January 2007 President's Corner

Steve Frederick '72, USNAAA Atlanta Chapter President

We have survived the holidays and the New Year is finally upon us. The last month of 2006 really flew by. It began with a fifth consecutive Woop thumping, which is becoming a really nice holiday tradition (see last month’s newsletter for specifics and attendees.). On the third Friday we had our monthly luncheon for the final time at Jock’s and Jill’s (more on that later) and we had our Chapter Christmas party the following Sunday. The month ended on sort of a bittersweet note, playing in our fourth straight bowl game, and leading until the much larger Boston College Eagles team kicked a field goal as time expired. All in all, not a bad end to a great year.

The December monthly luncheon was “sans speaker” as we had a bit of Chapter business to conduct, and our Trustees were just back from Annapolis and an Executive Committee meeting with the latest and greatest from Alumni House. Bill Rentz ’55 and Carl McCallum ’60 gave us their take on the proceedings in Annapolis, and the luncheon was very informative and enjoyable. Attendees included: John Stark ’51, Perry Stephens ’51, Bill Rentz ’55, Reggie Vachon ’58, Carl McCallum ’60, Hal Morrison ’61, John Andrews ’64, Lorie Moore ’64, Jon Barton ’66, Paul Borer ’70, Dick Click ’70, Mitch Rowland ’71, Bob Schultz ’71, Steve Frederick ’72, Ples Bruce ’77, Ed Brownlee ’81, Mario Maddox ’85, Greg Morrow ’85.

The following Sunday we had the Chapter Christmas party at my home. This event gets a little better every year. My wife Karen truly outdid herself with a great spread of hors d’oeuvres and finger food, and a beautifully decorated house. Karen does a great job at hosting parties, but I really think this was her greatest effort to date. Because the event is Chapter sponsored, catering is an option. However, Karen has yet to meet a caterer who can meet her standards, so she did the entire event by herself this year, which probably meant about $400 in positive cash flow for the Chapter. Attendees included: Ed Flynn ’51 and his wife Sherrie, Bill Rentz ’55 and his wife Sue and her mother Fern Johnson, Jack Clay ’56 and his wife Patricia, Clint Johnson ’60 and his wife Monty, Carl McCallum ’60 and his wife Marilyn, Buzz Galbraith ’61 and his wife Helen, Alan Miller ’61 and his wife June, Paul Hurst ’62 and his wife Nancy, Bruce Abel ’64 and his wife Helene, Lori Moore ’64 and his wife Barb, Stew Caldwell ’65 and his wife Ann, Jon Barton ’66 and his wife Jan, Sam Newton ’68 and his wife Sandy, Paul Borer ’70 and his wife Jody, Richard Click ’70 and his wife Heather, Mitch Rowland ’71 and his wife Carole, Bob Schultz ’71 and his wife Linda, Steve Frederick ’72 and my wife Karen, Don Patterson ’74 and Joanne Harms, Nick Ward ’74 and his wife Jean, Mike Herger ’90 and his wife Helen, Ron Surfield ’90 and his wife Windy. Please visit our website for pictures of the event. Bob Schultz ’71 did a masterful job as photographer and got plenty of shots of the festivities which he then promptly posted on our website.

Pete Knoetgen ’77 has recently coordinated a survey of Chapter members to identify those areas in which we can improve our operations. Pete has collected the data and we are now in the process of reviewing them to find where we need to change, and what changes are practical. If you participated in the survey, thank you. If you were not provided the opportunity to participate, it means you are not signed up on our list server, and we are not able to contact you via e-mail in broadcast type e-mailings. Please consider signing up, and go to the website to make that happen. It is a very effective way for us to communicate with our membership when we have information that needs to be promulgated.

And speaking of membership, you will be receiving a letter soliciting your membership this month. The letter is self explanatory, and I would ask that you respond to it immediately. Your membership is critical to our ability to provide you with representation at the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association. Act on that letter the day you receive it. Thank you in advance.

ATTENTION WORLD, ATTENTION WORLD!

OUR MONTHLY LUNCHEON FOR JANUARY 2007 WILL BE HELD AT A NEW LOCATION. OUR OLD VENUE IS CLOSED, AND ON 19 JANUARY 2007 WE WILL MEET AT FRANKIE’S AT THE PRADO, Ľ MILE INSIDE I-285 ON ROSWELL ROAD. Help us get the word out to everyone – tell all alumni that you come in contact with to visit the website for details.

The planning for the Dark Ages Party has started, but we are waiting to lock in a guest speaker. As soon as we are able we will solidify the preparations, and get the word out via the website and the list server (make sure you sign up.) Keep in mind, the Dark Ages Party is a members-only affair – one more reason to act immediately on that membership letter.

I hope to see you at one or more of our upcoming events. We are looking forward to a great 2007 and your participation will play a big part in any successes that we have.

BEAT ARMY!

Steve Frederick ’72
Chapter President