Executive Director’s Report:
A Great 49th Tailhook Reunion and Symposium
by CAPT J.R. Davis, USN(Ret)
by CAPT J.R. Davis, USN(Ret)
This year at Hook ’05 we topped all recent attendance records. The elaborate corporate displays, professional symposium speakers, reunion hospitality suites and the fact-filled flag and general officer panels attracted 3,800 total attendees. Next year we mark our 50th anniversary, and we expect yet another significant increase in attendance as Tailhookers and their guests gather to celebrate this historic event.
If you haven’t attended a reunion in the past, make a commitment to attend in 2006. You’ll see many old friends and learn about current and future U.S. Navy and Marine Corps programs. Start planning now for the 50th anniversary Hook ’06, 7–10 September 2006 at John Ascuaga’s Nugget in Reno/Sparks, Nevada.
If you are part of a reunion group, please consider the advantages of staging your reunion activities at Tailhook. Many reunion organizations have done this in the past and report that it’s “the only way to go.” We have 1,300 rooms reserved at the Nugget for Tailhooker attendees, so don’t wait until the last minute to make your reservations.
This October marks my tenth year of close contact with the Tailhook Association, and I’d like to take this opportunity to review our accomplishments over the last 10 years. We’re proud that our list of corporate sponsors has grown from six to 25. Additionally, despite a 25 percent reduction in the size of the Naval and Marine Corps Aviator force, our membership has grown from 9,985 to 11,396 and our Tailhook Educational Foundation scholarship grants awarded have increased from six in 1995 to 45 this year.
Most importantly, sound leadership provided by your board of directors has resulted in the renewal of our relationship with the active-duty cadre of Naval Aviators and the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps. Throughout difficult times, The Hook magazine has continually provided a high quality, colorful record of Navy and Marine Corps Aviation activities. As you can see in this issue, the superb content, the interesting stories and the colorful presentation continues to grow stronger with each issue.
We have added a new 2006 50th anniversary reunion commemorative design golf shirt, several more disestablished squadron logo shirts and new colors in our line of rugby and polo shirts. Please check the ship’s store at the Tailhook Web site for photographs of these new shirts. Once there, we invite you to take a look at other additions to our line of custom stock. Christmas is just around the corner — remember to shop early! We suggest that a great Christmas gift for a friend or relative is a membership in the Tailhook Association or some cool Tailhook logo merchandise.
The Tailhook Association Ship's Store is located at: https://www.tailhook.net/Merchant2/merchant.mvc
Many of you have witnessed the upgrades to the Association’s Web site and ship’s store. We have received more than 50,000 visits to our Web site in the last year, and we continually update the Web site’s capabilities. Through the Web site, you are able to update your address or rank, join or renew your membership or read the most recent monthly newsletter. You can also register to receive the newsletter by providing us with your e-mail address.
This year the application for a 2006–2007 Tailhook Educational Foundation scholarship will be available on the Web site on 15 December 2005. Scholarship applications must be returned to headquarters by 15 March 2006.
Hook 2006 Reunion Coordinator (Marc Ostertag): (800) 322-4665
Tailhook Educational Foundation (CFC #2965): (800) 269-8267
The Tailhook Ship’s Store: (800) 322-4665
Tailhook Web site: http://www.tailhook.org or http://www.tailhook.net
e-mail: thookassn@aol.com