United States Submarine Veterans
Mid-Atlantic Base
June Regular Meeting
June 20, 2009
Sheraton Hotel, Dover, DE
Commander Ron Olson opened the meeting by welcoming everyone to the June 20,2009 Mid- Atlantic Base Regular meeting and asked everyone to rise for the Invocation.
Chaplain Roy Anstead gave the Invocation.
Commander Ron then recognized the chair to his right which stood as a physical symbol to honor the thousands of POW/MIA's
Chief of the Boat Ed Simpson led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Bill Hadden read the USSVI creed.
Chief of the Boat Ed Simpson conducted the Tolling of the Boats ceremony.
The following boats and men were lost in June:
USS O-9 (SS-70) -20 June 1941- 34 Men Lost
USS R-12 (SS-89) -12 June 1943- 42 Men Lost
USS Herring (SS- 233) -1 June 1944- 84 Men Lost
USS Golet (SS-361) -14 June 1944- 82 Men Lost
USS Bonefish (SS-223) - 18 June 1945- 85 Men Lost
USS Cutlass (SS-478) -1 June 1958- One Man Lost
USS Sargo (SSN-583) -14 June 1960- One Man Lost
329 Men Lost in June
Sailors, Rest Your Oars
Commander Ron Olson asked everyone to be seated. He then recognized all war veterans as well as the Holland Club members.
Next he introduced Steve Williams?? as a new member to the Mid Atlantic Base. He also welcomed back Charlie Dauphin.
Commander Ron asked for a motion to bypass the reading of the minutes from the May meeting, since everyone had received a copy of the minutes in the last newsetter, provided there were no corrections or additions. A motion was made to bypass the reading of the minutes.
.Commander Ron first gave his report, then received reports from the Officers.
COMMANDER'S REPORT::
Newark Parade: The Mid- Atlantic Base marched in the Newark Memorial Day Parade on Sunday May 17, 2009.
Although the weather was a bit chilly, the turnout along the parade route was good.
Delaware Military Academy Scholarship Awards: On Wednesday, May 27, 2009, the Delaware Military Academy held its annual scholarship awards ceremony. Because of the large number of cadets excelling academically and the large number of those wishing to attend the ceremony, DMA no longer has the facilities to accomodate everyone. Therefore the ceremony was held at the Conrad Middle School in Newport, Delaware. As Commandant Baldwin put it,"Other schools should be so lucky to have this problem". Members of the Mid-Atlantic Base were there in attendance again this year to award two scholarships in the amount of $1000 each to deserving cadets. Also, Bill Galloway and Chuck Walker each offered two generous scholarships.
Mid-Atlantic Base had eleven members and guests in attendance for the ceremony. Members met at the Golden Dove Diner on DuPont Highway in Wilmington Manor prior to the ceremony for dinner, and then moved to Conrad Middle School for the ceremony. The Base also presented Commandant Baldwin with an Honorary Membership plaque during the ceremony. This is the Commandant's last year at DMA.
Memorial Day Ceremonies:A Memorial Day Service was held on Saturday, May 30, 2009 in Veterans Memorial Park in New Castle. Mid-Atlantic Base had several members in attendance. After the ceremony, the members moved to the Hooters on DuPont Highway for lunch.
Separation Day: Mid-Atlantic Base participated in Separation Day again on Saturday, June 13, 2009. The event was held at Battery Park in New Castle DE. Base turnout this year was very small, with only the Commander and Storekeeper attending.
The organizers of the event did a great job setting up the event with a carnival, live music, lots of displays, and a good layout of the park. Unfortunately, as has happened in the past, heavy rains shortened the event and drove the crowds and most of the participants away.
Base Picnic: The Sixth Annual Mid-Atlantic Base picnic will be held outdoors on Saturday, July 25, 2009 at the Blue Hen VFW Post in Milford, DE. It will start at 11:00 AM and will feature food, beer, music, bingo with prizes and general fun. For just $11.00 you get admission to the picnic, all you can eat and a snazzy souvenir button that you get to keep. This will be the last event before the summer break. Information is on pages Green19 through Green 21 in your Membership Guide. Buttons are still available. Please contact me to make the arrangements.
TREASURER'S REPORT:
Bill Kraus reported on the base's financial status, copies of which were on each table. He mentioned the $2000 donation given to the cadets at the Delaware Military Academy. He also said that there still were some outstanding checks not reported as yet.
SECRETARY AND STOREKEEPER' REPORT: As both the Secretary and Storekeeper were not present, there were no reports.
CHIEFS OF THE BOAT'S REPORT: No report given.
CHAPLAIN'S REPORT: Roy Anstead reported that usually there are 2 or 3 cadets that are selected to go to the Naval Academy but this year he believed there were 5 to be admitted. Also he stated that the new Commandant that was to replace Commandant Baldwin seemed to be very capable. (Ron, I am not sure if I heard this information correctly).
MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN'S REPORT;
Roger reported that at the last meeting there were 82 members. Since then one member passed on (I did not catch his name) and our newest member, (Steve Williams??) joined today, keeping the total at 82. He stated that there are currently 22 Holland Club members and that he thought there were 3 more soon to be inducted.
After all reports were given, the Commander asked for any Old Business. There was no Old Business. He then asked for New Business:
Bill Galloway mentioned that he brought in several copies of an interesting article about Submariners. ( I didn't get the name of the magazine from which the article was taken.)
Roy Anstead also brought in several copies of THE CENTURION a VA newsletter from DE. He said that the newsletter will no longer be mailed out, but can be read online.
( I am not sure if it was Roy or you, Ron, who mentioned that the VA Commissioners needed more members and that the USSVI was the only organization not represented by the VA Commissioners).
Commander Ron Olson presented a slide presentation: Submarine Force News For June:
British Submarine Hero Passes-Lt. Commander Max Shean passes at age 90- June 20,2009
Yury Dolgoruky Leaves Severodvinsk- June 19,2009
16,000 Ton Fish Gets Away-USS GEORGIA (SSGN- 729) June 19,2009
Surface Towed Array Snagged By Chinese Submarine- June 19,2009
Submarine Hunts For Tsarist Gold- June 20,2009
US Submarine Pioneer Passes- (1st Commander of USS Skate (SS- 578) Surfaced North Pole in 1959)-June 20,2009
Kursk Sail Placed As Memorial
Singapore Joins Submarine Community- RSS Archer-June 17,2009
Commander Ron asked the Chaplain to give the benediction.
Chaplain Roy gave the benediction.
Commander Ron said that the next meeting would be held on Saturday, September 19, 2009 at1130 hours at the Sheraton. He also reminded us of our next event- the Base Picnic - Saturday, July 25, 2009 at the Milford VFW. He then asked for a motion to adjourn.
A motion was made and the meeting was adjourned.
Commander Ron introduced our Guest Speaker, Hamilton Taylor. Mr Taylor was born in Chester PA. He received a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University. He served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Japan between 1946 and 1948. After leaving the Army, Mr. Taylor worked for Delmarva Power and Light for 31 years, eventually retiring from the company as Superintendent of Service and Gas Maintenance. Mr. Taylor has been a model plane enthusiast for 70 years. He started in radio controlled aircraft in 1987 and was here today to give is a little peek into his hobby.
Mr. Taylor demonstrated how to make a Radio Controlled Aircraft work. He showed us the different instruments needed to control the aircraft and the various parts within the aircraft itself. He gave a slide presentation explaining the Broadcast Channel Chart for usage of model aircraft.. He then went on to explain the difference between gas and electric engines, the different kinds of motors and batteries used, the similarities/differences between radio controlled aircraft and radio controlled cars, and even gliders.
He gave a detailed explanation on how to fly and maneuver model aircraft, using rudders, flaps etc., gave a brief history of the 1st RCA's to the present, talked about the various contests and races that are held, and ended by actually flying some of the models he had brought with him.