Monday, March 11, 2013

2013 Reunion Event Descriptions


USS ALTAIR AKS 32
EVENT DESCRIPTIONS

To all crew members of USS ALTAIR AKS 32, regarding our upcoming reunion in New Orleans,
Louisiana:
Event New Orleans City Tour:
Tuesday September 24th 2013

Come along with us to tour one of America's unique cities.  New Orleans has a rich history,combining European , Carribean, and African cultures to create a melting pot of interesting personalities, food, and entertainment.  It is the birthplace of jazz and boasts some of the finest food you've put on your plate.  We are offering a 3-hour tour, including the French Quarter, (Bourbon Street, St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square, Pat O'Briens, Brennan's, Cafe du Monde, and the open-air French Market.)  LAISSEZ LES BONS TEMPS ROULER!  (Let the Good Times Roll!) 
The tour goes to Uptown New Orleans, the beautiful  Garden District with its stately residences.  Eli Manning, Sandra Bullock, Delta Burke, John Goodman, and Ann Rice all have homes in this area.
Other points of interest include Congo Square, where the slaves were traded, and Treme, home of many New Orleans jazz musicians.  We will make a stop at an above-ground cemetery, unique to New Orleans, full of elaborate crypts and rich in history.  Time permitting, we will also see Ward Nine, the area hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina. Habitat for Humanity, Harry Connick, Jr, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have been deeply involved in efforts to rebuild this area.
The narrated tour will begin from Harrahs at 8:30 AM. The auction will be held in the Hospitality Room following the buffet luncheon.
The BIG Event The National WWII Museum Tour:
Wednesday September 25th 2013

We are planning a day of enjoyment on Wednesday, 9/25/13, at the National WWII Museum.  The best prices we could get for all of us:  Round trip transportation to the Museum--$18 each;  Entrance to the museum, plus the 4D movie "Beyond All Boundaries"--$21 Seniors each and $17 each for retired military and their spouses.  "Beyond All Boundaries" was produced and narrated by Tom Hanks and Gary Sinise (Lt. Dan of Forest Gump fame) exclusively for the WWII Museum and is available nowhere else in the world.  It is the story of the Greatest Generation's journey from Pearl Harbor into the fire of epic battles to America's final victory, told in the words of the veterans themselves. 
The Stage Door Canteen will provide a buffet lunch at noon.  This will be followed at 12:45 pm by the Victory Belles, a trio reminiscent of the Andrews Sisters.  Their show, "A Salute to Our Heroes," features music from George M. Cohan and Irving Berlin.  Songs such as "The Star Spangled Banner" and "God Bless the USA" will capture our patriotism, touch our hearts and stir our souls.  The Victory Belles will take us on a musical journey saluting our military and home front heroes in all eras, in all conflicts, and in all services.  
This will be an all day affair. Museum hours are 9:00am to 5:00pm. Transportation will leave Harrah's at 8:30 am and take us back to Harrah's at the end of the day.  For those wanting to visit the museum's newest exhibit, the submarine USS Tang, there is an additional charge of $5. If you are interested in visiting the Museum a second day, you may purchase tickets at the museum for $5 extra.  Come join us for a day to remember.. 
Event Banquet Dinner at Harrahs:
Thursday September 26th 2013

Please see the reservation form for meal options. We will all meet in the Hospitality room after the Banquet.

2013 Reunion Information



WELCOME TO THE USS ALTAIR AKS32 REUNION
SEPTEMBER 23 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 26, 2013
HARRAHS HOTEL AND CASINO NEW ORLEANS

The board members chose week days for our 2013 reunion to take advantage of reduced hotel rates and less-crowded conditions. Arriving Monday allows you to take Tuesday's city tour. Thursday during the day will be free for shopping and sight-seeing.

REGISTRATION/TOUR DESK--Registration will be in the Hospitality Room—SATCHMO ROOM.

TOURS AND EVENTS . City Tour, Tuesday, September 24, 2013.  See attachment for details. World War II Museum, Wednesday, September 26, 2013. This promises to be the highlight of our reunion. See attached description of musuem attractions.

PARKING 
Valet parking at Harrahs is $40.00 per night. Self-parking is free if you spend 30 minutes per day playing any gaming device, using a rewards card, including the penny slot machines. Otherwise, self-parking is $30 per day. The Rewards card can be obtained at the Rewards desk in the Casino.

HOTEL RESERVATIONS must be made directly with Harrahs Hotel and Casino, New Orleans at (best way) 1-504-533-6000 direct or the automated reservation number 1-800-427-7247. The USS Altair AKS 32 code for these reservations is SO9USS3, to receive the negotiated rate of $119.00 plus tax= $136.73 per night, single or double occupancy.  Additional persons will be charged $30 each per night, maximum persons per room is four.  Individual guests may cancel without penalty up to 72 hours prior to the scheduled arrival.  Check in is 4PM; check out is 11 AM.  Some rooms are available at this rate starting Sunday, 9/22/13.  We have a commitment of 17 rooms Sunday and 35 rooms Monday, 9/23/13, through Thursday, 9/26/13, at the negotiated rate.  Additional rooms may be available, first come, first served at the negotiated rate.

Buffet breakfast vouchers are available at a 50% discount (the current full price is $15.99 plus tax.) Please order the number of breakfasts for the entire stay using the reservation form included.
The USS ALTAIR AKS 32 ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Clifton Hoke New Orleans reunion coordinator email cliff@isbco.com phone 601-946-2144
Richard Stader back up reunion coordinator email dickandterry@sbcglobal.net phone 262-914-6204
Joe Basso email jomapakg032@verizon.net phone 732-441-1077
Dan Douglas email ddouglas@aol.com phone 203-966-1851
Tom Planes email tomplanes@windstream.net phone 770-307-1747

IMPORTANT
Make your Hotel Reservations at Harrahs as soon as you decide to attend the reunion. We have limited rooms available, first come first served.
Fill out the reservation form and mail it to Cliff Hoke. PLEASE INCLUDE a self-addressed, stamped envelope for a registration confirmation. We do not need your check until August 1, 2013. 

2013 Reunion Reservation Form


USS ALTAIR AKS 32
2013 REUNION RESERVATION FORM
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
SEPTEMBER 23-26, 2013
DATE
EVENT
COST
QTY
TOTAL


REUNION REGISTRATION FEE
$15 pp





Hospitality Room
$25 pp





Breakfast Buffet each day include total number Breakfasts
$9 pp



09/24/13
TOUR 3 hour Historic New Orleans 8:30 to 11:30 includes transportation and a buffet lunch at Harrahs after the tour. Followed by the auction. Master Chief Dick Stader auctioneer
$33 pp



09/25/13
TOUR The National WWII Museum including: the 4D movie Beyond all Boundaries, buffet lunch, the Stage Door Canteen (live USO performance “A Salute to Our Heros”) including round trip transportation.
Retired Military and spouses $72 pp
Seniors $76 pp






09/26/13
Banquet Dinner 7 to 10 pm at the Hotel in the Fulton Salons Open Cash Bar








Herb Crusted Free Range Chicken Breast,
soup or salad and dessert
$53 pp
includes tax & gratuity






Blackened Louisiana Redfish Topped with Shrimp and Artichoke, Popcorn Rice, soup or salad and dessert
$56
includes tax & gratuity






Center Cut Filet of Beef Reduction Roasted Garlic and Truffle Roasted Potato, soup or salad and dessert
$74 pp
includes tax & gratuity






TOTAL







Complete and mail this entire form to Cliff Hoke 257 Pecan Creek Drive Madison MS 39110-8717, without a check.
Make check payable to USS Altair AKS 32 Association and mail check to Cliff Hoke by August 1, 2013.
Reservations are due no later than August 1, 2013.
Please provide the following:
Name (as you want it to show on your badge)_____________________________________________________________
Spouse (as you want it to show on the badge) ____________________________________________________________
Guest(s) __________________________________________________________________________________________
Address _____________________________City___________________ST______Zip____________________________
Phone: (cell) _____________________ Phone: (home/other) _______________________________________________
Emergency Contact: (during the reunion) Name: _________________________________Phones___________________
Years Served Aboard the USS Altair 19_____ to _____

Hotel Reservations must be made directly with Harrahs Hotel and Casino New Orleans at (best way) 1-504-533-6000 direct or the automated reservation numbeer 1-800-427-7247. The USS Altair AKS 32 code for these reservations is SO9USS3, to receive the negotiated rate of $119.00 plus tax = $136.73 per night single or double occupancy. Additional persons will be charged $30.00 each per night, maximum persons per room is four.
Individual guests may cancel without penalty up to 72 hours of the scheduled arrival. Check in 4 PM check out 11AM.
Some rooms are available at this rate starting Sunday 9/22/13. We have a commitment of 17 rooms Sunday and 35 rooms Monday 9-23-13 through Thursday 9-26-13 at the negotiated rate. Additional rooms may be available, first come first served at the negotiated rate.
Buffet Breakfast vouchers are available at a 50% discount (the current full price is $15.99 plus tax). Please order total number of breakfasts for the entire stay using this form.

Please include a self addressed stamped envelope for a registration confirmation.

Tuesday, March 05, 2013

February 2013 by Charles Brecheisen

Greetings Altair Crew.  Here is your monthly report for February 2013.

DUES:  Yes, it's that time of the year........Dues are only $10 and that's quite a bargain.  Please make out the check to:

     Charles M. Brecheisen
     248 Drifting Cloud
     Holly Lake Ranch,  TX  75765-6321

FINANCIAL:  The Altair bank savings account was in several names including my deceased wife's name for ease of access in case something  happened to me.  To prevent any future situations, I closed the account and sent a certified check to board member Richard Stader, who will set up a new Altair bank savings account in Kenosha, WI.  The check was for $5794.18.

     The beginning cash-on-hand balance was $1686.14 with dues income of $200.00 and no expenses leaving a balance of $1886.14.  The beginning bank savings account was $5792.95 with interest income of $1.23 leaving a balance of $5794.18.  This money was transferred to Shipmate Stader.  The total Altair savings is $7680.32.

     When the Stader family returns to Kenosha, WI from FL, I will take $1000.00 of the cash on-hand monies and send to Shipmate Stader to put into the bank savings account.  I do not need that much cash-on-hand for expenses (printing, stamps, labels, envelops, etc.)

     For the time being, continue to send dues monies to me and I  will forward to Shipmate Stader.

REUNION:  Information will forthcoming shortly.