May 03 & 06 Reunion Info

Fellow VRians,

Here are my VR-24 Det Rota May 1 to 4 03 Denver Reunion Summary Notes (Miguel Barbour)

This summary is being provided to provide an overview of the subject reunion. It is not intended to replace the notes gathered to capture the discussions related to future reunions. These notes are not presented in any particular order.

Attendees Included: Sharon Stone, Logan & Mary Cuchna, Jim & Lita Griffin, Brenda Rueschenberg, Ruben Escajeda, Ruben Escajeda, Jr., Ron & Lynn Williams, Claudia & Randy Ryczkowski, and Tom & Mickey Rankin, Greg & Sherri Epure, Tim & Mindy Wheeler, Bill & Jennie Van Sickle, Doug Loman, John & Noreen Swafford, Ed & Jean Keogh, Joel Sweeney, Gary Rocky Stone, Tom Eide, Doug Loman, & Miguel Barbour. (+Dennis Buckwheat [VQ-2] & company).

The group gave thanks to the following individuals:

* Sharon Stone Hotel & Unit Dinner Arrangements Coordination

* Tom Eide Tour of United Airlines Flight Training Facility

* Doug Loman Recent Rota Hotel and Area Info/Panoramic Photos from Rota (less than 2 weeks old!)

* Mike Miguel Barbour Attempts at Committee Communication and Coordination & Photographer Arrangements

* Ron Williams Providing POC info on numerous shipmates that will be added to the master database

* All in attendance who brought photos & related memorabilia to share with the group

A brief candlelight memorial service was conducted at the unit dinner. Among the deceased being honored were Jay Aspinwall, Charlie Welch, Steve Bradford, Jim Plude, Bruce Hippen, Bruce Clausen, and Bob Scotty Scott.

Claudia Ryczkowski put out an array of USN memorabilia that is available through a vendor in her neighborhood (Patriot Supplies?). If anyone is interested please contact Claudia & she will give them the contact info for the supplier.

Bill Van Sickle and Tim Wheeler were sporting a very nice, embroidered, VR-24 Det Rota ball cap, and jacket. Bill took orders from the group members for the hats. Cost of $15 covers manufacture, shipping, & handling. Contact Bill at (740) 987-2360; POB 81; Somerset, OH; 43783 to order.

Several members of the group enjoyed scenic tours of the Rockies, Buffalo Bills Museum & gravesite, Coors Brewery, Downtown Denver (museums, Cinco de Mayo Celebrations, malls, etc.), and several other distant sites all excursions yielded favorable stories

After the unit dinner, the group moved to an empty suite and had a professional photographer take a group photo. Two types of panoramic photos were taken with a special camera. One of the photos included the entire group, and one included the veterans only. Dave Faingold took the photos, [Faingold Studios; 20 South Elm Street; Denver, Colorado; 80246]. The cost is $20 for either photo or $35 for both. When ordering, you will need to reference either the VR-24 Det Rota Reunion Veterans Only or VR-24 Det Rota Reunion Entire Group photo.

Miguel Barbour mentioned he would like to put an image of the group on the VR-24 Det Rota Shipmates Web Page (http://vr24_det_rota.tripod.com/vr24detrotashipmates), along with a listing of the names of the individuals in the photo. He solicited inputs from the group, after they receive and review the photos, to ensure the name-to-image matches are correct. He also updated the database with the attendees current info and provided a copy of Lynn Hyatts photo archives CD to all in attendance. He solicited inputs re shipmate POC info to include with the VR-24 Det Rota Master Database. Miguel can be contacted through the VR-24 Det Rota E-mail address (vr24detrota@hotmail.com) or 21212business@highstream.net.

Several topics were brought up for discussion during the reunion. Actions that resulted from those discussions include:

The group agreed it would be OK to distribute the VR-24 Det Rota database info to other unit members. Miguel took the action to update the database, with the inputs provided, and provide a copy to all the reunion attendees. It was decided the entire database would not be posted on the website but persons could contact Miguel through the sites e-mail account (vr24detrota@hotmail.com)

The next reunion was tentatively set for 4-7 May, 2006, in Rota. Claudia Ryczkowski volunteered to be the chairperson for the reunion. Brenda Rueschenberg took notes for the reunion planning. For longer range planning, a reunion was also planned for May, 2009, in Duluth, MN (Ed & Jean Keogh = POC). Claudia will check with Dom & Rose Rovero re if they desire to be the treasurers for the next reunion; in the interim, seed money was collected (unsure of total amount) and transferred to Ed & Jean Keogh, for safekeeping.