Executive Director’s Report
Planning for Tailhook ’04
by CAPT J.R. Davis, USN(Ret)
by CAPT J.R. Davis, USN(Ret)
My brief includes a look at Tailhook Association membership alternatives and how your money is used, as well as Hook ’04 plans and events in addition to information on Tailhook merchandise — old and new.
We invite you to consider upgrading your participation in Tailhook to a Life Membership in our Association. We currently have more than 1,850 Life Members, and the number continues to grow.
The Life Membership program is on sound financial footing. The cost schedule to support this program guarantees that we will be able to support your Life Membership indefinitely and that the Tailhook Association will continue to grow and prosper.
For those younger than age 60, the cost to become a Life Member is $705. Part of your payment will be invested for the future, and the first operating funds from the “investment” will support your membership three years after you become a Life Member. For members over 60, we have established a reduced price and payment schedule. Please call (800) 322-4665 for details.
The year 2003 was good for the Tailhook Association. We improved the content of The Hook magazine, added merchandise to our sales inventory and benefited greatly from a successful reunion. As of last year, we have retired all debts incurred from the lean years following the events of 1991. As we continue to prosper, we are investing carefully for the future and donating additional income to the Tailhook Educational Foundation scholarship fund.
We have completed our 2004 pre-convention meeting with John Ascuaga’s Nugget hotel. Among other objectives for this year’s reunion, we are working with the hotel staff to improve the quality of the food served and to shorten food service lines during the “Bug” Roach Flight Deck Mixer. John Ascuaga and his staff are actively involved in making these objectives a reality.
The Tailhook Association welcomes the Intruder Association, VF/VFA-14 and several other reunion groups who are holding their reunion events in conjunction with the Tailhook Convention. The Thursday evening welcoming reception, open to everyone, is intended to salute these reunion groups.
The Intruder Association contact is Mike Bryan, e-mail at
iamwingnut@aol.com
The VF/VFA-14 contact is LTJG Andy Mariner, e-mail at
Andrew.mariner@navy.mil
We expect that well over 3,000 Tailhookers will meet in Reno next September. We suggest that you call John Ascuaga’s Nugget today and make your hotel reservations, because it won’t be long before all of the rooms have been spoken for.
If you’re on active duty, make sure to let the reservation desk know that you qualify for the active-duty rate when you call. Don’t miss this opportunity to set up a booth, visit the professional displays or see old friends. Room rates per evening: Tower, $96; Tower-Active Duty, $76; Courtyard, $55; and Roof Garden, $46.
You can find out more about the convention by reading the application insert that comes with this issue or by visiting our Web site. Register online, by mail or by calling the Tailhook Office at (800) 322-4665. However you register, plan to enjoy yourself and to learn about the achievements and future of our Navy.
Our new Hook 2004 reunion golf shirt is available on the Web site, and in response to many requests, we are adding to our inventory embroidered logo golf shirts for several deactivated squadrons. VF-114 is the first available, and we are taking suggestions for shirts commemorating others. Visit our merchandise Web site page at: https://www.tailhook.net/Merchant2/merchant.mvc
We’ll see you in Reno!