November 2017 Meeting Notes

The November meeting was Seattle Base’s final business meeting of 2017. We started off with Tolling the Boats lost in November, followed by birthday wishes for our members, and introductions.

After the introductions, outgoing Base Commander Al Smith thanked everyone for all the help and work members have done during his tenure.

Meeting getting underway

We also got to welcome new base member Dr. John German to his first meeting with Seattle Base. John qualified on USS Kamehameha (SSBN-642) in 1968 and also served on USS Sabalo (SS-302). Welcome aboard John.

New Base Member John Gerrman

Old and New Business:
Membership Dues – As the year comes to a close, we want to remind you that National USSVI and Seattle Base annual dues are due at the beginning of the year.

December Holiday Luncheon – We were reminded that the annual Holiday Luncheon will be at the Cascade Club at Trilogy at Redmond Ridge on Sunday, December 10. The registration form for the event can be found at this link and in the November – December newsletter. There is only space for 65 people, so be sure get your registration form to Jim Harper as soon as possible.

Seattle Base Elections – We will have base elections at our January 2018 meeting. Here is the list of officer nominees:
• Base Commander – Ric Hedman
• Sr Vice Commander – Larry Abbott
• Jr Vice Commander – Earl Greening
• Secretary – shared by Bill Giese and Lois Mezek
• Treasurer – Jim Harper

Committee Chairs:
• Chief of the Boat – Ralph Sterley
• Membership – Kerry Ryan
• Base Chaplin – Andrea Geisler
• Storekeeper – Ralph Sterley
• Webmaster – Steve Shelton
• Newsletter Editor – Dave Schueler

If you would like to throw your hat in the ring or nominate someone for a position, please contact Larry Abbott or Kerry Ryan with the information.

November Program:
We didn’t have a program planned for the meeting, instead we opened the floor to share Thanksgiving stories. We got cooking tips from Doug Abramson on using popcorn in your stuffing, so you can tell when the turkey is done and Al Smith on not sealing the turkey too tightly. We also heard stories from Ric Hedman, Lois Mezek, and Jerry Gerten. Thanks to all that shared stories, it was a good way to wrap up the last meeting of the year.

Good of the Order 
Lois Mezek passed along holiday wishes from Teri Robertson.

Ric Hedman let us know that the Travel Channel is doing a special on USS O-5 and licensed some of the photos from his website, Pigboats.com, for the special. He will let us know more about when it will air as he gets the information.

We hope to see lots of you at the Holiday Luncheon and at the January meeting.