President: Todd McDonald, LT USN Ret
1st Vice Pres: Steve Turco (AGCS ret.)
2nd Vice Pres: Bob Johnson (AGC ret.)
Sec/Treas: Frank Andrews (AGCS ret.)
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Source: Email Mon 12/19/11 10:18 AM
Officers: LT TODD McDONALD, President
AGCS STEVE TURCO, 1st VP
AGC BOB JOHNSON, 2nd VP
AGCS FRANK ANDREWS, Sec/Trea
The NWSA Southeast Chapter held its Fall Meeting and Christmas Party at the
Fleet Reserve (Branch 91) on December 10th. The following members attending:
AGCS Steve & Cherry Turco, AGCM Bob & Judy Bentley, AGCS Frank & Jane Andrews and Guest Hanna, LT Todd & Cheryl McDonald and Guest Mya, AGC Bob & Charline Johnson, AGC Tim & Linda Kenefick, AGCS Ron Johnson, and AGCS Barry & Jocelyn Brockman and Guest Jessica Brockman. We welcomed our most distance traveler in from Charleston, SC, Tim and Linda Kenefick. We had some last minute cancellation, AGCS Lloyd and Daisy Corbett, LCDR Dick and Marsha Pritchard, AGCM Joe and Rhonda McGarr and Tina Lambert due other emergencies.
We had a great meal and passed out door prizes with everyone receiving a gift following dinner. As in the past, AGCS Andrews, with the assistance of some volunteers, put on a great spread of Christmas treats and all of the tables being decked out. It was one of the best dinners we have every had. There was plenty for all. We made contact with more than 70 members via Postal Service and another 75 plus via e-mail and phone calls. We had a very large number that responded stating that they were unable to make the Christmas Party but they sent their regards and best wishes. Most of the ones that were unable to make the party stated that due too health reasons or work they were unable to attend.
We held a 50/50 drawing and collected $50, $25 went to the postage fund since it had gone dry from the mailing on party notices. Other door prizes were spread out among our members. Then there was the White Elephant prizes that everyone entered into the drawing. We had donations to the postage fund of $10 from Lloyd Corbett and additional $55 was donated to the party fund by Todd McDonald. We thank everyone for their support and assistance.
Business: We remembered the passing of two of our members in 2011. Ray Hennessey (one of the founding members of the Chapter) and Robert Wishnek.
AGCS Lloyd Corbett and AGC Bob Johnson visited LCDR Bud Parham. He gave the NWSA SE a CD about his life that he had wrote back in 2004. We check with him about attending the Christmas Party but due to health reasons, he said that he would not be able to attend. AGCS Corbett went to Live Oak and visited LT George Buie. On December the 5th, it was his 70th anniversary and he is spending all of his spare time with his wife who is currently in a care facility. Charline Johnson had her 70th birthday on the 11th, the day after the party. We would like to thank everyone that attending the party and those that help in setting the party up. Chef Frank Andrews did an outstanding job again.
We closed our meeting and party shortly after 9 a.m.
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Source: Aerograph May 2011
Pres: LT Todd McDonald USN Ret
1st VP: AGCS Steve Turco USN Ret
2nd VP: AGC Bob Johnson USN Ret
Sec/Trea: AGCS Frank Andrews USN Ret
Southeast Chapter held its spring meeting on April 7th at 1830 at the Orange Buffet in Orange Park. We had a good turn out with the following members: LT FRED & LINA BERGMAN, ROBERT NIEMEYER (NOAA), AGC SIDNEY & NANCY WHITAKER, AGCS FRANK & JANE ANDREWS plus Grandchildren, AGCS LLOYD & DAISY CORBETT, AGC BOB & CHARLINE JOHNSON, AGCS STEVE TURCO, LT TODD & CHERYL McDONALD plus Grandchildren, AGCM BOB BENTLEY, LCDR DICK & MARSHA PRITCHARD and MRS TERRY ZUMWALDE. We had 25 additional members that responded back that they were unable to attend our meeting for various reasons, mostly due to health or traveling. We are happy to report that AGCM Marty Bonk is in the process of moving back to Florida near Daytona Beach after an extended stay in Georgia. Sorry to lose Ed Frandle. He has moved to Tennessee and Dennis Paquin is still in Iraq.
LT TODD McDONALD opened the meeting by calling for each member to contact other former Navy AG’s, Officer or Civilian’s weather personnel and get them to the meetings. AGCS Lloyd Corbett passed out Bio’s on LT GEORGE BUIE, LT WILLIAM O’NEIL, AGC MIKE RHINE, CWO WALTER WINFREY, AG1 VICTOR MILFORD, CDR FRED OLSEN, CDR DON CRUSE, AGC GEROGE MANNION and LCDR BILL BRIDGE, plus a list of promotions of E8 and E9 starting in 1958 thru 1960. Senior Chief Corbett also provided information that LT Bill O’Neil is the current oldest identified at the age of 97 and LT George Buie was identified as the longest serving with 71 years as an Aerographers Mate. I was in contact with AGC Mike Rhine, one of the last two former WW2 POW’s. He said that due to his age (almost 90) and health, he would not be attending any more of our meetings. He is currently living in the Titusville FL area. An appeal went out to our members and any other AG types too provide us with a BIO and we would see that it is published in the Chapters History and sent to The Aerograph.
I was in contact with LCDR Ray Hennessey (a long time member of SE Chapter and VW-4) and his health prevents him from attending our meetings. Our prayers goes out for Ray.
It was pointed out that at NWSA National meeting in 2008; there would be a push to get its VP to be Membership Chairman. SE Chapter is going ahead with its attempt to have a major drive for getting our members back to our meetings. Each person should contact other weather types and attempt to get them too our meetings. Our goals for the Christmas Party in December would be more than 50. For our spring meeting, we sent our more than 100 e-mails and made more than 50 calls. We understand that starting with early April meetings, many of our members head out in their RV’s and do not return to Florida until late October.
AGC Bob Johnson passed out information that BUPERS publications SHIFT COLORS isn’t being mailed out to all Navy retired personnel any more. We received a letter from William Cullen James (Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs) and he has provided us with the Web Site for downloading SHIFT COLORS. You can obtain SHIFT COLORS using the address below:
http://www.npc.navy.mil/ReferenceLibrary/Publications/ShiftColors/ It is suggested that each member keep a copy of SHIFT COLORS handy. It has many important telephone numbers that you may need in a case of emergency.
Our bank report indicates a balance of $4,017.90 with 2011 interest of $0.78. Our next meeting will be scheduled around the 15th of July. Fixed date and place will be sent out June 2011.
Submitted by: AGC BOBBY JOHNSON, NWSA SE, 2nd VP
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Source: Aerograph February 2011
Prez LT Todd McDonald USN RET
1st VP AGCS Steve Turco USN RET
2ND VP AGC Bobby Johnson USN RET
Sec/Treas AGCS Frank Andrews USN RET
Southeast Chapter held the fall meeting on October 26th at the Golden Corral. Members attending were AGCS Frank Andrews (Sec/Treas), AGCM Joe and Rhonda McGarr (Past President), AGCS Steve Turco, 1ST VP (Acting President), AGC Bob & Charline Johnson, 2nd VP, AG1 Ed & Ruth Ann Frandle, AGCM Bob Bentley, LCDR Dick & Marsha Pritchard, AGCS Barry & Jocelyn Brockman, and LT Todd and Cheryl McDonald (President Elect).
Special guest was AMES Norbert Greinke, USN Retired. Mr. Greinke was my guest and he was helping me with my wheelchair. Still under the weather since my surgery and heart attack and require assistance. After a great dinner at the Golden Corral, we elected LT Todd McDonald as our new president. AGCM Joe McGarr had to step down as president due conflicts with his job.
Other business taken-up was the selection of date and location of our annual Christmas Party. It will be held at the Fleet Reserve Branch # 91 on the 9th of December. Notice will be sent out to members and former weather service employees. Each year we have had a great time at our Christmas Party. Additional discussion was regarding the return of the Weather Centers at San Diego and Norfolk. What will be next, will we see NWSED’S return?
During recent contacts for the meeting and Christmas Party, I found that we had lost another member our group. On the 22nd of September, AGCS Frank Smith passed away after a battle with cancer. In the past I would have passed along this information but when Frank passed, I was in the hospital following surgery and a heart attack. Our prayers go out to Maria.
There will be a Weather Feast held at University of North Florida February 2011. More detail will be sent out to members in January.
Submitted by AGC Bob Johnson USN RET
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