Source: Aerograph November 2026
NWSA
President’s Report #6 (30 OCT 2026)
Greetings
Shipmates, Preamble: The
computer which I normally use at the office (National Ocean Service equipment
and office) decided to die late last week, and the powers that be (National
Weather Service) want me to migrate to a laptop. To top that off, I just
changed my CAC, and the IT Folks in Stennis had to try to do everything
remotely, with me on the far end of the line. (You know that I'm a special
case.) This whole process has taken 5 hours this week, both at the office and
most of it I had to do from my home, because the Guest Server wanted a certain
application to run. One saving grace, they claim the computer which died
is automatically backed up in the cloud. (I don't know whether it is low,
mid or high, stratiform or cumuliform, nacreous or noctilucent. I have
found that IT folks don't understand what I mean when I ask what type it
is. On top of that, I may have to get another security application to use
the NOS guest server for internet access. We shall see how this works next
week.
REUNION:
I've tied
up many of the loose ends for this stage of the game, but still have a few to
go.
I've
looked around and found that Holiday Inn Express has a great rate, and they
offer King rooms and two Queen rooms, and have ADA equipped rooms, but It will
be Tuesday before I sign the contract for a block of 20 rooms, more should be
available. Other hotels in the area were 40 to 80 dollars per night
more. (Embassy Suites was $110 more.). The average will be about
$160 per night. It is near I-26 and I-526, complementary shuttle service
from the airport, Free breakfast and parking. Downside: No Ballroom
for final dinner. Specific booking details separately.
The
hospitality suite is $250 per day. Wet Bar included. No charge for
us to bring in our own food and drinks.
Since
they don't have full kitchen and ballroom we have a couple of options. We
can have it catered in, go out to a local restaurant, (lots of them around), or
we can take the premium way, and go on Spirit Cruise's Dinner Cruise of the
Charleston Harbor ($120 per person.). For that I shan't let
my alligator mouth overpower my canary brain. I will let the attending
membership vote.
Basic
Calendar:
Monday,
12 APR: Travel, Check-in. 2000: Officers and Executive
Committee meeting in the hospitality suite. Other
Things:
Tuesday,
13 APR: Fort Sumter and Patriots Point: $71 per person Departs from
Patriots Point at 1045, returns at 1300, we then tour Yorktown and Laffey, and
the other exhibits there, including the Medal of Honor Museum as late as we
desire, but no later than 1700.
Wednesday,
14 APR: CSS Hunley Tour. 1000: $25 per person.
Afternoon: Charleston Tea Plantation Tour ($16 per person)
Thursday,
15 APR: H&R BLOCK to finish filing taxes. Downtown Charleston
Tour. I've gotten different prices ranging from $25 to $70 per
person, 1400: General Meeting. Turn over! 1800:
Closing dinner.
Friday:
Check out and travel.
I think it may work
best if we have many people without transportation to charter a bus to do the
travel into the city and across to Mount Pleasant. (I don't know how it was
named, but there are no mountains there, the highest point is the bridge.)
WHAT I
DID ON MY SUMMER VACATION:
Well, to reiterate, the "Reunion Cruise" was great, so
when in July I was asked if we wanted to go on a cruise, and a pilgrimage to
Italy, I asked, "How Much? and Dates?" I said YES and booked it
on Princess Cruise. With this other couple from church, we planned to go
to Lourdes France, then Rome to catch the ship, and once back, rent a car and
drive around central Italy. It was a great plan, then the first thing
happened, the luggage from the other couple didn't make it to France.
Then the plane we were on from Paris to Toulouse turned around after about 20
minutes. Next thing I know, it's landing in Paris. The captain explained
they had smoke in the cockpit, and once outside I smelled it. Air France
officially cancelled the flight. We were to go back to the plane and get
our carry-on bags, claim our luggage and rebook. Our Luggage was there,
but the other couples wasn't. We were over an hour trying to track it
down, before we were rebooked. All the flights for Saturday were filled,
so Air France put us up in a hotel on the Airport Campus, provided meal
vouchers, and assurances that the missing luggage would be found. Once
checked into the hotel, I said, “well let's put this to good use, and take the
metro downtown and visit Notre Dame Cathedral.” We got there about 1740,
walked around a bit, looking at the decor and we decided to sit and pray a
little bit, that the luggage would show up. At 1800 a priest ascends to
the pulpit and starts in French, I found papers on the end of the pew, and it
was evening vespers. Once over, the front pew cleared out, so we moved up
there so we could get a better vantage point of the part of the church in back
of the altar. 5 minutes later, the bells ring and mass starts. Here
the four of us are, in the front pew. We managed to work our way through
it, trying to read the papers which were passed out just before mass
began. Too bad, French doesn't sound what it looks like on the
paper. Afterwards, we took the metro over to the Eiffel Tower, did the
mandatory selfies, with it in the background, all lit up in gold. It was a
great evening, as we decided to have dinner in an open-air cafe. I
remember I had French Onion Soup, Escargots, and salad. I don't remember
what Linda had. We got a "free" night in Paris. We got
back to the hotel, left a wakeup for 4:30, caught the first metro at 5:30 (all
of half a mile to the terminal) checked in and caught our flight to
Toulouse, which is where the luggage was supposed to be when we got there. Half
of it was, his luggage was, but they still hadn't found hers. So rather
than mope around, I rented a car, we set off for Lourdes, just 2 hours away,
visited there for three hours, and returned to Toulouse. Also, we learned
that no POVs can pull up to the terminal in Toulouse, they have designated
parking lot to drop off and pick up passengers.
We took Ryan Air to Rome, (only direct flight), and settled in for the
night. The next morning, I received great news, my niece, who hadn't been
seen in 8 months was alive. We then took the train to Civitavecchia for
the night and boarded the next day. We had fun, ate great, did a few shore
excursions, including Pompeii. After our return to Civitavecchia, we went
into Rome for a quick stroll through the Vatican, (can you believe I was there
and Pope Leo checks into a hospital for a cancer operation rather than asking
us over for dinner!). We then did a couple other Roman sites. The next morning,
we departed for San Giovanni Rotundo, then Assisi where we ran into this priest
we've known for nearly 20 years. The trip back went sort of smoothly
until we got to Heathrow. British Airways had to park the plane in the
north 40, and they then bussed us, intermittently to terminal 5. We had
to get to terminal 3 to catch American Airlines to Charlotte. We learned
that when you change a plane in a foreign country, you have to go through security
again. We caught our plane to Charlotte, with only 5 minutes to
spare. Good flight to Charlotte, until we landed. The gate we were
supposed to go to was occupied by a Lufthansa plane awaiting maintenance.
We were an hour and 20 minutes awaiting a slot. American Airlines delayed
the takeoff of over 20 flights. So, from our 2050 flight we got off at
2250 and into CHS at 0005. My UBER driver picked us up at 0030 and we
were home at 0100.
Seven
weeks until Winter. Get your cars and yourselves,
"winterized" Prepare for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years,
Valentines, Saint Patrick's Day, Easter, then the NWSA Reunion! Hope to
see you there!
Other
than working for NOAA, work on the house and car, and things at church, I
really have an exciting life.
Linda had
a cataract surgery this week, and I've been playing nurse, putting the drops
into her eye.
So, we
have five and a half months until the reunion. I'll send all the
specifics to you when we get them out of my office computer and a couple other loose
ends tied up. Tim
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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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