We’re Going to Charleston Again in 2008 – Dayton Next Year

The USS Tarawa Veterans’ Association voted in Albuquerque to return to Charleston for our 2008 reunion. We had a very successful gathering there in 1993. As voted at Camp Hill, we will be going to Dayton, Ohio, in 2007.

Three sites were presented and each got the following votes: Charleston, 29; Nashville, 15 and Baltimore, 10. All three were given good ratings by Larry Eckard of Military Locator & Reunion Service, our reunion organizer. He didn’t pick one over the other but said any of the three would offer amenities that easily meet our needs. Eckard also allayed the fears of some who worried that Dayton would not be an attractive site with little to do. He said that he had visited Dayton in recent months and found the city to be suitable in terms of price, accommodations and attractions.

Both at the meeting of the Board of Directors and at the general business meeting it was stressed that we should return to our roots, the East Coast, where the majority of our shipmates now reside. Although Albuquerque turned out to be an excellent spot for this year’s meeting, it drew one of the smallest attendances in years. Only 72 shipmates and 62 guests came. Every time we go west of the Mississippi, attendance slips.

The low attendance was attributed to a couple of factors: the distance to New Mexico and the high cost of travel; the growing infirmity of our shipmates who found the trip too much for their weary old bones.Frank Grosey was elected to the presidency for a third term and Jim Putnam was OK’d for a second term as Secretary. This raised another issue – the lack of participation of the membership in deciding Association issues. No nominations for either opening came from the floor. Chaplain Bob Hutchison made a plea at the Saturday meeting for new blood, fresh ideas and steps to take us out of an apparent lethargy.Treasurer Walter Totheroh reported that as of 1 May 2006 we had $6,170.85 in the till. Questions were raised about the various groups to whom we give monetary support. A list was presented and after some discussion, approved.

Small Stores continues to be a problem but new Merchandiser Jim Hoopingarner is trying to straighten out the confusion created in larger measure by the sudden death of his predecessor, John Jenkins.Shipmate Cliff Gardner reported that the USS Saratoga Foundation is well on its way to meeting its financial goals and it is expected that ship will move from Newport, Rhode Island, to Davisville some time next year.