About Us
About Us
The Alliance is a membership organization for military reunion groups and those who support them. We are run entirely by volunteers. Our members consist of reunion groups and others with a special interest in military reunions. We are a nonprofit Pennsylvania corporation, and we qualify as a Veterans' Organization under Section 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Though we are based in the United States and have members from every U.S. service, we welcome members from all countries. We seek to have hundreds of groups as members. In fact, we want to be so useful to military reunion groups that every one of them would want to be part of our Alliance.
Our Origin
The idea for a confederation of military reunion groups was conceived on April 17, 2009, in an informal discussion among five people at the Norfolk Plaza Hotel in Norfolk, Virginia. We had just finished a familiarization tour conducted by the local convention and visitors bureau. Someone raised the idea that FAM tours are great for reunion planners, but that there was really no forum for reunion group leaders to discuss the many other topics of interest to them—membership, leadership, finances, web sites, and the like. We set out to correct that situation by forming a new organization.
Over the next few weeks we contacted 1,921 present and past leaders of military reunion groups, 216 of whom expressed an interest in our activities. We had an organizational meeting near Washington, D.C. on June 13, 2009. Planners and leaders from 33 reunion groups attended, representing all U.S. services: Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy. Many groups and individuals have become members since that meeting.
Our Inspiration
Our Alliance takes inspiration from the birth and success of the Ice Capades. On February 14, 1940, ten managers of ice arenas met near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Their purpose was to form an ice skating show that could be booked into their venues. They decided to call it the Ice Capades, and they moved quickly to bring it to life. They had no email, little or no air travel, and a mostly local telephone system. They didn't even have military training. Nevertheless, these 20th century showmen assembled a cast, had costumes made, created and polished routines, then put their show on the road.
It took them all of four months. Four months. Four months!
The Ice Capades' first performance was on June 16, 1940, in New Orleans Municipal Auditorium. They closed there on June 29 and moved to Atlantic City Convention Hall, where they played nightly from July 19 through September 2. After their uncommonly rapid start, the Ice Capades flourished for over 50 years, giving their final performance in 1995. We seek to start just as quickly, to be every bit as successful, and to last just as long as this icon of American culture. We might just make it — we've got 21st century tools, solid military training, and we don't even have to make costumes.
Louis "Skip" Sander
May 18, 2009
Our Organizational Meeting
We formed an Alliance, adopted Bylaws, and spent most of the day discussing matters of interest to reunion planners and other reunion group leaders.
These photos show most of the attendees. We need help with a few unidentified people, and in correcting errors, if we have any. If you'd like high resolution copies of the photos, with or without numbers, let us know:
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ABOVE: 1-Dennis Burke, USS Corry (DD/DDR-817), 2-Tom Blaszczyk, USS Bache (DD/DDE-470), 3-Elizabeth Roth, USS San Pablo (AVP/AGS-30), 4-Roger Roth, USS San Pablo (AVP/AGS-30), 5-Dick Tracy, USS Firedrake (AE-14), 6-Bill Morton, USS Missouri (BB-63), 7-Steve Feit, 6927th Radio Squadron Mobile, 8-Bonnie Cline, USS Corry (DD/DDR-817), 9-Robert Cline, USS Corry (DD/DDR-817), 10-Bob Behm, USS Monticello (LSD-35), 11-Scott Martin, USS Dehaven (DD-469 & DD-727), 12-Ken Kmiec, USS Nitro (AE-2, AE-23), 13-Mike Pollack, USS Soley (DD-707), 14-Richard Harmon, USS Tattnall (DDG-19), 15-Robert Peters, USS Essex (CV/CVA/CVS-9/LHD-2), 16-Mrs. Peters, USS Essex (CV/CVA/CVS-9/LHD-2), 17-Ken Jobe, 44th Engineer Battalion, 18-Ron Deverick, 3rd Marine Division, 19-Gerry Wotherspoon, USS Muliphen (AKA-61), 20-???, 21-Skip Sander, USS Rankin (AKA-103)
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ABOVE: 1-Dan Bowman, USS Wainwright (DD-62/DD-419/DLG-28/CG-28), 2-Brian Forrester, USS Forrestall (CV-59), 3-Charles St. John, USS Boyd (DD-544), 4-Jerry Stutzman, USS Boyd (DD-544), 5-Tom Longo, USS Capricornus (AKA-57), 6-Howard Dobson, USS Sam Houston (SSBN/SSN-609), 7-Sandra Pittman-Dobson, USS Sam Houston (SSBN/SSN-609), 8-Joyce Marshall, USS Rankin (AKA-103), 9-Walt Steesy, Sampson AFB Veterans Fellowship, 10-Gerald Campos, 11-???, 12-Jack McQueston, USS Northampton (CA-26/CLC/CC-1), 13-Dennis Schaan, 20th Fighter Wing Association, 14-???
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ABOVE: 1-Dick Temple, Air Force Special Projects Production Facility, 2-Gerald Campos, 3-Mike Jarvis, USS Aeolus (ARC-3), 4-Stan Miller, 435th OMS Enroute MX Section, 5-???, 6-???
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Louis "Skip" Sander, USS Rankin (AKA-103)
"Our Fearless Leader"
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Present, but not in these pictures, or at least not identified:
Ames, Richard
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USCGC Sherman Association (WHEC-720)
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Burke, Joyce
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USS Corry (DD/DDR-817)
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Gundersen, Ed & Margaret
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USS Hollister (DD-788)
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Lehfeldt, Bill
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94th Infantry Division Assoc., WW2
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Mealing, E.T.
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The Engineer Officer Candidate School Association
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Miller, Dean
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Visit Fairfax
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Shugars, Bill & Susan
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USS Corry (DD/DDR-817)
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Shults, Leonard
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USS Northampton Reunion Association (CA-26/CLC/CC-1)
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Spanburg, David
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7th Infantry Regiment Association
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Steesy, Mary
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Sampson AFB Veterans Fellowship, Inc.
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Wiant, Ron & Joan
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USS Muliphen (AKA-61) Association
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Wojtkun, Greg
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The Engineer Officer Candidate School Association
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Here's the original information about the meeting:
Military Reunions Organizational Meeting
WHO:
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Leaders of military reunion groups from all services.
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WHAT:
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A meeting to discuss matters of mutual interest. Reservations are required.
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WHEN:
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Saturday, June 13, 2009
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WHERE:
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Hyatt Dulles, Dulles Airport, Herndon, VA (Washington, D.C. area)
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WHY:
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Because there is a need to discuss our interests in an organized way
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HOW:
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A day-long seminar, with an agenda, knowledgeable speakers, complimentary meals, and plenty of time for informal discussion
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If you want to attend this meeting, you MUST first pre-register by sending the specially-formatted email described HERE. You can then reserve a place as described below.
The event will take place on Saturday, June 13, 2009. A complimentary breakfast will be served from 8:30 to 9:30 AM. The meeting will run from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with an hour break for lunch. There will be an informative and entertaining presentation during lunch.
A reception and networking session will follow the event.
The Hyatt Dulles is located at Dulles Corner Office Park, immediately adjacent to the airport. It is in Fairfax County, Virginia, about 25 miles west of downtown Washington. A map, directions, and other details appear below.
There is free parking and a free shuttle to/from Dulles Airport. The best ways to get to the hotel are by car or by taking the shuttle from the airport. Also, the 5A Metrobus serves Dulles from Washington (fare $3.50); you can take it to the airport, then use the shuttle to get to the hotel.
For those staying overnight, there is a special rate of $69.00 plus tax. Reservations must be made by Sunday, May 31. Call Hyatt's reservations number (800) 233-1234 and ask for the "Military Reunion Planner" rate. (There's a higher rate that includes breakfast and internet access. Remember, our meeting includes breakfast.)
HOW TO RESERVE A PLACE AT THE MEETING
Attendance is limited to leaders of military reunion groups, with a maximum of two people per group. We have space for 50 attendees. 41 places were taken as of 5:00 PM on Friday, May 29. If you want to attend, act fast!
A $20 deposit per attendee is required to reserve your place. Your deposit will be refunded at the meeting, or forfeited if you do not attend. Reservations will be made in the order that deposits are received. Make your check payable to USS Rankin and mail it to USS Rankin, c/o Skip Sander, 153 Mayer Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15237. You can also send your deposit via PayPal to ussrankin@aol.com. Please put the name of your group on your payment.
PRELIMINARY AGENDA
The agenda will probably follow the outline under Areas of Activity. It will be refined after consulting with people who are registered to attend.
MAP AND DIRECTIONS
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Hyatt Dulles
2300 Dulles Corner Blvd.
Herndon, Virginia, 20171
Tel: 703-713-1234 Fax: 703-713-3410
Directions
From Washington, D.C.:
Take I-66 West to Exit 67, Dulles Toll Road West (Rt. 267). From the Toll Road, take Exit 10, Herndon/Chantilly. Turn left onto Centreville Road. Go 3 traffic lights to Sunrise Valley Drive, Turn right. Go 1.5 miles and the hotel is on your right.
From Baltimore and All Points North:
Take I-95 South to Exit 27, I-495 West. From I-495 take Exit 45A, Dulles Toll Road West (Rt. 267). From the Toll Road take Exit 10, Herndon/Chantilly. Turn left onto Centreville Road. Go 3 traffic lights to Sunrise Valley Drive, Turn right. Go 1.5 miles and the hotel is on your right.
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This meeting is sponsored by The USS Rankin Association, the Hyatt Dulles, and Visit Fairfax.
Breakfast, lunch, and entertainment compliments of Visit Fairfax.
Visit Fairfax is the Official Destination Marketing Organization for Fairfax County, Virginia.