From Our President:   Wow, spring is here, summer’s just around the corner and so is the 2011 Reunion.  Jim and Joy have put together a real nice package with lots to do and lots of time to relax and visit.  This issue has the Reunion Registration form, DON’T  PROCRASTINATE!  Fill it out now while attending is on your mind…. J
     Quick up-date on the 2012 Reunion.  George and I will be co-hosting it.  We made a trip to Baltimore and pretty much have everything lined up except for entertainment for the Dinner Banquet.   The will be a booklet at this year’s reunion with more details……

New Finds:  Ricardo Ancrum, SA, ’72 and Gary Schwartz, BM3, ’67.

Web Site: We added a few pictures to the ‘60’s Cruise from around 1963 along with some pictures of shipmates from that period and a couple of pictures to the “Scrapbook”.  With the loss of nearly all of our binder’s full of pictures from the reunions and the hard copy Deck Logs, the web site was invaluable, with out it, we would have lost everything.  Since we no longer have the “hard copies” to bring to the reunion for shipmates to reminisce over, I am working on a project that will make it so some of the material will be available to view.  Hopefully I will have it completed by reunion time, until then you’ll just have to guess as to what the E-Board has up it’s sleeve…….

See you all in Chattanooga!

     Ron Zimmerman
     President
 
A word from the Vice-President:  WHERE’S THE WARM WEATHER!!!! It’s never around when you want it and for some it’s around to long, not me I like it! Seems this letter writing stuff is coming around fast all the time. Not much new to report in the membership department except dues are still $20 a year, That’s the only thing inflation hasn’t got too!
   My last count has us at 136 paid members with 213 on the roll; out of that number 3 are new finds or first timers. Now for the usual disclaimer: If you move, change phone number or E-mail address please let one of the board know so you won’t miss out on my exciting articles!!!  If you believe that, I have a great piece of property I want to sell you.
  
     Jim Dunno
     Vice-President &  Membership Chairman

2011 Reunion Update:  Ok here comes what you’re looking for, the last reunion update. Wednesdays wine cheese and fruit Reception is good to go, as I did with Cincinnati, the wine will be from the local area.
    Thursday is the trip to Chickamauga Battlefield will have us boarding the buses for a tour of the battlefield, at the welcome center will be a 20 minute movie to get you familiar with the battle. Also will be a museum of weapons used from the civil war to the present time. Afterwards will be a box lunch by Jimmy-Johns to be served either at the park or back at the hospitality suite whatever the weather permits. Following lunch will be back on the buses for a short trip to the National Cemetery for the Memorial Service. They have a very nice pavilion dedicated to the Armed Forces, after this the rest of the day will be yours to see lots of other great this Chattanooga has to offer.
    Friday again is open for visiting or site seeing until 6PM when a BBQ will be held in the hospitality suite by the pool. For those of you who sent their apps in early there has been a slight change. The meal will be catered by Stick Fingers instead of Porkers, the meal will be Memphis style ribs, smoked chicken and pulled pork barbecue. It will be served with barbecue baked beans, Cole slaw, green beans, Sticky Fingers Barbecue sauces and sandwich buns, iced tea and lemonade.
   This brings us to Saturday, Saturday opens up with a trip to Rock City; they are equipped to take care of those who can’t get around too well. There are shortcuts to get to the main viewing sites where you can see 7 states from that point. There is also winding paths to walk through and count all the gnomes, gift shop and several eating places. I love the swinging bridge! Joy won’t get on it with me anymore, Can’t figure that one out!. After this we will head back to the hotel where lunch will be on your own, around 2:30 will be the annual business meeting.  6PM will begin Cocktails in the Roosevelt Room, instead of a cash bar the hotel bar is just outside of our room.7PM will be Dinner, this will be a buffet style. The menu is Tossed garden salad with toppings and dressing, Garden Rotini Pasta salad, fresh cut fruit. The main meal is Sautéed Beef Tenderloin Tips with a Cabernet Sauvignon Sauce, Breast of Chicken Parmigiana with Marinara sauce, meat lasagna, Rice Pilaf, Zucchini and squash with garlic along with tomatoes,Broccoli,Cauliflower, and baby carrots. Dessert will be Key Lime Pie, Tennessee Bread Pudding with Jack Daniel’s sauce, Red Velvet Cake. Fresh rolls, butter, coffee, tea, and decaf.  After dinner will be entertainment by Sweet Georgia Sound, they are a 16 piece band who play Jazz, Latin and Swing and try to keep current with the popular sound.
    Sunday morning will be the Farewell Breakfast also in the Roosevelt Room from7-9. Breakfast will be Orange juice, coffee, fruit, Danish, muffins, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage links, potatoes, buttermilk biscuits with jelly and butter.
    Again anybody who has a special diet please say so and I will get it done, I would hate to see anybody miss this because they couldn’t eat what we are having.
    Reservations can be made to the Chattanooga Choo-Choo, 423-266-5000, rooms are $99 a night, and there is a shuttle from the airport just call the hotel. No secret codes for reservations just mention you’re with the Great Sitkin Reunion Group. With that said “Banks Open”!

Jim and Joy Dunno
Reunion Hosts

The Chaplain’s Corner: 

Honor Roll Update:  Robert Cameron, QM1, ‘48;  Edward Burchak, GM3, ‘51;  John Lanouette, GMC, ‘51;  James Roudebush, HM2, ‘51;  Alvin Spire, PNSN, ‘54;  Walter Clancy, FT2, ‘54 and Ed Beikirch, BM3, ‘63

      Mark Rucker
      Chaplain 


Secretary’s Report:  Here we are in June already.  Getting ready for our 19th reunion.  I will be keeping my article short this newsletter so I can get all the reunion information printed and in the mail to you.  Looks like Jim and Joy have planned a awesome time Chattanooga TN for us.  I hope everyone plans to attend and see you there.

      Joe Savadge
      Secretary