Changes to Newsletter Distribution

Greetings Altair Shipmates.

First of all, let me thank more than 40 (to date) dues paying shipmates that support the entire crew with their yearly dues. Some have sent in dues for several years too. Thanks!

My shipmate list has 414 crew members of which 305 have email and 102 have no email. I show a few shipmates with bad email/or addresses. When I do a full mailing of the double side (8 pages) Altair Newsletter, the approx. total cost is over $500 which includes printing, envelopes, stamps, labels, ind, etc. Of course less pages, less printing cost. Plus, there are 2500 physical operations to fold (the printer does the stapling), insert, attach 2 mailing labels, stamp and seal which Lillie and I do. The total cost per mailing the newsletter is approx. $1.25 each to cover over 400 shipmates. I am proposing to email the newsletter as a PDF attachment to the 305 shipmates that have email. A PDF reader is a FREE download from Adobe, and others. I receive quite a few emails with a PDF attachments which I download to my desktop (so I can find them) and just double click on it and the Adobe reader opens the file. IT WORKS GREAT! The other 102 shipmates with no email will get the newsletter via snail mail. This will save at least $300 plus! I can purchase "docudesk", or another PDF conversion software for under #30. I have tested this method with several shipmates and it works fine! You just need a PDF reader.

The chairman of our 2009 reunion in Branson, MO is Dick Stader. Information has already been sent via email and snail mail to all the shipmates about the reunion There will be additional information to be sent, forms to be filled out and returned to Dick; and, I will be sending this information as a PDF file attachment to your email. A mailing of only 2 sheets of paper to cover all the shipmates would cost approx. $.64 each totaling $250. Doing this will allow me to mail only 102 copies to shipmates with email and save dollars.

PDF IS ON THE WAY! And, it is the way to go!

If you do not want to receive email with attachments please let me know and the info will be snail mailed.

Comments are welcome and please reply to cmbaltairaks32@fastmail.

Best Regards To All..........Charles

2009 Reunion Information

Greetings Altair Shipmates.

Our reunion Chairman Dick Stader has announced that our next USS Altair reunion will be in Branson, Missouri, starting Friday, October 23, 2009 through Sunday, October 25, 2009 and departing Monday October 26, 2009. If there is enough shipmate interest, the reunion could start on Thursday, October 22, 2009.

PLEASE CONTACT DICK STADER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE REUNION!!

Dick needs to plan for hotels, shows, etc.

Dick can be reached at dickandterry5 @ sbcglobal.net (you will have type in the email address to prevent spamming)

Or use the following address:

Dick Stader
1511 84th. Street
Kenosha, WI 53143
262-654-9202

Please do not respond to this email; but contact Dick.

Best Regards To All.........Charles ( cmbaltairaks32 @ fastmail.us )

December 2008 by Charles Brecheisen

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Let's all have a happy, prosperous and a very healthy 2009.

NEW SHIPMATE: Please welcome aboard Allen Lambert, SN, 1960-1962.
Allen resides in Ft. Worth, Texas. WELCOME ABOARD Allen!

FINANCIAL: Beginning cash balance was $507.62 with income from dues of $400.00 and an adjustment of $2.38 leaving a cash balance of $910.00. The amount in the Altair savings account is $1813.00 leaving a total balance of $2723.00.

REUNION: We are waiting for the reunion chairman and crew to report the selection.

Thanks to the 30 plus shipmates that paid 2009 dues in December!!

All for now. Please contact me at cmbaltairaks32@fastmail.us with any comments or questions. Please do not reply to this email.

Best Regards To All.........Charles

Commander George J. Largess (Ret) passed away

Dear Webmasters of the USS Altair Website,

I hope this is the best way to pass along this information. My father, Commander George J. Largess USN (Ret), who commanded the Altair after her commissioning in Baltimore in 52, passed away on December 11 2008 after a short illness. He'd been doing great at the age of 91 but his kidneys began to fail and he declined quickly. He was very proud of his role in the Altair's history and frequently talked about her.

I'd love to hear from anyone who served with him who has any memories to share. And he'll be buried at Arlington on Wednesday, 28 January, at 0900 with full military honors-- all are most welcome to come, we'd love to have some of his shipmates there.

If anyone would like to reach me for more information I'm at _Largitas@aol.com_ (mailto:Largitas@aol.com) and again, would love to touch base with anyone from the ship. Thank you,

Bill Largess