Source: Aerograph August 2026
NWSA President’s Report #5 (28 JUL 2026)
It has been a hot summer so far. I checked around the country and we’re seeing
it being 1.5 to 2.0 F warmer than normal for June and July, and we have August
to go. I trust you are all taking the
time to remain hydrated while you are out and about, and protecting your
skin. I have Irish skin, and for me to
go out in the sun for any extended period is akin to putting tin foil into a
microwave oven. Not too good an
idea. As I have aged, I note I have
started doing many things that my father used to do, such as wearing ball caps
all the time. Resting a bit in the
afternoon. Is that genetic or age?
As the Patriarch of the family, it is my
responsibility to attend all weddings and funerals, (I don’t want mine until
2052) and that is what I did in June. To
facilitate my transport, I rented a Ford Mustang Convertible, which was grand
for the drive up the coast to Monterey and onward north. My niece got married
in Redding, CA. In my quick look at the
Rand McNalley, it is in northern California near Mount Shasta, and I had put my
geographically oriented mind to work and said, at 2000 ft elevation and that
far north, it shouldn’t be bad, 80’s maybe.
Did I ever bust that one. It was
105F at 1800, and the wedding was outside. (Don’t tell me it wasn’t bad because
it was a dry heat, because heat is heat.)
One redeeming aspect was that the reception was inside and the AC worked
as promised, and the prime rib was excellent.
The vast part of the 10 days was spent behind the wheel, as I had to
officially greet the newest member of the clan, in Flagstaff, and then venture
to Tucson to meet up with other nephews, before heading to coastal San
Diego. Each day behind the wheel, and
while in the interior parts of California and Arizona, the thermometer display
on the dash reached the 100’s. As I drove between Yuma and San Diego it topped
out at 109. Our time in San Diego, which
was short, but it allowed us the opportunity to meet up with Steve and his
wife, Harumi and Mike Gilroy for dinner.
It was a great evening ( Picture from that evening). The next day, we started north, to Long Beach and a night on the Queen
Mary. There was construction for a “Rave” concert the next day. To me it appeared like they were setting up
for a satanic sacrifice. Then they
started testing the sound system. I have
attended five concerts by The Who, once
the Rolling Stones, and quite a few others. Except for a Tomcat at full afterburner
preparing to launch, this was the loudest sound I can remember. On the trip up,
I had the top down, and June Gloom was in full effect, until we crossed the
Orange County line, where the sky opened up and the sun baked my head and
face. Luckily, I had a topical
medication which I applied. Being a
motorhead the trip wasn’t complete without going to an automotive venue, in
this case Beverly Hills Car Club and the Petersen Museum. (I fell in love with a few cars, which either
required wrenching and painting, or were out of my price range.) But we got home safe and sound. It was good.
50th Reunion, Charleston April 2027!
I stopped at the CSS HUNLEY preservation
project. Talked with the manager,
explained who we are and the dates for the reunion, and she agreed to open it
up for us. I have two dates, 14 APR and
28 APR. The hotel is flexible, as are the other places. So, I am thinking of the weather and the
plans of some of our members who routinely attend, I am thinking the week of
the 12th to the 16th may be preferable. If you have, any
preferences, please reply.
I’ve talked with Park Service and we can arrange to
get us all on one vessel, (Maximum of 225) to Fort Sumter. Group tours of Yorktown at Patriots
Point. A special for the ladies, tour of
an antebellum house on the peninsula.
SO LET YOUR VOICE BE KNOWN. I’m flexible.
MEMBERSHIP:
During my west coast foray, I did stop at Fleet Numbers in Monterey and
Fleet Weather San Diego and delivered posters and applications. The next week I was in Mississippi for
business and stopped at Naval METOC Command and talked with the Command Master
Chief, provided him with posters and applications, which he said he would scan
and send to all their subordinate commands.
Again, if you are on social media, and you see
the name of a shipmate, and he/she isn’t a part of NWSA, send them an instant
message, and ask them why they aren’t.
Well folks, again it is
hot out there! Stay safe h7ydrated and
your skin protected. Thus far we have had a rather placid hurricane season with
only two marginal storms. (You know that
will change now that I mentioned it). I know I’m preaching to the choir, but If
you are in a coastal area, make a checklist of things to do in the event we get
one which develops and threatens you.
OK?
God bless,
Tim
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Source: Aerograph May 2026
I,
and all who were on the 49th Reunion Cruise, must really thank and
praise Patti and Lori for putting together this event. Being on a cruise was
done before, but I wasn’t there, and this was my first “cruise”. I’ve done lots
of time at sea teaching weather and deploying various SXBT’s and Buoys for NOAA
on training vessels, but it was never like this. They had arranged meeting times and area, a
tour of the bridge, and even our “Family Dining” in the OPUS3 Dining Room. It was great.
5 Days and 4 nights was just about perfect. An anonymous donor had procured “America 250
Coins” for all in attendance.
I
must admit that Linda was a bit reluctant to go on a cruise. About 25 years ago, she went on a day cruise
on a “gaming ship” out of Brooklyn with a couple of friends. The weather that day was slightly adverse,
(near gale south of Long Island), so her land lubber legs and unexpected
pitching and rolling of the vessel combined to make her ill. She spent most of the day in bed, and once
home, another day abed. No matter how much I tried to explain how this ship was
different, and that the weather in the Bahamas was much more placid than off
Long Island. Meeting up with Patti and
Libby on Sunday, started to ease her fears, then once at the port, (after the
NASCAR type transport from our hotel), the enormity of the ship amazed
her. Once settled in, we toured down to
our safety briefing, and then to the buffet on the 14th level. She was happy as a lark. The variety of food, and she was amazed that
it was all included in the price of the cruise.
Dessert with every meal, even breakfast. The topper was free entertainment. She always liked dancing and live music. She was happy, and was up well after 2000
each night. She even went up for a midnight snack one evening.
Our
meetings were productive and I’ll let the Minutes and Financial reports speak
for themselves.
50th Reunion, Charleston 2027!
I was down to the one place I think would be a great place
for us, as mostly retired Navy, which is the CSS HUNLEY preservation project. The management doesn’t want to open during
the week. So, if you want to see that,
we can revert to the previous days of reunions, and that is Wednesday for
arrival and Thursday through Saturday for meetings, and Sunday for departure.
That would be 21 to 25 APRIL 2027 for
the actual reunion. If this is
preferred, please reply.
I’ve talked with Park Service and we can arrange to get us
all on one vessel, (Maximum of 225) to Fort Sumter. Group tours of Yorktown at Patriots Point. A special for the ladies, tour of an antebellum
house on the peninsula. There is one
other item which you might be interested in, and there is a Tea Farm, owned by
Bigelow Teas, and is the only one in CONUS.
If you drink tea, it is an interesting place to visit. If we have more than 25, we can arrange to
have small busses (like the rental car shuttles without the luggage racks at
airports), to transport us for excursions.
Otherwise: I’m placing the dates 19 to 23 on my
calendar, for the Reunion.
On the sad side, we have received notice from Fay Crossley
that he was resigning as the President of the Hampton Roads Chapter, and was
relocating to Arizona. The active number
of members in the area was down to 5, and they had voted to dissolve the
chapter. I followed up with Bob Daigle
and he reaffirmed it and that they were investigating disbursement of their
funds to military charities in the Hampton Roads area. The last formal meeting will be 20 MAY. In the future, it will be a social gathering
as they can arrange. I’m going to try to
attend the Hampton Roads final formal meeting, on the 20th, then go over to FWC
Norfolk and see what I can do for recruitment.
It can’t hurt… Planting seeds.
It is sad, but it seems that the younger
generation is reluctant to join up with us, because they probably don’t know
how to plot a surface chart. They have instantaneous products, in the form of
charts and forecasts. Have they ever had to wait 3 hours for the analysis to
come over the fax? Along that same vein, even NOAA is considering cutting back
on the fax broadcasts. Ships all have broadband and routing services send all
sorts of products to the ships, based on the ship’s intended route.
If you are on social media, and you see the name of a
shipmate, and he/she isn’t a part of NWSA, send them an instant message, and
ask them why they aren’t. I do that, and
it did prompt AGCS Jerry McNulty to send in his check for life membership. Little
things like that can do more than the pressure you get from a used car
salesman.
Well folks, we are at summer and vacation time. Be safe out there, all the crazies of local
traffic are compounded by vacationers who have no idea where they are going and
looking at their GPS and crossing 3 lanes of traffic simultaneously. Keep the faith! See you next year, but in the meantime, if
you have a question, comment or criticism, you have my email. My personal phone is: 854-999-6633. I don’t
accept collect calls.
Tim
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Source: Aerograph February 2026
NWSA
President’s Report #3 (22 JAN 2026)
Greetings Shipmates,
Tuesday
night I got a call from Cap Casperson asking if I had a brother Tom. Well yes I do, but he’s out in the left
coast. Someone using his name, instead
of mine was trying to scam NWSA out of $876.00.
Turns out all the officers had received the same message, and thanks to
the diligence of Mike Gilroy, and all who received the email, we were
saved. I thank you for your awareness in
this matter. As Smitty said in the email
he sent out, we would never ask for money in the way that they did.
Back to my brother Tom, he’s the one who I refer to when I say, “My
mother may have raised a fool, but that’s my brother. He married a vegetarian and can’t even cook
bacon in his own house!” Six years ago
they came to the southeast scouting for a possible place to escape the high
taxes and cost of living in California. I took him aside and told him his wife
would have to become carnivorous if they move here, because by law you have to
eat bacon twice a week in the Carolinas and Georgia.
Patty has
been right on top of things for our next reunion. Things are looking like it will be fairly
well attended, but we could always have more.
I’ve called a number of folks in the east coast and some have excellent
excuses, mostly health related, but some just won’t attend reunions.
Item for discussion
at the reunion: Membership
Application - The wording in the application says: Naval Weather Service, its branches or
detachments, ashore or afloat. I met up
with an active duty AGC last month, from the more recent naming of the Mobile
Environmental Team Norfolk, and he said he knew nothing of the organization,
plus he asked what Naval Weather Service was because he’d never heard of
it. I went through the history of the AG
Rating from the 60’s to the present, and I gave him an application, with Cap
Casperson’s contact information. Told
him he could duplicate it for others.
I propose
that we change the wording in the application to say: “Naval Weather Service,
Director, Naval Oceanography and Meteorology, Commander, Naval Oceanography
Command, and Commander Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (METOC), etc.”
with the dates of establishment. (Smitty has researched those, which were much
more accurate than my memory.)
Basis: I do remember
in the 1980’s reading that it was proposed to admit for membership those who
were in succeeding commands, (at the time Naval Oceanography Command), and it
will give prospective active duty members a bit of history to refer to. I still plan on trying to visit FWC Norfolk
to try to give the CO and CMC some background and gain their checks and
membership application plus support for membership through their command. I may be swimming upstream, but I’ll give it
a try.
2027
Reunion: Charleston, SC. “The Holy
City” I’ve talked with four hotels, and
in the near future visit two more for quotes and included items, such as meeting
room, breakfast and parking. The ones
downtown are a bit pricier and parking is at a premium. Carrier Yorktown and the Patriot’s Point are
happy to cooperate and will try to get complete tours. One thing I will try to arrange is the CSS
Hunley conservation lab, which is normally open only on weekends, to open up
for a week-day. There are a few
historical and social items which I am investigating, including the Fort Sumter
Tour. If you are wanting to have a golf
tournament, let me know and I can try to arrange that, even though I have no
idea how to run a golf tournament. (Last
time I played was in 1973. Then some low
life stole my clubs from my father’s garage when I was on the USS MIDWAY.)
In the necrology
department, I was surprised to have received two spousal deaths, one from
nearly 10 years ago who I remember from my days at NOCF Cubi Point, circa
1986-87. If you look over the Bellinger
List, and see any names that you have known from the past, and are in their
80’s, 90’s or over 100, drop a dime on them or write them a letter, send a
card. If it comes back, let us
know. We would add to the necrology
list.
In
closing, if you’re coming to the 2026 Reunion afloat, I’m looking forward to
seeing you, if not I can understand if you have health, family commitments or
financial limitations. But encourage
those you know to attend. It may be a
last time to see those who you remember. I think back to the Reunion in
Savannah in 2021. That was the last
Reunion for Bruce Glaes, I only saw him once after that.
Tim
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Source: Aerograph November 2025
From the President’s Desk, NWSA President’s Report # 2 (NOV 2025) As I type this, Hurricane Melissa is causing all sorts of havoc in Jamaica, and the forecast is for it to hit southeast Cuba, and the southeastern Bahamas, before heading toward Bermuda. Melissa is the 13th named tropical system this year, and we still have November to go. With winds of 165 mph, it can cause a great deal of devastation and loss of life, especially in places that have people who aren’t in hurricane resistant structures. Please keep those in her path in your prayers.
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I may be speaking a bit
soon, but the US has not had a very strong storm hit our shores this year, but
lots of rain has washed out a great deal of places up the east coast.
It has been a busy time
since the last update. BUT Linda and I
took a vacation in two parts, which lasted nearly a month. There were 3 days when I worked between the
first and second parts. It was good, not
restful, but Linda liked it, even though my bank account didn’t.
Just as I was leaving
for the first part of vacation, I learned of the passing of AGCS(AW) Bruce
Herman Glaes, USN, Ret. I had been
planning on visiting him in the hospital during our vacation, but his daughter
texted me that he had passed the day before.
Per his wishes, he was cremated, but the children haven’t made any
arrangements for a memorial service, nor have they published an obituary. Bruce’s desire was for his cremains to be
buried at sea, off of Hawaii. That
usually takes a year or so to arrange.
Bruce and I were stationed at FWC/JTWC Guam 1970/71. He arrived at Barracks 14, and I greeted him
with a big grin, and welcomed him, and he said he always remembered that. He and I crossed paths a few times over the
ensuing 21 years.
I want to thank Mike
Gilroy for staying atop the McGayhey bequest to NWSA, for scholarships via
AMS. If he hadn’t been up on all the
aspects of it, it may have been a few more years, and we may not have any idea
of what was happening. He got it and Tom
Miovas deposited the check and in turn sent a check to AMS.
So, I would like to
take an informal poll. I’ve talked with
a few hotels here in Charleston and I did talk to some folks up at the Myrtle
Beach Visitors and Convention office.
First: How many would be flying into the reunion in
2027? The reason that I ask is they do
have an airport in Myrtle Beach but the number of carriers which utilize it are
limited. How many would be driving? (It is not yet on an interstate, but is
about an hour off of I-95). Charleston
is served by 12 major airlines. (For
those who drive, it is at the east end of I-26.)
Second: Myrtle Beach is more of a resort city, with
golf and other recreational activities.
USS North Carolina is in Wilmington NC and that is about an hour and a
half away. On the other hand, Charleston
has more museums including USS Yorktown (CV-10), historical interests, but also
has the recreational activities most people partake in, as well as great food.
I have talked with some
of the hotels locally, and their rates for a group are satisfactory, but group
rates require multiple nights and a certain number of “room nights” but I’ll
try to get a good deal in a respectable place (where you don’t have to fight
the cockroaches for the bedsheets), with breakfast and a dining room, and free
parking.
Any questions? Comments?
Email me at t_kenefick@bellsouth.net and put “NWSA
2027 Reunion” in the subject line, that way I won’t delete it without
reading it.
Okay folks, stay safe
out there, winter will soon be here, and so will the big travel holidays. Enjoy the festivities and your families!
Tim
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Source: Aerograph August 2025
2025 Reunion. It was a good affair. We must thank Bob and FJ for all the planning and arrangements
that they did for us down in the Mississippi Gulf Coast. They brought us to places that most of us
didn’t even know existed. The Maritime
Museum was good, but I wish I had known about the Train Museum two to three
years ago, my father would have wanted to spend a whole day, because he loved
model trains. The tour of NOAA’s National Data Buoy Center and Naval
Oceanographic Office were excellent. Even though I work for NDBC, we all had to
get visitor badges, and we did have to jump through some hoops at the last
minute to get things done.
I
have been wondering if there were some “Magic Mushrooms” on the pizza at the
reunion. Here I was, Second Vice
President, (in charge of vice), and, although I did go against the NAVY acronym
and because I was asked, I did volunteer myself, and those present elected me
as the President for the next two years.
I have the gavel and banner in my closet, which is sort of like my
garage, I know approximately where something is, but please don’t ask where.
2026
Reunion: 13 to 17 April. Aboard Celebrity Reflection,
with two stops in the Bahamas. Make your
reservations early. There is provision
for refunds if you must cancel, but as of last week we had 21 folks signed up
for the reunion. Check your
passports! If you need to renew or get a
new one, start now. Don’t be like me,
putting off until next week, what you should be working on last month. (The
State Department charges $35 extra if you put it off until the last minute, and
they must expedite.)
2027 and 2028 Reunions: Now I’m going to let my alligator mouth overpower my canary brain and
volunteer to host the 2027 Reunion in Charleston or Myrtle Beach. Both places have great amenities, and sites
to visit. Since we haven’t had a West
Coast reunion in a few years, how about a few of you folks from San Diego / Los
Angeles area, or San Francisco / Monterey area, maybe even the Seattle /
Bremerton Washington area (even though that is the heavier rainy season, as climatology
records indicate in excess of 300 days of precipitation yearly) consider
hosting the 2028 reunion, with target dates of the third or fourth week in
April. Put your thinking caps on, think
out of the box, envision how it would be to have a bunch of your old shipmates,
and a bunch of younger ones. At this
last reunion we had two folks who were 89, (I won’t mention that it was Jim
Romano and Pete Peterson), and many who were octogenarians. Inviting shipmates
over to your neck of the woods, doesn’t mean you are going to give up your
bedroom and feed them for a month. Forget
that NAVY is an acronym for Never Again Volunteer Yourself, and search out a
good place for a get together. 4 nights with Complimentary Breakfast, Meeting /
Banquet Room, local sites to visit. You
have plenty of time to get something set up.
Telephone calls are nearly free, so talk amongst yourselves, and come up
with an agreeable destination for the rest of us. I’ll even drive on out.
Future of NWSA: I’m not going to do anything grand,
but since I am still working for Uncle Sugar, I have some access to Navy
facilities, and will try to go to Norfolk, and maybe San Diego and pitch NWSA
to the younger folks. (Each place has
employees who are retired AGs and/or METOC Officer types, who aren’t part of
NWSA, so I’ll do what I can to get their ear, and their check for life
membership.) If I really feel venturous,
I’ll try the Navy METOC places in Europe and Japan. Is there any truth in the word going around
that a detachment is spinning up at Cubi Point again? (If so I’ll try to go
there also).
Bellinger List: At the
last reunion, I looked on the listing of both members and non-members, and noticed
one name and said to myself, “She is dead.”
So, I had her added to the necrology listing read by our Chaplain. It isn’t always welcome news about the passing
of a shipmate or their spouse, but imagine being at a gathering and running
into a shipmate you haven’t seen in 40 years and asking them about AGAN
SCHMUCKATELLI from NWSED OLATHE, only to find he’d passed 28 years ago. If you could share that information, whether
you have an obituary, or just dates, please, I ask everyone to keep Cap
Casperson, Smitty, Gary Cox, the Vice Presidents and me, informed of anyone who
passes. We can at the least put a line
in the Website and/or the Aerograph. We
do have a necrology page in the website.
I hope you are all holding up under this heatwave, as I
write this, Charleston has had nearly a month with daily highs in the 90s. Not to mention humidity up in the 90% range
by midafternoon, then the crack of lightning and the boom of thunder sounds
1500 or 1600. But the heat makes it a
challenge to carry equipment up ladders of these newer ships, some have 80 step
accommodation ladders. I do plan on
taking a little time off in late August, through mid-September, but I will
check my e-mail daily. OK? Any Questions? Beat the bushes and try to enlist AG’s and
METOC’s you may know. The Life
Membership Rate is a deal!
Your fault again,
Timothy J. Kenefick, AGC(AW/SW), USN Ret.
President
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