Circulation #800/Vol.I
Hello from the VAW-VRC Foundation!
This newsletter is to let you know what is happening with the Foundation and the VAW-VRC Ready Room on the Midway Museum. We’ll also put the word out for the next reunion and the Hawkeye Greyhound Association’s next Symposium.
We extend our greetings to members and friends of the VAW-VRC Community and hope all had a great holiday season.
About the email that directed you to this newsletter. We are working to develop an email list of VAW-VRC Community members in order to keep everyone up to date on Foundation and VAW-VRC happenings. If you know of others who would like to be included on our regular email updates, please send along their email addresses in response to this email. We also want to assure you that the addresses will only be used for Foundation purposes and will not be shared with any commercial entities.
Foundation News
We recently added a group of distinguished community members to our Foundation Board of Directors.
They are: Joe Grosel, Mitch Highfill, Vern Huber, Mark Milliken and Chuck Saffell. We welcome them
aboard and look forward to their contributions in moving the Foundation forward.
Tailhook ‘09
Tom Whitehead and Steve Squires of the Foundation recently attended Tailhook ‘09 where they met with active duty and retired community members and provided information about the VAW-VRC Foundation. It was great to rub elbows(and raise elbows) with our active duty VAW and VRC brethren.
7th Annual International Hawkeye Conference
Aboard the USS Midway Museum. Foundation members Dave Daugherty, Mark Fellows, Pence Parsons and Tom Whitehead attended the International Hawkeye Conference reception on the Midway on November 3rd. They enjoyed the presentations by Rear Admiral Mike Bachmann, Commander, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command and Captain Ham Ortiz, Deputy CVW-14. They took the opportunity to showcase Ready Room 4 to the attendees and spread the word about the Foundation to U.S. and International Hawkeye Community representatives.
Website Improvements
We’ve recently upgraded our website – check out the changes at www.vaw-vrcreadyroom.org. We’ve added a blog where members of the community can post their thoughts on topics of interest to the community, re-establish contact with old squadron-mates and keep up to date on community news. We’ve also added a page called “Final Flight” which honors the memories of VAW-VRC community members who have passed away. Please feel free to submit names and write-ups to the Final Flight page.
Ready Room 4 on the Midway Museum is looking fantastic thanks to the continuing efforts of our dedicated volunteers. Please be sure to visit when you are in San Diego. Remember, admission to the Midway and to the VAW-VRC Ready Room is free for active duty members.
Symposium
The next Hawkeye Greyhound Symposium will be held at the Hilton Oceanfront Hotel, 31st and Atlantic Ave., Virginia Beach, VA in the Spring of 2010. Outstanding community panels, social events and a golf tournament will be featured at the Symposium. The schedule for the Symposium is as follows:
Cocktail Reception – April 7, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Symposium – April 8, 8:00 am
Golf Tournament – April 9, time and location TBD
Reunion
We are planning the next VAW-VRC Reunion in October 2011. Look forward to more information on this great opportunity to reconnect with the members of the VAW-VRC community, past and present. As in previous years, the reunion will incorporate formal and informal dinner events, tours and a golf tournament. It will also be staged around the Miramar Airshow and the exciting activities around the Centennial of Naval Aviation. Mark your calendars and stay tuned to our website updates!
Volunteer Opportunities
We are looking for a volunteer to help keep the website up to date with items of interest to our community. We also welcome photo submissions to the website as well. Just respond to this email if you are interested!
Donation Opportunities
We always welcome your support and call your attention to the donation levels listed below. We’ve had an outstanding response from the community and want to extend our thanks to those who have contributed. We have had a significant number of contributions from family and friends who recognize that a patch on a Ready Room Chair in the VAW-VRC Ready Room is a meaningful way to memorialize a departed loved one.
Donation Levels and Recognition
Platinum Donation|$1000
Donor/Membership Card
(Lifetime Membership status)
Commemorative Coin,
Your Name on the Plank
Owner Plaque and on a Ready Room Chair
Gold Donation|$500
Donor/Membership Card
(Lifetime Membership status)
Commemorative Coin,
Your Name on the Plank
Owner Plaque and on the
Greenie Board
Silver Donation|$250
Donor/Membership Card
(Lifetime Membership status)
Commemorative Coin,
Your Name on the Plank
Owner Plaque
Bronze Donation|$100
Donor/Membership Card
Commemorative Coin
Nickel Donation|$50
Donor/Membership Card
If you choose to send your donation through the mail, the check can be made out to:“VAW-VRC Foundation”.
Please mail it to: VAW-VRC Foundation 9696 Businesspark Ave. San Diego, CA 92131
Corporate Donations
Corporate donations are also accepted by The Foundation. If you are interested in corporate sponsorship please contact:
CAPT Steve Squires USN (Ret)
5059 Ortega Forest Dr.
Jacksonville, FL 32210
W:904-810-4655/C: 904-806-2624
S1squires@comcast.net