Room open for the duration of the reunion)

Wednesday, September 10
2:00pm - 4:00pm First Executive Board meeting
2:00pm - 6:00pm Reunion Registration open
5:00pm - 7:00pm Welcome Reception

Thursday, September 11
9:00am – 11:00am NWSA Membership Meeting
10:00am- 11:00am Reunion Registration open
11:30am- 4:30pm OLD WORLD WISCONSIN tour
4:30pm - 5:30pm Reunion Registration open
4:30pm - 7:00pm Oktoberfest-themed picnic

Friday, September 12
8:00am – 12:30pm Golf Tourney
9:00am - 3:00pm CITY TOUR with lunch
3:00pm - 6:30pm Silent Auction

       Evening on your own

Saturday, September 13
9:00am – 10:00am METOC Annual Seminar
10:00am- 12:00 NWSA Membership Meeting (elections)
9:00am - 12:30pm SHOPPING TOUR for the ladies
1:00pm - 2:00pm Second Executive Board meeting
6:00pm - 7:00pm Cocktail Reception with cash bar
7:00pm - 11:00pm Banquet Dinner and SOY honors

Sunday, September 14
                              Farewells and Departures until May 2009 in Jax


Source: Aerograph February,  2008

Most of the information is the same, but I have updated a few sections. Hotel is now accepting reservations by phone, but AFRI events and website for the reunion will not be complete prior to Mar 08.

AFRI is a professional reunion planner that is in charge of planning for reunion #34 in Waukesha , WI from Sept. 9th to Sept. 14th 2008.

Our Hotel is the Country Springs Hotel Water Park and Convention Center.  Carved into 40 acres of the picturesque Kettle Moraine countryside, the Country Springs Hotel has an established reputation for quality hospitality, comfort and service..  Their website is www.countryspringshotel.com.  Their mailing address is:

Country Springs Hotel, Attention Reservations, P.O. Box 2269, Waukesha , WI  53187-2269 TEL 262-547-0201 or 1-800-247-6640 ; Fax: 262-547-6884

The room types are: 
*Standard Deluxe
           $109 per night Single or Double
*Executive Suite            $159 per night Single or Double
*Governors & Family Suite          $219 per night Single or

 Double.  Also, add prevailing city and state taxes total of 13.1% and are subject to change..Children under 16 are free and Rates include a Deluxe Continental Breakfast and USA Today, along with free local phone calls.  Although the hotel website is not accepting reservations for our event, their 1-800-247-6640 reservations number is now accepting them per my telecom with the hotel on 1/3/08.

For activities, we are looking at several activities between Wednesday and Saturday and AFRI goal is to complete this in the Feb/Mar timeframe and will be posted on the AFRI website:  http://www.armedforcesreunions.com/

Our group website has not been established yet for this newsletter.

Welcome Aboard Party 
Milwaukee ’s City Tour to include a visit to Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory & Miller Brewing
Old World WISCONSIN visit of German, Danish, or Norwegian Villages
Ten Chimneys full estate tour
Golf Outing Option but is under NWSA management and not AFRI.
Pabst Mansion / Pabst Theater Option
Fireside Theater Dinner @ 6:30 p.m. & Show @ 8:30 p.m. Option
 Dinner Package Menu includes soup, salad, show entree, freshly baked bread, show desert and coffee, tea or milk
Dixieland/Jazz Dinner Cruise Grand Belle of Geneva Option and on a different night than Fireside event
Cruise menu: Petite Filet; Jumbo Shrimp; Chicken Breast Chardonnay; Orange Roughy or Vegetarian entrée.
Saturday Banquet Program
 

AFRI REUNION PLANNING SCHEDULE

7 to 8 Months Out – This is generally when the planning process begins.  Please note, however, that April groups are usually begun in the preceding October, for two reasons: our planners are out of town for much of August and September overseeing ongoing reunions, and often we are not able to obtain firm vendor prices (motor coaches, guides, etc.) until October.  For May and June groups, we usually begin the planning process in November or December; for such groups we have found it wiser for the groups to mail out the reunion information after the New Year, to avoid the rush of Christmas mail.  An introductory letter from your designated Services Manager is what officially kicks off the reunion planning process.  By this time we should have received back from you the “8 Month Out Form” which is here enclosed and labeled at the top as FORM A.  Please take the time now to fill out this form, sign it at the bottom, and return it to your Account Executive.  Some of the items on the agenda at the outset are as follows: 

  • Determine registration times, overall registration fee, tours, times, prices for meals.
  • Planning a Memorial Service?
  • Is there to be any entertainment for the banquet or other events?
  • Determine nametag format and information.
  • Finalize overall program, hotel reservation form, and activity registration form for inclusion in the group’s newsletter.
  • AFR executes contracts for motor coaches, guides, attractions, and on-site staffing.

4 to 5 Months Out – Basically, this is when the Services Manager follows up with the Reunion Chairman to see that everything is going as planned:

  • Has the group’s newsletter been mailed?
  • AFR confirms all vendor contracts.
  • Confirm that hotel function space is blocked correctly.
  • Begin to design a host of internal sheets and reports.

2 to 3 Months Out – At this point the Services Manager will mail the Reunion Chairman a “3 Months Out Letter” which will be followed by a phone call to confirm some items.

·         Confirm the set-ups for each hotel function and complimentary room distribution.

·         Obtain hotel room pickup report.

·         Determine Special Guest needs.

·         Are there to be any inserts into the registration packets to be distributed at the reunion?

·         Send the Reunion Chairman a current activity registration report (who has signed up for what).

·         Discuss future reunion sites, and engage Account Executive for proposals.

·         A number of internal forms are filled out internally to prepare for the final close-out.

·         Determine the manner in which finances will be settled.

1 Month Out – Most of the work at this point is internal AFR business.

  • Confirm hotel room pickup, meal counts, restaurant requirements.
  • Finalize numbers with and make payments for motor coaches, guides, attractions, entertainment, and on-site staffing.
  • Update the reunion program with function room names, tour boarding locations, and registration times.  Do we have registration packet inserts, if any, from group?

Week of – This is when all final confirmations are made, taking into account whatever add-ons or cancellations may have occurred in the last few weeks.  We confirm that all parties are set and ready to go, and make sure that all registration materials have arrived safely at the hotel.

        CDR Peter Weigand USNR  Reunion #34 POC


 

Source: Email Jan. 11, 2008 = Don Cruse

MILWAUKEE IN SEPTEMBER?

Don Cruse

  Our NWSA members are hearing this question more often as our 34th Annual Reunion approaches.  How did our reunion planners manage to flip the calendar and set up for an autumn reunion instead of our usual May or June dates?  It is a long story with a happy ending.

  When we assembled in Atlantic City for NWSA30 in June of 2004, we were greeted with this unsettling news:  The NWSA Regional Chapter that earlier had bid for and won the bid for NWSA31 had withdrawn their bid.  This led to the sounding of General Quarters.  After a considerable amount of flapping and flailing by all hands, Potomac Chapter caucused and voted to host NWSA31 in Branson.  That took care of the immediate problem but left residual concerns, such as, “What should we do to deal with the underlying problem?”

  The underlying problem was the increasing reticence among NWSA Regional Chapters to step forward and act as hosts for annual reunions.  The causes for this situation were obvious.  In fact, we have one member out on the left coast who firmly believes that NWSA itself should be decommissioned.

  One suggested solution was to commercialize future reunions, an option that seemed to be compatible with the proliferation of for-profit military reunion planners.  However, we had no experience with outsourcing our business; and we had all heard scare stories about high costs associated with that industry.  It was therefore decided to acquire some knowledge by experimenting.

  NWSA President Tom Miovas took action during our May 2005, NWSA31/Branson reunion to appoint a Reunion Planning Committee.  That committee was charged with identifying reunion sites for 2006, 2007 (Dick Ward) and 2008 (Bill Ziebell).  An additional charge was to outsource one reunion for evaluation purposes.  Instead of fearing the high costs connected with outsourcing, our NWSA members needed to have first-hand knowledge before making a comparison .. and perhaps later a decision.

  By offering to host NWSA32 in Pittsburgh , Tom and Maryann Miovas provided the new committee with breathing room.  The Reunion Planning Committee then concentrated its attention on #33 and #34.  The ensuing year proved once again that NWSA members could deal with uncertainties and still remain friends.  Hectic telephone calls and email exchanges of information finally resulted in a surprise solution to #33.  Northwest Regional Chapter stepped forward with a bid which was accepted by NWSA members during NWSA32/Pittsburgh.  However, this left one question still to be dealt with:  Could NWSA successfully outsource a reunion to a commercial reunion company?

  Armed Forces Reunions, Inc. is located in Norfolk VA.   Marty Nemcosky reported that their staff seemed to be easy to work with during the 2005-2006 search period.  Therefore, AFRI was asked to shift attention from #33 and work toward reunion #34.  Bill Ziebell suggested an Oktoberfest theme at a location near his home; and AFRI went to work on that idea.

  NWSA33/Everett was an outstanding reunion in a beautiful part of this U.S.A. that we live in.  During the membership meetings in Everett , future reunion bids were received and approval voted.  Southeast Regional Chapter will host NWSA35 during 2009.  Lone Star Regional Chapter will host NWSA36 during 2010.  Happily, these arrangements will provide sufficient time for membership to receive and digest the commercialized NWSA34/Waukesha reunion results.

  Waukesha is in the western suburbs of Milwaukee .  The original idea of Oktoberfest, as put forth by Reunion Planning Committee member Ziebell, had to be modified from October to September, 2008.  There was concern that October could be too cold for comfort.  NWSA President Peter Wiegand made that decision when he became our primary POC working with AFRI.  As you probably expected, other adjustments to our normal NWSA business calendar have been made to accommodate the unusual reunion month of September.

  At this time, a volunteer committee is working with Peter Wiegand to fill gaps in our Waukesha reunion program where the AFRI contract does not provide.  A few logistical matters such as joe cups and reunion caps are receiving attention.  Be sure to place NWSA34/Waukesha on your personal calendar for 09-13 September and I’ll look forward to seeing you there.


Source: Aerograph November 2007

AFRI is a professional reunion planner that is in charge of planning for reunion #34 in Waukesha , WI from September 9th to September 14th 2008.

Our Hotel is the Country Springs Hotel Water Park and Convention Center courtesy of AGCS (Ret) Bill Ziebell.  Carved into 40 acres of the picturesque Kettle Moraine countryside, the Country Springs Hotel has an established reputation for quality hospitality, comfort and service..  Their website is www.countryspringshotel.com

Mailing address is:         Country Springs Hotel
                                   
Attention Reservations
                                    P.O. Box 2269
                                    Waukesha , WI   53187-2269    

Call 262-547-0201 or 1-800-247-6640 ; Fax: 262-547-6884

The room types are:

*Standard Deluxe           $109 per night Single or Double
*Executive Suite            $159 per night Single or Double
*Governors & Family Suite                $219 per night Single or Double

Also, add prevailing city and state taxes total of 13.1% and are subject to change..

Children under 16 are free and Rates include a Deluxe Continental Breakfast and USA Today, along with free local phone calls.  As of 28 September, 2007 hotel was not accepting reservations past 9 June 2008. They should be accepting them by the Feb 08 AEROGRAPH. 

Activities: We are looking at several activities between Wednesday and Saturday

Welcome Aboard Party
Milwaukee’s City Tour to include a visit to Mitchell Park
Horticultural Conservatory & Miller Brewing
Old World Wisconsin visit of German, Danish, or Norwegian Villages
Ten Chimneys full estate tour
Golf Outing Option
but is under NWSA management and not AFRI.
Pabst Mansion / Pabst Theater Option
Fireside Theater Dinner
@ 6:30 p.m. & Show @ 8:30 p.m. Option
Dinner Package Menu includes soup, salad, show entree, freshly baked bread, show desert and coffee, tea or milk
Dixieland/Jazz Dinner Cruise Grand Belle of Geneva Option and on a different night than Fireside event
Cruise menu: Petite Filet; Jumbo Shrimp; Chicken Breast Chardonnay; Orange Roughy or Vegetarian entrée.

Saturday Banquet Program

Their abbreviated email dated 17 September 2007

Hey Mr. Weigand.  As we normally work on an eight month out planning schedule, we wouldn't normally begin the planning phase for September 08 reunions until after the New Year.

Their plan is below:

REUNION PLANNING SCHEDULE

7 to 8 Months Out – This is generally when the planning process begins.  Please note, however, that April groups are usually begun in the preceding October, for two reasons: our planners are out of town for much of August and September overseeing ongoing reunions, and often we are not able to obtain firm vendor prices (motorcoaches, guides, etc.) until October.  For May and June groups, we usually begin the planning process in November or December; for such groups we have found it wiser for the groups to mail out the reunion information after the New Year, to avoid the rush of Christmas mail.  An introductory letter from your designated Services Manager is what officially kicks off the reunion planning process.  By this time we should have received back from you the “8 Month Out Form” which is here enclosed and labeled at the top as FORM A.  Please take the time now to fill out this form, sign it at the bottom, and return it to your Account Executive.  Some of the items on the agenda at the outset are as follows: 

Determine registration times, overall registration fee, tours, times, prices for meals.
Planning a Memorial Service?
Is there to be any entertainment for the banquet or other events?
Determine nametag format and information.
Finalize overall program, hotel reservation form, and activity registration form for inclusion in the group’s newsletter.

AFR executes contracts for motorcoaches, guides, attractions, and on-site staffing.

4 to 5 Months Out – Basically, this is when the Services Manager follows up with the Reunion Chairman to see that everything is going as planned:

Has the group’s newsletter been mailed?
AFR confirms all vendor contracts.
Confirm that hotel function space is blocked correctly.
Begin to design a host of internal sheets and reports.

2 to 3 Months Out – At this point the Services Manager will mail the Reunion Chairman a “3 Months Out Letter” which will be followed by a phone call to confirm some items.
Confirm the set-ups for each hotel function and complimentary room distribution.
Obtain hotel room pickup report.
Determine Special Guest needs.
Are there to be any inserts into the registration packets to be distributed at the reunion?
Send the Reunion Chairman a current activity registration report (who has signed up for what).
Discuss future reunion sites, and engage Account Executive for proposals.
A number of internal forms are filled out internally to prepare for the final close-out.
Determine the manner in which finances will be settled.

1 Month Out – Most of the work at this point is internal AFR business.
Confirm hotel room pickup, meal counts, restaurant requirements.
Finalize numbers with and make payments for motorcoaches, guides, attractions, entertainment, and on-site staffing.
Update the reunion program with function room names, tour boarding locations, and registration times.  Do we have registration packet inserts, if any, from group?

Week of – This is when all final confirmations are made, taking into account whatever add-ons or cancellations may have occurred in the last few weeks.  We confirm that all parties are set and ready to go, and make sure that all registration materials have arrived safely at the hotel.                                          CDR Peter Weigand USNR


Sent: Friday, July 13, 2007 8:30 PM
Subject: Re: Reunion #34

Hey Charlie,
     Pete Weigand and Bill Zeibell are our reunion contacts.  Bill is our on-site contact.  They're working with personnel from Armed Forces Reunion Inc. and  the Country Springs Hotel.  The reunion will be held in Waukesha, WI.   Waukesha is off  I-94; just west of Milwaukee.  The dates, as I have it, are Wed.,Sept 9, thru Saturday, Sept.13th.  Hope this helps.  OBie


From: Pete Weigand
Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2006 10:20 AM

Two minor corrections: Earl Kerr signed the Everett WA hotel contract but Prez concurred with him.  Prez Peter Weigand signed the Waukesha Hotel contract with AFRI assistance with Pat O'Brien (next Prez) concurrence. Currently working on contract with AFRI.  One new glitch came up yesterday. Since reunion is in Sep 9-14 timeframe; tour prices can't be finalized until after Jan 08.  Therefore Nov 07 Aeograph can provide some ideas; but Feb 08 Aerograph will actually provide the costs.


Date: Wed, 09 Aug 2006 21:20:25
From: Donald A. Cruse
Subject: PotChap meeting 8/06 highlights 
Bill Ziebell has signed contract with Armed Forces Reunions Inc. and that outfit will set up and run our 34th annual reunion in Waukesha WI during September 2008.  Waukesha is a western suburb of Milwaukee.  We all know what MKE is famous for, but Bill promises an interesting program with AFRI help.
 

 

PAST Reunions

NWSA 2007 Reunion #33, Everett, VA
The NWSA Reunion #33 photo disks that the Northwest Chapter prepared and distributed to each of the other NWSA Chapters are DVD disks, and not CD disks.  Anyone having difficulty reading the disks should be aware that a DVD drive is necessary to read the disks.  If a DVD drive is used and you are still having problems opening the files, please be patient as the sheer volume on the disk takes time to load.  A DVD was prepared because the photo files were too large to fit on a single CD."                         CDR Richard Gilmore USN RET


NWSA 2006 Reunion #32 Pittsburgh, PA

 

 

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