News & Comments

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MARCH 2010

MARCH 2010 REUNION INFORMATION

THE 2010 51st MMS Reunion will be located in Florence, Alabama, July 7th to the 10th.

The itinerary will be sent out shortly to all by email and postcards to follow up for confirmation.The email below is from Dave Burcham and is an FYI to y'all.

We will be staying at the Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa, 800 Cox Creek Parkway South, Florence, Alabama 35630. Check out their webpage for detailed information www.marriottshoals.com.

Email from Dave Burcham, President 51st MMSA:

The majority of the items are "set". I received a contract from the Marriott Friday by e-mail which I need to sign and return NLT COB Tuesday. There are a couple of items I need some clarification on before I sign. I will have a face-to-face with the Executive Meeting Coordinator to discuss these. When I feel comfortable about it I will give you GO on the mail-outs.

In ref to your questions below---Lodging is still $109/room/night, which is approx 2/3 of the standard rate. Of course, this is plus tax.

The registration rate remains $120/person; members need to add the 51st MMSA membership fee. The $120/person includes admission to the Space & Rocket Center, tickets to the play "The Miracle Worker" which includes a tour of Helen Keller's Birthplace (Ivy Green), the Hospitality Room, a major part of the transportation to the items on the itinerary, the room we will use for our annual meeting, the food served at the banquet and the room where this will take place.

Each person will be responsible for arranging their transportation from their home to the Marriott in Florence, AL and return home, their food at George's Steak Pit in Sheffield, AL on Thursday evening and their food at Singleton's Barbeque Friday evening.

Advance info on transportation; we have a small regional airport here, Northwest Alabama Regional. A Delta commuter (Comair) connects to Atlanta and has two flights in/out daily. The next closest airport is in Huntsville, approx. 65 miles from here. It is served by American, US Airways, Delta, Continental and starting in May AirTran. Nashville, TN and Birmingham, AL about equidistant from here (120 mi.) are served by the same as Huntsville, plus Southwest (but not AirTran).

I think I need to modify some of the time frames on activities on the Itinerary which I will attach to the e-mail giving you the go ahead to make the mail-out.

JUNE 2009

DAMN IT...I wish I had...

Haven't we all said that? I should have gone...but...

I thought I would add an entry under NEWS & COMMENTS, as I have been thinking about all the comments that many of you made during the reunion and the common theme with them.

"OLD FRIENDS"
It seems that old friends are special in many ways, we all have other organizations that we are a part of, but the 51st MMS seems to have a special place, and that is a direct reflection on the people that served with it. I think we all miss those that do not attend our reunions, by choice or circumstances and continue to hope that they will show up. As John said during our business meeting, "time is running out". We all do not want to think about that fact...but it is true.

So, consider this when you receive the information on our next reunion, you will have a good time and will not have to say...DAMN IT...I wish I had...

With our next reunion, in 2010, planned to be located in Huntsville, Alabama, we all are looking forward to seeing some new old faces and renewing that unique connection. I will update the webpage as more information becomes available, as our new President and his assistant, David and Patsy Burcham, put it all together. Thank you in advance!

Best Regards,
Pete