June 2014 Meeting Notes

We started off the June meeting with Tolling the Boats lost in June, followed by birthday wishes for our members, introductions, and officer reports.

Old and New Business:

Smokey Point Rest Stop Event – We will be back at Smokey Point Rest stop this year. We are scheduled to cover the north bound rest stop on June 27, 28, 29, and 30. There are still a few openings available to man the coffee booth and it is always good to have multiple people at the booth. If you are interested in in lending a hand, contact Steve Shelton.

Independence Day Parade – We will be in the Kirkland parade on July 4. We will muster near Heritage Hall, the large white two-story building on the north side of the street, at the corner of Central Way and Market Street. The float will be in place around 10:00 and all members should be in place by 10:30. The parade starts at noon. This is becoming a tradition with our group and we hope we can count on you to be there too. Details for the parade will be in the next newsletter and posted to the blog.

Seattle Base Tolling the Boats Ceremony – The annual Tolling the Boats ceremony and picnic is set for August 16 at the Kirkland Marina Park. The picnic will probably start around 11:00 with the ceremony starting around 1:30. We will have more information on the start time as we get closer to the event, but be sure to mark it on your calendar.

2014 Holiday Luncheon – Our holiday luncheon is booked for December 20 at the Meydenbauer Bay Yacht Club in Bellevue. We will have more details including cost per person (which will be less than last year) menu selection, maps, and a sign-up sheet in a few months.

2014 USSVI Elections – Pat Householder provided an overview of the National USSVI election process and an opportunity to vote at the meeting. The ballot was included in the latest issue of The American Submariner and can be filled out and mailed to the Election Master. You can also vote online through the USSVI website by clicking the Vote Nat Election button in the upper left, entering your login information (if you haven’t used the website before, just follow the on-screen instructions) and make your vote. The last day to vote is August 28 (paper ballot must arrive by August 28).

Good of the Order:
The Canadian Submarine Force is celebrating its 100 anniversary this year and they have invited all submariners from around the world to join in their celebration. The West Coast celebration is being held in Victoria BC on August 5 – 8, 2014. You can find out more at the West Coast Submarine Week website.

June Program:
Our June presentation was by former Base Commander Keith Watson. Keith did a splendid job providing us with a view of Puget Sound at turn of the century history combining area history, early development of coal and oil, and submarines. Black Diamond was historically a major contributor to Puget Sound’s growth during this era and a focal point of the Keith’s presentation. Keith is a valued and active member of his community. We are fortunate to Keith in our ranks, as he typifies one our best.