Dear Fellow Retirees and Friends:

 

     We have just concluded our 16th Annual Convention at the Town and Country Resort, San Diego, California.  We owe a special thanks to Barbara Montoya, President of NEREA’s San Diego Chapter, and her chapter members, especially “Mike” Leon, for their hard work in assembling “welcome aboard” packets, hospitality room beverages and snacks, resort happenings, arranging our afternoon luncheon at the MWR Conference Center and 50/50 raffle.

Our day and evening trips included San Diego City and Harbor cruises, visit to NEX San Diego, a tour of the USS Midway and shopping at San Diego’s Seaport Village.

 

     Our Scholarship Fund gained $510.00 from the 50/50raffle and the Chapters contributed $4000.  We want to thank all the members who contributed to our Scholarship Fund in 2009 and 2010 and the Hampton Roads (Norfolk Area) Chapter of ALA for their major contribution.  The Fund has distributed $250,000 in scholarship to family members of NEREA members and current NEXCOM employees’ whose high school seniors are bound for their first year of college.

 

     At our business meeting Mr. Art LaValle, Chairman of NEXCOM Retirement Trust briefed the members on the financial results of our 2009 investments and the first three months of 2010.  See Art’s article on the financial results of 2009 inside this Newsletter.  

 

     Rear Admiral Steven J. Romano. Commander NEXCOM, joined us for our Wednesday evening banquet.  He began his talk by paying tribute to Mr. Alex Douvres of NEXCOM’s Washington DC office who passed away in July 2009.   Admiral Romano gave us an overview of NEXCOM’s program in support of Sailors and their family members and complimented retirees on their service to Sailors and their families.  At the conclusion of Admiral Romano’s talk he received sustained applause for his kind words for active NEXCOM employees and NEXCOM retirees.

    

      We had the pleasure of having Ms. Mary Holmes and Ms. Roseanne Serrano from NEXCOM’s Human Resources staff speak during our business meeting on Tuesday morning.  They answered members’ HR related questions.  Their professionalism and expertise were evident and well appreciated by all members present.

     

     Over the past couple of weeks two members of the Board of Directors, Tom Rowe and Mike Paolantonio, have resigned from the Board.  Tom was on the Board for many years and his contribution were many and much appreciated.  Mike came on the Board earlier this year. 

 

      At the conclusion of our business, Paul Feuer provided our members with a monologue that had people laughing in the aisles – he took “no prisoners”. 

 

     I received a detailed, constructive e-mail from Shirley Condon outlining her thoughts on the convention and NEREA’s operations. We want to hear from our members, e-mail, phone calls, mail, face to face, regarding the operation of our association. We need to hear from you.

 

     The Board’s next meeting will be at NEXCOM on 15 June and we will be discussing future convention cities.

 

Sincerely,

Bill Harper, President

 

At press time NEXCOM has announced that Rear Admiral Romano will be replaced by Rear Admiral (Sel) Glenn C. Robillard, SC.  He is currently the CO, FISC, San Diego, CA.  The date for the change of command is unknown at this time.