| March 2001 |
|
|
Slow Cruise News As previously indicated, our next reunion is being planned for St. Louis, MO, September 5th thru the 9th . Planning is in progress and going well. We hope to get a tour of the Budweiser Brewery and we think the Dodgers will be playing the Cardinals a three game series during this period. We are working closely with our professional planner, Military Locator & Reunion Service, Inc., to prepare for the best reunion ever. They can do it all at about the same cost as we could do it ourselves. They make your reservations, name tags, a lot of extra frills. I have seen what they do and have talked to people who have used them and they were very pleased with the results. Also the Sub Vets Reunion is September 11th thru the 16th in Peoria, IL. Peoria is only three hours away from St. Louis, and some may want to attend both reunions. More as we go along. The planners will mail out a package to each member about 3 months prior to the reunion. The only names they have are the ones on the Membership Roster. If you know anyone else that would like to attend please have them contact us. We now have a web site http://www.simonlake.org. Tommy and I hope it will be informative and keep you up to date. Please check this site for your personal information on the Roster of Members page. This is a very simple site and you should not have any problems negotiating it. If you do please let us know. We would like to reiterate that our reunion in Virginia Beach was almost a bust. Until the last few days we only had 28 committed, we ended up with 60 thanks to our locals and four new members. I had over 90 who sent cards in they where coming and 30 maybes. I sent out a second card and got very little response. But our small group had a great time, so it was worth the effort. Thanks to the tour people and the hotel who gave me a break, otherwise I may have had to pay bills out of my own pocket. I can't overlook those who sent in donations, and those at the reunion who put extra in the pot. Bless you and thanks from the bottom of my heart. This job is a lot of work, and takes a lot of time each and every day; phone calls, e-mail, accounting for dues and paying bills, correspondence, continuing updating of the rosters and web site. Now I know what Jim Craven went thru. I enjoy what I am doing, but I also need your support, with change of address, change of e-mail, phone numbers, etc. Also if you have internet access, please check your member information on the web site and send any additions, deletions, or corrections to info to . Send a change to BOTH of the above e-mail addresses when you have a change. I have lost several members who did not send me a change. If you have an e-mail address it will be assumed that you have internet access; if you an e-mail address and don't have internet access please let us know. We will be doing very few mail outs to people with web access, since we intend to preserve funds by using e-mail and putting the same info on the web as we would ordinarily send by mail. If you receive this newsletter in the mail and have web access, please let us know. We have sent out a postcard on the reunion, so far the response has been very good. Also the reunion coordinator has sent out a questionnaire, please return this questionnaire at your earliest opportunity. If you have any other information available, info on shipmates, change of address, change of phone number, e-mail address, anything you may feel that is news worthy and a shipmate may enjoy send it along by snail mail or e-mail. If sent by e-mail send to both and This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it We have added a "Deceased Members" list to the web site which can be accessed from the Roster of Members page. Please check this for accuracy -- we wouldn't want to put anyone on that page that didn't belong there! Also any comments, suggestions, criticisms, or whatever are always welcome. If you have something of special interest that you would like included in the next newsletter please send it along. Many thanks to all of those who keep me up to date on our shipmates around the country. We now have baseball caps at $10.0 plus $6.00 for shipping. If you live in the local area you can pick them up at Beach Realty (Tommy) and save the shipping cost. Caps will also be available at the reunion with no shipping charge. Jackets and golf shirts are also available on a special order basis. An order blank with prices is enclosed with this newsletter. Pictures of all of these items are on the web site along with an order blank and price list. If you don't have web access to look at the pictures, perhaps you have a friend or relative that does. Due to the uncertain demand for shirts and jackets, they will only be available on a prepaid order basis. They can be ordered for delivery to the reunion without the cost of shipping. The dues are coming in and I thank you very much and to all of you who sent over and above the dues requested - God Bless You. The Holy Loch Reunion appears to be going well. If you are interested in going, log on to for all the latest info. Gordon L. Sanders & Tommy Thompson |