Newsletter
June, 2010
President's Corner
Register now for what promises to be our best reunion ever! Our hotel is Tuscany Suites & Casino, 255 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas NV 89169. The rate is $45.00 (plus 12% room tax) per night, single or double occupancy. The rate is especially good considering that the Tuscany is all suites of at least 625 square feet, about double the size of the average hotel room.
I have asked Marian Bruce to host this year’s reunion and he and his team are working hard to make this a reunion to remember.
The Tuscany Suites and Casino http://www.tuscanylasvegas.com/ is only 7 years old and is considered by many to be the best kept secret in Las Vegas. Having seen it up close and personal, I can tell you that the pictures on their website don't begin to do it justice. It is located on Flamingo Road, 1/2 mile East of the Strip, on 27 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. It is a campus-like setting with low rise buildings, easy parking and easy walking to "Restaurant Row" just across the street.
The Tuscany is located close to the airport, but with no airline noise that we could detect. Shuttles and cabs to the hotel are inexpensive. We also checked out the restaurants in the hotel and they were all very good, with reasonable prices
We are booked in for arrival on Monday, Sept. 20, and departure on Friday, Sept. 24, 2010. We were able to get a rate of $45.00 per night (plus 12% room tax), which is especially good considering that the Tuscany is all suites of more than 625 square feet, about double the size of the average hotel room. Our goal was to get the most "bang for the buck" for our shipmates, and we believe that the Tuscany represents that.
So get your registrations in early--this is one reunion you won't want to miss!
See you in Las Vegas!
Las Vegas Reunion
Our hotel is Tuscany Suites & Casino 255 E. Flamingo Rd. Las Vegas NV 89169 20 - 23 September 2010. The rate is $45.00 + tax (currently 12%) per night single or double occupancy.
For those wishing a longer stay, we were able to negotiate a group rate of $105.00 per night for the Friday and Saturday before and after our reunion. This is a discount of the Tuscany's normal weekend rate.
Call (877) 887-2261 toll-free and ask for USS Salisbury Sound Reunion rates to make your reservation. You can also make your reservations by emailing reservationsinbox@tuscanylv.com.
A major credit card is required for first night's room and tax deposit which will be charged to guarantee accommodations. The remaining room and tax will be due at check-in along with a deposit for incidentals.
Reservations must be made no later than thirty days prior to arrival. Reservations received after the 8/21/2010 cutoff will be confirmed on a space available basis at the prevailing rate.
A major change this year is the arrangement for drinks and snacks. Because of local restrictions no drinks or snacks will be available in the hospitality room. We have reserved Suite G305 for that purpose. You can go to the suite where we will have individual snacks and our usual soft drinks. Because of liability considerations, we will no longer be serving alcoholic beverages. These may be purchased at any of the hotel bars and you can then return to the hospitality room.
Dues
Dues are $15 per year for regular members and $10 per year for charter members. Widows do not pay dues.
The year that you last paid dues is reflected by the number on the fourth line of the envelope containing this letter. If you receive the news letter by email you will receive an email reflecting the last year you paid dues.
Once you have not paid dues for 5 years you will be moved to non member status.
Schedule of Events
Monday 9/20/10
2:00 PM - Hospitality Room open - Tuscany
Tuesday 9/21/10
8:00 AM - Hospitality Room open - Tuscany
8:30 - 10:00 AM Registration - Tuscany
10:30 - 12:00 AM Board Meeting - Rotunda
1:30 - 2:30 PM Registration - Tuscany
11:00 PM Hospitality Room closed
Wednesday 9/22/10
8:00 AM Lake Mead Cruise and Hoover Dam Tour
11:00 PM Hospitality Room closed
Thursday 9/23/10
8:00 AM Hospitality Room open - Tuscany
10:00 - 10:30 AM Memorial Service - Florentine B
10:30 - NOON Business Meeting - Florentine B
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM Ladies Coffee/Gift exchange - Florentine E
6:00 PM Cocktails/cash bar - Florentine A
7:00 - 11:00 PM Dinner dance - Florentine A
Financial Statement
We have had to discontinue publishing the financial statement in the newsletter to prevent unauthorized reproduction on other web sites. Copies of the Association's 2009 financial statement are available to members upon request. A report will also be made at the Las Vegas reunion.
TAPS
Our sincere condolences go out to the family of the shipmates.
Manuel Rios (55-7) (V) N - 1998
Roy Kinney (51-5) (E) R - 10/5/09
J. E. Jogozenski (53-4) (M) N - 1/23/07
Jim White (54-7) (S2-F) N - 6/02/09
Bernard Brody (50-1) (H) N - 6/08/08
Windy Richardson (51-55) C216 - 1/16/10
Bill Blake N - 6/13/09
Dennis Woodard (62-5) N - 3/09/10
George Crye - 1/1/10
Otha Combest (62-4) (CR) R - 3/25/10
Sylvester Bock (47-52) 1st N - 2008
Membership Update
Our roster is decreasing slowly with 782 currently on our roster. There are 146 Charter members, 235 Regular members, 381 non members, 20 Widows and 3 Associations.
Ladies' Coffee/Gift Exchange
The coffee/gift exchange is scheduled after the memorial service while the men are conducting their business meeting.
Ladies are asked to bring a wrapped gift priced at $15 with your name inside to exchange during their coffee.
Missing Shipmates
We have lost contact with the following members. If you know their new address please contact Marian Bruce.
Jack Abel (50-1) (V) C49
CDR John Tucker (46-7) (F) R
Jim Reilly (54-7) (V) R
Constitution and Bylaws changes
Some changes to the constitution and bylaws will be addressed in Las Vegas. Items include adding USS to our name, adding job descriptions to some officer positions and a recommendation to increase annual dues. These will be discussed by the board and recommendations made to the business meeting.
Lake Mead Cruise and Hoover Dam Tour
Tour begins with motor coach transportation to the modern wonder, Hoover Dam. During your 90-minute excursion, not only will you get to stroll around the dam and admire this massive man-made wonder, you will also learn more about the history of the dam in the Discovery Tour. The Discovery Tour gives you access to Hoover Dam's visitor center where you will view a short educational film, the exhibit gallery and take an elevator 500 feet down to see the dam's colossal power generators. You also have access to an observation deck where you can capture many beautiful pictures.
Continue your adventure and cool off in a fabulous day cruise at Lake Mead. You will board the Desert Princess, a three-level Mississippi paddle-wheeler boat with two enclosed climate-controlled decks and a third observation deck. See the beautiful sights of Lake Mead, Boulder Island and Sentinel Island. Be sure to bring your camera and take pictures of Lake Mead, the largest man-made lake in the United States. Finish off your spectacular water adventure with a tasty complimentary lunch.
After the Lake Mead cruise, you will take a tour of the Ethel M Chocolate Factory.
Return transportation by motor coach to your hotel (by 3:30 to 4:00 PM, depending on traffic) is included.
Because of contractual arrangements cutoff payment date for this tour is 8/1/10. If enough reservations are not made early we will have to cancel this great tour.