CHAPTER CHATTER
SOUTH FLORIDA
Many of you who attended the last several
conventions may have noticed that our friend, Paul Feuer was hunched over about 35 degrees and could not walk since he was in constant pain and was unable to sleep in a bed for over 2 years. This was all a result from 5 previous failed back surgeries. Here's the good news. Paul underwent 2 separate major surgeries in September and October 09 at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. He's standing straight, able to walk and is sleeping in a bed again. He wants to thank all his NEREA friends for their prayers and kind wishes and anxiously looks forward to our get together in San Diego April 2010.
As a matter of fact he said he just might get up and say a few words at the convention and suggested that Friedland, Horey, Ferguson and Brown watch out!
Gary & Chris Shirley, tell me they will be attending this year’s convention in San Diego 2010, and they are really looking forward to seeing everyone. Hey, what about the Don Cook Affair in March - Gary?
The NEREA SOUTH FLORIDA is a viable chapter, has enthusiasm and covers the West and East coasts of Southern Florida, and, we welcome recent retirees to join us. The life style is healthy and the support of our chapter is overwhelming.
Our next meeting is March 2010 at the home of Don & Beverly Cook if you would like to attend a full day of laughing, eating, drinking and shooting sea stories please attend.
Ole Olson will be at the door selling raffle tickets.
See you in San Diego the week of April 25-30 2010
Don Cook, President
TIDEWATER VA
December was a busy month for NEREA retirees and we started it off with a wonderful afternoon at the ALA luncheon. We had two tables of folks from our local chapter so it was great being together and nice to see all the support for this event for the scholarship fund. For our December meeting everyone brought in items for the food bank and thanks to Chuck and Ann Greenawalt they loaded everything into their truck for delivery. The Food Bank was in great need this year and we turned in a total of 430 lbs. of food topping our own record last year by an additional 100 lbs. Just can't express enough gratitude for everyone's generosity.
In December we elected new officers for the coming year and they are: Bob Elszy (president) Rudolph Godfrey (VP), Fay Ryan (secretary), and Harvey Kislow agreed to stay on as Treasurer. Noelia Rosario volunteered to be our Social Director.
Our next event was our Christmas luncheon. It was held in a private dining room at Tripps restaurant and it was filled to the max. There were many giveaways and almost everyone present won something. A big thank you goes to Ann Greenawalt for making this event as memorable as the many she has planned in the past.
Our new president, Bob Elszy, was introduced at the February meeting. We gave a report about the marvelous time we had in Atlantic City. Twenty-six retirees from our chapter went, and we were joined Jane Hoffman and her husband, who met us at the hotel. We stayed at the Trump Plaza and would run into each other at other casinos, restaurants, shops and the boardwalk. The question was always: are you winning or losing? As predicted, Wild Bill was the big winner. We really weren't ready to come home but all good things must come to an end and we are already pushing Wild Bill to plan another trip in the future. There was a lot of hard work involved in making all the arrangements so thanks again to Wild Bill for taking on such a big endeavor. Fantastic Job!
Thanks to the folks who have donated items to be raffled for our social fund. December's gift was by Wild Bill Ferguson, a free lunch donation for January by our President, and for February the donation was by Naomi Thompson. 50/50 raffles were won by Herb Friedland and Rudolph Godfrey. They both turn their winnings back over to the scholarship fund. Thank you again for all your generous hearts.
Our next meeting will be March 4th at the Golden Corral on South Independence so come out and join us. You'll have a good time and see many old friends.
Dixie Earhart -Past President
TRISTATE (NJ/NY/CT)
For the second consecutive meeting, 34 people attended our chapter luncheon at the La Piazza Trattoria on Saturday, Dec. 5 to ring in the holiday season. Despite nearing the end of a trying year, everyone was in a festive mood and hopeful that 2010 will be a better year. As we have been doing at all our meetings now, we collect gifts to be sent to our troops overseas which is our way to show how much we support their sacrifice in our behalf, to keep us safe.
Lively discussion centered on the upcoming holidays and the 2010 annual convention in San Diego commencing April 25. Hopefully our chapter will have a sizeable contingent of attendees. Art LaValle provided us with a most welcome report on the very favorable rebound in the investment returns in our retirement trust that funds our pensions. He also gave us the bad news that there would be no Cola increase in our pensions for 2010 as the Consumer Price Index which measures inflation was negative for 2009. Similarly, no increase for Social Security. Many are puzzled why this is so when the cost of food, medical expenses and utilities to name a few are going through the roof.
Putting that bad news aside, we continued to eat drink and make merry. The food as usual was superb and the price is right.
As I write this chatter, our past president Ruth McAllister is recovering from brain surgery and is now in rehab. Since NEREA was formed in 1993, Ruth has been a hard worker and a dedicated supporter of National and our chapter and its members. Please keep her in your prayers and continue to send cards and letters.
Having struggled through 2 monstrous snow storms so far this winter, we eagerly look forward to our next quarterly luncheon meeting at La Piazza on Saturday, March 20 at 12 noon, the first day of spring. Please mark you calendar. We will have detailed information on the newly revised procedures on how to go on bases to shop at exchanges. Remember to bring another retiree and also an unwrapped gift for a male or female, costing under $5 for our troops overseas. See you on March 20th!!!!!
Submitted by Bill Butler
JACKSONVILLE, FL
This is the year of change – the Jacksonville Chapter met at Golden Corral on Blanding Blvd, Orange Park and wow 35 attendees filled the private dining room. If this continues we will have to get a larger room. The restaurant was brighter and the food was great, the price was right and you can eat all you want and then some. What more could you ask for? Well maybe winning the lottery!
Tom Cunningham who serves as treasurer on the NEREA Board of Directors was visiting in the area. Tom joined us for lunch and shared some ideas and plans with the retirees. It was great to see Tom and get his insight as to NEREA’s future direction.
Our 50-50 raffle, 70 -30 raffle was a hit -- the big winner being Jan Bannister winning $34 and Steve Briant winning $14, not a bad day’s earning. Our other prize was a homemade chocolate chip cake won by Pearl Wheeler.
Marcie Rodgers had planned to attend but Marcie called to tell me she had fallen the night before and was having surgery on her shoulder. We wish Marcie a speedy recovery.
On a sad note our condolences to Vivian and Ben Mallory on the loss of their daughter; Dot Coble on the loss of her dear friend Robbie Roberson; Dave O’Neill called to tell me that his wife Wilma passed away in January, as well as Rex Clark that his wife Carolyn passed away in December. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
We hope to see many friends at the San Diego convention and look forward to our next Chapter meeting on May 12. Please encourage a fellow retiree to attend –and that means YOU!!
Carol D’Onofrio, President
SAN DIEGO, CA
The Christmas Luncheon Meeting was held 1 December 2009 at the Bali-Hai Restaurant. A total of 34 members and guests were in attendance. Special guests at the meeting included SGT Rebekah Seery and CPL Daniel McKinley, who served as the Marine Corps representative for the Annual San Diego Toys for Tots Program. SGT Seery gave a brief talk about the program. She and Mrs. Montoya thanked attendees for their generous contributions. Toys donated to this program are given to children of local military personnel. The chapter received a Certification of Appreciation for their continued participation in this worthwhile program.
A total of $151.00 was collected for the raffle held in support of the Scholarship Fund. CPL McKinley won the 50/50 drawing, and donated the monetary prize to the Toys for Tots Program. Raffle winners included Sol Montoya, Meg Johnson and Walt Smeltzer.
The San Diego Chapter will donate 250 goodie bags to be used at the convention. The cost will be $1 to $2 per bag. Gail Smeltzer will try to get the funding for the bags from a local company in turn for advertising rights if it will benefit the NEREA.
A luncheon buffet will be held at the Naval Base San Diego Anchors & Spurs Conference and Catering Center from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Wednesday, April 28th, in lieu of a picnic at the Admiral Baker Picnic area. The cost of the luncheon will be $14.10 per person. Activities on that day will also include a tour of the newly remodeled Navy Exchange. Mrs. Montoya encouraged members to attend as much of the convention as possible.
It is anticipated that retirees will be issued CAC cards without stickers sometime next year, so they are able to shop at NEX and MWR facilities.
Our spring meeting will be held at 12:00 noon, 2 March, at the Sizzler’s Restaurant located at 3755 Murphy Canyon Road in San Diego. New retirees are most welcome!
Barbara Montoya, President
PENSACOLA, FL
We had a good meeting on Saturday, February 13th, at the Golden Corral Restaurant. Nice turnout, 19 people showed up even though it was Mardi Gras weekend and there was a parade downtown. We had our own Mardi Gras luncheon and partied. We had a couple of visitors here in Pensacola. Lucy Nolan (Motorcycle Mama) from the Jacksonville area was in town visiting her old stomping grounds and came to our meeting. Also, Michael, Ed Korolenko's son from Albany, New York, was visiting his dad so he came to the meeting. We love company! We had an exciting time here in Florida this week. Snow was predicted, so the schools were shut, the Naval Base closed, and all government agencies locked up for the day. The snow, in some areas, almost covered the ground and here in Pensacola you didn't even see it unless you were looking out the window between 1:30 and 2:00 pm on Friday afternoon. I thought that would give all you Northerners a laugh, since you were dealing with "real snow". Spring is almost here, hang in there!
Cathie Carter, Secretary/Treasurer
ORLANDO, FL
Greetings to all from sunny Central Florida. Just like most of you, we have had the coldest winter in a long time. Can you believe we actually had some sleet and snow flakes???? There were temperatures in the low twenties several times. We hope you all had a Merry Christmas and the Happiest of New Years!
Tony Romeo’s was where we met for our November luncheon. There were fourteen present. Donated gifts were won by Flora Vickers and Linda Staelens. The raffle was won by “Yours Truly”.
December the tenth, we enjoyed our traditional Christmas luncheon at Epcot in the German Weingarten. It was fabulous as always, such a great buffet. We had twenty one in attendance; everyone loves the atmosphere, food, and the wonderful authentic German show.
Our January meeting was at the Golden Corral with a total of twenty five Retirees and guests. We were thrilled to have a new Retiree, Becky Davis, join us. Welcome Becky!!! Also, Welcome Back, Rose Hester, we had missed you. We were so very happy to have Barbara Hodge’s brother, Otmar, visiting from Germany and he assured us he would be back. Donated gifts were won by Betty, a guest, and Rose. The raffle was won by Flora Vickers, who donated it to the Russell Home. Everyone present received a pair of knitted slippers hand made by Francine Adams. Thank you, Francine. See what you’re missing when you don’t make it to our meetings!!!
The February meeting will be at the Olive Garden. We will be visiting the Russell Home for Autistic Children to make our yearly donation following the luncheon.
I am very pleased to say we have seven Orlando Retirees attending the San Diego Convention. They are Barbara Hodge, Delores Hobbs, Doreen Costa, Francine and John Adams, Joan Moss and Linda Staelens. I am sure it will be a good time enjoyed by all who are able to attend.
Carol Hubbard / President
Note: We look forward to have “chatter” from Hawaii, Italy, Memphis, New England, and Oakland on our next issue.
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WILL THIS BE YOUR LAST NEWSLETTER?
The NEREA Constitution and By-Laws, in Article II Section 2, states that “MEMBERS WITH DELINQUENT DUES FOR A TWO YEAR PERIOD, RUN THE RISK OF BEING REMOVED FROM THE NEREA MAILING AND MEMBERSHIP LIST.”
Does the mailing label on this NEREA NEWS has a (-08) or (-09) or (10), or higher number after your name? Each one has a significant meaning, and tells you that was the last year you paid dues. It there is an -08, your dues for the current year 2009 have not been paid. Again, the NEREA membership will be reviewed to determine retirees that are delinquent in their dues. Please, consider this: NEREA has continued to send you the quarterly NEREA NEWS newsletter, although printing and mailing costs have escalated, and your fellow retirees with current dues have had to bear the cost for you!
Any member with delinquent dues will be dropped from the NEREA membership and mailing list. When you send in your back dues, remember to include dues for 2009, which were due last January. Dues are $10.00 for each year. Dropping someone from the mailing list is a difficult decision, but a necessary one from a financial standpoint.
NEREA NEEDS YOU, AND YOU NEED NEREA!
NEREA Membership Committee
