reunion friendly news fall 2012, rfn news

Bringing Reunions and Locations Together Since 1991Published by THE Reunion Network, Inc. Volume XV • Fall, 2012

Food &

Attractions Issue

Pages 6, 2426, 35 37

State of the InduStry

Being Nice p. 36

Paul’S oPInIon

Pollpage 34

What’S your oPInIon?

Arlington National Cemetery

World War II Memorial, Washington, D.C., night Vietnam Veterans Memorial Korean War Memorial

R e u n i o n F R i e n d l y n e w s • F a l l , 2 0 1 2

TO REQUEST YOUR 2012 REUNION PLANNER SALES KITContact: Kimberly Carr, Leisure Groups & Reunions Coordinator

Branson/Lakes Area CVB • P.O. Box 1897 • Branson, MO 65615 • 800-214-3661417-334-4084 • Fax 417-348-0649 • [email protected] • ExploreBranson.com

FE AT URING OVER 10 0 LIVE SHOWS • SILVER DOLL AR CIT Y • T ITANIC MUSEUM AT T R ACTION • PRIST INE L AKES BR ANSON L ANDING • FISHING • BOATING • MUSEUMS • SPAS • GOLF • Z IPLINES

OU T LET SHOPPING • DINING • RESOR TS • HIST ORIC DOWN T OWN • CELEBR ATING 10 0 YE ARS

IN BR ANSON, YOUR MILITARY REUNION GROUPS WILL TAKE

Showboat Branson Belle

Titanic Museum Attraction

Tony Orlando Vietnam Veterans Traveling Wall

Veterans Memorial Museum SIX

The Duttons

Branson Honors Veterans Every Day!


in this issue 14��HeroesofWWII:

VeteransAREStars-StarsAREVeterans

24�� EverythingDependsonNegotiation

26�� StillServingSteak&Potatoes?

28��VeteransDay&WarMemorials

30��OKisMilitary!

32��WhatYouAlwaysWantedtoKnowAboutFlying(butwereafraidtoask)

34��Here’sYOURChance!Poll

35�� JoysofFlying

37�� IndustryWatch

SHIP TO:

Name

Address

City

State, ZIP

Books will be sent on receipt of check made payable to RFN, 2450 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 500, Hollywood, FL 33020.

Books by Paul J. Spiewak

A NEW, easy-to read, fast-paced guide for both Leaders and “want-to-be” Leaders.

Do YOU

Want To Be

a Leader?by Paul J. Spiewak

and other true stories

By Paul Spiewak

The Day I Flew In My Car anD OTher True STOrIeSAnecdotes by an OctogenarianRegular price $39.95Now available to RFN members at $29.95 plus shipping and handling

DO yOu wanT TO be a leaDer?A philosophical analysis at the practical level of leadership and how to evaluate the effectiveness of any leader. In an “easy-to-read” fast-paced style; richly endowed with quotations and personal anecdotes. The book is based on the author’s 60 plus years as an employee, employer, consultant and entrepreneur in more than 19 different situations. Regular Price: $14.99 + s&hNow available to RFN members at $12.95 postage paid!

The latest book on:Planning, Organizing, & Running

Military Reunions!

Available from Amazon,Barnes & Noble, and all

fine book sellers at $99.95Kindle Version $39.95

Order Direct from RFN & SAVE!Planner Special Price: $59.95CVB & Hotel Members: $69.95

All Others $79.95

NEW!

16��New&RenewingMembers

Traveling with RFN 20��Chattanooga,Tennessee 22��Huntsville,Alabama

33��Email&Letters

36�� Paul’sOpinion:Being Nice

42��Finance:InflationisGood?39–46MemberListing

in every issue

5��Editorial:FromtheSituationDesk

6�� NewIndustryTrends

ConFAM© / WorkFAM© Parade 9�� DaytonaBeach,Florida 10�� NewLondon,Connecticut 11�� D�C�Area/McLean,Virginia 12�� Washington,D�C� 13�� Nashville,Tennessee


This issue brought to by the support of these organizations

By Zac Spiewak,Managing Editor, Reunion Friendly News

from the SItuatIon deSk

There is a saying that I once heard along time ago that states that the last 10% of a job takes 50% of the total effort. Well this Fall issue of RF News is a prime example of that principle. In an effort to give you the most complete ConFAM© Parade of events for next year (2013) Charlene put in some major overtime. I had to hold up on sending the data to the designer and in turn that slowed the process of going to print. With all that effort there are now four events that are confirmed for 2013. Charlene had promised me a complete schedule for 2013 for this issue, but alas even with the extra effort and the delay, Charlene expects to sign up two or three more locations for next year by the time we are ready to print the Winter issue. Bottom line; hopefully the next issue will have a complete schedule for 2013. In the mean time we are really excited about all of the upcoming ConFAMs©.

Paul is the major contributor to this issue with a number of articles about the state of the hospitality industry including one on flying, one about negotiations, one on banquets and another of his frequent “Industry Watch” articles. And what issue would be complete without one of his “Paul’s Opinion” articles? He didn’t disappoint us!

It is obvious that economic climate is changing and uncertain. Hopefully things will be more certain by the time the Winter issue goes to press because we close the magazine a week after the upcoming Presidential election. I know we will have something to say about the state of the industry once we know who is going to lead us for the next four years.

In the mean time please enjoy this issue and the change of seasons. That’s the end of baseball season and the beginning of football season. What did you think I meant?

[email protected]

AZ HolidayInnHotel&SuitesTucson . . . . . . . . 4

CO ColoradoSpringsCVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

KY NKentuckyCVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

LA JeffersonCountyCVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

MD OceanCity-DunesManorHotel . . . . . . . . . 33

MO BransonLakesAreaCVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

MO PulaskiCountyCVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

OH GreeneCountyCVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

SC SeaMistOceanfront . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

SD RapidCityCVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

TN ChattanoogaCVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

UT UtahValleyConvention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

VA FairfaxCountyCVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

WI WaukeshaPewaukeeCVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

USA AMRF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BackCover

The DefiniTive Source of informaTionfor The volunTeer reunion Planner

Published byTHE Reunion Network, Inc.

DBA: Reunion Friendly Network2450 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 500

Hollywood, Florida 330201-800-225-5044 • 954-922-8788

Fax: 954-922-8338Website

http://www.reunionfriendly.com

President / FounderPaul J. Spiewak

“The Reunion Guru”[email protected]

Executive Vice PresidentCharlene Adamson

[email protected]

Vice President – FinanceMarc Spiewak

[email protected]

Managing EditorZachary M. Spiewak

[email protected]

Manager of Membership Sales and Development

Jane [email protected]

Administrative AssistantJessica Yalowiec

[email protected]

Director of CommunicationsGale Helser

Subscriptions for Reunion Friendly News are free of charge to qualified reunion planners.

All others: $30.00 per year or $10.00 per issue.

Go Green (Internet version) free of charge at http://www.reunionfriendly.com/news.html

Reunion Friendly News (Reunion Friendly Network) is not responsible for opinions expressed in editorial material. The opinions are exclusively those of the authors and do not express the opinions of the Reunion Friendly Network, its staff, its members, its advertisers, or its readership. All editorial material is for information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The Reunion Friendly Network assumes no liability or responsibility for errors, mistakes, misprints, missing information, or content of advertising and advertorial copy. Reproduction of any portion of this publication is permitted for use in reunion group newsletters, providing attribution is given to the Reunion Friendly Network.

If you are not receiving RPM (Reunion Planner Memos) every month by e-mail, please send an e-mail to

[email protected] the subject “RPM” and your name.

You might, in view of the length of today’s contracts decide to add a clause to the effect that the room rate stated in the contract is “all-inclusive” except for bed or occupancy taxes.

RFN is Ahead!Several publications, especially Successful Meetings magazine, have been making a big deal about the changes in meetings due to both technological changes and the economy. Apparently, there are more and more people who simply do not care to spend either the time or the money to go to a meeting. While this, of course, is not true of everybody, it surely has an effect on you, as a military planner, on us, as a provider of educational and familiarization meetings, and certainly on those who are looking for your reunion business.

For the record, however, we do not sense a major decline in reunion attendance. At least, your communications to us do not reveal any worry about declining attendance, except of course those older groups where attendees are aging, moving to adult living facilities, or dying.

On the other hand, it is no secret that attendance to RFN ConFAMs© has fallen off since the economy hit the wall. It is not only the economy, it is age as well. The fact is that the average age of planners is moving down. Many of today’s planners are still working full time. This poses a problem because most of RFN ConFAMs© occur during the week. Many planners simply do not want to take off a week to attend. After discussing this among ourselves, and then with a number of planners, we came up with a new design. We call it the WeekEnder ConFAMs©.

The idea is to shorten the event so it just takes one weekend. Starting with a reception and dinner on Friday night, it is followed by a one day learning conference on Saturday. There are breaks, but there are no out-of-town exhibitors. Sunday is devoted to a FAMiliarization Tour of the host location, and the event ends after dinner on Sunday night.

The WeekEnder design follows the pattern of the three highly successful WorkFAMs© that RFN has conducted. The first was in Waterloo Iowa in 2010, followed by Bowling Green Kentucky in 2011, and more recently in Huntsville Alabama. A 2013 WorkFAM© has been confirmed immediately after the ConFAM© in the Washington DC Area so those attendees who want to earn a certification can do the events back to back without having to travel twice.


According to the trade magazines, a number of new trends are occurring which affect military reunion planners and even RFN ConFAMs©.

One of the worst in our opinion was a feature article in Meetings & Conventions magazine a few months ago. The article was titled “Resort Fees on the Rise.” Resort fees have been around for several years, but this is the first time, we experienced ourselves while were on the road. Obviously, this is a ploy to raise room rates without actually seeming to do so. Despite that, the positive side is that there is no bed tax on the resort fee, which is a minor blessing. Almost half of all meeting planners refuse to pay the fee, but some will consider a reduced fee satisfactory.

This all reiterates what RFN has been shouting from the rooftops for at least three years. Make sure! Make 100% sure that your contracts explicitly state that there will be no fees or charges on the rooms unless they are spelled out in the contract. If you do this, at least you will be alerted. You will see what the charges are, and negotiate to eliminate them or reduce them if possible; and if not it gives you the inalienable right to go somewhere else.

New Industry Trends

Reunite. Reminisce. Renew.

Christina Petro

[email protected]


Cancellation Policy: Up to three weeks before the ConFAM© for a full refund, or up to two weeks before the event, you may transfer to another ConFAM© without charge. Less than two weeks before, no transfer or refund available.

A ConFAM© is an all-expense-paid multi-day event combining a Reunion Conference and

a FAMiliarization tour of the area.Rooms (three [3] free room-nights only), meals,

admission, local transportation, instruction and instructional materials are furnished — at no

cost to you — by RFN, the local CVB host hotel, other participating hotels and local attractions. You only pay to get there and return, alcoholic

beverages and personal purchases,

including items charged to your

hotel room.

Yes! I want to go to: _________________________________ Destination

Date

Name

Guest Name

Address

City, ST, ZIP

Daytime Phone Group/Unit Name

Emergency Contact Emergency Phone

Number Expected at Next Reunion Including Guests

Do you or your guest have any disability or dietary need that requires special attention?

PLEASE NOTEWhile every effort is made to accommodate physically disadvantaged persons, the FAM portion of each event includes frequent on and off bus

stops, plus walking through attractions and hotels during site inspections.

To register:1. Tear out this page from the magazine.2. Complete BoTh sides.3. Mail with your check to RFN, 2450 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 500,

Hollywood FL 33020Incomplete applications will be rejected!

ConFAM©/WorkFAM© Date Location Host Hotel

A ConFAM© 2012 November 11-15 Daytona Beach, Florida Daytona Beach Resort and Conference Ctr

B ConFAM© 2013 Apr 20–23 New London, Connecticut New London Plaza Hotel

C ConFAM© 2013 June 19-23 McLean, Virginia / DC area Crowne Plaza Tyson’s Corner

D WorkFAM© 2013 June 23-26 Washington, DC Hilton Washington Dulles Airport

E ConFAM© 2013 August 7-11 Nashville, Tennessee Holiday Inn Opryland Airport

B

A

Registration Fee: $199 for a planner

with guest; $149 for a single

person.

Prices for all events have been increased by $50 and include a copy of RFN’s Military Reunion Handbook at a 50% discount from list price. If you already purchased the book, you may deduct $50. If you have already registered for a ConFAM© at the old rate, you can send us an additional $50 and have it delivered at the ConFAM©.

NEW PRICING

2013

C

E

D


RR-1/20/12

MY Reunion Requirements Your Name:

Spouse Name:

Home Phone:

Work Phone: Cell ____________________

E-Mail Address:

The exhibitors who have made it possible for us to have this conference want to help you plan your reunion. Please complete this form to help them assist you. Completing this does NOT put you under any obligation. It is for information purposes only.

Your Unit/Group Name:

Please Circle: Branch of Service: Air Force Army Coast Guard Marines Navy Other:

Unit Active During: WWII Korea Vietnam Desert Storm/Shield Years from to

Your Mail Address:

City: State: Zip:

When is your next UNBOOKED reunion year? Circle regions you are thinking of:

Northeast Mid-Atlantic Southeast Midwest North Central Southwest West

Preferred Dates: Alternate Dates:

Expected # of Attendees (including wives & guests):

Expected # rooms needed (peak night): How many nights?

Where was your LAST reunion? When?

How many attended? What Tours did you take?

Do you need a hospitality Room? Meeting Room?

Does Your Group require any special facilities? If so, explain:

________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________ How Many Disabled Members Expected?


©

RR-1/20/12

MY Reunion Requirements Your Name:

Spouse Name:

Home Phone:

Work Phone: Cell ____________________

E-Mail Address:

The exhibitors who have made it possible for us to have this conference want to help you plan your reunion. Please complete this form to help them assist you. Completing this does NOT put you under any obligation. It is for information purposes only.

Your Unit/Group Name:

Please Circle: Branch of Service: Air Force Army Coast Guard Marines Navy Other:

Unit Active During: WWII Korea Vietnam Desert Storm/Shield Years from to

Your Mail Address:

City: State: Zip:

When is your next UNBOOKED reunion year? Circle regions you are thinking of:

Northeast Mid-Atlantic Southeast Midwest North Central Southwest West

Preferred Dates: Alternate Dates:

Expected # of Attendees (including wives & guests):

Expected # rooms needed (peak night): How many nights?

Where was your LAST reunion? When?

How many attended? What Tours did you take?

Do you need a hospitality Room? Meeting Room?

Does Your Group require any special facilities? If so, explain:

________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________ How Many Disabled Members Expected?

Daytona Beach, FloridaNovember 11–15, 2012

Plaza Resort & Spa

Daytona Beach - Known for the Speedway

Sunrise at Daytona Beach

Veteran’s Memorial

Dunlawton Sugar Mill Botanical Gardens

Daytona Beach Pier

Band Shell in the Park


©

New London, ConnecticutApril 20–23, 2013

New London Plaza Hotel

Block Islands South Lighthouse

Thames River

Custom House Maritime Museum

Coast Guard Museum

While the major draw for veterans is undoubtedly the New London Submarine base, there are plenty of other things that you can do for your reunion. How about a lobster dinner cruise on a tall ship? Or perhaps a visit to some of the lighthouses? Or perhaps a tour of historic homes? Even better might be a visit to Jazz Underground or a trip to the historic Brixton Windmill? Better yet try a visit to The Research and Development Center (RDC). It is the Coast Guard’s sole facility performing research, development, and test and evaluation in support of the service’s major missions. This is located in the historic Fort Trumball area of New London; convenient to the Coast Guard Academy, naval submarine-base, and Old Mystic Village. The RDC sits along the shore of the Thames River.


©

A McDonnell FH-1 (FD-1) Phantom on display at the National Air and Space Museum. Photo by Eric Long/NASM, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution. Copyright Smithsonian Institution.

U.S. Marines Memorial

Enola Gay

Mount Vernon

D.C. Area/McLean, VirginiaJune 19–23, 2013

Crowne Plaza Tyson’s Corner

WWII memorial

©


©

Washington, D.C.June 23–26, 2013

Hilton Washington Dulles Airport

What You Will See & Do

Lincoln Memorial

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Arlington National Cemetery

AND MORE!Sign Up Now — Limited Space

Attendees eligible for RFN Planner Certification

You asked for it! Now it’s here...

A FAM Tourplus a FULL DAY on CONTRACTS

History, Structure, Requirements, Analyzing, Dissecting, Improving YOUR Contracts

What You MUST Have • What You Should HaveWhat You Don’t Want • What You Should Not Accept

Classroom with Tables

DAY ONE 5:30 PM - 6:00 PM Welcome Reception/Dinner

DAY TWO 8:00 AM Breakfast 9:00 AM - Noon THREE Classroom Sessions &

Breaks Noon Lunch 1:00 PM – 4:45 PM FOUR Classroom Sessions &

Breaks 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Dinner & Reception, & Site

Inspection

DAY THREE ALL DAY FAM & Site Inspections

Sessions Conducted by the “Reunion Guru”Paul Spiewak

Everything You Wanted to Know About Contracts,

But Did not Know What to Ask!


©

Nashville, TennesseeAugust 7–11, 2013

Holiday Inn Opryland

Tennessee State Capitol

War Memorial Plaza

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Everybody knows about “Music City, USA.” but there’s a whole lot more to Nashville than the Country Music Hall of Fame. Officially there are 197 major attractions encompassing history, architecture, gardens, and performing arts. One of the most popular is the Hermitage, Home of President Andrew Jackson. Another is the Belle Meade Plantation, but there is also the Lane Motor Museum with the largest collection of European cars and motorcycles in the U. S. Keeping the ladies in mind there is the Relache Spa and the Cheekwood Botanical Gardens. Just a few miles out of the city you can enjoy the Yazoo Brewing Company (especially on Saturday), the Blackstone Brewpub & Brewery, the Big Bang Bar, and even a winery. You can sign your group up for several choices of a dinner theatre including a 2½-hour mystery dinner, or dine on the General Jackson Showboat. There’s even a special place with Dukes of Hazard memorabilia. Nashville is the home of Vanderbilt University and the Nashville Speedway, too. If that isn’t enough, there’s a long list of restaurants, many featuring country music or jazz, and for any old-timer the Tennessee Central Railway Museum including a tour.


John Russell: In 1942, he enlisted in the Marine Corps where he received a battlefield commission and was wounded and highly decorated for valor at Guadalcanal. Robert Ryan served in the United States Marines as a drill sergeant and won a boxing championship while serving.

Tyrone Power (an established movie star when Pearl Harbor was bombed) joined the U.S. Marines, was a pilot flying supplies into, and wounded Marines out of, Iwo Jima and Okinawa .

Audie Murphy, little 5’5” tall 110-pound guy from Texas who played cowboy parts: Most Decorated serviceman of WWII and earned: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, 2 Silver Star

Medals, Legion of Merit, 2 Bronze Star Medals with “V”, 2 Purple Hearts, U.S. Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, 2 Distinguished Unit Emblems, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with One Silver Star, Four Bronze Service Stars (representing nine campaigns) and one Bronze Arrowhead (representing assault landing at Sicily and Southern France) World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal with Germany. Clasp, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar, Expert Badge with Bayonet Bar, French Fourragere in Colors of the Croix de Guerre, French Legion of Honor, Grade of Chevalier, French Croix de Guerre W ith Silver Star, French Croix de Guerre with Palm, Medal of Liberated France, Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 Palm.

[email protected]

Clark Gable was a Mega-Movie Star when war broke out. Although he was beyond the draft age at the time the U.S. entered WW II, Clark Gable enlisted as

a private in the AAF on Aug. 12, 1942 at Los Angeles. He attended the Officers’ Candidate School at Miami Beach, Fla. and graduated as a second lieutenant on Oct. 28, 1942. He then attended aerial gunnery school and in Feb. 1943 he was assigned to the 351st Bomb Group at Polebrook where flew operational missions over Europe in B-17s. Capt. Gable returned to the U.S. in Oct. 1943 and was relieved from active duty as a major on Jun. 12, 1944 at his own request, since he was over-age for combat.

Charles Bronson was a tail gunner in the Army Air Corps, more specifically on B-29’s in the 20th Air Force out of Guam, Tinian, and Saipan

George C. Scott was a decorated U. S. Marine.

Eddie Albert (Green Acres TV) was awarded a Bronze Star for his heroic action as a U. S. Naval officer aiding Marines at the horrific battle on the island of Tarawa in the Pacific, Nov. 1943.

Brian Keith served as a US Marine rear gunner in several actions against the Japanese on Rabal in the Pacific.

Lee Marvin was a U.S. Marine on Saipan during the Marianas campaign when he was wounded earning a Purple Heart.

This collection of 17 men who served their countries in WWII just skims the surface of the brave men who fit this category. Among them they were awarded over 70 medals in honor of their valor, including Bronze Stars, Silver Stars, Distinguished Service Crosses, Purple Hearts and one Congressional Medal of Honor.

This Veterans Day we at RFN would like to remind people of what the entertainers of 1940’s were doing, 69 years ago. Most of these brave men have since passed on.

Veterans ARE Stars – Stars ARE VeteransHeroes of WORLD WAR II

Alec Guinness (Star Wars) operated a British Royal Navy landing craft on D-Day.

James Doohan (“Scotty” on Star Trek) landed in Normandy with the U. S. Army on D-Day

Donald Pleasance (The Great Escape) really was an R. A. F. pilot who was shot down, held prisoner and tortured by the Germans.

David Niven was a Sandhurst graduate and Lt. Colonel of the British Commandos in Normandy.

James Stewart entered the Army Air Force as a private and worked his way to the rank of Colonel. During World War II, Stewart served as a bomber pilot,

his service record crediting him with leading more than 20 missions over Germany, and taking part in hundreds of air strikes during his tour of duty. Stewart earned the Air Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, France ‘S Croix de Guerre, and 7 Battle Stars during World War II. In peace time, Stewart continued to be an active member of the Air Force as a reservist, reaching the rank of Brigadier General before retiring in the late 1950s.

Ernest Borgnine was a U. S. Navy Gunners Mate 1935-1945. (Maybe that’s why he starred in McHale’s Navy)

Charles Durning was a U. S. Army Ranger at Normandy earning a Silver Star and awarded three Purple Heart.

R e u n i o n F R i e n d l y n e w s • F a l l , 2 0 1 2 Page 20 R e u n i o n F R i e n d l y n e w s • S u m m e r , 2 0 1 1 R e u n i o n F R i e n d l y n e w s • S u m m e r , 2 0 1 1 Page 21

DESTINATIONSELECTION & PLANNINGASSISTANCE800-447-8489

Since 1992, when the Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau launched its “Join Forces” program, more than 500 military groups – with nearly 100,000 visitors – have selected Northern Kentucky for their groups’ gatherings and reunions. �e program gives groups personalized planning advice and offers several services free of charge.

• Cash donations • Name badges • Attendance-building assistance • An American flag that was flown over the nation’s Capitol • 24/7 destination selection & planning assistance

With more than 7,000 hotel rooms – most in locally owned properties – groups find Northern Kentucky highly committed and exceptionally responsive to the military market. �ey also find the accessibility of the region a major advantage:

• Located directly across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky is within a day’s drive or a two-hour flight from two-thirds of the nation’s population.

• The convergence of interstates 70, 71, 74 and 75 offers easy access from any direction on some of the country’s most traveled highways.

• Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (located in Northern Kentucky) boasts an impressive on-time performance rating.

Military groups also enjoy many of the area’s major attractions:

• Hofbräuhaus Newport, the first authentic Hofbräuhaus located outside Munich

• Riverboat cruises along the Ohio River

• �e U.S. Air Force Museum at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in nearby Dayton, Ohio

• Disabled American Veterans Headquarters with a museum and visitors center

• The World War II Cincinnati Goes To War exhibit at the Museum Center at historic Union Terminal in Cincinnati

• Newport Aquarium, billed the top aquarium in the Midwest by Zagat Survey

Military Groups Make Northern Kentucky Midwest HQ for Meetings and Reunions

A successful military reunion is well-planned and precisely executed. at’s why we created the “Meeting Planner’s Arsenal” to help you accomplish the mission, complete with a cash donation for every group.

Our personalized “Join Forces” program puts you in direct contact with Military Reunion Specialists to help plan and carry out every aspect of your event.

Call 800-447-8489 or visit us at nkycvb.com/military.

Gearing up for a greatmilitary reunion?

Northern Kentucky answers the call of duty.

For more information on hosting your military reunion in Northern Kentucky, contact Laura Jackson at 800-447-8489or [email protected].

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1113996 TRNewsAd_jrf_FA.pdf 1 5/18/11 5:07 PM


Convention & Visitors Bureaus

AlabamaMobileMobile Bay CVB1 South Water St 36602Ron McConnell251-208-2018800-566-2453ron-mcconnell@mobile.orgwww.mobilebay.org

ArizonaTucsonMetropolitan Tucson CVB100 S Church Ave, 85701RoxAnne Erickson520-770-2120800-638-8350rerickson@visittucson.orgwww.visitTucson.org

CaliforniaSacramentoSacramento CVB1608 I St, 95814Betsy Longmire916-808-7275800-292-2334blongmire@cityofsacramento.orgwww.sacramentocvb.org

DelawareRehoboth BeachRehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach COC501 Rehoboth Ave/PO Box 216, 19971Meghan McCalley800-441-1329302-227-2233meghan@beach-fun.comwww.beach-fun.com

FloridaFt MyersBeaches of Fort Myers Sanibel2201 Second St, Ste 600, 33901Candice Cocco239-338-3500800-237-6444ccocco@leegov.comwww.fortmyers-sanibel.com

St AugustineSt Augustine, Ponte Vedra & Beaches VCB29 Old Mission Avenue, 32084Jaya Larkin904-209-4429800-418-7529jlarkin@floridahistoriccoast.comwww.floridahistoriccoast.com

IllinoisOak BrookDuPage CVB915 Harger Rd #240, 60523Julie Scholle630-575-8070800-232-0502julie@discoverdupage.comwww.discoverdupage.com

KentuckyBowling GreenBowling Green Area CVB352 Three Springs Rd, 42104Duncan Hines270-782-0800800-326-7465duncan@visitbgky.comwww.visitbgky.com

LouisianaLafayetteLafayette CVCPO Box 52066, 70505Irene T. Hodge337-232-3737800-346-1958irene@lafayettetravel.comwww.lafayettetravel.com

MassachussettsSalisburyNorth of Boston CVBPO Box 5193, 01952Sue Ann Pearson978-465-6555spearson@northofboston.orgwww.northofboston.org

MichiganKalamazooDiscover Kalamazoo CVB141 E Michigan Ave Ste 100, 49007Jennifer Williamson269-488-0057800-888-0509jwilliamson@discoverkalamazoo.comwww.discoverkalamazoo.com

MinnesotaBloomingtonBloomington CVB7900 International Dr STE 990, 55425Lori Rebers952-278-8513866-435-7425l.rebers@bloomingtonmn.orgwww.bloomingtonmn.org

MissouriMaryland HeightsMaryland Heights CVBPO BOX 2125, 63043Laura [email protected]

North DakotaFargoFargo-Moorhead CVB2001 44th St SW, 58103Jill Gates701-365-4560800-235-7654jill@fargomoorhead.orgwww.fargomoorhead.org

Thank You NEW & Renewing MembersWe welcome these “Reunion Friendly” Members, who have either just joined or renewed their memberships.They actively support the Reunion Friendly Network and eagerly seek the opportunity to host YOUR reunion.

We hope you will give them due consideration.See the complete list of RFN Members which starts on page 54.


CVBs cont’d

NebraskaOmahaOmaha CVB1001 Farnam St Ste 200, 68102Bill Slovinski866-937-6624402-444-1766bslovinski@visitomaha.comwww.visitomaha.com

NevadaLaughlinSouthern Nevada Regional Office - NVCVA1555 S. CASINO DR., 89029Cherie Westbrook702-298-3022877-685-2845cwestbrook@lvcva.comwww.visitlaughlin.com

OhioDaytonDayton/Montgomery Cnty CVB1 Chamber Plaza Suite A, 45402Carman Hussman937-226-8292800-221-8235chussman@daytoncvb.netwww.daytoncvb.com

South CarolinaCharlestonCharleston Area CVB423 King St, 29403John Michel McCants843-805-3098800-774-0006jmmccants@explorecharleston.comwww.explorecharleston.com

TennesseeChattanoogaChattanooga Area CVB736 Market Street 18th Floor, 37402Chris Petro423-424-4417800-964-8600chrisp@chattanoogacvb.comwww.chattanoogafun.com

TexasHuntsvilleHuntsville CVB1212 Avenue M, 77340Kimm Thomas936-291-9726kthomas@huntsvilletx.govwww.chamber.huntsville.tx.us

MidlandMidland CVB109 N Main St, 79705Sarah Marston432-686-3561800-624-6435sarah@visitmidlandtexas.comwww.visitmidlandtexas.com

VirginiaArlingtonArlington CVB1100 N Glebe Rd #1500, 22201Portia Conerly703-228-0873800-296-7996pconerly@arlingtonva.uswww.stayarlington.com

WashingtonVancouverVancouver USA Regional Tourism Office101 E 8th St Ste 240, 98660Debbie Picard360-750-1553877-600-0800dpicard@visitvancouverusa.comwww.visitvancouverusa.com

Destination Management Companies

MassachussettsPlymouthTour Trends7R Oar & Line Rd, 02360Ed Sturrup508-224-2288800-918-8687tourtrendsed@hotmail.comwww.tourtrends.com

MissouriSt LouisPrecise Plans, Inc.PO Box 771842, 63177Christal Rogers314-334-0158866-836-1781inquire@precise-plans.comwww.precise-plans.com

Hotels & Hotel Management Companies

ArizonaTempeSheraton Phoenix Airport Hotel Tempe1600 S 52nd Street, 85281Chris Robertson480-967-6600480-293-9067chris.robertson@sheratontempe.comwww.sheratonphoenixairport.com

FloridaCocoa BeachInternational Palms Resort1300 N Atlantic Ave, 32931Colleen Mazzoni321-783-2271321-392-1645cmazzoni@internationalpalms.comwww.internationalpalms.com

Daytona BeachHoliday Inn Resort Oceanfront1615 S Atlantic Ave, 32118Kenneth Berthiaume386-255-0921386-846-4386dos@hiresortdaytona.comwww.hiresortdaytona.com

Daytona BeachThe Plaza Resort & Spa600 North Atlantic Avenue, 32118Efrain Vargas386-267-1691800-874-7420evargas@innercircledaytona.comwww.plazaresortandspa.com


Hotels cont’d

FloridaFt LauderdaleWyndham Nassau Resort3250 West Commerical Blvd, 33309Pat Reilly954-701-6566954-903-2800preilly@wyndham.comwww.wyndhamnassauresort.com

KissimmeeMaingate Lakeside Resort7769 West Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy34747Mercedes Haibon407-997-1107mhaibon@maingatelakeside.comwww.maingatelakesideresort.com

OrlandoBuena Vista Suites8203 World Center Drive, 32821Jeffrey McNulty407-239-8588800-537-7737jmcnulty@bvsuites.comwww.buenavistasuites.com

OrlandoSheraton Orlando Downtown Hotel400 W Livingston St, 32801Kristine Floyd407-244-7465407-843-6664kristine.floyd@sheratonorlandodowntown.com

St PetersburgHilton St Petersburg Bayfront333 First Street South, 33701Debbie Sanders727-894-5000727-825-7009deborah.sanders@hilton.comwww.stpetehilton.com

GeorgiaColumbusWingate Hotel - Columbus/Ft. Benning1711 Rollins Way, 31904Kimberly [email protected]/hotel/12201

GeorgiaSavannahStayInSavannah.com150 Montgomery Street, 31401Cathryn Bowyer912-721-6014912-414-6014cathryn.bowyer@marriottt.comwww.stayinsavannah.com

KansasWichitaMarriott Wichita9100 Corporate Hills Dr., 67207Becky Lehane316-651-0333becky.lehane@wichitamarriott.comwww.marriott.com

MassachussettsBostonThe Midtown Hotel220 Huntington Ave, 02115Gregg Bolduc800-343-1177617-369-6286gbolduc@midtownhotel.comwww.midtownhotel.com

MarylandRockvilleCrowne Plaza Washington DC-Rockville3 Research Court, 20850Jessica Greene301-795-3280301-840-0200jessica.greene@cprockville.comwww.cprockville.com

MinnesotaRochesterKahler Grand Hotel20 2 Ave SW, 55902Chris Wagner507-285-2740952-944-1010chris.wagner@ihrco.comwww.kahler.com

MissouriBransonStone Castle Hotel & Conf Center3050 Green Mountain Dr, 65616Rachael James417-231-4721800-677-6906rachael@bransonstonecastle.comwww.bransonstonecastlehotel.com

St RobertBaymont Inn & Suites139 Carmel Valley Way, 65584Betsy [email protected]/hotel/17871

NevadaRenoSands Regency Casino Hotel345 North Arlington Avenue, 89501Janette Spradley775-348-2242775-348-2200jspradley@affinitygamingllc.comwww.sandsregency.com

New YorkBuffaloMillennium Airport Hotel Buffalo2040 Walden Ave, 14225Edwin Shelp716-206-8325800-323-3331Eshelp@mill-usa.comwww.milleniumhotels.com

OhioFairbornHoliday Inn Dayton/Fairborn2800 Presidential Dr, 45324Matt Pauley937-431-4611937-219-5306matthew.pauley@hidaytonfairborn.comwww.holiday-inn.com/fairbornoh

OklahomaNormanNCED Hotel2801 East State Hwy 9, 73071Candie Westbrook405-366-4976405-447-9000candie.westbrook@marriott.comwww.nced.com/cc


Hotels cont’d

PennsylvaniaFrazerSheraton Great Valley Hotel707 E. Lancaster Avenue, 19355Kim Turnbaugh610-280-2090610-524-5500kim.turnbaugh@ihrco.comwww.sheraton.com/GreatValley

South CarolinaMyrtle BeachSea Mist Oceanfront Resort1200 S OCEAN BLVD, 29577Leanne McCulloch843-282-5125800-200-8687leanne@seamist.comwww.seamist.com

TennesseeClarksvilleThe Riverview Inn50 College Street, 37040Renee Bruens931-552-3331877-487-4837renee@theriverviewinn.comwww.theriverviewinn.com

VirginiaVirginia BeachHoliday Inn & Suites North Beach3900 Atlantic Avenue, 23451Amanda Mason757-419-3665757-353-9833amanda.mason@crestlinehotels.comwww.vboceanfrontnorth.com

Virginia BeachHoliday Inn Virginia Beach Norfolk Hotel5655 Greenwich Road, 23462Katie Casson757-499-4400757-226-9113kcasson@hiexeccenter.comwww.holiday-inn.com/vabch-execctr

General Attractions& Services

MissouriBransonBranson Variety Theater2701 West Hwy 76, 65616Lisa Martin888-462-7267417-336-9494salesbvt@aol.comwww.bransonvarietytheater.com

BransonDixie Stampede Dinner AttractionPO Box 6850, 65615Kamber Sperle417-336-7974800-520-5101kambers@dixiestampede.comwww.branson.dixiestampede.com

BransonSight and Sound Theatres1001 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway65616Simi Telesco717-687-4220800-377-1277simi.telesco@sight-sound.comwww.sight-sound.com

New YorkLockportLockport Locks & Erie Canal Cruises210 Market St, 14094Mike Murphy716-433-6155800-378-0352captainmike@lockportlocks.comwww.lockportlocks.com

TennesseeNashvilleCountry Music Hall of Fame & Museum222 5th Avenue South, 37203Keith Wright615-416-2001615-416-2015kwright@countrymusichalloffame.orgwww.countrymusichalloffame.com

WashingtonTacomaEmerald Queen Hotel & Casino2024 East 29th St, 98404Doreen Vitek253-441-3189888-831-7655doreen_vitek@emeraldqueen.comwww.emeraldqueen.com

Military Attractions

VirginiaTriangleNational Museum of the Marine Corps18900 Jefferson Davis Hwy, 22172Sara O-Bryan703-649-2365866-641-8762obryan@marineheritage.orgwww.marineheritage.org

Boots on the Ground

This phrase had its origins during the British campaign in Malaysia back in 1948. Boots on the ground expresses the idea that military success can only be achieved through the direct physical presence of troops in a conflict area. This opposed to the idea that you can win by aerial bombing, artillery bombardment, or even by economic incentives.

It Is the Same with Booking a Hotel!

At every one of the last 150 or so of our ConFAM©s the importance of the planner seeing the hotel before signing the contract is stressed. We are not saying that you can’t have a successful reunion without seeing the hotel first, but it sure can control and prevent a wide variety of mishaps and unsatisfactory circumstances.


Bowling Green Traveling with RFN Chattanooga, Tennessee

“Pardon me boy … “

By Charlene Adamson

That is the beginning of the song, “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” and that is the overall consensus of the military reunion planners who experienced Chattanooga. Those who had never been there remarked “Pardon me, boy, I had no idea Chattanooga was so beautiful and interesting.” Now they know.

Twenty-seven planners and com-panions joined the exhibitors. There was a waiting list of ten planners for whom there was no availability. That is unusual, but RFN sees it as a new trend in our planning and focusing on larger ConFAMs© in special destina-tions that have great appeal.

As usual, the Chattanooga Choo Choo had paid such attention to detail in working with RFN that their team of Tonya, Tara, Jennifer, Annie, and Jim Bambrey (GM), were the shining stars, always aware of our every need and

always optimistic in their attitudes.The opening night reception in The Roosevelt Room was beautiful, fun, active, and delicious! The following day was full to the brim with seminars and the marketplace. Dinner and a site inspection at the Marriott was a new facet to the Chattanooga ConFAM© and the management, staff, and chef outdid themselves in hospitality, including a short cocktail/hors d’oeuvre time prior to dinner.

After the one-on-one scheduled appointments the following day a site inspection and lunch at the Sheraton Read House was delightful. A driving tour of Chattanooga highlights narrated by Keith Wilkerson showcased the North Shore and National Cemetery and Keith’s passion for history provided real insight to the tour. The dinner cruise aboard The Southern Belle riverboat was decidedly beautiful, fun, and delicious. Paul actually sang a Waylon Jennings favorite with the band!

The following morning breakfast was served at the beautiful Bluff View Café overlooking the sculpture garden and the river. Bluff View is one of my favorite places to meander through the shops, the galleries, the B&Bs, and any of their well known restaurants — all with two blocks. Following breakfast Keith and the tour bus took the planners to Lookout Mountain’s Point Park, The Battles for Chattanooga, Rock City with lunch,

and the Chattanooga Aquarium. The free electric shuttles were a hit for checking out other places in the downtown area and their shuttle barn at the Choo Choo makes it such an easy, economical, and enjoyable venture. The final night spectacular banquet was at the Choo Choo and entertainment was by the singing waiters from the Choo Choo’s Station House Restaurant. What talent!

We were fortunate to be in the hands of Christina Petro of the CVB and the Choo Choo. Special thanks to Bob Doak, CVB President, Annie Still, DOS, at the Choo Choo and Jim Bambrey, GM at the Choo Choo for their presence, their caring, and their true hospitality. Paul’s daughter, Jeni, had a enjoyable experience at the ConFAM© and his son, Zac, was honored with the Zac Spiewak Day in honor of his 60th Birthday. From RFN I share “Pardon me, boy … if you have not considered bringing your reunion to Chattanooga, it is time to do so now!”


Bowling Green Chattanooga, Tennessee

Home of Fort Leonard Wood, Pulaski County offers the perfect seeing for your next military reunion. Originally this post was infantry, later becoming an nationally recognized Engineer training facility. Today, Fort Leonard Wood trains over 90,000 soldiers in basic training and specialized courses. Training of other branches of the military; Marines, Navy and Air Force also occur. This makes Fort Leonard Wood an appealing choice for all types of military reunions.

Itineraries for military reunions range from windshield tours of the Fort, group tours of the Museums of Fort Leonard Wood, specialized itineraries that provide behind the scene tours of the latest training facilities and can be personalized to focus on your division of the military. Reunions may also choose to dine at one of the mess halls.

Reunion Planners can make the most of their groups stay with over 27 lodging options. Too much to choose from? The Pulaski County Tourism Bureau offers complimentary reunion planning services. Bureau staff will help you obtain room, restaurant, group transportation, entertainment and catering bids. Itinerary planning is our specialty and we will help with coordinating tours of Fort

Leonard Wood, step-on guided tours of Route 66 and tours of other museums throughout Pulaski County.

Pulaski County provides endless opportunities for group day trips and is just a quick jaunt to Branson, Bass Pro Headquarters in Springfield, the St. James Winery Region, and shopping at the 100 store outlet at Lake of the Ozarks. Pulaski County also offers over 70 restaurants ranging from American and ethnic options to lip-smacking BBQ, including national franchises to the unique dining experiences of dining in a cave. Quality catering services are available for banquets.

Pulaski County is centrally within the United States, making this location an excellent choice for your reunion attendees to gather. Our location along I-44, between St. Louis and Springfield, Missouri, makes Pulaski County easily accessible by vehicle and those that wish to fly may book flights through Cape Air, (associated with American Airlines), into the Waynesville-St Robert Regional Airport located on Fort Leonard Wood. For more information call 8977-858-8687 or visit our website, ReunionsAtFLW.org.

www.reunionsatftwood.org/TRN

Pulaski County Tourism Bureau - St. Robert, MO

877.858.8687

• Home to Fort Leonard Wood, the largest training installation in the country• Guided driving tours of the fort & Rt. 66• Daily direct flights to Fort Leonard Wood• State-of-the art military museums• Complimentary itinerary planning• Assistance obtaining bids for restaurants, hotels, meeting space & much more

Meet in the Middle! Centrally located in both the United States & in Missouri, We’re right along I44 between Springfield and St. Louis!


Bowling Green Traveling with RFN Huntsville, Alabama

Whooshh!

Rocket City Took off!

By Paul Spiewak

Billing itself as the MOST PATRIOTIC city in the country, Huntsville was the site of the best WorkFAM© to date! While the emphasis was on having a good time, every planner (and spouse) attending made a point of thanking the Huntsville CVB and RFN for a terrific event.

The fact is that Charlene & I had a good time, too. We were treated to a tour of the beautiful Veterans’ Memorial, located next to the park in downtown Huntsville, with a talk by one of the ladies who was instrumental in having it built. We spent hours at the Huntsville Space Museum, and

concluded our visit with a dinner, catered by the museum staff, while sitting under the $100 million Saturn rocket! The rocket is so large that they had to install it while the building was still under construction.

The group bonded easily, and all had made new friends. At the start, each planner gave a background story of their service. The full-day of sessions covering contracts was received very well, with many of the planners stating that they felt a lot more confident than ever before.

On FAM day, we managed to site inspect three hotels (all eager for military reunion business). One fun diversion was at the Bottle & Brush, an establishment where we each had the chance to paint a picture of a rocket with the American Flag in the background while sipping on an ample supply of wine.

There is absolutely no question about Huntsville being a top-notch reunion destination. The limiting factor was time, as we just get to see everything, even the Redstone Arsenal, but a colonel greeted us at lunch and gave us a talk about what is happening with the country’s space program. Those who were interested could, as one couple did, sign up for a week-long “Adult Space Camp!”

Huntsville, a great place for a reunion, is centrally located in Northern Alabama, easy to get to, off Interstate I-65 and has its own International Airport (HSV).

Space Museum aerial view

Veterans Memorial

Redstone Arsenal

Huntsville Veterans Memorial


Bowling Green Huntsville, Alabama

Page 46 R e u n i o n F R i e n d l y n e w s • F a l l , 2 0 0 9 R e u n i o n F R i e n d l y n e w s • F a l l , 2 0 0 9 Page 47

It’s Reunions made easy at the Sea Mist Oceanfront Resort! Exceptional customer service and extraordinary

packaging has placed this establishment well ahead of its competition in the Myrtle Beach area.

Newly renovated Oceanfront one Oceanview rooms with a breathtaking view of the Atlantic await you at the Sea Mist Resort, Our 15 acre Oceanfront Resort provides on-site amenities that are unparalleled on the Grand Strand. The largest resort waterpark is the centerpiece of our water activities. On premises, our guests will fi nd 8 outdoor swimming pools, 2 indoor pools and 4 Jacuzzis, as well as a state-of-the-art fi tness center, gift shop, convenience store and miniature golf course for their enjoyment, Dine at Tena’s Restaurant for breakfast, relax on the beach, then try our newest addition; Three Steps Down Grille & Tavern, which offers exciting new menus to satisfy the most discriminating palates.

Our freestanding Conference Center provides 17,000 square feet of meeting space compete with

full catering services. The private meeting rooms staffed by our Banquet and Catering professionals are designed to hold your group of 25 to 400 attendees. We can accommodate meetings of various sizes, seated dinners for 400 and receptions up to 500. Our Sales and Catering professionals will help you make your reunion extraordinary!

Treat your group to the Sea Mist’s inclusive Reunion package. It includes: four nights lodging in our Oceanfront or Oceanview rooms, breakfast buffet each morning in Tena’s, a welcome reception, a farewell banquet in the Conference Center, a ticket to one of our award-winning theatres, commemorative T-shirt, and a hospitality suite so that you and your attendees can socialize at their leisure.

Please contact our Reunion Specialist for additional information on our four-night or our three night package by calling 800-200-8687 or by visiting our website at www.seamist.com


If you have been a follower of RFN, and even possibly attended one of RFN’s more than 230 ConFAMs© in the past 21 years; or perhaps read Reunions Step By Step or have a copy of the latest book, RFN’s Military Reunion Handbook, you will understand that the process of organizing a reunion is not that simple.

Broken down into its natural elements, the process of setting up a reunion, and seeing it through to conclusion, really starts with figuring out what you want. Once you know what you want, and have documented it in an RFP (Request For Proposal), you are in a position to investigate the possible locations, inspect possible hotels, and then sit down to negotiate.

The Changing MarketThings are a little tougher this year because the hotel industry is coming back. Since the hospitality world crashed in mid-2008, meeting planners in general (and military reunion planners specifically) have had an advantage. Hotels are sprouting, expanding, and renovating as business occupancy is starting to return to “normal.” Business people are the bottom line for nearly 3/4 of the industry.

The impact on you is that the market which tends to swing between buyers and sellers over a seven year cycle has bottomed out, As the pendulum swings back in favor of hotels, you can expect rates to go up, expect fewer freebies, and surely higher rates.

Yet, there are fellow planners, people like you, who are still getting really good deals for their reunions. You can too, but you have to understand what is happening. So let’s take a good long, hard look, and see how you can negotiate to your advantage.

Timing is Everything!Well, maybe not everything, but it sure is ahead of anything else. You

need to set dates. There are two absolutely essential dates. First, there is the date of your reunion,; and second is the date you must have your contract finalized. Finalized means there is a legal document called a contract that has been dated, signed by both parties, and a deposit made. If these conditions are not met, you do not have a legal contract.

The date you must have the contract finalized is simple to compute. What that date does is tell the other side that if you have not agreed by that date, you will go elsewhere. It should provide a sufficient period to allow you to negotiate with a different hotel if this negotiation fails.

Reunion DateIf there is any single thing that controls what room rate you can negotiate, it is the reunion date. When a planner goes into a hotel that he would like to use for a reunion, with a fixed date, that planner is at the mercy of the hotel! When you give a specific date, you are handing a Colt .45 to the hotel while simultaneously asking them to shoot you. In that situation, you haveNO NEGOTIATING ROOM!

What you need to do is get a window of time from your group, of at least thirty days. Then you tell the hotel, pick any three or four days (or how many days you choose to have) within that window. The ideal time to do this is in the “shoulder” or off-season. That way, the hotel can use your group reunion to fill in a gap in bookings. This is very valuable to the hotel, and in most cases will not only offer you an excellent rate, but usually will be prepared to make substantial concessions, because they NEED your business. Selecting a window, gives you a substantial negotiating advantage.

You Must have a ContractJust because you get a letter from the hotel stating that you have agreed to a series of terms does NOT constitute a contract. Just because you signed that letter and sent it back does NOT constitute a contract.

A contract is a legal agreement that can be enforced in a court of law. A letter offer, even with a letter acceptance does not constitute a legal contract! Either or both parties may continue to negotiate elsewhere without any fear of penalty under those circumstances. Even if you get a letter offering terms with the statement that you must agree by a certain date, does NOT change the offer into a contract. Even further, if you do not like anything in their offer, you have to be ready to use the ultimate negotiating tool ever designed. You have to be ready to say “No!” You have to be prepared to walk out.

No MysteryThere is no mystery to negotiating. You have to know what you want.You have to ask for it.You have to be prepared to make some concession, however minor.You have to refuse to be bullied.You have to allow yourself enough time, so that you have the freedom to walk away.You have to be prepared to actually walk away.

It’s really just common sense, but somehow or other, most planners still hang on to the old methods that rarely get you the best deal.

Take a shot at it. You have nothing to lose, and a lot to gain.

[email protected]

Everything Depends on Negotiation


Rapid City, South Dakota, centrally located to Mount

Rushmore National Memorial, offers adventures and

amenities for your next meeting or convention. With

5,400 reasonably priced hotel rooms and facilities

for 10 to 10,000, Rapid City is where meetings

become monumental adventures.

Convention and hotel properties offer free on-site

parking, free WiFi in hotel and meeting rooms, free

or discounted transportation service. Located in the

center of the United States, Rapid City is serviced by

four major airlines with direct flights from Chicago,

Denver, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Las Vegas,

Minneapolis/St. Paul, Phoenix/Mesa and Salt Lake

City.

During breaks, enjoy Native American heritage, free

attractions, wildlife parks, hiking trails, golf courses

and variety of outdoor recreation located within

minutes of most meeting properties. Downtown

Rapid City, just steps from the civic center, is buzzing

with new restaurants, boutiques, art galleries and

attractions like Main Street Square.

After your meeting, take a short drive to see

Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Crazy Horse

Memorial, Badlands National Park, two national

caves, Custer State Park and more. Nothing inspires

great meetings like being surrounded by towering

pine forests, abundant wildlife and the breathtaking

scenery of Rapid City and the Black Hills.


Food costs are up and rising. Food trends are changing. The old

standby banquet menu may not be very attractive any more.

2012 became a year of banquet food change. That doesn’t mean that you cannot have the old menu, but the fact is that the economy is forcing changes, and people are changing also.

This year has seen several new or strengthened trends in both restaurant and banquet menus. You might want to reconsider your banquet menu and go along with what the chefs tell us is the new style.

Farm FreshAs transportation costs increase, and chefs try to keep costs and menu prices down (they are already bad enough), one solution is to buy foods that are raised locally. While you may lose some variety, the benefits are well worth it. Food is fresher, tastier, more flavorful, more nutritious, and best of all, less expensive. While local food may not be organic, there is a nationwide trend towards farmers’ markets. Chefs are learning to shop at them, and as a banquet planner, you always want to ask about in-season local specialties.

Special DietsIt seems as if everyone you meet is on some kind of special diet. It’s not necessarily doctor prescribed or restricted for religious reasons. The fact is that as the national epidemic of obesity spreads, people are becoming much more aware of

WinesWine seems to run in trends. Fifty years ago, sauternes were probably the most popular white wines, but the trend is shifting. Chardonnay seems to be the most popular today, but many prefer Riesling, or Pinot Grigio. In the 1980’s, rosé, (also known as Rosado) and the term “blush” seem to dominate the wine scene, as pink wines were everywhere. Today, red wines are in the spotlight with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Noir leading the pack.

It Is Still YoUR ChoiceYou can, of course, ignore these trends and stay with the classic three: chicken, fish, and steak; or you can try something different. It has been our experience that one of the biggest mistakes reunion planners make when it comes to a banquet is a failure to talk to the chef.

If there is anybody in the hotel who understands food, and is aware of supplies and prices, it is the chef.

If you want to really make your reunion banquet something special, keep the trends in mind, and then talk to the chef. You might get a welcomed surprise.

[email protected]

Still ServingSteak & Potatoes?

the “evils” of certain kinds of foods. Even RFN is susceptible, as this year every ConFAM© host was requested to be sure that oatmeal and fruit be available at all continental breakfasts, and that all desserts be sugar-free. All sorts of diets are spreading, and as a banquet planner, you should offer options. Huge segments of the population are caught up in soy-free, salt-free, gluten-free, low sodium, low fat, low carb, and dairy-free diets. Then there are the vegetarians in a variety of types, to say nothing of those who follow a kosher regimen. It’s enough to drive the planner off the deep end. The only “safe” choice seems to be either chicken or vegetarian.

Flavored Vinegars & PicklesBalsamic vinegar has been fairly popular for a number of years. A few years ago, raspberry vinaigrette was introduced. Not everyone likes this, as it seems a peculiar combination. The fact is that there are an enormous number of variations such as pomegranate vinegar. Middle Easterners have enjoyed pickled turnips for centuries, and the Koreans specialize in pickled cabbage called Kim chi, which tends to be a bit too spicy for most Americans, but sauerkraut has been around for a long time. The Italians enjoy a pickled vegetable combination called Giardiniera (jar-din-air-a) and may include cauliflower, broccoli, bell peppers, carrots, onions, tomatoes, and a new twist Mexican potatoes (Jicama). Don’t forget all those varieties of pickled cucumbers: gherkins, dills, garlic, and that old standby, the kosher pickle.


Come and meet. Stay and enjoy.

Plan the perfect event right here in Utah Valley. Our new, state-of-the-art Convention Center is now open with 46,740 square feet of meeting space. In addition, experience the neighboring Provo Marriott Hotel & Conference Center with 28,000 square feet of meeting space and 330 guest rooms. With affordable amenities and extraordinary experiences, there’s something incredible for everyone.

Utah Valley Convention Center Provo Marriott Hotel & Conference Center

MeetInUtahValley.com • 888-414-UTAH (8824)

Regardless of the time of year you decide to visit, there’s a surplus of activities for people of all ages and adventure types. With four beautiful and distinct seasons, a diverse history, breathtaking mountain scenery, unique attractions, group-friendly hotels and restaurants, Utah Valley is a perfect western destination to explore – and it’s all extremely affordable.

For a reunion itinerary that’s sure to please, we suggest attending a festival or historical site. Camp Floyd and The Stagecoach Inn State Park and Museum are Utah’s connection to the Civil War and Pony Express. Walk the same streets that Civil War generals did many years ago!

America’s Freedom Festival at Provo is one of America’s biggest patriotic celebrations. This festival draws in thousands of spectators each year as people gather to honor the Nation’s birthday with a firework show prominently known as the Stadium of Fire.

Don’t forget to experience the outdoor beauty while visiting Utah Valley. For a unique mountain experience, check out the paved Provo River Parkway trail that begins at the mouth of Provo Canyon and meanders by Bridal Veil Falls (a 607-foot double cataract waterfall).

Or, take a drive on one of Utah Valley’s famous scenic byways such as the Nebo Loop, for picturesque mountain scenes and fall foliage.

Several meeting facilities are available as well. The new Utah Valley Convention Center in historic downtown Provo, opening this spring, is the perfect place to host your next reunion. Attendees will enjoy the majestic views of the towering mountains at this 52,000 square foot eco-friendly facility.

The Provo Marriott Hotel and Conference Center adjacent to the Convention Center is an excellent option for lodging, meeting and banquet space with 21 meeting rooms to choose from. Treat your guests to catered events graciously handled with a superb level of service.

Plan your visit with the Utah Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau. We help you find the attractions, accommodations and amenities to put your reunion package together. Take advantage of our complimentary group assistance so you can focus on making your event a success.

Visit MeetInUtahValley.com or call 888-414-UTAH (8824).


Vietnam Veterans memorial

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial honors U.S. service members of the U.S. armed forces who died or were MIA during service in the Vietnam War. There are three parts of the memorial: the Three Soldiers statue, the Vietnam Women’s Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, which is the best known. Completed in 1982, it is just northeast of the Lincoln Memorial, and maintained by the U.S. National Park Service, and visited by three million people each year.

Nearly 60,000 names are on the polished black marble wall, including three sets of fathers and sons, 31 sets of brothers, and 54 from Thomas Edison High School in Philadelphia. Two thirds of those listed were 22 years old – or younger, more than half died at age 18. Eighteen were underage and the youngest was a mere 15 years old. Of the 244 recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor, 153 of them are listed on the wall. Today’s history books make little mention of the conflict, which many thought should never have happened.

Korean War memorialThe Korean War Memorial commemorates the sacrifices of the 5.8 million Americans who served in the U.S. armed services during the three-year period of the Korean War. From June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953, 54,246 Americans died

in support of their country. Of these, 8,200 are listed as missing in action, or lost or buried at sea. In addition 103,284 were wounded during the conflict. As an integral part of the memorial, the

Korean War Honor Roll was established, honoring those U.S. military personnel who died worldwide during the war. The dedication reads: “Our nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met.”

World War ii memorial

The WWII Memorial commemorates the service of more than 16 million service men and women who served during this conflict. More than one million American soldiers, sailors and marines were casualties during the war, and an estimated additional 60 million people were killed as a direct result of the war, which extended from Europe, to Northern Africa, the Philippines, Alaska, Hawaii, and many islands in the Pacific.

An estimated 200,000 men and women were underage for both the Korean War and WWII. Many earned battlefield commendations, medals, and awards.

The number of veterans of these wars is diminishing. As of the end of 2010, there were approximately twenty million living veterans, both male and female, from all branches of service, about half who served during wartime. Nearly half are over the age of 65, with the following estimates (in millions):

Those who remember, warriors and the families of those who died are still haunted. Friends, fathers, husbands, wives, sons, and daughters realize that there

are no “noble“ wars, only noble warriors.

As we approach Veterans Day, we pay special tribute to those noble warriors. We honor them, and thank them for their service.

All of us, at [email protected]

Veterans Day & War Memorials

Conflict Served Alive

WWII 16 .1 1 .5

Korea 5 .8 3 .8

Vietnam 9 .0 6 .0


Why do hundreds of reunion groups decide to get together in Fairfax County, Virginia every year? It’s not simply the county’s location, directly across the Potomac River from Washington, DC. There’s a lot more to it than that.

“There are lots of wonderful reunion sites across the United States,” notes Dean Miller of Visit Fairfax, the county’s convention and visitors bureau, “but I can’t think of any place that publicly celebrates and embraces America’s veterans the way the Washington area and Fairfax County do.”

The list of “must see” attractions located in and around Fairfax County and goes on and on … Arlington National Cemetery, the Tomb of the Unknowns, the World War II, Korean War, and Viet Nam War memorials, the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps memorials, the battlefields of Manassas and Antietam, and many, many more.

Groups meeting in Fairfax County enjoy the best of both worlds. They have easy access to the monuments and museums of Washington, DC, along with the lower room rates and ample free parking typical of suburban locations.

It really is all about service, Miller said. “At Visit Fairfax, our goal is to assist reunion planners in any way we can. Whether it’s finding great hotels at great rates, making introductions to staff personnel at our world-famous attractions, providing lists of transportation suppliers, or simply recommending restaurants for group dining, we are here to be of service to those who have served.”

When asked about the many accolades that Visit Fairfax has received from planners, Miller recalled one group in particular. “We were working with an Air Force fighter squadron to help them have their reunion here. The planner was a retired major general. When we were finished, he said to us, ‘Thanks … you really went ‘above and beyond’ for us.’ Coming from a two-star general, that really meant something to us.”

When it comes to accessing the museums, monuments and memorials honoring America’s veterans, no destination in the country rivals Fairfax County, Virginia. Our proximity to Washington, DC makes it easy to organize trips and observances. Our wide range of hotel options let you accommodate any budget level. And with the many historical sites and entertainment opportunities right here in Fairfax County, you’ll fi nd plenty of places to trade stories and reminisce right here.

To learn more about all there is to see and do, simply visit FXVA.com

Fairfax County … for Reunions “Above and Beyond” the Ordinary!


Have you ever wondered how the expression came to be? There have been thousands of attempted explanations.

There is the Scottish expression “och aye” (an emphatic yes). There is a Greek expression “ola koola” (it is good). There is a Choctaw Indian saying “oke” (it is so). There is a Haitian port named Cayes that has a reputation for really good rum, so the French say “aux Cayes” to express their delight, or sometimes “aux quai” (to the port). There was even a freight agent named Obediah Kelly who was reputed to put his initials on every document he approved.

Then there are those who believe that it came about as a misspelling of “all correct.” Which in the early 1800s was often written “orl korrekt.”

Then of course there was “Old Kinderhook,” a nickname applied to President Martin Van Buren during his 1840 election campaign. The slogan was “Vote for OK” generated by a number of his supporters who actually formed the OK Club. Van Buren lost that election anyway. Meanwhile, Van Buren’s opponents

tried to turn the phrase against him, saying that it had originated with Van Buren’s allegedly illiterate p r e d e c e s s o r , Andrew Jackson, a story that has survived to this day. They also devoted c o n s i d e r a b l e energy to coming up with unflattering interpretations, e.g., “Out of Kash”, “Out of Kredit,” and “Out of Klothes.” Newspaper editors and publicists around the country delighted in coming up with even sillier interpretations — “Oll Killed, “Orfully Konfused,” and even “Often Kontradicts.” This theory claims that by the time the campaign was over the expression had taken firm root nationwide.

There is even a theory that the expression arose from black slaves from Western Africa, and represents the word “kay” meaning “all right” or “yes, indeed.” This can be traced back to the Bantu word “waw-kay” or the Mandingo phrase ”o ke.”

Still another theory stems from a fad in Boston in the late 1830s of using abbreviations on almost everything. Many of the abbreviated expressions were exaggerated misspellings, a stock in trade of the humorists of the day. According to this theory, a predecessor of OK was OW, “oll wright,” and there was also KY, “know yuse,” KG, “know go,” and NS, “nuff said.”

Even More TheoriesOver the years other linguists have gotten into the act, and generated

other ideas, some of which are impossible. For example, one idea is that it was a telegraphic signal meaning “open key,” that is, ready to receive. Others say OK was used for “all right” because A and R had already been appropriated for other purposes. The major flaw with this theory is that the first telegraph message was transmitted in 1844, five years after OK appeared.

Then, too, one theorist said that it stands for O. Kendall & Sons, a supplier of army biscuits who stamped its initials on its product.

Still another, rather far-fetched is that there was a German general who fought on the side of the Americans in the Revolutionary War used to sign documents OK for Ober-Kommando.

The Real TruthA friend of mine recently sent me a document explaining the origin of many expressions, including the mysterious OK. I like his explanation the best, although the timing is a bit off. According to him, during wars, when troops returned from battle without losing any men, they posted a sign which said “0 Killed.” What do you think?

[email protected]

Okay is Military!


Conveniently located off of Interstate 94 in southeast Wisconsin, Waukesha & Pewaukee is a mere 25 minute commute from Milwaukee’s General International Airport and most popular local attractions. Within a 90 minute drive are The Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Great Lakes, IL and the EAA Air Venture Museum in Oshkosh, WI.

The Waukesha & Pewaukee Convention and Visitors Bureau (WPCVB) is pleased to offer military reunion planners the opportunity to become better acquainted with popular attractions, favorite restaurants, and first-class hotels on a site tour. Experience first hand your accommodations and attraction selections for the group.

Offering 1,000 sleeping rooms and 100,000 square feet of meeting space, hotels selections include: full-service Milwaukee Marriott West and The Clarke Hotel, Country Springs Hotel Water Park Conference Center, the northern lodge décor Comfort Suites, the Frank Lloyd Wright inspired Radisson Milwaukee-Pewaukee, Best Western Waukesha Grand and Super 8. All hotels offer ample FREE parking and are easily located off interstate 94.

Tour “Days Gone By” at Old World Wisconsin – the country’s largest outdoor 19th century living history museum or take in the “City Sites” of the Great Lakes Naval Station & Museum – the Navy’s largest training facility and St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy – one of the leading schools of its kind in the nation. “Cheers” with old comrades during tours of Miller Brewery – frosty beer samples available and Pabst Mansion – home of Frederick Pabst, world famous beer baron and more!

The WPCVB also offers FREE services assisting planners with the organization of their reunions including, but not limited to: reunion planning, program assistance, registration assistance and public relations.

Waukesha & Pewaukee’s small-town community appreciates the sacrifices and commitment of our country’s military veterans. Visit and feel the embrace of friendly locals welcoming you with warm smiles and mid-western hospitality!

To book your next reunion or to inquire for more information contact Deana Birmingham-Heinisch at 800-366-8474 or log on to www.visitwaukesha.org.


According to the experts, here are the answers:

Q. Should I Wear Sunscreen on the Plane?

A. No one has done a scientific comparison of instances of skin cancer in frequent fliers versus non-frequent fliers, but it is a fact that windows on planes do not block UVA rays, which are associated with wrinkling, skin aging and skin cancer. At higher altitudes these ultraviolet rays are much stronger than on ground level. On the other hand, windows on a plane are small, and the exposure time is relatively short. If you are concerned, bring the sunscreen.

Q. Are Cocktails More Potent at High Altitudes?

A. Think twice before you drink, because the air inside a plane cabin tends to have a very low humidity level. This tends to dehydrate and so does alcohol! The result is an increase in your chances of contracting a respiratory infection. Coffee works the same way. Additionally, there is a risk at your destination if you are driving a car.

Q. Are Checked Bags Often Lost, Stolen, or Damaged?

A. The rate of lost, delayed, stolen or damaged baggage is steadily declining. Most people are reunited with their bags even if they temporarily go astray. To give your bags the best possible chance of arriving when you do, you are advised to check in early and remove luggage tags from previous trips. Try to fly nonstop because bags are most likely to be mishandled when passengers change airplanes and airlines.

Q. Can the Air from the Vent Make You Sick?

A. You are more likely to get sick from a sneezing seatmate or from touching the bathroom sink than from recirculated cabin air. The cabin air is mixed with outside air and recirculated. Newer-model planes also pass the recirculated air through high-efficiency particulate air filters meant to capture 99.9 percent of tiny particles like bacteria and fungi. Flu transmission is believed to be mainly through large droplets, meaning that the closer you sit to an infected person, the higher your risk for exposure. Keep your fingers crossed for a healthy seatmate.

Q. Can Portable Electronic Devices Harm the Plane?

A. The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) does not know enough about the radio signals given off from laptops, cellphones and other electronic devices; nor how they affect aircraft communications, navigation and flight control. Cellphone use also has the potential to disrupt wireless networks on the ground. For each model of aircraft that a Wi-Fi system is to be used, the airplane manufacturer must get FAA certification for the system, and the airline must get FAA operational approval. That means testing the equipment to show that it doesn’t interfere with systems during flight.

Q. Is There a Way to Beat Jet Lag?A. There must be thousands of

suggested ways. There are pills; there are drinks, and a host of gadgets. One of these is undergoing tests by Finnair. The device shines

a bright light into your ear canal. Anyone who has flown across multiple time zones knows that it upsets your internal clock. Fatigue, moodiness, insomnia, and gastric upset are fairly common symptoms. It is easier for most people when they fly westward. Flying from New York to California for example, a three time zone shift, means eating later, going to sleep later, but getting up later also. As a result a three-hour westward shift is not too bad for most people. Flying the other way, towards the East, is much more difficult. In general, it takes about one day for each time zone to fully adapt. Strangely, many experts say it is a matter of light. As a result, they recommend wearing sunglasses. While there are some who just have a few drinks and “conk out,” alcohol seems to have no effect on alleviating jet lag. Others resort to sleeping pills, eye shades, and ear plugs. One warning, however, if you want to take melatonin, you should check with your personal doctor first.

What You Always Wanted to Know About Flying(and did not know whom to ask)

If you want tips on sleeping, we can recommend checking Harvard University’s web site on healthy sleep. healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/getting/overcoming/tips

It is strongly suggested that you do this when you are awake.

[email protected]


Rachel and I enjoyed the ConFAM© in Chattanooga so much that we sent a contribution to a Children’s Home in your honor.

Scott & Rachel WilliamsMCB 2 Seabees Reunion

Association

What a generous gesture on your part! The Chattanooga event was especially wonderful and your presence there made it more so. We are passing a copy of this on to the CVB and the Chattanooga Choo Choo. Thank you so much!

Our apologies for the delay in thanking you for the acknowledgement of our becoming certified reunion planners. I had long ago given up on becoming a centerfold, but can now cross that item off my bucket list!

WHEN YOU SAY

UP WE SAY

HOWHIGH?

Everything operates at a higher level

in Colorado Springs.And we’re not simply talking about

our 6,035-foot elevation. Reunions are just better here.

Geologic wonders. Historic places. Unique treasures. Fun activities.

All in view of Pikes Peak—America’s Mountain.

Let’s talk. We’ll help you find 6,035 reasons

to get together.800.888.4748 x138 | VisitCOS.com/reunions

CSCVB12 ReunionFriendly SUMMER 2.25X10_FNL.indd 15/10/12 9:11 AM

O C E A N C I T Y , M A R Y L A N D

The perfect setting for your next Reunion!

Oceanfront at 28th Street ~ One Block from Boardwalk!ALL Guestrooms are Oceanfront with Private Balcony!

Oceanfront Restaurant & Lounge � Heated Pool & Jacuzzi Complimentary Morning Coffee and Afternoon Tea

Complimentary Hospitality Suite � Complimentary Meeting SpaceFull Service Catering � Casino Ocean Downs nearby!

Relax. Refresh. Renew!

DUNES MANOR HOTELCall Group Sales

800-523-2888 dunesmanor.com

We’ve learned so much from RFN and have successfully applied that knowledge in both reunion planning and our daily lives. We appreciate all that you do for us, the other military reunion planners, and the veteran population who ultimately benefit from our collective efforts.

Kathi and Gene PetrowskiCertified Reunion Planners

Pleiku MP Association (Army)

Congratulations to you and to all the certified military reunion planners. It is unfortunate that the process of planning, organizing, and running a reunion is getting more difficult, particularly as contracts get more complex. We commend you for going through the certification process so that you can better serve other veterans.

Here’s YOUR Chance!Help Your Fellow Reunion Planners

who are looking for a place to hold their reunion

Tell us what you believe is the best reunion location you ever had

Just mail the form below to: Reunion Friendly Network2450 Hollywood Blvd Suite 500

Hollywood, Florida 33020Attn: Best Reunion Location

or, EVEN BETTERSend an email with the subject:

Best Reunion Location to

[email protected] tell us what you think!

Best Place

Runner-Up

And another

Please include your name and military unit

Name

Military Unit

Email address

Thanks a lot - we’ll publish the results soon.



It’s not a secret that flying to a destination is no longer “fun.” It is bad enough enduring the long lines, half undressing, re-dressing to get through security, but the airlines haven’t made it any easier either!

First, the Federal government imposed the TSA system, for which you pay an added fee. Then, the government added a few more taxes on each ticket. Then, the airlines started adding extra charges and fees — fees for just about anything, but especially for checking baggage. Now, they are starting to charge for carry-on baggage!

They are starting to charge for seats also, with a premium for an aisle or window seat. Priority boarding is also disappearing, particularly for families with children.

On top of all that, they took away the free snacks, even the peanuts and pretzels. Some are beginning to charge for coffee or soda. One even charges $2 for a cup of water!

Although you can survive all of these by proper planning, passengers can create their own problems. Number one in that category is wearing the wrong clothes. Tight clothes of any kind may be life threatening. The problem is something called “deep vein thrombosis.” The pressure from tight clothes causes blood clots in veins. This may show itself by swollen arms or legs, but sometimes may not show at all. The fact is that tight clothing can literally kill you! This doesn’t mean you can wear anything, because if you look too much like a bum, they can throw you off the plane (before it takes off).

Another problem is perfume or cologne because odors are intensified, and this may affect anyone who has allergies or asthma.

The biggest problem for many is the crazy changes in temperature. It’s 80 degrees outside, and you walk into a terminal that feels like an ice-box. You get on the plane which sits out on the runway for a half-hour waiting for take-off clearance, with very little air, and the plane heats up. Then you take off, the cooling really kicks in, and you start to shiver. If you are lucky enough to get a blanket (most airlines charge for this now, and they are not always available), it really does not help very much because it’s so thin.

You know you are going to a different climate, so you are prepared, but first you have to get through the terminal at your destination. The place is overheated, and you are dressed for cold weather. Then, after you get your baggage, you step outside and it’s freezing! You get into a cab, and it’s hot. You get out of the cab at a hotel and it’s cold again — until you get inside t he hotel. When you get to your room, you find that the maid has set the air conditioner to 60 degrees. Is it any wonder your head is stuffed and you are sneezing?

What Is the Answer?

The first step is to wear fairly loose, comfortable clothing. Dress in layers, so you can peel on and off. There may be penalties for too much baggage, but there is no extra charge for carrying a few extra layers. Leave off the perfume, just take a

shower beforehand. Pack an absolute minimum or be prepared to ship some of your “stuff” to your destination. At today’s cost of baggage, plus the cost of checking — and tipping — you may find that using FedEx is just about the same cost; and you won’t have to carry it, or have it inspected.

More Tips

Drink plenty of fluid at least six hours before you go to the airport. Water is fine, but Gatorade is even better. Do NOT drink any alcoholic beverage for 24 hours before the flight. If you are concerned about leg swelling, wear compression socks. If it’s a long flight, you also might consider wearing a surgical mask available from almost all Walgreens or Wal-Marts as well as many other stores.

One big danger of bacterial infection comes from drinking the water in the restroom. Remember that planes are basically loaded with bacteria. Your bathroom floor at home is probably cleaner than your tray table!

My memories include a bargain special from Newark to Los Angeles on long-gone Western Airlines for $99 round trip. The airline made a mistake by double booking my seat, so after I sat down, the attendant (stewardess in those days) asked me if it would be OK to move me to first-class. You bet I moved as if I had a rocket behind me. They even served a steak dinner with a pretty good wine. The captain apologized for moving me as I got off the plane. I really do not believe those days are ever going to come back!

But, keep up your spirits. Look forward to the drink after you get off the plane. Alcohol kills germs!

Enjoy the friendly skies!

Joys of Flying

Page 35


Paul’s Opinion

This article is a personal opinion, and does not necessarily represent the views of The Reunion Friendly Network, its employees, customers, or reunion planners.

An editorial by Paul Spiewak

Being Nice

Back in 1991, just after we started, a planner called us for help. He wanted to find a manufacturer for a medal that had been awarded to his group, so that he could hand out replicas at the next reunion. His problem was that he could not find a manufacturer who could match the unique color to his satisfaction.

My co-founder was successful in locating a manufacturer, but it took him the better part of three days. He arranged for a sample, and it was perfect. We quoted the prices given us by the manufacturer, who let us know that there would be a small commission.

The planner, however, would not give us the order. He wanted to “negotiate” with the manufacturer directly. We asked him why, and his reply was to make sure “you guys” don’t make anything on the deal. When we asked why we he felt that we shouldn’t get paid for our time and effort, he became very abusive. We hung up on him.

Even though we were struggling to get off the ground, and needed every penny to keep the doors open, we stopped and set a policy. That policy

was that we would not take abuse from anybody – customer, planner, supplier – nobody.

Less than a year later, we received a call from a planner who wanted to attend an event. Unfortunately for him, it was already full. Upon being told that there was no more room, he leashed a torrent of invective, including a number of common gutter expressions. I could hear it as I went by, picked up the telephone, and said, “You are history” before hanging up. I then turned to my wife, Joan, and said, “Would you please delete him from the system?” She replied, “I can’t, because I already did it.”

ConsequencesMore than twenty years have passed since that incident, and during those years we have deleted about a dozen planners, two CVBs, a few hotel people, and several suppliers of various kinds. In all, we’ve chopped out about two dozen people.

Every business person I know hates to lose a customer. Every business person I know values all of those that contribute to the success of the business. Yet, in retrospect, we have lost very little, and gained a great deal.

Sure, we may have lost a few dollars of income, but just think for a moment. After many years of suffering abuse and nastiness, we have totally eliminated it. Imagine for a moment, what the result would be if everyone took that same attitude. Wouldn’t the entire world be a better place?

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to deal with anyone who is nasty. I’ve taken my share of abuse over the years, just like everyone else; and I do not want any more. If anyone gets nasty, I just walk away. Joan, my late wife, when she was alive, totally agreed, and I once watched

her leave all the products she had selected on the checkout counter in the supermarket, and just walk away, when the checkout clerk said something nasty.

The MessageWe’ve boiled it down to a few simple principles:

1) Treat others the same way we would want to be treated if our positions were reversed.

2) Only conduct business with nice people. Boycott anyone who is not nice, be it a customer, vendor, business associate, etc.

3) Treat employees fairly, by recognizing their efforts and sharing a bit of the wealth, not excessively scrutinizing their time, and surely not using fear as management tool.

4) Treat your customers as if they are your friends. Refund money promptly and without a hassle.

5) Handle your vendors fairly, and not trying to squeeze the last nickel out of every deal.

6) Keep a high code of ethics with all your business dealings, because we believe completely in your own integrity.

7) Refuse to do business with anyone who is nasty.

If all businesses followed these guidelines, wouldn’t life be more pleasant for everyone? If you and everyone else in the world followed these guidelines, wouldn’t life be more pleasant for everyone?

Being nice is just a nicer way to live!

PAUL

[email protected]


Industry WatchSuddenly, it seems, the hotel industry is booming. In addition to many new hotels, many of them luxury level, there is a wave sweeping across the country of hotel renovations and expansions.

More and more hotel executives are hailing what they perceive is a surprising full-throttle recovery.

Even more surprising is that so-called secondary cities, and even tertiary cities, are all getting into the act.

Apparently this is working! In Nashville, for example, this major reunion destination city (RFN will again have a ConFAM© there in 2013), 2013 will see the opening of a new Omni 800 room hotel attached to the Country Music Hall of Fame and the new 1,200,000 square foot Music City Convention Center. Optimism is apparently working because the new hotel, a year prior to opening, has already booked more than 100,000 room nights for major meetings.

Nashville is not alone, as other similar size cities across the nation are experiencing the same phenomena. The pattern is repeating in Minneapolis MN, Austin TX, Baton Rouge, Columbus OH, and even RFN’s home city, Hollywood FL.

Rising occupancy is invariably connected to rising optimism, which in turn is connected to rising hotel rates. This is not new. It is a natural cycle.

When RFN was established in 1991, conditions favored the reunion planner. This turned around so that conditions favored the hotels only a few years later, By 1999, the pendulum had swung back again in favor of the planners, only to reverse itself so that hoteliers held the upper

hand in 2004-2007. Then 2008 struck, and the industry wallowed in despair. The bottom of the market for hotels, and the peak opportunity for reunion planners to boom at very favorable rates, was probably in 2010. It has been moving back in favor of hotels ever since.

It is, as you can readily see a six to eight year cycle repeating again and again. Accordingly, you can expect to have a more difficult time getting favorable rates and concessions until late 2015 or early 2016, when we predict the pendulum will swing back again to favor reunion planners.

New hotel FeesHotel fees are hitting record highs. Fees you may find on your bill include: early departure fees, early reservation cancellation fees, Internet fees, telephone call surcharges, charges for receiving faxes and sending or receiving packages, room service delivery surcharges, mini-bar restocking fees, charges for in-room safes, and automatic gratuities and surcharges. Groups gathering in hotels are subject to higher charges for bartenders, special charges for set-up and breakdown of meeting rooms, and “baggage holding” fees for leaving luggage prior to departure.

Airlines Are Still At ItOnce again, airlines trying to figure out how to get you to pay more without appearing to raise air fares are now starting to impose fees for seats! So far, Jet Blue charges extra for the bulkhead seat because it has a few more inches of leg room, but US Airways, Spirit, American & Delta now charge more for either a window or an aisle seat. So whether you want to gaze out the window, or can’t stand to look out the window, those window and aisle seats are going to up your fare. This is particularly difficult for families who want to sit together, because the additional cost could double the air fare.

The latest gimmick is to start shrinking leg room to get extra seats. Thinner cushions, more vertical seats, and squeezing seems to be coming down the runway.

Meanwhile, attempts to raise air fares appear to be running into resistance. Delta tried to raise fares across the board by a mere $5 per trip in early August, but was forced to back off because competitors did not follow suit, and customers started booking on other carriers.

other FactorsRegardless of politics, the fact is that the Federal Reserve has drastically increased the money supply. This in turn will inevitably create inflation, which means further pressure to increase rates. Some of you may well remember that back in 1991 when RFN began, an expensive rate for reunion goers was $35.

It is unfortunate, but as a reunion planner, do not beat yourself up about this. Hotel rates are going up! Air fares, which probably will see a slight downward trend before the end of the year, will resume their upward trend early in 2013. Even auto rental fees are on the increase.

What is happening is a reflection of what is going on in Washington DC, and there is no way you can stop it. What you can do is shop carefully; be aware that timing, both seasonality and days of the week, have an enormous impact on quoted room rates; and that you may have to look at several locations before you can make a satisfactory deal for your reunion.

If you haven’t attended a recent ConFAM©, or haven’t been to a WorkFAM©, or even not read a copy of RFN’s Military Reunion Handbook, you might get a great deal more insight by doing so.

[email protected]


FINAN

CE

Living on Fixed IncomeIf you are living on a fixed income your point of view is that inflation is very bad. Inflation causes the price of food, gasoline, clothing, medical services, and prescription medications to increase. Your buying power, as a result, decreases making living on a fixed income more and more difficult. It can force you into some really unpleasant choices to work with an ever decreasing relative budget.

Budgeting is the process of writing down everything that you need to spend money on. First, prepare a list of everything that you have to spend money on. Second, prepare a list on everything you need to spend money on. Finally, a list of everything you want to spend your money on.

Setting guidelines and being smart about spending will give you more control over the money and the impact of inflation. Being smart about money demands diligence, and not any special intelligence. Never, never let your guard down.

Why is Inflation Considered Undesirable?

The general consensus is that inflation is undesirable because it causes a structural degeneration of monetary policy. The depreciation of a country’s currency weakens the value of the currency while also decreasing the confidence in its debts. This decrease has significant repercussions for the economy. It can lead to hyper inflation like Germany in the pre- WWII period or it can cause rapid currency fluctuations that have a destabilizing effect on the country as a whole. The problem also manifests in the

investment community. If a currency has no inherent value, the rich will not invest in anything, and will hoard their monies in commodities.

Then Why is Inflation Good?argument for inflation #1:The government gets its money from three different sources: taxes, borrowing and printing money. There is only so much they can tax before there is a revolt; so the government seeks to borrow money in order to balance the budget. Since there is more spending than inflow, the debt service continues to rise. The only way to pay the debt is to print money. However, printing money puts more money into the system and thus devalues the money that exists already. Thus, they are paying back the debt with “cheaper dollars”. This takes some of the monetary pressure for the government to function.

argument for inflation #2:The concept of taxes takes on a whole new meaning when you realize that not only does it raise money for the government to function but it also manipulates the way we behave as a society. (I learned this in college – Sociology 101). For example, when the government wanted both the husband and wife to work they came up with incentives. Just last year there was the “making work pay credit” to reward people for working. There was the 10% reduction in the second earner’s taxable income for a while; and there is the child tax credit. Another example of manipulation is getting people to buy instead of renting their homes by allowing mortgage interest and real estate taxes to be deductible. This goes on and on.

argument for inflation #3:Controlling consumption and

therefore the economy as a whole is a big factor. When inflation is low people don’t spend. Why buy something now when you can buy it a year from now at the same or better price. So it is a spending driver.

argument for inflation #4:Balancing the global economy is one of the arguments for inflation. If we are all on the same economic level that is brought on by inflation, then we are in a more competitive arena for jobs, products and services. If we are making the same money here in this country as any other country, then outsourcing becomes not as attractive as it is now.

You DecideOf course, rising prices eventually causes people to stop buying things. If companies pay more for materials and labor it results in squeezed profits which can’t be good. Then, if companies make less we will see a slowing of the economy and we will be right back to we started from in a recession or a depression. The fear of rising inflation might be the best thing this economy has going for it these days (per Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke) and it may even boost employment.

Most economists favor a low, steady rate of inflation. In my view it is a very scary word. Inflation can be good, but it can also have devastating effects on each and every one of us if it runs out of control (hyperinflation). Rising gas prices are the first sign of a possible runaway inflation and quite frankly, I am a bit nervous.

Marc is always open to comments, questions and/or concerns. He can be reached at:

[email protected]

by Marc A Spiewak, CPARFN VP Finance

“Inflation is Good?”


RFN

Mem

bersCVBs (Convention & Visitors Bureaus & Tourism Development Agencies)

These CVBs help the military reunion community in many ways, and offer a variety of free services to help you have the best reunion possible.

When you work with a member CVB, you help us ALL!

AL Birmingham Greater Birmingham CVB Cynthia McHeard 800-458-8085 [email protected] Huntsville Huntsville/Madison County CVB Sharon Snell 800-843-0468 [email protected] Mobile Mobile Bay CVB Ron McConnell 251-208-2018 [email protected] Tuscaloosa Tuscaloosa Tourism & Sports Commission Lynette Thomas-Rice 205-391-9200 [email protected] Tucson Metropolitan Tucson CVB RoxAnne Erickson 520-770-2120 [email protected] Yuma Yuma CVB Shannan Gonzalez 800-293-0071 [email protected] Burlingame San Mateo County/ Silicon Valley CVB Adrienne Nudo 650-348-7600 [email protected] Sacramento Sacramento CVB Betsy Longmire 916-808-7275 [email protected] Colorado Springs p 33 Experience Colorado Springs CVB Cheryl Blanton-Chisholm 719-685-7638 [email protected] Pueblo The Greater Pueblo COC Jeanne Santillanez 719-542-1100 [email protected] Dover Kent County CVB Kimberly Bailey-Thomas 800-233-5368 [email protected] Rehoboth Beach Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach COC Meghan McCalley 800-441-1329 [email protected] Auburndale Central Florida VCB Joni Allen 863-551-4708 [email protected] Cocoa Space Coast Office of Tourism Bonnie King 321-433-4470 [email protected] Daytona Beach Daytona Beach Area CVB Nina Crabtree 386-255-0415 [email protected] Ft Myers Beaches of Fort Myers Sanibel Candice Cocco 239-338-3500 [email protected] Jacksonville Visit Jacksonville Bob Meyer 904-421-9183 [email protected] Kissimmee Kissimmee CVB Jadeine Shives 407-742-8255 [email protected] Panama City Panama City Beach CVB Ann Gager 850-233-5070 [email protected] Pensacola Pensacola Bay Area CVB Larry Orvis 850-434-1234 [email protected] St Augustine St Augustine, Ponte Vedra & Beaches VCB Jaya Larkin 904-209-4429 [email protected] Augusta Augusta CVB Michelle Bovian 706-823-6600 [email protected] Columbus Columbus Georgia CVB Sid Kaminsky 706-317-2110 [email protected] Waterloo Waterloo CVB Lonnie Elmore 319-233-8350 [email protected] Gurnee Lake County CVB Kimberly Ghys 800-525-3669 [email protected] Lisle Lisle CVB (Chicago Area) Jay Allen 800-733-9811 [email protected] Moline Quad Cities CVB Dan Gleason 309-277-0937 [email protected] Oak Brook DuPage CVB Julie Scholle 630-575-8070 [email protected] Schaumburg Woodfield Chicago NW Conv Bureau Melinda Garritano 847-278-3446 [email protected] Salina Visit Salina Area COC JoAnn McClure 785-827-9301 [email protected] Wichita Go Wichita Andre- Mboule 316-660-6312 [email protected] Bowling Green Bowling Green Area CVB Duncan Hines 270-782-0800 [email protected] Covington p 15 Northern Kentucky CVB Barbara Dozier 800-447-8489 [email protected] Lexington Lexington CVB Roseanne Mingo 800-848-1224 [email protected] Baton Rouge Baton Rouge Area CVB Jennye Snider 225-382-3584 [email protected] Jefferson p 47 Jefferson Parish CVB Magan Adams 504-731-7083 [email protected] Lafayette Lafayette CVC Irene T. Hodge 337-232-3737 [email protected] Centerville Cape Cod COC Patti Lloyd 508-362-9351 [email protected] Salisbury North of Boston CVB Sue Ann Pearson 978-465-6555 [email protected] Baltimore Maryland Office of Tourism Devel Rich Gilbert 877-209-5883 [email protected] Ocean City Ocean City CVB/Dept of Tourism Norma Dobrowolski 410-289-2800 [email protected] Detroit Detroit Metro CVB Xenia Castillo-Hunter 313-202-1978 [email protected] Kalamazoo Discover Kalamazoo CVB Jennifer Williamson 269-488-0057 [email protected] Lansing Greater Lansing CVB Heather C. Kim 517-377-1402 [email protected] Bloomington Bloomington CVB Lori Rebers 952-278-8513 [email protected] Rochester Rochester CVB Jay Gunnarson 507-424-0818 [email protected]


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CVBs (continued)MO Branson p 3 Branson Lakes Area CVB Kimberly Carr 417-243-2117 [email protected] Independence Independence Missouri Tourism Dept Amanda Wiltse 816-325-7108 [email protected] Joplin Joplin CVB Lenny Brubaker 417-625-4789 [email protected] Maryland Heights Maryland Heights CVB Laura Brahan 314-738-2497 [email protected] St Charles St Charles CVB Karen Fraser 800-366-2427 [email protected] St Robert p 21 Pulaski County Tourism Bureau Beth Wiles 573-336-6355 [email protected] Warrensburg Greater Warrensburg Area COC & VC Kristi Eckfeld 660-747-3168 [email protected] Fayetteville Fayetteville Area CVB Myron Jones 800-255-8217 [email protected] Winston Salem Visit Winston-Salem Dianne Brice 336-728-4216 [email protected] Fargo Fargo-Moorhead CVB Jill Gates 701-365-4560 [email protected] Omaha Omaha CVB Bill Slovinski 866-937-6624 [email protected] Albuquerque Albuquerque CVB Serena Sullivan 505-222-4355 [email protected] Laughlin Southern Nevada Regional Office - NVCVA Cherie Westbrook 702-298-3022 [email protected] Buffalo Buffalo Niagara CVB Matt Carlucci 716-852-0511 [email protected] Corning Corning/Finger Lakes (Steuben Cty CVB) Danielle Roman 607-936-6544 [email protected] Niagara Falls Niagara USA/Tourism & Conv Corp Reanna Darone 716-282-8992 [email protected] Beavercreek p 2 Greene County CVB/near WPAFB Lisa Willis 937-320-9865 [email protected] Dayton Dayton/Montgomery Cnty CVB Carman Hussman 937-226-8292 [email protected] Toledo Destination Toledo,Inc - CVB Julie Bolfa 800-243-466 [email protected] Eugene Eugene, Cascades & Coast CVA Juanita Metzler 541-743-8758 [email protected] Gettysburg Gettysburg CVB Jenny McConnell 717-338-1053 [email protected] Harrisburg Hershey Harrisburg Regional VB Sandy Wenner 717-231-2988 [email protected] King of Prussia Valley Forge CVB Courtney Pozo 610-834-7971 [email protected] Providence Providence Warwick CVB Sheila Lindemann 401-456-0228 [email protected] Charleston Charleston Area CVB John Michel McCants 843-805-3098 [email protected] Rapid City p 25 Rapid City CVB Lisa Storms 605-718-8487 [email protected] Chattanooga p 6 Chattanooga Area CVB Chris Petro 423-424-4417 [email protected] Nashville Nashville CVB Amy Starnes 615-259-4716 [email protected] Pigeon Forge Pigeon Forge Dept of Tourism Kay Poole 865-453-8574 [email protected] Amarillo Amarillo CVB Emilea white 806-342-2017 [email protected] Beaumont Beaumont CVB Rebecca Woodland 409-880-3749 [email protected] College Station Bryan College Station CVB Amy Duffel 979-260-9898 [email protected] El Paso El Paso CVB Catherine STEVENS 915-534-0695 [email protected] Fort Worth Fort Worth CVB Jeremy Montoya 817-698-7827 [email protected] Galveston Galveston Island CVB Sheri L. Teller 409-797-5150 [email protected] Huntsville Huntsville CVB Kimm Thomas 936-291-9726 [email protected] Killeen Killeen CVB-Civic & Conf Ctr Connie Kuehl 254-501-3888 [email protected] Lubbock Visit Lubbock CVB Jessica Mendoza 806-747-5232 [email protected] Midland Midland CVB Sarah Marston 432-686-3561 [email protected] Plano Plano CVB Kay Summerville 800-817-5266 [email protected] San Angelo San Angelo CVB Pamela Miller 800-375-1206 [email protected] Ogden Ogden Utah CVB Joni Wall 801-778-6253 [email protected] Arlington Arlington CVB Portia Conerly 703-228-0873 [email protected] Chesapeake Chesapeake CVB Jeff Bunn 757-502-4898 [email protected] Fairfax p 29 Visit Fairfax Dean Miller 703-790-0643 [email protected] Fredericksburg Fredericksburg Regional Tourism Partn. Kimberly Herbert 540-372-1216 [email protected] Hampton Hampton CVB Julie A. Williams 757-728-5318 [email protected] Leesburg Visit Loudoun Jennifer Ritter 703-771-7525 [email protected] Manassas Discover Prince William & Manassas Mark Kowalewiski 800-432-1792 [email protected] Newport News Newport News T & D Barb Kleiss 757-926-1442 [email protected] Norfolk Visit Norfolk Melissa Hopper 757-664-6620 [email protected]

R e u n i o n F R i e n d l y n e w s • F a l l , 2 0 1 2 R e u n i o n F R i e n d l y n e w s • F a l l , 2 0 1 2

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bersVA Richmond Virginia Tourism Corporation Joni Johnson 804-545-5544 [email protected] Virginia Beach Virginia Beach CVB Shevonne Morgan 800-700-7702 [email protected] Seattle Seattle Southside Visitor Info Meilee Anderson 206-575-2691 [email protected] Tacoma Tacoma Regional CVB Moira Hurley-Davin 253-284-3257 [email protected] Vancouver Vancouver USA Regional Tourism Office Debbie Picard 360-750-1553 [email protected] Appleton Fox Cities of WI CVB Mae Ibe 920-734-3358 [email protected] La Crosse La Crosse Area CVB Clarissa Erickson 608-782-2220 [email protected] Milwaukee Visit Milwaukee CVB Brian Hutchings 800-231-0903 [email protected] Waukesha p 31 Waukesha & Pewaukee CVB Deana Birmingham 262-542-0330 [email protected]

Destination Management Companies, Tour Operators & Military Reunion Planners

Tired of running around? These RFN Members can make life easier for you. Tell them what you want and leave the rest to them!

FL Jacksonville Active Escapes Jax/St Aug John Aguilera 904-230-8787 [email protected] Plymouth Tour Trends Ed Sturrup 508-224-2288 [email protected] Branson Five Star Reunion & Tours Karen Phillips 417-294-3096 [email protected] Branson West Gatherings Plus Pam Brown 417-338-4048 [email protected] Hollister Branson Gray Line Liz Stanley 417-335-4466 [email protected] St Louis Precise Plans, Inc. Christal Rogers 314-334-0158 [email protected] Charleston Charleston Convention & Group Services Erin Mellen 800-553-2055 emellen@DestinationCharlestonSCTN Nashville Gray Line of Tennessee Rhonda Hawkinson 615-883-5555 [email protected] Nashville Sharin- Nashville Tours Sharon Cole 615-846-0867 [email protected] Stephens City Mid Atlantic Receptive Services Jennifer Wood 800-769-5912 [email protected]

Hotels

TRN could not exist without the support of member hotels. They want to help you have the best reunion you possibly could have.

We urge you to think of these folks first!

AL Mobile Renaissance Riverview Plaza Derrick Williams 251-415-3086 [email protected] Phoenix Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix Airport North Crystal Peters 602-293-0338 [email protected] Tempe Sheraton Phoenix Airport Hotel Tempe Chris Robertson 480-967-6600 [email protected] Tucson p 4 Holiday Inn Tucson Airport Lauren Grimes 520-799-8624 [email protected] Tucson Radisson Suites Tucson Mindy Brugger 520-239-1107 [email protected] Buena Park Holiday Inn Buena Park Hotel & Conf Ctr Dennis Fyda 714-690-4603 [email protected] Eureka Red Lion Hotel Eureka Lowell Maffia 707-445-0844 [email protected] Fremont Fremont Marriott Silicon Valley Kay Samoly 510-413-3774 [email protected] Rancho Cordova Sacramento Marriott Rancho Cardova Stacy Reynolds 916-861-2204 [email protected] San Diego Holiday Inn San Diego Bayside Jodie Langhammer 800-650-6660 [email protected] San Diego The Handlery Hotel & Resort Amber Matheney 619-398-8334 [email protected] Aurora Red Lion Hotel Denver Southeast Pamela Feeley 303-695-1700 [email protected] Colorado Springs The Academy Hotel Suzy Esposito 719-278-7018 [email protected] Denver Red Lion Hotel Denver Central Todd West 303-321-6666 [email protected] Groton Groton Inn & Suites Nancie Keenan 860-445-9784 [email protected] New London Holiday Inn New London Joan Garcia 860-443-7000 [email protected] Norwich Holiday Inn Norwich Katie Weber-Coleman 860-889-5201 [email protected] Washington The Melrose Hotel Ali Vellon 202-955-3836 [email protected] Amelia Island Amelia Hotel at the Beach Marianna McIntyre 904-206-5600 [email protected] Cocoa Beach Courtyard by Marriott Cocoa Beach Ana Leonard 321-784-4800 [email protected]


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Hotels (continued)FL Cocoa Beach International Palms Resort Colleen Mazzoni 321-783-2271 [email protected] Daytona Beach Holiday Inn Resort Oceanfront Kenneth Berthiaume 386-255-0921 [email protected] Daytona Beach The Plaza Resort & Spa Efrain Vargas 386-267-1691 [email protected] Fort Myers Crowne Plaza Fort Myers Stephanie Millican 239-210-2462 [email protected] Ft Lauderdale Wyndham Nassau Resort Pat Reilly 954-701-6566 [email protected] Jacksonville Crowne Plaza Airport Natalie Galmore 904-421-2031 [email protected] Jacksonville Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Riverfront Brenda Campbell 904-396-8843 [email protected] Jacksonville Sheraton Jacksonville Hotel P. J. Bailey 904-380-4127 [email protected] Kissimmee Maingate Lakeside Resort Mercedes Haibon 407-997-1107 [email protected] Kissimmee Radisson Resort Orlando Celebration Melody Martinez 407-997-7038 [email protected] Kissimmee Ramada Gateway Janis Blair 407-997-6614 [email protected] Orlando Buena Vista Suites Jeffrey McNulty 407-239-8588 [email protected] Orlando Renaissance Orlando Hotel Airport Stephen Russell 407-513-7226 [email protected] Orlando Sheraton Orlando Downtown Hotel Kristine Floyd 407-244-7465 [email protected] St Augustine Holiday Isle Oceanfront Resort Felicia Fink 904-471-2555 [email protected] St Petersburg Hilton St Petersburg Bayfront Debbie Sanders 727-894-5000 [email protected] Tampa Baymont Inn & Suites Jocie Rivera 813-971-8930 [email protected] Tampa Crowne Plaza Tampa Westshore Sharon Haley 813-405-1180 [email protected] Tampa Doubletree Hotel Tampa Westshore Annabel Gabbert 813-998-2211 [email protected] Tampa Mainsail Suites Hotel & Conference Ctr. Kelly Nixon 813-243-2635 [email protected] Atlanta Holiday Inn Perimeter Michael Vescio 770-296-6001 [email protected] Columbus Holiday Inn North Erica Newton 706-324-0231 [email protected] Columbus Wingate Hotel - Columbus/Ft. Benning Kimberly Williams 706-225-1000 [email protected] Peachtree City Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center Eileen Lavoie 770-486-3317 [email protected] Pooler Holiday Inn Savannah/Airport Pooler Lauren Heldreth 912-330-5100 [email protected] Savannah Inn at Ellis Square Linda Bell 912-944-3286 [email protected] Savannah StayInSavannah.com Cathryn Bowyer 912-721-6014 [email protected] Waterloo Ramada Hotel & Convention Ctr Sandy Thomas 319-236-9502 [email protected] Boise Red Lion Boise Downtowner John Beacham 208-344-7691 [email protected] Boise The Boise Hotel & Conference Center Curt Asmussen 208-914-3957 [email protected] Lewiston Red Lion Hotel Lewiston Amanda Anderson 208-799-1000 [email protected] Pocatello Red Lion Hotel Pocatello Dawn Williams 208-233-2200 [email protected] Post Falls Red Lion Templin-s Hotel on the River Kelly Gwinn-Duby 208-773-1611 [email protected] Twin Falls Red Lion Hotel Canyon Springs Denise Young 208-734-5000 [email protected] Deerfield Embassy Suites Chicago North Shore Dawn Brandau 847-945-4596 [email protected] Northbrook Renaissance Chicago North Shore Hotel Renee Labay 847-897-5417 [email protected] Oak Brook Doubletree Chicago Oak Brook Ruby Lane-Hodges 630-472-6009 [email protected] Rosemont Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago O-Hare Maria Cesario 847-954-8620 [email protected] Wheeling The Westin Chicago North Shore Jim Straus 847-777-6559 [email protected] Zion Best Western Plus-Market Square Julia Ramey 847-344-1204 [email protected] Lenexa Crowne Plaza Kansas City - Overland Park Jennifer Commuso 913-217-1006 [email protected] Wichita Marriott Wichita Becky Lehane 316-651-0333 [email protected] Bowling Green Holiday Inn University Plaza Jessica Waren 270-393-8667 [email protected] Baton Rouge Holiday Inn South Baton Rouge Heather Day 225-924-7021 [email protected] Kenner Days Inn Hotel New Orleans Airport Lisa Sweet 504-464-1644 [email protected] Metairie Ramada Hotel Metairie Gina Abernathy 504-648-3821 [email protected] New Orleans French Quarter Chateau LeMoyne Thu Tran 504-613-3210 [email protected] Boston Constitution Inn Emily Goretsky 617-241-8400 [email protected] Boston The Midtown Hotel Gregg Bolduc 800-343-1177 [email protected] Dedham Hilton Boston Dedham Winnie Boussicaut 781-329-7900 [email protected] Gaithersburg Hilton Wash DC North/Gaithersburg Bernard Howe 301-591-9906 [email protected]


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bersHotels (continued)MD Gaithersburg Holiday Inn Gaithersburg Debbie Reed 301-948-8900 [email protected] Ocean City p 33 Dunes Manor Hotel Lauren Prendergast 800-523-2888 [email protected] Rockville Crowne Plaza Washington DC-Rockville Jessica Greene 301-795-3280 [email protected] S Portland Best Western Merry Manor Inn Donald Haggett 207-774-6151 [email protected] Waterville Best Western Plus Waterville Karen Spaulding 207-873-0111 [email protected] Rochester Kahler Grand Hotel Chris Wagner 507-285-2740 [email protected] Branson Camden Hotel Cherie Chitwood 800-335-2555 [email protected] Branson Grand Plaza Hotel Darlene Burkhart 417-336-6646 [email protected] Branson Radisson Hotel Branson Sarah Hord 417-690-4026 [email protected] Branson Stone Castle Hotel & Conf Center Rachael James 417-231-4721 [email protected] Branson Welk Resort Branson Cherie Chitwood 417-243-1333 [email protected] Branson Westgate Branson Woods Resort Joann Chamberlain 417-332-3557 [email protected] St Robert Baymont Inn & Suites Betsy Thomson 573-336-5050 [email protected] St. Louis Sheraton Westport Hotels Nancy Masterson 314-212-2137 [email protected] Helena Red Lion Colonial Hotel Erin Schweitzer 406-443-2100 [email protected] Kalispell Red Lion Hotel Kalispell CJ Getty 406-751-5050 [email protected] Albuquerque MCM Elegante Hotel & Event Center Kara St John 505-872-0412 [email protected] Albuquerque Sheraton Albuquerque Airport Hotel Tisha Simms 505-244-8536 [email protected] Laughlin Edgewater-Colorado Belle Casino Resorts Kathy Millar 702-807-4470 [email protected] Reno Ramada Reno Hotel & Casino Larry Cardarelli 775-954-2521 [email protected] Reno Sands Regency Casino Hotel Janette Spradley 775-348-2242 [email protected] Buffalo Adam-s Mark Hotel Buffalo Niagara Christa Beal 716-845-5100 [email protected] Buffalo Millennium Airport Hotel Buffalo Edwin Shelp 716-206-8325 [email protected] N. Syracuse Ramada Syracuse Judy Herzig 315-457-8670 [email protected] Niagara Falls Comfort Inn -The Pointe- Tricia Mezhir 716-284-6835 [email protected] Niagara Falls Sheraton at the Falls Monica Rapini 716-278-2622 [email protected] Salamanca Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel Holly Sickels 716-343-5729 [email protected] Dayton Crowne Plaza Dayton Kris Davis 937-229-9831 [email protected] Fairborn Holiday Inn Dayton/Fairborn Matt Pauley 937-431-4611 [email protected] WPAFB Hope Hotel & Richard C Holbrooke Conf Ct Matt LeValley 937-879-2696 [email protected] Norman NCED Hotel Candie Westbrook 405-366-4976 [email protected] Bend Red Lion Hotel Bend Suzanne Heise 541-382-7011 [email protected] Medford Red Lion Hotel Medford Margaret Knight 541-779-5811 [email protected] Pendleton Red Lion Hotel Pendleton Cheryl Rolstad 541-276-6111 [email protected] Portland Red Lion on the River Jantzen Beach Michele Clifford 503-283-4466 [email protected] Camp Hill Radisson Hotel Harrisburg Lindsay Peters 717-433-9737 [email protected] Frazer Sheraton Great Valley Hotel Kim Turnbaugh 610-280-2090 [email protected] Harrisburg Sheraton Harrisburg-Hershey Hotel Megan Savannah 717-565-3340 [email protected] Philadelphia Crowne Plaza Main Line Philadelphia Ron Balle 215-477-0200 [email protected] Philadelphia Holiday Inn Historic District Mizetta Hopkins 267-765-3327 [email protected] Pittsburgh Doubletree by Hilton Pittsburg Green Tre Denise Verzi Goetz 412-920-8077 [email protected] Warwick Crowne Plaza Hotel Michelle Sartrys 401-732-6029 [email protected] Warwick Sheraton Providence Airport Lisa Kasprzak 401-824-0670 [email protected] Charleston Holiday Inn Charleston Riverview Rose Guinn 843-460-1441 [email protected] Charleston Town & Country Inn & Conference Center Stephen Clarke 843-329-3304 [email protected] Myrtle Beach Landmark Resort Hotel Pat Emmons 843-448-9441 [email protected] Myrtle Beach p 43 Sea Mist Oceanfront Resort Leanne McCulloch 843-282-5125 [email protected] Myrtle Beach Springmaid Beach Resort Sharon Kemerer 843-315-7173 [email protected] North Charleston Radisson Hotel Charleston Airport Stacie Lynam 843-744-2501 [email protected] North Charleston Sheraton Charleston Airport Hotel Lindsey Stedman 843-529-2312 [email protected] Rapid City Grand Gateway Hotel Bob Hodet 866-742-1300 [email protected]


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Hotels (continued)TN Chattanooga Chattanooga Choo Choo Tonya Steele 423-308-2406 [email protected] Chattanooga Country Inn & Suites/ I-24 West Christi Baggett 423-825-6100 [email protected] Clarksville The Riverview Inn Renee Bruens 931-552-3331 [email protected] Gatlinburg Greystone Lodge at the Aquarium Renee- Spurling 865-436-5621 [email protected] Gatlinburg The Park Vista A Doubletree By Hilton Angela Quigley 865-277-1042 [email protected] Millington Holiday Inn Express Millington Miriam Drenning 901-872-3640 [email protected] Nashville Holiday Inn Express Airport Area Mari Anne Liporace 615-883-1366 [email protected] Nashville Holiday Inn Express Nashville Downtown Jennifer Jones 615-244-0379 [email protected] Nashville Holiday Inn Opryland Airport Sonya Slay 615-316-1062 [email protected] Nashville Millennium Maxwell House Hotel Katie Goyette 615-313-1366 [email protected] Nashville Sheraton Music City Hotel Devin J. Murphy 615-231-1252 [email protected] Pigeon Forge Music Road Hotel David Sorge 800-429-7700 [email protected] Austin Holiday Inn Midtown Austin Theresa Campos 512-206-3015 [email protected] Galveston Holiday Inn Resort on the Beach Carly Rowland 409-740-5300 [email protected] San Antonio El Tropicano Hotel Michael Rodriguez 210-277-4046 [email protected] San Antonio Holiday Inn Airport Roland Lopez 210-524-5932 [email protected] San Antonio Holiday Inn San Antonio Riverwalk Debbie Zaeske 210-272-1514 [email protected] Salt Lake City Red Lion Hotel Salt Lake Downtown Jerry Mika 801-521-7373 [email protected] Alexandria Hilton Alexandria Mark Ctr Michael Sicheri 703-845-2645 [email protected] Arlington Crowne Plaza Washington Natl Airport Sean Mansfield 703-842-1222 [email protected] Arlington Crystal City Marriott/Regan Natl Airport Department Sales 703-413-5500 ***VA Arlington Holiday Inn National Airport/Cry Sean Mansfield 703-842-1222 [email protected] Ashburn Embassy Suites Dulles North Jolene Pardee 703-554-6051 [email protected] Dulles Holiday Inn Dulles Airport Lorrie Hooper 703-563-1502 [email protected] Dumfries Holiday Inn Dumfries Quantico Ctr Petra Carr 703-441-9001 [email protected] Fairfax The Mason Inn Kelly Smith 703-865-4623 [email protected] Falls Church The Westin TYSONS CORNER Alex Lindemann 703-893-1340 [email protected] Hampton Crowne Plaza Hampton Marina Hotel Valerie Todd 757-727-8916 [email protected] Herndon Hilton Washington/Dulles Leslie Bauman 703-834-1991 ***VA Manassas Comfort Suites Manassas Deborah Nicolas 703-686-1100 [email protected] McLean Courtyard by Marriott-Tysons Corner Kathleen Porter 703-790-0207 [email protected] McLean Crowne Plaza Tysons Corner Maggie Drummond 703-738-3118 [email protected] Newport News Marriott Newport News @ City Ctr Karen Murrell 757-310-5008 [email protected] Newport News Point Plaza Suites & Conf Ctr Kelli Lantz 757-952-0116 [email protected] Norfolk Hilton Norfolk Airport Colleen Briley 757-466-8000 [email protected] Norfolk Holiday Inn Norfolk Airport Donna Faison 757-213-2231 [email protected] Reston Sheraton Reston Bob Ciccone 703-262-5931 [email protected] Virginia Beach Best Western Plus Virginia Beach Rachel Hayes 757-428-5370 [email protected] Virginia Beach Cavalier Hotel & Convention Center Cindy Woolfolk 757-352-2764 [email protected] Virginia Beach Crowne Plaza Virginia Beach Valencia Moore 757-213-4386 [email protected] Virginia Beach Holiday Inn & Suites North Beach Amanda Mason 757-419-3665 [email protected] Virginia Beach Holiday Inn Virginia Beach Norfolk Hotel Katie Casson 757-499-4400 [email protected] Williamsburg Colonial Williamsburg Resort Collection Scott F. Coelln 800-822-9127 [email protected] Bellevue Red Lion Hotel Bellevue Andrea Sullivan 425-455-5240 [email protected] Kelso Red Lion Hotel Kelso/Longview Ginny Whiffen 360-636-4400 [email protected] Olympia Red Lion Hotel Olympia Ann Sweeney 360-943-4000 [email protected] Richland Red Lion Richland Hanford House Genevieve Speegle 509-946-7611 [email protected] Seatac Seattle Airport Marriott Kris Lafata 206-241-2000 [email protected] Seattle Crowne Plaza Seattle Downtown Beth Harwood 206-676-3923 [email protected] Seattle DoubleTree Suites-Hilton Seattle Arpt SC Diane Witt 206-777-3389 [email protected] Spokane Red Lion Hotel at the Park Stephanie Stobie 509-326-8000 [email protected] Vancouver Red Lion Hotel Vancouver at the Quay Michele Dunn 360-694-8341 [email protected]


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bersHotels (continued)WI Appleton Radisson Paper Valley Hotel Nancy Hollis 920-733-8000 [email protected] Brookfield Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield Adam VanOuwerkerk 262-364-1010 [email protected] Green Bay Radisson Hotel Green Bay Jennifer Simonar 920-494-7300 [email protected] Neenah Best Western Bridgewood Resort Hotel Joe Williamson 920-967-4950 [email protected]

Hotel Management Companies

Hotel Management Companies and Hotel Chains are increasingly aware of the military reunion market. These TRN Management Company & Chain Members

offer the reunion planner an opportunity to look at a number of locations and sites using one source.

MD Bethesda B F Saul Company - Hotel Division Joe Koch 240-793-3736 [email protected] Rochester Carlson Rezido Hotel Group Janelle Smith 507-884-9610 [email protected] Greenville JHM Management, Inc. Ann Kies 864-528-5814 [email protected] Spokane Red Lion Hotels Corporation Sharon Danitschek 509-777-6302 [email protected]

General Attractions

These RFN Members provide additional services and support for your reunions. Help yourself and help TRN continue its work. Always go to RFN Members first!

AK Wrangell Nolan Center Terri Henson 907-874-3699 [email protected] Washington Phillips Seafood Restaurants Debra Morroni 202-488-8192 [email protected] St Augustine Ripley-s Believe It or Not Museum Kathi Ellison 904-824-1606 [email protected] Branson Branson Variety Theater Lisa Martin 888-462-7267 [email protected] Branson Dixie Stampede Dinner Attraction Kamber Sperle 417-336-7974 [email protected] Branson Flash Photo Group Photography David Cain 417-334-0073 [email protected] Branson Jim Stafford Theatre Tate Womack 800-677-8533 [email protected] Branson Mansion Entertainment & Media Ctr Amy Leaming 417-239-3058 [email protected] Branson Showboat Branson Belle Teina Woodburn 417-338-3911 [email protected] Branson Sight and Sound Theatres Simi Telesco 717-687-4220 [email protected] Branson The Starlite Theatre Jill Pearce 417-335-6350 [email protected] Branson Titanic Museum Attraction Ruth Ann Crust 417-334-9500 [email protected] St Louis The Gateway Arch Riverfront Natasha McIntosh 314-923-3047 [email protected] Lockport Lockport Locks & Erie Canal Cruises Mike Murphy 716-433-6155 [email protected] North Myrtle Beach The Alabama Theatre CMP, Kathy B Flowe 843-272-5758 [email protected] Nashville Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum Keith Wright 615-416-2001 [email protected] Nashville Grand Ole Opry/Gaylord Attractions Joshua T. Mullins 615-882-5439 [email protected] Tacoma Emerald Queen Hotel & Casino Doreen Vitek 253-441-3189 [email protected]


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1) Traveling with RFN to Cape Cod, Massachusetts & Daytona Beach, Florida2) Complete ConFAM© and WorkFAM© Parade for 2013

In The Next Issue:

USA Promotions

FL Hollywood Promotional Associates, Inc. Stephen C. Greenberger 954-295-5955 [email protected]

Military Oriented Attractions

Everyone wants to have a good time! These attractions offer fun things to do for your reunion attendees.

As RFN Members, these attractions promise a great experience!

IA Waterloo Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum Cyd McHone 319-234-6357 [email protected] Branson Veterans Memorial Museum June Tillis 417-336-2300 [email protected] Norfolk Nauticus & Battleship Wisconsin Colby Peck 757-664-1021 [email protected] Triangle National Museum of the Marine Corps Sara O-Bryan 703-649-2365 [email protected] Seattle The Museum of Flight Meagan McGuire 206-768-7104 [email protected]

Riding the Thunderstorm

Lt. Col. William Rankin ejected from his F8 Crusader at 47,000 feet after suffering a catastrophic engine, electrical, and systems failure while flying at 500 knots, or nearly 600 miles per hour. Shot into the freezing air nine miles above earth that summer evening in 1959, Rankin’s body immediately suffered the ravages of explosive decompression. His nose bled, his body swelled and the wind nearly tore him apart. That was only the beginning. Rankin fell straight into a thunderstorm that triggered the decompression switches on his parachute. He was then spun around, frozen, hit by hail, and surrounded by lighting and air so thick with water he had to hold his breath to avoid drowning. Spun upside down, sideways, and into his rigging, Rankin’s luck held. Eventually he landed after smashing into a tree... 65 miles and 40 minutes after he ejected. Rankin lived for another 50 years before passing away in 2009, and was known after his harrowing experience as the “Man Who Rode the Thunder,” and the only person to ever have survived a fall from the top of a cumulonimbus thunderstorm cloud.


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Close your eyes and picture the soldier as he holds his musket in his bloody hands.

He stands barefoot in the snow, starved from lack of food, wounded from months

of battle and emotionally scarred from the eternity

away from his family surrounded by

nothing but death and the carnage of war.

He stands tough, with fi re in his eyes and victory on his breath. He looks at us now in anger and disgust

and tells us this:

“I gave you a birthright of freedom born in the Constitution and now your children graduate too illiterate to read it.”

“I fought in the snow barefoot to give you the freedom to vote and you stay at home because it rains.”

“I left my family destitute to give you the freedom of speech and you remain silent on crit-ical issues, because it might be bad for business.”

“I orphaned my children to give you a govern-ment to serve you and it has stolen democracy from the people.”

“It’s the soldier, not the reporter, who gives you the freedom of the press.”

“It’s the soldier, not the poet, who gives you the freedom of speech.”

“It’s the soldier, not the campus organizer, who allows you to demonstrate.”

“It’s the soldier who salutes the fl ag, serves the fl ag, whose coffi n is draped with the fl ag that allows the protester to burn the fl ag!”

Gift from a Soldier in Valley ForgeA Tribute to ALL Veterans

THE REUNION NETWORK

2450 HOLLYWOOD BLVD.SUITE 504HOLLYWOOD FL 33020

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDFORT LAUDERDALE, FL

PERMIT 5395

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

“Serving Those WhoServed Our Country”

TRN2003-Fall.indd 64 10/10/2003, 11:55:42 AM

Close your eyes and picture the soldier as he holds his musket in his bloody hands.

He stands barefoot in the snow, starved from lack of food, wounded from months

of battle and emotionally scarred from the eternity

away from his family surrounded by

nothing but death and the carnage of war.

He stands tough, with fi re in his eyes and victory on his breath. He looks at us now in anger and disgust

and tells us this:

“I gave you a birthright of freedom born in the Constitution and now your children graduate too illiterate to read it.”

“I fought in the snow barefoot to give you the freedom to vote and you stay at home because it rains.”

“I left my family destitute to give you the freedom of speech and you remain silent on crit-ical issues, because it might be bad for business.”

“I orphaned my children to give you a govern-ment to serve you and it has stolen democracy from the people.”

“It’s the soldier, not the reporter, who gives you the freedom of the press.”

“It’s the soldier, not the poet, who gives you the freedom of speech.”

“It’s the soldier, not the campus organizer, who allows you to demonstrate.”

“It’s the soldier who salutes the fl ag, serves the fl ag, whose coffi n is draped with the fl ag that allows the protester to burn the fl ag!”

Gift from a Soldier in Valley ForgeA Tribute to ALL Veterans

THE REUNION NETWORK

2450 HOLLYWOOD BLVD.SUITE 504HOLLYWOOD FL 33020

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDFORT LAUDERDALE, FL

PERMIT 5395


“Serving Those WhoServed Our Country”

TRN2003-Fall.indd 64 10/10/2003, 11:55:42 AM


Fall, 2012

Reunion FRiendlysm netwoRk2450 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 500Hollywood FL 33020

You Asked For It - Now It Is Here!

Reunion Insurance with Host Liquor Liability

The American Military Reunion Foundation (AMRF) was formed as a nonprofit organization to offer an economical source for military reunion organizations to obtain tax, accounting, legal and insurance services.

There are many benefits to joining AMRF – here are just a few:

AMRF has purchased a FOUR MILLION DOLLAR Reunion Extended Liability Insurance policy. Coverage under this policy is available to all AMRF member military reunion groups. It is available ONLY to AMRF members. Rates are reasonable starting at $299 for small groups AND less than $500 even for groups up to 200.

Insurance is only the beginning!If all you want is insurance, we’ll give you a FREE Associate Membership, so your group can qualify. But there ‘s a lot more to AMRF. BUT! AMRF is a veteran’s tax-exempt non-profit organization. If you join you get any or all of these benefits:

1) Formal & legal organization status, including a Federal ID#, under the AMRF Veterans’ IRS Status

2) No annual Federal or State filing fees

3) No Annual Federal or State renewal fees

4) Accounting includes a Year-End Financial Statement prepared by a C.P.A.

5) Free Bank Account for your group, using the legal group ID# NOT your Social Security number

6) No sales tax required for your banquet in seven states.

7) Non-profit mailing permit for your newsletter

8) Access to an inexpensive legal contract review

Want an application form? – Contact [email protected]

You Asked For It - Now It Is Here!

Reunion Insurance with Host Liquor Liability

The American Military Reunion Foundation (AMRF) was formed as a nonprofit organization to offer an economical source for military reunion organizations to obtain tax, accounting, legal and insurance services.

There are many benefits to joining AMRF – here are just a few:

AMRF has purchased a FOUR MILLION DOLLAR Reunion Extended Liability Insurance policy. Coverage under this policy is available to all AMRF member military reunion groups. It is available ONLY to AMRF members. Rates are reasonable starting at $299 for small groups AND less than $500 even for groups up to 200.

Insurance is only the beginning!If all you want is insurance, we’ll give you a FREE Associate Membership, so your group can qualify. But there ‘s a lot more to AMRF. BUT! AMRF is a veteran’s tax-exempt non-profit organization. If you join you get any or all of these benefits:

1) Formal & legal organization status, including a Federal ID#, under the AMRF Veterans’ IRS Status

2) No annual Federal or State filing fees

3) No Annual Federal or State renewal fees

4) Accounting includes a Year-End Financial Statement prepared by a C.P.A.

5) Free Bank Account for your group, using the legal group ID# NOT your Social Security number

6) No sales tax required for your banquet in seven states.

7) Non-profit mailing permit for your newsletter

8) Access to an inexpensive legal contract review

Want an application form? – Contact [email protected]

reunion friendly news fall 2012, rfn news

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