Source: Aerograph February 2012
Hope you all had a nice veteran's day weekend. It was a nice day here in Bremerton WA. A bit cold but I guess we were a little spoiled with the Indian summer we had this year. Just a note to report on our last NWSA meeting at Arlington on Sept. 11, a rare Saturday rather than a Sunday meeting.
First off the meeting Financial standing, Our secretary Jim Black reported that the chapter was still in the black with a bankroll of $356.87 per his last bank statement from Bank of America. Although he mentioned that they are trying to siphon the account by charging a monthly fee of 3 dollars for the checking account. Remember when banks used to give us interest on keeping our money in the banks. Then they wanted us to use their debit cards, and stop using checks. Now they want to charge us for using the debit cards $ 5 a month. What next a 10 dollar to speak to a teller fee? I better stop there I don't want to give them any ideas.
Those in attendance for the meeting at Arlington: Dee & Ray Berrian from Oakville, Dick Gilmore from Anacortes, Earl Kerr from Anacortes, Jim Black from Kenmore, Ken Boden from Medical Lake in eastern WA, Frank Baillie and son Mark from Bremerton.
Prior to the meeting getting started, many people were talking of different duty assignments they have had in the past. From Ken about his flying that he has done, and the different types of planes he has been able to fly; from multi engine to seaplanes, from there the conversation turned around to Storm Chaser's and the way that the Navy did it to the way the Air Farce did it. There was talk about a group that meets up a Whidbey Island Naval Air every couple of months, a P B Y flying boat assassin. From there everyone was talking on how bad the "EL NINO" was going to affect our upcoming winter......WONDERLAND? Were we going to need to buy generators for the coming blackouts, from high wind storms? They get quite a few of those up by Oak Harbor and Whidbey Is. Well after Numerous stories and either from Farmer's forecast, or the Farmers almanac, it was concluded that due to the heavy black coat that the tree caterpillar had on this fall it was to be a BAD BAD winter. take that Doppler radar ..... forecast from Nature itself.
well now for the things that we have all been up to lately:
Ray and his mom Dee Berrian were up from Oakville where they are still wrangling with their new sprinkler/ spigots that they are plumbing throughout their yard. When they weren't working on that, they enjoyed a scenic drive thru Olympia and Shelton. They have been keeping in contact with her other kids in the area, one daughter Judy is in Olympia WA and the other is in British Colombia.
Jim Black had some great news to share with use all. His doctor has had him going to the gym twice a week and building up the strength in his legs and working on either his knees or his hips. I have to call Earl and get that right. The other thing is that he is going to be celebrating his 90th birthday at the North Shore Senior Center in Bothell WA at 10201 East Riverside in Bothell WA, the phone is 425-487-2441 on December (at 8:30) for about an hour for some cake and some coffee, You only turn 90 once, so if you can stop by please do.
Ken Boden had quite a scare lately he missed our last meeting, because we thought he was on his way to Branson Missouri for a reunion, but a couple of days before the reunion he had some chest pains that just wouldn't go away so he called his son and they were off to see the "Doc". Turns out that was a well timed trip to see the "Doc". Ken had a obstruction in one of his vein's and had a angioplasty and had to have a stint put in. said it was over 90% blockage. Well he felt a 100% better, so 6 days after his stint and a couple days after the reunion started he was off to see if he could still make the reunion. Well he did his best to try to make the reunion but after multiple road construction sites in two states as well as the many radar traps that were awaiting him on the road to Missouri; he gave up on his quest to make the reunion. But since he was down south in the Great state ? of ......TEXAS ( triple digit temperatures for a month, don't sound great ,...just HOT, SCORCHING, UNBEARABLE) he went down there to visit some relatives. Ken was lucky that they discovered the blockage before he started his trip, and we are all glad he is doing so well. Because with all the road work that he encountered on his trip, and the watchful eye of John Law with his faithful gun RADAR, and the blistering heat, he might not have been able to really enjoy his trip as much as he would have liked to.
Dick Gilmore was able to make the meeting; it was nice to see him be able to attend. He and his wife have been keeping busy on the home front in Anacortes. He later said he is a not spokesperson for apple,...but he went out and purchased a new I-Pad and is enjoying the heck out of it. He was telling of the thousands of ways it makes computing easier, its versatility, compatibility, and the many uses and applications it has. I am not the electronics person to try to explain all the things that he was able to tell the group,.... but let's say he is enjoying his new pocket computer, and discovering it's wide range of possibilities.
Earl Kerr didn't have much new news to say, I guess he's resting from all that roofing he did over the summer. He did say that he and his wife did the North Cascades Highway Loop around Mt. Baker on Hwy. 20, east to Leavenworth. They stopped in there to warm up and get a cup of "Joe", and came back via Hwy 2, the Stevens Pass. He said it was a nice scenic drive that his wife had talked him into. (Not all the trees of Washington are evergreen trees.) They enjoyed their road trip.
As for my father and I, we haven't been doing a lot of traveling around - mostly to these meetings. We have all been in fairly good health. Dad got his Flu Shot; only to come down with a mild version of the flu, sniffles, head cold, sneezes; which makes road trips difficult. but all in all we are all doing good here in Bremerton.
Earl has talked to Johnny’s @ fife and they really don't reserve their rooms so he thought on Sunday January 15@ around 10:30 or 11:00 until noon we would meet there next. I will send out another announcement a week or so before so we all have some advance notice and can plan for it, see you all soon
|
Source: Aerograph November 2011
Sept. 11 2011 Meeting Of Northwest Chapter of the NWSA The group met at Dee Berrian's home in Oakville WA. at 11:00 a.m.
Minutes From Meeting # 86
Old Business: none
New business: Treasurer Jim Black was present and we were informed that the Chapter is financially sound with$356.37 in our checking account
The day was beautiful warm day in the 80's, it was our second week of warm weather this summer. And possibly our last day of warm weather for the year as summer, as we all suffered from a subpar summer.with more than 70% of the day's 10 degree's or lower than normal temp's.
We all sat around the BBQ and in kitchen table as the food was being prepared talking stories of past duty station's, how people meet their significant other's, and other interesting anecdotes. Soon the food was done, and it was time for some serious business..... eating.
We missed the attendance of a few of our member's of our group, who had other commitment’s, or reunion's to attend. Ken Boden was in the mid west for the GLAISER reunion ( I think he said it was in Mo.) hopfully we can get a recap on that in NOV. 5. also missing was our senior member, or senior AG. Fred Olsen, we tried to get Fred there but he was tending to a sick pet, so he wasn't able to attend. Maybe next time.
Jim Black was doing good, he is still exercising reg.( 3 times a week ) and visiting his coffee shop, and over and above that he and his son have been doing a lot around the house, doing some lawn work, shoring up the fence, and growing tomatoes. I don't know if that mean's a lot of weeding, or just harvesting the tomatoes from the vine.
Dan & Marilyn Collins went on a road trip down to get some fresh northwest salmon, from the Indian Reservation. With the trip down to the reservation, and the hotel stay, It might not have been the less expensive salmon they ever bought, but it was freshly smoked, and tastiest salmon that they have eaten in a while.
President Earl Kerr and his wife Lynn were there with their two well mannered dogs brought some SWEET corn for the feast. They were down south in Centralia WA. working on reshingling a house. And Earl has the roofer's tan too prove it. He said that dog's were down on the ground bellowing that they thought it was TOO hot to be up on a roof, and implied that they had enough of this heat and maybe Earl should too. He attended the M's game the night before and stayed in Marysville with his daughter. (Unfortunately the M's lost to those DARN YANKEE'S).
Jim and Judy Northup also attended the meeting; they were quite busy this summer. He was reroofing a cabin of his own (in WA you reroof your house during the three weeks of good weather that we have. What we call SUMMER!) Jim & Judy also did some blackberry pickin, and some clam diggin, and when there was some free time were pickling, and canning beet's and peaches. And he did some flagging for the logging crews if he was called upon. WHEEW! Is this what I have to look forward to upon my retirement? You folk's do more than I do in a week for the government except that I expect Jim & Judy are a lot better organized.
Our hosts, Ray and Dee Berrian were both in good health, and busy working around the house. They were putting in a new watering system, running new lines out to the field and throughout the yard. Even though the work was being done, they had set up a patio tent out back and an area to cook up this feast. They both were exceptional host's for us all.
As for my father, and myself, we have been mostly idle this summer making an occasional dentist, or doctor's appointment. Where they tell us to cut down on the sweets or to lose a pound or two. Well that isn't going to happen today. My father doesn't answer too many e mail letters lately, so if you e mail him and he does not respond, don't get too upset . He hardly answer's any of them anymore.
We have decided to have another meeting on the 5th. of NOV. in Arlington Wa. at the Denny’s there by the freeway. We will have it around 11:00 A.M. but will send out a definitive time a little later.
Those In Attendance for the Annual Dee's Picnic:
DEE & RAY BERRIAN, JIM BLACK, EARL & LYNN KERR, DAN & MARILYNN COLLIN'S, JIM & JUDY NORTHUP, and FRANK & MARK BAILLIE
Submitted by Mark Baillie
|
Source: Aerograph August 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011 11:35 PM. We have this day held our regularly scheduled meeting at Denny's on the I5 corridor. There were a total of 13 of us present and we had a serious discussion about whether or not we should continue being a viable NWSA chapter. I arrived with two important factors gleaned from our meetings in Norfolk - (A) the only real requirement for continuance was to hold two meetings per year and (B) it is important that the children of the veterans take an active role in keeping veteran organizations viable. There are four really good places for us to hold our meetings scattered around the Puget Sound which permits rotating the travel time so having two meetings per year is rather easy to accommodate.Frank Baillie has a very wonderful son, Mark, who lives with Frank and insures that he takes his Meds as prescribed. So, prior to the meeting I had a heart to heart chat with Mark and explained that under the present circumstances, the only way we would be able to continue as Chapter would be for him to take over as Secretary. Mark has been to quite a number of our meetings and really understood our predicament thus he did volunteer to be the Secretary and if necessary both the Secretary and the Treasurer. The vote to continue was 12 to 1 in favor of continuing. Our next meeting will be an outdoor event in late summer at the home of Dee Berrian, widow of CDR Berrian. The Berrian place is sufficiently large as to have room for a foul weather parade and they have three very loyal children who will be there to help Dee with the execution of the pot luck meal. Who said that old dogs can't learn new tricks!It should be noted that the Treasurer (Jim Black) has marginal health but has no intention of giving up the assignment. Further he is aware that I wish to use our Not-for-Profit bank account for Reunion 38 and has offered to help in what ever task he can.
Cheers to all – Earl
Submitted by LCDR Earl Kerr USN RET
From the Binnacle List, we have learned that Gary Fisher went to the hospital on January 10, 2011, and in late March it was determined that he had a massive infection of the L2 and L3 Lumbar vertebrae area. During his illness he went from 202 lbs to 164 lbs, and his wife Louise basically ran the farm by herself. He is now doing fine and the two of them will be doing more recreating by themselves and with their family. Bob Coppo has regained about 75% vision in his left eye and should be up to a full 100% shortly. Jim Black’s friend Louise Ogle spent five days in the hospital and before leaving the doctor told her daughter that she must have someone with her 24 hour a day. At the May 22nd meeting President Earl Kerr explained to the chapter that to maintain a chapter only requires two meetings a year with a president and secretary/treasurer. After serious discussion the group voted to continue the chapter but limit meetings to two or three a year. Frank Baillie’s son Mark Baillie relieved Dan Collins as Secretary of the chapter. Jim Black continues to workout three days a week in the gym to build up muscle strength. Ken Boden took a week to drive slowly from Spokane, WA to the meeting but made several stops to visit on the way. He also advised that Air Force and Army lodges are considerably less expensive than the Navy Lodges. On Mother’s Day, Dan and Marilyn Collins had dinner near Spokane, WA with Marilyn’s daughter and her fiancé, returning home the next day. Dick and Barbara Gilmore recently purchased a new iMax computer with 27 inch monitor. It can run windows and most of the things they had on the old computer. Dick commented how much easier it is to make one phone call to get problems solved. They recently had their home recarpeted, all 19,000 sq ft. Dick described having to live up stairs for a day like moving to Japan. Earl and Lynn Kerr attended the Virginia reunion with about 100 people attending the final banquet. Earl, while visiting NAS Norfolk tried without any luck to convince the folks at NWC that you can’t forecast anywhere in the world without people on the ground. He and Lynn visited old friends in Annapolis, MD, and then toured West Virginia and Tennessee before heading home. In August Bob Coppo and Dorothy Hutt will be going to Alaska and visit relatives in Palmer, AK. Later they will drive to San Diego, CA to board a Holland Line ship for a 15 day cruise to Hawaii and back. On the way home, they will visit relatives in Mesa, AZ and Las Vegas, NV. Dorothy has lived in Hawaii, and in the 60s worked in the Hickam Field exchange. Thomas and Sharon Southworth went to San Diego, CA to celebrate a fathers 90th birthday. We are not quite sure who's friends they were visiting but they also stopped in Amarillo, TX, Albuquerque, NM, Prescott, AZ, San Diego, CA again, Baldwin Park, CA, Monterey, CA before head home. If you ask them they might tell you how you can leave the congested freeway south of Seattle, WA, go over to Hwy 99 to make better time and acquire a $350 ticket. Frank Baillie is taking his medicine to eliminate bleeding while breathing. He recently gashed his arm but is doing fine now. His son Mark is working a 4 to 4 shift at the Bremerton Naval Base where they have installed guns on a carrier that shoots eight rounds a second at incoming missiles, but the ship has to return to port to reload the gun.
Submitted by Dan E. Collins, LCDR, USN, Ret
|
Source: Aerograph May 2011
Since our last meeting March 20, 2011 we have learned that Gary Fisher has been quite ill and in the hospital. He has lost a good bit of weight and the doctors have not yet determined what is causing the problem. While in the hospital his wife Lois has successfully brought 20 lambs into the world single handed. Bob Coppo has had an operation on his left eye to prevent the chances of going blind. It required him to lay on his stomach for two weeks after the operation. To help him during this period, he put a small TV on the floor so he could watch it. His friend Dorothy said he did not help her much driving to the meeting as he could not see. We also learned that Dorothy has a rhubarb crisp in the freezer so maybe we should hold the next meeting at her place. Looking with both eyes Bob still has poor depth perception which will last about two more weeks. To add to his complications he had an appliance hose break with the consequential flooding in his home. Frank Baillie, who is driven to the meetings by his son Mark, is doing just fine. Ten to twelve day ago he had a tooth pulled that they could not take out earlier because of his operation. Within a short time he came down with a cold and sore throat. His therapist told him it was the result of the tooth being pulled which allowed the infection to enter his body. Fred Olson arrived at the meeting a few minutes late. Turned out he was listening to the Husky ball game in the parking lot.
He is taking it easy in the rest home which is part of the Episcopalian church and is considered the best in the area. Residents range from age 65 to over 100, and there are 80 women and ten men. The home has a bus to transport members, and they do all but four meals a week. Shortly the home will take two men and eight women to the Recreation Center at Pacific Beach for three days. As a retied Commander Fred has arranged for them to stay in officer housing on the bluff overlooking the ocean. Earl and Lynn Kerr recently spent a week at Mazatlan, Mexico. They were surprised by the amount of fog they incurred. After a week they flew over the Sea of Cortez to Cabo San Lucas where they spent four more days and acquired a sunburn. While there they drove around a point of land to the Lands End Store. While the Sea of Cortez was quite calm around the point on the Pacific Ocean side a good swell was running. Dan and Marilyn recently made a fast trip south. They visited Marilyn's daughter and her fiance' in southern California, his brother in Sun City, AZ where the three brothers and their wives went to dinner at a Burger King in a big black limo to celebrate the middle brother's 80th birthday, then back to the brothers house for cake and ice cream and a good evening of conversation until almost midnight. On the way home they had dinner with Marilyn's brother and his wife in Las Vegas, NV. In Ely, NV they woke up to three inches of new snow and on the way home they drove three half days in snow to regain Dan's snow driving skills.
The President and Secretary of the chapter have held those positions for over four years, and the Treasurer for almost that long. There were no volunteers to replace these people, and the chapter has not had the ten member attendance required for over a year. Consequently, the chapter will hold a final meeting on May 22, 2011 and close its doors. The results were inevitable, and members still plan to get together informally from time to time.
LCDR Dan E. Collins USN RET
Secretary NW Chapter
|
|
