January 2003 Newsletter
3 January, 2003
Shipmates:
Happy New Year & welcome to the USSVI Buffalo Base January Newsletter.
Meeting Notice:
The January meeting will be held at 1000 hrs, Saturday, 11 January at the Steven Sikora American Legion Post 1322, 950 Payne Avenue, North Tonawanda, NY 14120.
This is a new location. As the USS Little Rock is mothballed for the
winter months we will hold the meetings for January and March 03 at the
Steven Sikora American Legion Post in North Tonawanda. Lyle Doody has
made arrangements for our use of the meeting room. The Sikora Post is
home post to shipmates Long, Doody & Schubert. As of today no map
to the post location has been posted in the chartroom. Webmaster John
is outta town and will post the map on site as soon as he returns. Check
it for driving directions at VSSVIBuffalo.org later this week.
The annual Base elections and change of command will take place at this
meeting. Please attend if you can. Don’t worry about getting roped
into a job. Nominations are closed but it would be great if you could
show up and support the new slate of Base officers. (Coffee & Donuts
will be available)
***2002 Annual USSVI Dinner for Sailors Program :
National secretary Pat Householder has reported that the DFS program this year netted over $10,000. Buffalo Base was credited with total donations of $770.00. Well done! Buffalo Base made an excellent showing considering a very short notice was given this year. Pat says National will begin organizing earlier next year.
***USS Croaker 2002 Lottery Calendar:
The 2002 Croaker
lottery calendar sales campaign is over. Approximately 880 of the 1000
calendars were sold. A few more 02 calendars were sold than in 2001. Had
the remaining 120 been sold the Croaker fund would be $1,400.00 richer.
A discouraging fact is that fewer Base shipmates participated this year
in both selling as well buying even one for themselves. More participation
from D2 sister Bases and the national membership purchases via the internet
this year helped make up for lower Base sales. I want to very sincerely
thank all those who did help this year’s effort. Both Base members
and outsiders. A special “atta boy” goes to Chief Donn Schubert
and assistant Lyle Doody. They spend a tremendous amount of time on this
project. ( if it takes 2 minutes to log a calendar stub how many hours
are spent logging 880 of them?) Ans: 23 hrs. - - - - - Add to that the
time to write, log and mail 180 checks.
The lottery calendar is our largest fund-raiser. If we expect to get grants
from outside sources we are going to have to show that we have the interest
and ability to raise money on our own. In terms of profit vs effort it’s
our best source of revenue. We need to spread out the effort on the sales
side next year. We can’t expect 35 people to sell 1000 calendars
again! Also we won’t have the USSV WWII convention to absorb 80
calendars.
***2003 Base/National Dues:
Dues are due! As of 3 January 52% have paid their dues. Last year there were some dinks well into May. I personally request your cooperation in easing my paperwork load by paying your dues soon. Make your check to USSVI Buffalo Base. Mail to John Trubee, PO Box 166 Scottsville, NY 14546. Regular member dues are still $20.00/yr. ($10.00 Base - $10.00 National) Life members owe just $10.00 Base dues) Can’t remember if you’ve paid? Email me at jatrubee@aol.com & I’ll let you know.
***COB USS Buffalo Visit:
Jerry Nicholson, MMCM(SS), Chief of the Boat, USS Buffalo, SSN 715 visited the Naval park on Tuesday, 5 November. About nine Base members were on hand for great bull session with him. We had lots of questions about the Buffalo and her refueling & overhaul (the first at Pearl Navy Yard). We heard some good “modern Navy” sea stories. We then adjourned for a look at the USS Boston sail and took a walk through tour aboard Croaker. Jerry is going to try to assist in the “procurement” of deck material for Croaker’s after battery compartment. Usta be we called it “comshaw”. We enjoyed more stories over a late lunch (wings & Beer) at the Anchor bar. COB Jerry joined our Base in August and is a native of Rochester. He plans to return to the Rochester area after retirement. We look forward to having him aboard as an active member. He’s a real BTDT sailor.
I hope to see all you Buffalo area shipmates at the meeting on the 11th.
Fraternally,
John Trubee
Buffalo Base Cdr.
(585) 533-9341 jatrubee@aol.com
