November 2001 


U.S. Submarine Veterans, Inc.

Buffalo Base, P.O. Box 166

Scottsville, NY 14546

Our Creed

"To perpetuate the memory of our shipmates who gave their lives in the pursuit of their duties while serving their country. That their dedication, deeds and supreme sacrifice be a constant source of motivation toward greater accomplishments. Pledge loyalty and patriotism to the United States Government."


Submarines
on
Eternal Patrol

Commander's Column

From: JATRUBEE@aol.com

Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2001 11:14:16 EST

Subject: BuffBase Commander's Column-Urgent!

To: All Hands


Shipmates:


Happy Thanksgiving!


Our December meeting will be held at the Buffalo Naval Park aboard the USS Little Rock, 1000 hrs, Saturday, 8 December 2001.

We will use the admiral's quarters as it can be heated more easily than the mess deck. There should be plenty of room as Ed's excellent Small Stores will be set up in the admiral's sleeping qtrs.
The park is easy to find, take Exit 6 off 190 North, immediate right onto Seneca and a right at the 1st lite, then straight through the next lite. You'll see the big gray boats on the left.
Directions are on the Base net site at www.geocities.com/ussvibuffalo.
Please make an effort to attend.


December Base Elections:

Elections for Base offices will be held at this meeting! I would like to ask that those who have the time and desire to lead Buffalo Base as it grows give thought to running for an office. I would be pleased to speak with anyone who has questions or suggestions regarding taking an office. The present officers will, I'm sure, lend their assistance to their relief. At present we have candidates for Treasurer and Vice Commander. We would like for someone to step forward to run for the Base secretary office. This office is not all that time consuming. Meeting attendance is the biggest requirement. Recording and writing up the minutes is about the only other responsibility. John Sherman has held this office for at least five years and needs a relief!

Dinners for Sailors:

Again this year USSVI is asking for donations to fund gift certificates for some active duty submarine sailors who could use a bit of financial assistance to provide for a more bountifull Christmas holiday for their family. Some of you may remember what it was like trying to exist on Navy pay and still give the kids a few special things at Christmas. Every ship and station has personnel who, through no fault of their own, run into financial hardships but still have to address their military obligation first and the family second. Some of these guys are at sea and unable to assist their family. Immagine the gratitude of a sailor at sea will feel knowing that their family is receiving a helping hand. Recipient families in need will be selected on a need basis by each boat's COB along with the Command Master Chief of each Squadron and or Base. All the donations will go to the families!

If you would like to help, please make a check out to:
USSVI Charitable Foundation (it's deductible).
Mail it to:
John Anderson
USSVI Charitable Foundation
Andersen & Horie
702 South Primrose
Monrovia, CA 91016-3436

Please indicate Buffalo Base on your check.
This is urgent as the commands must know soon how much is available in deciding how best to distribute the available funds. Buffalo Base membership voted at our last meeting to donate $250.00. An additional $67.00 was added by individual members at the last meeting.


Dues are Due!!

I would like your cooperation this year in getting the annual dues collection behind us by 01 January 2002. It would certainly ease my load if all hands would send me their check (Made to John Trubee) for 2002 membership renewal.
Life members will owe $10.00 for Base Dues.
Regular members will owe $20.00 (Base and National)

With over 100 members in Buffalo Base it's easy to understand the expense and time involved in sending individual collection letters plus the inevitable follow-ups for stragglers. Again this year we are shooting for 100% renewal.
Last year we had 61 of 62 renewals, missed it by one.
Your re-up is important to us. As of today we are running about 40% so far. Even though you aren't able to attend many meetings or participate in other events because of time or distance constraints, you are important to us! Your name on the Base roster means that you are interested in "Perpetuating the Memory" by maintaining your membership. A large Base membership is a very important talking point when we approach potential corporate donors for project fundings such as our Croaker restoration. You new members who joined after September 1st this year are already paid for 2002.

Send your check to:
John Trubee
PO Box 166
Scottsville, NY 14546


Good of the Order:

* USSV WWII annual Christmas party will be held on Saturday, 8 Dec. (shortly following our meeting) Cocktails are at 1300 hrs., dinner at 1400. Those interested in attending please contact me for menu and cost information.

* SK Rip Collins will have his excellent Base small stores set up at the next meeting. Ball caps, patches, shirts, pins etc. will be on hand for sale. He also has the new 2001 National membership Roster in stock (all 8,000 + members) as well as the new USSVI national 2002 Submarine picture calendars.
We expect a shipment of the new maroon colored Buffalo Base golf shirts before the meeting.


From ShipSupt. Ken Wojtanik:

A small, but very enthusiastic group of Buffalo Base shipmate's converged on the USS Croaker and dove in asses and elbows in the Forward Torpedo Room. Using standard field day protocol (Top to Bottom, Outboard to Inboard) we made a substantial difference in the general appearance to the room. Most noticeable, the deck, thanks to Kevin Kinnally and Dennis Staley. Don Smith and I worked on the torpedo tube area and Neil Bellenger worked below the deck plate level.
This was our first attempt at general housekeeping and I am very pleased with the results.
At this point and during the winter we will try and continue what we started so that when the spring rolls around, we'll be a step ahead of getting the boat ready for the convention.
I would like to extend a heart felt thank you to those who participated (Don Smith, Kevin Kinnally, Dennis Staley, Neil Bellenger, Ken Nichols and his grandson) and extend an invitation to next months field day (yet to be determined).

SEE YOU THERE


Ken Wojtanik


See ya on the 8th.
Carry on!

John T