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 December Deaths Reported
1994 death of James D. Gray, IC3: Aboard 1964-68.
1967 death of Frank L. Luc, CWT: Aboard 1942-45 as CWT.
1971 death of Clifton C. Newcomb, BM1: Aboard 1964-65 as BM3.
1993 death of Fred W. Wingo, Sr., BM2: Aboard 1943-45 as Cox.
New Ship's Store Manager
Dec 31 - Les Blake's resigation as Ship's Store Manager is effective.
Thank you, Les, for a job VERY well done!
Bud Bessey will assume the position January 10.
Happy Anniversary Association
Dec 20 - Association celebrates two year anniversary!
"Fat Fox" Recuperating From Surgery
Dec 10 - J.B. Orendorff "Fat Fox" underwent emergency abdominal surgery December 1. Three hours later he went back to surgery due to extreme respiratory failure. After spending 4 days in ICU and 3 days in step-down care, he is resting comfortably at home with his IV bag full of Jack Daniels (his words!). He is expected to fully recover.
Reunion Videos Added To Members Only
Dec 9 - Two 30-second video clips from reunion added to Members Only.
Reunion Photos Mailed To Attendees
Dec 5 - Reunion photos were mailed.
Web Site Receives Award
Dec 4 -  Web Site Receives "Grunt Award".
Association Membership Reaches 250
NOV 10 - Roy Stone who was aboard in 1963 became the 250th member of the Association.
Association Updates
NOV 4 - Effective November 5, the username and password is changing for Members Only.
The video of the reunion entertainment and festivities following (dancing and socializing) is now available for ordering in either DVD or VHS format. It is 90-100 minutes in length. Information is in Members Only.
2003 Kennebec calendars will be mailed this week to members who weren't at the reunion.
A compilation video of shipmates' Kennebec videos will be created during the next couple months for sale to the membership. If you have video you would like included, please let me know what you have. Those whose videos are used will receive a free copy of the DVD or VHS. I expect the cost will be at or near cost. This is a benefit of membership.
The 2003 reunion location is a toss-up at this time between San Francisco and Seattle with San Diego third and Los Angeles fourth. If you haven't voted and are interested in attending, please vote from Members Only.
Les Blake has resigned as ship's store manager effective at the end of the year. Bud Bessey will assume the Kennebec Ship's Store in addition to his own Chief's Quarters. Bud will also remain as vice-president.
Minutes of the membership meeting at the reunion can be accessed in Members Only.
Second Reunion Held
OCT 10-12 - The second reunion of the Association was held in Virginia Beach. The 2003 reunion will be held October 2-4 in the city voted by the membership.
Pre-Reunion Update
OCT 4 - As we approach the second reunion of Kennebec, the only mystery is those shipmates who indicated there was a 75% chance or better of them attending the reunion but who never confirmed or cancelled. So the final number of how many and who will be in attendance is still uncertain. To those individuals, I must contact the Sheraton Wednesday with a final meal count. We still have room for you, but please respond either way. If you owe us money for any reason, pay in the hospitality room. There are a few openings on tours both Thursday and Friday on a first-come, first-served basis. I must know by Tuesday noon. Regarding transportation from the airport to the hotel, I have a list of a few who need rides. If you are flying in and renting a car and wouldn't mind taking a fellow shipmate to the hotel, please let me know your arrival flight information. I'll match people up, where possible, until Tuesday noon. I'll then call the shuttle service to determine prices, etc. You will receive an email from me Tuesday regarding transportation. We shipped off about 100 pounds worth of reunion stuff to the hotel via UPS today.
Captain Richard "Dick" Kopps has graciously consented to give a pre-dinner talk. He has a hard act to follow as Captain Bob Hunt's talk last year was very much enjoyed by all. Another AO-36 commanding officer, Frank "DeLo" DeLorenzo, who lives in Florida, is unable to attend the reunion but sends his regards to all.
I've hired a videographer to tape about two hours of the reunion including the show by "Take Two." These will most likely be offered to the reunion attendees in both VHS and DVD format after the reunion if there is sufficient demand.
The Ship's Store and Bud Bessey's store, The Chief's Quarters, will both be in the hospitality room Thursday and Friday.
Belt Buckles Added to Ship's Store
AUG 31 - Kennebec belt buckles were added to the Ship's Store today. They have an antique silver finish.
Message Board Added To Web Site
A permanent message board has been added to Members Only. This will allow you to post a message, let others read it and respond. The messages will stay there unless I remove them.
Regular Membership Cards
AUG 6 - All non-life members were mailed membership cards today.
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368 More Shipmates Sent Reunion Letters
JUL 18 - In a massive effort to locate shipmates for the first time, 368 reunion letters were sent to possible shipmates. This is a "hit or miss" proposition after 30 some years and the success rate won't be very high.
Tour Interest Results
JUL 16 - Tours will be scheduled for Spirit of Norfolk Lunch Cruise and Nauticus/USS Wisconsin. Virginia Marine Science Museum still needs more people to be scheduled. This would immediately follow the lunch cruise. You may continue to indicate your interest in all three tours.
Association Membership Reaches 200
JUL 15 - Glen Huddle who was aboard 1961-63 became the 200th member of the Association.
Tour Information Released
JUN 28 - A questionaire was made available to all members to reaffirm their interest in the reunion and tours.
Life Member Pins, Certificates and Cards Mailed
JUN 28 - Life member pins, certificates and cards were mailed.
Reunion Entertainment Booked
MAY 20 - Entertainment for the reunion banquet was booked today. "Take Two" is a twin sister act. They are not a band but a Las Vegas type show. Their high energy show produced professionally with lights and sound will delight as they sing in harmony songs from the Big Band Era to the present, perform with costume changes, dance steps and lots of audience participation. They will be followed by a professional disc jockey, Rich Pancoast, who will play songs from 1942-70. Rich has access to 600 CDs and reunion attendees may submit names of songs they would like played to the reunion chairman, Dick Hawkins, through September 9.
Life Membership Pins
APR 20 - Dick and Sadie Hawkins submitted a rough draft of the proposed life membership pin to a manufacturer's rep. Dick created the concept of the design and Sadie completed the concept and created the artwork. The rough draft is on the Association page.
Reunion Promises To Be Larger Than 2001
MAR 31 - With 75 shipmates already at least 75% sure they will attend and many more interested, there should be more than the 144 people who were at the 2001 reunion in Las Vegas. The massive mailing of reunion postcards has created even more interest though we are waiting for most of them to join the Association.
Massive Mailing to Find Shipmates
FEB 19 - 493 postcards were mailed to possible shipmates from 1942-70. In addition, three letters were written to possible commanding officers. Names were taken from muster rolls while addresses were gleaned from www.people-finders.ws which is a pay-to-search program.
It's Virginia Beach For 2002 Reunion
FEB 4 - By a 2-1 margin, Association members selected the Virginia site which is next door to Norfolk. The Sheraton Oceanfront Hotel will provide accomodations.
Bosun Bill Greenfield Dies
FEB 1 - Judith Greenfield reported his passing. He recently had triple heart bypass surgery. She said all he talked about was the good time he had at the reunion in Las Vegas.
Shipmates From 1942-57
JAN 29 - It will take some time to add shipmates from the 1942-57 muster rolls to the Shipmates pages. In the meantime they may be viewed from the Shipmates link on any menu page.
Members Vote For Reunion City/Hotel
JAN 23 - Association members will vote from January 23 through February 2 to select the 2002 reunion city and hotel. The Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort in Jacksonville Beach and Sheraton Oceanfront Hotel in Virginia Beach are the choices. Both are AAA rated 3-star and will treat us very well.
Association Registers uss-kennebec.org
JAN 14 - In order to establish our own identity on the Web, the Association has purchased the domain uss-kennebec.org for a two year period. It will be up and running by January 20. Any reference to sadiehawkins.com/home.htm will automatically be redirected to it. Association life members will be offered the domain for e-mail, e.g. johndoe@uss-kennebec.org, upon request.
Pre-1961 Muster Rolls Arrive
JAN 11 - Muster rolls on microfilm from 1942 through 1957 arrived. Next week I'll fill my pocket full of dimes, go to the library and print copies. Then the detective work begins!
2002 Reunion Dates and Host City Finalists
JAN 9 - The reunion committee has selected October 10-12 as the weekend for the 2002 reunion. Navy Day is October 13. The city will be either Virginia Beach, VA or the Jacksonville FL area. The Association members will select the ultimate city and hotel via ballot within the next few weeks.
Honorary Life Membership Created
JAN 9 - Craig S. "Jake" Jacobson is the first to be awarded an honorary life membership. Association officers voted to create this membership for shipmates who pass away while a member of the Association.
Bud Bessey's Ship's Store News
DEC 2 - Bud advises he has one mans and three ladies watches left that still can be gotten by Christmas and only two of the ship models left.
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