Hi all,
There's one week left until the order deadline for the '86 merchandise sale to help defray costs for Reunion 2011. The goodies are available for order until 2359, 30APR09 at:
http://www.usnaclasstore.com/86store.html
We have met the minimum manufacturing requirement for the shirts and glassware, and are close on the hats.
We are lagging on the tote bags and umbrellas and don't currently have sufficient quantities to produce a manufacturing run . . . when I surveyed the class a couple of months ago, we had enough expressed interest to meet the minimums, so hopefully you're all just waiting until the last minute to get your orders in. If we don't hit the minimum manufacturing requirements, anyone who did order either of those items will be refunded the costs associated with them . . . though I do hope we get there so we don't have to do that.
This month marks exactly the halfway point between the 20th and the 25th Reunions. We're locked in our hotel, and later this year will be able to begin getting food service and merch options lined up, and then will have our in-stadium location identified in early 2010.
Reminder that there's a group set up on Facebook called "U. S. Naval Academy Class of 1986" if you happen to be social networking there.
That's it for now . . . so best to you and yours as spring finally hits the frozen Northeast (and hopefully is well in progress in the smarter parts of the country that I trust many of you have chosen . . . )
Eric
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
'86 Geedunk Now Available!
Hi all,
Thanks for the interest and pledges on buying some '86 merchandise to help defray costs for the 25th reunion. Based on your feedback, we're offering all of the options I had written about earlier, plus a couple of shirts and a totebag. The shirts feature a color embroidered version of the Class Crest, so that's something new we've never offered before. The site to order the class geedunk is now online and ready for you, here: http://www.usnaclasstore.com/86store.html
We're running this sale the way we do for the reunion: orders will be taken until April 30, and the all the merchandise will be manufactured and shipped, so it should all be in your hands before Memorial Day Weekend. The class makes $4 to $5 per item ordered, and all of the funds raised will be applied to the class reunion to mitigate ticket prices.
If this is successful (and based on the feedback I got from you all, I think it will be), I'll probably plan to do it at least a couple more times before 2011 so folks can get as much '86-wear as they want, and then we'll not have as much stuff to be picked up and hauled around on reunion day itself.
Thanks in advance, and I hope you like the items we've come up with.
Reminder for those on Facebook . . . join the "U. S. Naval Academy Class of 1986" group to catch up with folks in real time. (You have to type it EXACTLY that way).
That's it for now . . . order early, order often: www.usnaclasstore.com/86store.html
Eric
Thanks for the interest and pledges on buying some '86 merchandise to help defray costs for the 25th reunion. Based on your feedback, we're offering all of the options I had written about earlier, plus a couple of shirts and a totebag. The shirts feature a color embroidered version of the Class Crest, so that's something new we've never offered before. The site to order the class geedunk is now online and ready for you, here: http://www.usnaclasstore.com/86store.html
We're running this sale the way we do for the reunion: orders will be taken until April 30, and the all the merchandise will be manufactured and shipped, so it should all be in your hands before Memorial Day Weekend. The class makes $4 to $5 per item ordered, and all of the funds raised will be applied to the class reunion to mitigate ticket prices.
If this is successful (and based on the feedback I got from you all, I think it will be), I'll probably plan to do it at least a couple more times before 2011 so folks can get as much '86-wear as they want, and then we'll not have as much stuff to be picked up and hauled around on reunion day itself.
Thanks in advance, and I hope you like the items we've come up with.
Reminder for those on Facebook . . . join the "U. S. Naval Academy Class of 1986" group to catch up with folks in real time. (You have to type it EXACTLY that way).
That's it for now . . . order early, order often: www.usnaclasstore.com/86store.html
Eric
Monday, February 2, 2009
Odds and Ends
Hi all,
Just a few odds and ends to report out to you all on networking, events, reunion planning, etc.
1. I have received inquiries from several of you wondering if there were any formal arrangements that had been made to honor the memory of Col. John Ripley, who was so involved with our class over the years. In response to an inquiry to the Alumni Association and Foundation, I received the following from Rich Goldsby '72:
Col Ripley's classmates (Class of '62) are honoring his memory by commissioning a portrait of him that the Academy has agreed to accept and display prominently. Ray Madonna, Class of '62 President, is spearheading the effort to raise $25,000 for this effort and has it well in hand. When I spoke to him about this, he reminded me that Col Ripley was passionate about the Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership. Col Art Athens, the Director of the Center, is always in need of general ethics support funds. There are a number of funds that support specific areas at the SCEL. However, two funds provide general support to Col Athens: Fund 746400, 1964 Ethics Center Support (a current restricted fund); and 658400, 1984 Ethics Center Support (an endowment). I would suggest that you ask your classmates to make a gift in honor of Col Ripley to one of those funds. In fact, I would recommend the Class of 64 current restricted fund since this is a bad time to be putting money into endowments. Donations should be marked with the appropriate fund number and "In Honor of Col John Ripley." They can be sent to me at the address below:
Rich Goldsby '72
Associate Director of Class Legacy Gift Programs
USNA Foundation
291 Wood Road, Beach Hall
Annapolis, MD 21402
2. For those of you in the Annapolis area, or for hockey fans willing to travel, '86 President Emeritus Dan White has been involved with planning an event featuring one of our classmates, as follows:
February 14, 2009: In order to kickoff the start of the 32nd Annual Crab Pot Tournament, Navy Hockey is pleased to announce that NASA Astronaut Stephen Bowen (Captain, USN) '86 will be on hand to perform the ceremonial puck drop at 7:30 PM prior to the Navy Maryland game. Capt. Bowen traveled aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in November 2008 to the International Space Station (ISS). He traveled with several Navy Hockey mementos as he was a standout goaltender for the Navy Hockey team from 1982-86.
Our class helped defrary some of the incidental travel costs associated with Steve's travel to Annapolis, where he will also be appearing as a guest speaker at a fundraising benefit sponsored by The Chartwell Foundation. Steve was the first submarine officer selected by NASA for the astronaut program; he made three space walks last November to support major additions and renovations to the ISS.
3. Class Secretary Anne Groves Hammond continues to find new ways to help us network. She's set up a group on Facebook called: "U. S. Naval Academy Class of 1986." Once you join (www.facebook.com), search for the group in exactly that way (i.e. periods after the U and the S, etc.) While I had major reservations about signing up for Facebook (my daughter's on there, and I don't want to run into her personal life unexpectedly that way), once I did, I've found that it's actually kind of an entertaining way to check in with folks you haven't seen or heard from in ages. Just don't ask your kids to be your friend. They'll thank you for it later.
4. Steve Philips from Anchor Enterprises (our geedunk merchant) is developing a proposal for me for some items that we will begin selling this spring, rather than waiting until the months before the reunion. This way, you can get stuff sooner, we can get a little up-front scratch in the bank for downpayments on caterers, etc., and we'll be able to cut a little bit out of ticket prices for the reunions (since you will have forgotten that you spent this money by then, because you will have enjoyed your merch so much). Once we have our hands around the minimum order requirements, pricing, etc., we will set up a link from our website where you can order the goods. More news when I have it, which hopefully will be within the next couple of weeks.
5. Speaking of websites, remember that reunion planning news (and archives of these e-mails) will be posted here: http://86usna25.blogspot.com/ . . . bookmark the page, or sign up to become a follower so you get the updates automatically.
That's it for this month . . . here's hoping that your winters are progressing less brutally than mine is thus far . . .
All best,
Eric
Just a few odds and ends to report out to you all on networking, events, reunion planning, etc.
1. I have received inquiries from several of you wondering if there were any formal arrangements that had been made to honor the memory of Col. John Ripley, who was so involved with our class over the years. In response to an inquiry to the Alumni Association and Foundation, I received the following from Rich Goldsby '72:
Col Ripley's classmates (Class of '62) are honoring his memory by commissioning a portrait of him that the Academy has agreed to accept and display prominently. Ray Madonna, Class of '62 President, is spearheading the effort to raise $25,000 for this effort and has it well in hand. When I spoke to him about this, he reminded me that Col Ripley was passionate about the Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership. Col Art Athens, the Director of the Center, is always in need of general ethics support funds. There are a number of funds that support specific areas at the SCEL. However, two funds provide general support to Col Athens: Fund 746400, 1964 Ethics Center Support (a current restricted fund); and 658400, 1984 Ethics Center Support (an endowment). I would suggest that you ask your classmates to make a gift in honor of Col Ripley to one of those funds. In fact, I would recommend the Class of 64 current restricted fund since this is a bad time to be putting money into endowments. Donations should be marked with the appropriate fund number and "In Honor of Col John Ripley." They can be sent to me at the address below:
Rich Goldsby '72
Associate Director of Class Legacy Gift Programs
USNA Foundation
291 Wood Road, Beach Hall
Annapolis, MD 21402
2. For those of you in the Annapolis area, or for hockey fans willing to travel, '86 President Emeritus Dan White has been involved with planning an event featuring one of our classmates, as follows:
February 14, 2009: In order to kickoff the start of the 32nd Annual Crab Pot Tournament, Navy Hockey is pleased to announce that NASA Astronaut Stephen Bowen (Captain, USN) '86 will be on hand to perform the ceremonial puck drop at 7:30 PM prior to the Navy Maryland game. Capt. Bowen traveled aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in November 2008 to the International Space Station (ISS). He traveled with several Navy Hockey mementos as he was a standout goaltender for the Navy Hockey team from 1982-86.
Our class helped defrary some of the incidental travel costs associated with Steve's travel to Annapolis, where he will also be appearing as a guest speaker at a fundraising benefit sponsored by The Chartwell Foundation. Steve was the first submarine officer selected by NASA for the astronaut program; he made three space walks last November to support major additions and renovations to the ISS.
3. Class Secretary Anne Groves Hammond continues to find new ways to help us network. She's set up a group on Facebook called: "U. S. Naval Academy Class of 1986." Once you join (www.facebook.com), search for the group in exactly that way (i.e. periods after the U and the S, etc.) While I had major reservations about signing up for Facebook (my daughter's on there, and I don't want to run into her personal life unexpectedly that way), once I did, I've found that it's actually kind of an entertaining way to check in with folks you haven't seen or heard from in ages. Just don't ask your kids to be your friend. They'll thank you for it later.
4. Steve Philips from Anchor Enterprises (our geedunk merchant) is developing a proposal for me for some items that we will begin selling this spring, rather than waiting until the months before the reunion. This way, you can get stuff sooner, we can get a little up-front scratch in the bank for downpayments on caterers, etc., and we'll be able to cut a little bit out of ticket prices for the reunions (since you will have forgotten that you spent this money by then, because you will have enjoyed your merch so much). Once we have our hands around the minimum order requirements, pricing, etc., we will set up a link from our website where you can order the goods. More news when I have it, which hopefully will be within the next couple of weeks.
5. Speaking of websites, remember that reunion planning news (and archives of these e-mails) will be posted here: http://86usna25.blogspot.com/ . . . bookmark the page, or sign up to become a follower so you get the updates automatically.
That's it for this month . . . here's hoping that your winters are progressing less brutally than mine is thus far . . .
All best,
Eric
Friday, October 31, 2008
Loew's Selected for 25th Reunion HQ
Hi all,
While I've still got a couple of final contractual I's to dot and T's to cross, I wanted to let you know that after a competitive bidding process, we will be using Loew's Hotel in Annapolis as our Reunion HQ for the 25th anniversary get-together. Loew's is close to stadium and downtown, easy to access, easy to park, etc. They have extensive experience hosting class groups, and the feedback I've received from others has been excellent.
We will have 125 rooms on Friday and Saturday nights at a cost not to exceed $297 per night (plus tax), which is about $45 less per night than they are letting rooms on the open market. (No surprise, every hotel in town jacks the rates up on Navy football weekends). You will be able to book your rooms one year before arrival date, and we have to fill the block by 30 days before the arrival date, neither of which should be a problem. We will have an option for more rooms at the group rate, if available, and if booked 30 days before the reunion. We will also have 25 rooms at the group rate on Thursday night for early birds.
Based on the informal survey I conducted earlier this month, the overwhelming consensus was that folks would prefer to be downtown for the reunion, even at the higher rates than we have previously paid for being out at the airport. I think Loew's will provide a great base of operations, and allow us to look at more on-Yard or at-Stadium options for Friday events.
Based on a great idea from Tom McGovern, I'm looking into having some runs of class geedunk produced well before the reunion to help us generate a little revenue before the event itself. You may recall that last time we had to ask the class for donated seed money up front to make downpayments, etc. If enough of you would be able and willing to buy some '86 merch with a little markup on it, we can at least give you something in exchange for your early support this time around.
More news to follow as I have it. A reminder that I'll posting reunion news here:
http://86usna25.blogspot.com/
All best to you and yours . . . I'm looking out my office window at a snow-covered hillside, with the last remnants of orange and red leaves dropping off the trees. Hopefully your views are less wintry!
Eric
While I've still got a couple of final contractual I's to dot and T's to cross, I wanted to let you know that after a competitive bidding process, we will be using Loew's Hotel in Annapolis as our Reunion HQ for the 25th anniversary get-together. Loew's is close to stadium and downtown, easy to access, easy to park, etc. They have extensive experience hosting class groups, and the feedback I've received from others has been excellent.
We will have 125 rooms on Friday and Saturday nights at a cost not to exceed $297 per night (plus tax), which is about $45 less per night than they are letting rooms on the open market. (No surprise, every hotel in town jacks the rates up on Navy football weekends). You will be able to book your rooms one year before arrival date, and we have to fill the block by 30 days before the arrival date, neither of which should be a problem. We will have an option for more rooms at the group rate, if available, and if booked 30 days before the reunion. We will also have 25 rooms at the group rate on Thursday night for early birds.
Based on the informal survey I conducted earlier this month, the overwhelming consensus was that folks would prefer to be downtown for the reunion, even at the higher rates than we have previously paid for being out at the airport. I think Loew's will provide a great base of operations, and allow us to look at more on-Yard or at-Stadium options for Friday events.
Based on a great idea from Tom McGovern, I'm looking into having some runs of class geedunk produced well before the reunion to help us generate a little revenue before the event itself. You may recall that last time we had to ask the class for donated seed money up front to make downpayments, etc. If enough of you would be able and willing to buy some '86 merch with a little markup on it, we can at least give you something in exchange for your early support this time around.
More news to follow as I have it. A reminder that I'll posting reunion news here:
http://86usna25.blogspot.com/
All best to you and yours . . . I'm looking out my office window at a snow-covered hillside, with the last remnants of orange and red leaves dropping off the trees. Hopefully your views are less wintry!
Eric
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Hotels for Reunion
Hi all,
Thanks to everybody who got back to me regarding your thoughts/input on the hotel situation.
There is clearly a critical mass opinion that we want to have our home-base be downtown in Annapolis for the 25th reunion, even if that means that we'll be paying higher costs per hotel room per night.
I have conference calls scheduled with the two best fit downtown hotels in the next week to review their proposals and be able to establish "cost not to exceed" parameters for a block of rooms.
After those calls, and after reviewing the data I glean with the other class officers, I will contracting to get us locked in for a block of rooms downtown for the 25th reunion.
We will be actively reviewing all other elements of the reunion weekend to see where we might find different ways of maximizing event quality while minimizing event costs, in order to mitigate some of the downtown hotel room costs.
I will also ensure that we make available to the entire class information about other hotel alternatives that are closer to town than the BWI Marriott, though are not as expensive as the downtown hotels.
Thanks again for your input. I will be in touch in the next couple of weeks to let you know which of the downtown hotels we will be using as our "home base" for the 25th reunion.
As a reminder: bookmark the class reunion page here . . . http://86usna25.blogspot.com/
Anything I send out by e-mail will also be archived there. You are always welcome to contact me directly regarding matters of class interest at jericwrites@gmail.com.
All best to you and yours,
Eric
Thanks to everybody who got back to me regarding your thoughts/input on the hotel situation.
There is clearly a critical mass opinion that we want to have our home-base be downtown in Annapolis for the 25th reunion, even if that means that we'll be paying higher costs per hotel room per night.
I have conference calls scheduled with the two best fit downtown hotels in the next week to review their proposals and be able to establish "cost not to exceed" parameters for a block of rooms.
After those calls, and after reviewing the data I glean with the other class officers, I will contracting to get us locked in for a block of rooms downtown for the 25th reunion.
We will be actively reviewing all other elements of the reunion weekend to see where we might find different ways of maximizing event quality while minimizing event costs, in order to mitigate some of the downtown hotel room costs.
I will also ensure that we make available to the entire class information about other hotel alternatives that are closer to town than the BWI Marriott, though are not as expensive as the downtown hotels.
Thanks again for your input. I will be in touch in the next couple of weeks to let you know which of the downtown hotels we will be using as our "home base" for the 25th reunion.
As a reminder: bookmark the class reunion page here . . . http://86usna25.blogspot.com/
Anything I send out by e-mail will also be archived there. You are always welcome to contact me directly regarding matters of class interest at jericwrites@gmail.com.
All best to you and yours,
Eric
Monday, September 29, 2008
Hotels and Site Launch
Hi all,
Yes, believe it or not, machinations are already afoot for our 25th reunion. I want to run some things by all of you at this point for feedback, so forgive a longer-than-usual e-mail from me with more detail than some of you may want or need.
First off: a reminder of the date . . . Friday, October 21, 2011 will be the class golf tournament, then Saturday, October 22, 2011 will be the football game and tailgater.
The weekend is homecoming weekend, but there is no boat show that weekend, so downtown crowds will be less of an issue than they were last time.
There will not be a hotel-based Friday night cocktail reception as there was the past couple of big reunions, since by being downtown, we'll have plenty of places to safely gather, eat, drink etc. If we do a formal Friday night event, it will either be on the Yard or at the Stadium. We will also be working with company reps to get some smaller company-based events going where and when possible.
We will not be able to lock in the 'gater location until a year out from our date, but as the 25th reunion class, we will get dibs on choice real estate, and it is my intention to again do the event inside the stadium in either the same or a similar location to the 20th.
I have proposals in hand for room blocks in hotels in downtown Annapolis, where the lion's share of folks after the last reunion said they'd like to have our home base.
I just want to be clear up front and way in advance that there's a significant cost differential for staying downtown.
Before taxes and fees, we paid $114 per room per night in 2006 at the BWI Marriott and Courtyard Marriott. Factor in, say 3% inflation per year, and that would be about $135 in 2011 . . . which is still far less than the going rate range for downtown room blocks is going to be in 2011: $250-$370 per room per night, depending on the hotel.
I am looking to block 50 rooms for Thursday night and 100 rooms for each of Friday and Saturday night. This is a bit more than we booked in 2006. While the price increase may be a deterent to some, I know we had a lot of folks who stayed downtown last time, who presumably will want to be in our block this time.
The class will incur some significant liabilities if we block these rooms and then fail to fill them. We don't have enough liquidity to be able to readily assume such liabilities . . . so it's very important that we meet the minimum requirements of whatever contract we sign.
So before I go any further, I am interested in just a quick e-mail sense from as many of you who get this blast and choose to reply as to (a) whether those higher prices would cause you to stay elsewhere, and (b) if not, would you plan to stay in our room block downtown?
You can reply to jericwrites@gmail.com, please and thanks.
Finally, for those of you who have peaked at the class website lately, you'll note that it's been largely static since the last big reunion. I will put a link on it later this week to a new location that I can edit far more quickly (the class one is built on 1997 html code), in order to share reunion news, here:
http://86usna25.blogspot.com/
That's it for now. I hope to have a hotel contract locked up by the end of October.
I've been glad to see that the '86 tailgating crew has been actively working their magic this season . . . and glad to hear that many of you have been able to get down there for home games!
Best to all of you and yours,
Eric
Yes, believe it or not, machinations are already afoot for our 25th reunion. I want to run some things by all of you at this point for feedback, so forgive a longer-than-usual e-mail from me with more detail than some of you may want or need.
First off: a reminder of the date . . . Friday, October 21, 2011 will be the class golf tournament, then Saturday, October 22, 2011 will be the football game and tailgater.
The weekend is homecoming weekend, but there is no boat show that weekend, so downtown crowds will be less of an issue than they were last time.
There will not be a hotel-based Friday night cocktail reception as there was the past couple of big reunions, since by being downtown, we'll have plenty of places to safely gather, eat, drink etc. If we do a formal Friday night event, it will either be on the Yard or at the Stadium. We will also be working with company reps to get some smaller company-based events going where and when possible.
We will not be able to lock in the 'gater location until a year out from our date, but as the 25th reunion class, we will get dibs on choice real estate, and it is my intention to again do the event inside the stadium in either the same or a similar location to the 20th.
I have proposals in hand for room blocks in hotels in downtown Annapolis, where the lion's share of folks after the last reunion said they'd like to have our home base.
I just want to be clear up front and way in advance that there's a significant cost differential for staying downtown.
Before taxes and fees, we paid $114 per room per night in 2006 at the BWI Marriott and Courtyard Marriott. Factor in, say 3% inflation per year, and that would be about $135 in 2011 . . . which is still far less than the going rate range for downtown room blocks is going to be in 2011: $250-$370 per room per night, depending on the hotel.
I am looking to block 50 rooms for Thursday night and 100 rooms for each of Friday and Saturday night. This is a bit more than we booked in 2006. While the price increase may be a deterent to some, I know we had a lot of folks who stayed downtown last time, who presumably will want to be in our block this time.
The class will incur some significant liabilities if we block these rooms and then fail to fill them. We don't have enough liquidity to be able to readily assume such liabilities . . . so it's very important that we meet the minimum requirements of whatever contract we sign.
So before I go any further, I am interested in just a quick e-mail sense from as many of you who get this blast and choose to reply as to (a) whether those higher prices would cause you to stay elsewhere, and (b) if not, would you plan to stay in our room block downtown?
You can reply to jericwrites@gmail.com, please and thanks.
Finally, for those of you who have peaked at the class website lately, you'll note that it's been largely static since the last big reunion. I will put a link on it later this week to a new location that I can edit far more quickly (the class one is built on 1997 html code), in order to share reunion news, here:
http://86usna25.blogspot.com/
That's it for now. I hope to have a hotel contract locked up by the end of October.
I've been glad to see that the '86 tailgating crew has been actively working their magic this season . . . and glad to hear that many of you have been able to get down there for home games!
Best to all of you and yours,
Eric
Monday, September 8, 2008
USNA Class of 86 Blog for 25th Reunion Planning Established
This is a holding template for now . . . but rather than continuing to deploy my lame HTML skills on the old '86 website I built in 1998, I'm going to take advantage of Content Management System technology to use this blog page for real-time updates as we lock things in for our 25th Reunion, October 20-23, 2011.
More news to follow as we have it. SAVE THOSE DATES!
Eric
More news to follow as we have it. SAVE THOSE DATES!
Eric
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