Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Reminder: Jay Davis Memorial Service

A memorial service is scheduled for Sunday, April 2, 2017 from 2 - 4 at the Meydenbauer Bay Yacht Club. All his shipmates and submarine veterans are welcome to attend.
The Meydenbauer Bay Yacht Club is at:
9927 Meydenbauer Way SE
Bellevue, WA 98004
Phone:(425) 454-8880.

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

March 2017 Meeting Notes

The March meeting started with Tolling the Boats lost in March and a moment of silence for our friend Jay Davis, who departed on Eternal Patrol on February 25. This was followed by birthday wishes for our members and then introductions around the room.

Carl Minor had to resign from the Sr. Vice Commander Position, due to moving away from the area. Karl “Dutch” Krompholz has volunteered to take the on the position. He was approved for the position and sworn into office at the meeting.
New Sr. Vice Commander Karl "Dutch" Krompholz at the 2016 Holiday Luncheon (I didn't have my camera at the meeting, so you get an old photo)

Old and New Business
Jay Davis Memorial Service - A memorial service for Jay Davis is scheduled for 2:00pm, Sunday, April 2, 2017 at Meydenbauer Bay Yacht Club, 9927 Meydenbauer Way SE, Bellevue, WA 98004. Phone:(425) 454-8880. Additionally, a USSVI Scholarship fund has been set up in Jay's name and donations can be made to the fund through the USSVI Charitable Organization.

Smokey Point Rest Stop Event Information – We were reminded that we will be manning the coffee booth at the north-bound Smokey Point rest stop again. This year we drew June 19, 20, and 21 (Monday through Wednesday). As mentioned at the last meeting, we are not required to man the booth between midnight and 5 AM, which will help with scheduling. We will have more information and sign-ups as we get closer to the date. If you want to volunteer for a particular shift, contact Steve Shelton. Be sure to mark this on your calendar as a reminder.

Report from VFW Post #2995 - Richard Watson, the Commander of the Redmond VFW Post 2995, stopped by to address our group. He thanked us for the donation for the new VFW sign. He let us know that the VFW Post election is set for April 3 at 6:30. He is running for Commander again and encouraged all of us that are VFW Post members to come out and vote.

He also reminded us about their Troop Support volunteer efforts, where they set up outside local stores to collect items to send to the troops overseas and then box them up. They usually do this once per month and invited us to participate with them. April will be a big month for them because they will also be collecting donations at Safeco Field during a Mariners game. We will get more information about the events out as we get it. Be sure to watch your email and check the blog.

Kaps for Kids and Tolling the Boats Committee Volunteers - With Carl Minor’s departure, we needed members to step up to help out with the Kaps for Kids program and our annual Tolling of the Boats ceremony. You don’t have to be the leader for either of these events, but we can really use more people to step up and help make sure they run smoothly. Steve Shelton and Kerry Ryan have volunteered to work on Kaps for Kids, but they can use more help. Lois Mezek and Ralph Sterley volunteered to be on the committee for the Tolling ceremony, but they also need additional people to help them out.

Boat Sponsorship Program - Seattle Base has been a part of the USSVI Boat Sponsorship Program that sends copies of the USSVI magazine, The American Submariner, to active duty boats. The most recent issue of The American Submariner had a list of boats that did not have sponsors. A motion was made and passed to shift our sponsorship to the USS Jimmy Carter and USS Alabama, two of the boats listed in the article.

Binnacle List:
Sue Dale, Jerry Gerten’s significant other, fell and is recovering from an injured arm. Jerry let us know that she was sad to miss the meeting and hopes to be with us next month.

We hope to see you at the next meeting!

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

March Meeting Reminder

The next Seattle Base meeting is this coming Wednesday, March 15, 2017. We will meet at VFW Post #2995 (4330 148th Ave N.E., Redmond WA 98052). Social hour starts at 6PM with business meeting at 7PM.


We are still looking for suggestions for Seattle Base’s 2017 activities. If you have an idea for a social event, activity, or program, please talk with the base officers.

We hope to see you at the meeting! 

Saturday, March 11, 2017

March Updates

I wanted to pass along a couple items that didn't make it into the March - April newsletter.

Announcement from Carl Miner
Carl at the 2016 Holiday Luncheon
It is with great regret that, due to family considerations, I must resign my position as Sr. Vice Commander of the Seattle Base. I am returning to work at the company that was my previous employer in Scottsdale, Arizona and will be relocating to Scottsdale. I wish to thank each and every one of you for your kind welcome and words of appreciation as an honored member of the Seattle Base. I will visit the Seattle area from time to time and hopefully I can schedule trips around times of our meetings so that I can attend and catch up with you all.
With Warmest Regards,
Carl Miner
Past Sr. Vice Commander.

Dick Gonzalez passed along this announcement from the Department of Defense

DOD will open Online Exchange Shopping to Veterans

Sources outline a major policy change that will extend limited “Online Shopping” privileges to all honorably discharged veterans of the US Military, DOD officials outlined in a recent news release.

This new shopping benefit will become effective this Veterans Day November 11, 2017. While shopping privileges exclude the purchase of uniforms, alcohol and tobacco products, it includes Exchange Services’ dynamic online retail environment know so well to service members and their families.

The change follows careful analysis, coordination and strong public support, officials said in their release.

“We are excited to provide these benefits to honorably discharged veterans to recognize their service and welcome them home to their military family”, said Peter Levine, performing the duties of “Undersecretary of Defense” for personnel readiness.

In addition, this initiative represents a low risk, low-cost opportunity to help fund moral, welfare and recreation programs in support of service members” and their families quality of life. And it’s just the right thing to do, “Levine added.

The online benefit will also strengthen the exchanges’ online business to better serve current patrons. Inclusion of honorably discharged veterans would conservatively double the exchanges online presence, according to DOD officials, herby improving the experience for all patrons improved vendor terms, more competitive merchandise assortments and improved efficiencies.

“As a nation, we are grateful for the contributions of our service members, “ Levine said. “Offering this lifetime online benefit is one small tangible way the nation can say, “Thank you” to all those who served with honor.
Note:
The Online Exchange Shopping is scheduled to commence on November 11, 2017 but at this time no details are available with respect to:
  • A web site, 
  • what ID you may need to establish your self, 
  • how to order merchandise, payment, and shipping
We can only surmise you will not have any military base access for this privilege. We will provide more information as it comes out. 

Thursday, March 2, 2017

Eternal Patrol: Jay Davis

Jay Keith Davis, 88, departed on Eternal Patrol on February 25, 2017.
Jay was born in Oakpark, Illinois on February 14, 1929 to loving parents Keith and Gretchen Davis. He grew up on Vashon Island where he began a life with the sea by learning to fish for salmon from a skiff with his father in Puget Sound. He graduated from Vashon High School where in spite of the team not winning any games his senior year, he was their star player. Following high school, Jay went to Oregon State University where he earned a Bachelor's degree and a U.S. Navy commission in 1951. While at OSU, he met Miriam Burwick and they married the day following graduation. Jay was then off to the Korean War where he served as a gunnery officer on the USS Mount McKinley (AGC-7). In 1955, Jay qualified for submarines and was assigned to the USS Razorback (SS-394). Jay's Navy career proceeded through numerous submarine tours on five submarines, culminating with his command of the USS Spinax (SS-489) during 1964-66, where he had one Viet Nam tour. In between submarine duty, he had tours overseas with NATO and he and the family moved to Malta and Turkey.

Jay retired from the U.S. Navy in 1972 winding up his career with the Pentagon. He then spent the next twelve years working for various defense contractors on both submarine missile systems and anti-submarine warfare technologies. During this time, he and Miri refined the sailing skills and then retired for good in 1984. The two of them fulfilled their life-long dream of living on their sailboat, Malgre Tout and sailing along the Atlantic coast, the Caribbean and then the Mediterranean. In 1990, they sold their boat and relocated to the Seattle area. They soon joined the Meydenbauer Bay Yacht Club and bought a new cruiser, Harmony. They became active members of the club, helping establish a youth sailing program and Jay offering consulting and instruction services to new boat owners.

He is succeeded by his loving wife of sixty-six years Miri, his son Steve and wife Nancy, grandchildren Matt and Alexandra, and daughters Debbie and Susan.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the U.S. Submarine Veterans-Seattle Base, 12105 48th Dr., SE, Everett, WA 98208

You can share your condolences and memories of Jay at this link. A memorial service is scheduled for 2:00pm, Sunday, April 2, 2017 at Meydenbauer Bay Yacht Club, 9927 Meydenbauer Way SE, Bellevue, WA 98004. Phone:(425) 454-8880.