January 2010 President's Corner

Ples Bruce '77, USNAAA Atlanta Chapter President

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Time flies when you’re having fun. And for our Chapter, this part of the year is a busy time. First, a quick review of December 2009:

The Chapter Holiday Party was a great event and everyone has reported they enjoyed themselves and had a lot of fun and merriment to kick off the season. We had a Canned Goods Drive and we were able to collect and take to the Atlanta Community Food Bank over 220 lbs of food. Great work!

The annual Army/Navy Game viewing party was a big success. We had over 270 attendees this year, with the breakdown going about 53/47 Navy/Army. Again for Army, there’s always next year.

Cindy Miller ’90, our Area Blue & Gold Coordinator, was the December Luncheon speaker, and it’s good to know that Navy is still getting the best and brightest young people who want to become midshipmen. Cindy says we will get about 17,000 applications, when it’s all said and done for the class of 2014. And with the cost of a four-year education at the Academy hitting somewhere close to $400,000, it’s understandable why the competition is so high.

There were 42 luncheon attendees: Jerry Mackey ’54, Shawn Ikpa ’05, Ed Hux ’61, Jim McGarrah ’73, Brian O’Malley ’86, Shelley O’Malley ’87, Jan Milligan ’71, Reggie Vacheon ’58, George Hutcherson ’70, Scott Evans ’88, Art Crowe ’88, Ronald Taylor ’81, Alan Miller ’61, Neil Block ’61, Buzz Galbraith ’61, Tom Hamilton ’78, Robb Wetzel ’89, Walt Sheffield ’51, Paul Hurst ’62, Jon Barton ’66, Brian Jackson ’81, Bill Holmes ’64, Matt Kirby ’94, Mike Miller ’56, Bob Ferrante ’90, Jim Slemenda ’66, Pete Knoetgen ’77, Bill Rentz ’55, Marc Manzelli ’83,Dan Branch ’96, John Morrow ’84, Mario Maddox ’85, Rick Haley ’72, John Fry ’80, Ned Hunter ’81, Harvey Cybul ’62.

The Naval Academy Gospel Choir will once again visit Atlanta on January 16^th and 17^th. Details are on the Events Calendar page.

Mark your calendars now for the 2010 Dark Ages Party, February 20^th at Fort MacPherson. This Dinner/Dance is our only event of the year that’s exclusively for Chapter members. It’s semi-formal, with a band, and we make it a special night out for all attendees. If you know any area alumni who are not yet Chapter members, there’s still time for them to join and have the opportunity to attend. However, time is running out. You will receive all of the details soon in a formal invitation.

There are plenty of activities these next 2 months, so find a way to join in and enjoy. Until next month,

GO NAVY! BEAT ARMY!

Ples Bruce ’77
Chapter President