Tuesday, November 21, 2023

October 2023 monthly report by Charles Brecheisen

Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your monthly report for October 2023.

SHIPMATE PASSING:  Shipmate Thomas, John B., FN 1960-1962 passed 29 October 2023.

REUNION:  The reunion from 6th thru the 10th this month in Myrtle Beach, SC.  Have fun and enjoy the companionship!

FINANCIAL:  Beginning and ending cash balance is $45.51, no changes;  beginning and ending savings is $2,386.37, no changes; beginning and ending Reunion Committee balance is $971.02, no changes.  Totals of $3,402.90

ALTAIR INFORMATION AND REPORTING:  Since my month old lightning strike disaster and my precarious ever decreasing health situation, it is imperative that a backup information source be established and fairly quickly.  I should have done this some time ago!  I show a total of 296 active shipmates with 239 using email and 57 shipmates only using snail mail for the information.  I keep a multitude database records all on Excel:  an active address list, a shipmate list for each Altair active year in service and a master master list showing over 700 shipmates listed.  These lists are available to any Altair shipmate wishing to see the others that were aboard when he was.  Plus, maintaining communications regarding the upcoming Altair reunions is critical and also other important updates.  Shipmate Ivan Samuels has suggested using Mailchimp as an email source since the cost would be zero for less than 500 emails.  As an address data base for labels, I use "StatTrack Address Manager All Pro 5.1.7" and it's a pretty good system.  It's really been fun and I have enjoyed doing all this!!  But, if I crash...............  So, we need a volunteer to develop a back up system.  You can contact me on this email address or my home email address "cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us"

All for now.  For questions and info, please contact me at "cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us"

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

September 2023 monthly report by Charles Brecheisen

 Greetings Altair Crew.  Here is your monthly report for September 2023.


DISASTER:  Last week I suffered a lightning hit.  And, even though I thought I was unplugged grounded and prepared, guess what!  It made no difference!  I lost my main computer, complete land line telephone system, TV, Internet and a couple of misc items.  Fortunately, I had the system backed up on an outboard hard drive plus 2 SanDisk USBs. So, I am learning a new system.  A smart computer user cannot have too many backs!!!!

REUNION:  The next Altair reunion is rapidly approaching....Nov. 6-10.  If you need any additional info, please let me know.

FINANCIAL:  Beginning and ending cash balance is $45.51, no changes;  Beginning and ending savings is $2,386.37, no changes;  the beginning and ending Reunion Committee balance is $971.02, no changes.  Totals of $3,402.90.

All for now.  For questions and info contact me at 'cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us'

Best Wishes To All........Charles

August 2023 monthly report by Charles Brecheisen

Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your report for August 2023.

East Coast Shipmates be on the alert for approaching hurricane!!

SHIPMATE PASSING:  Shipmate Mike Troiano reports the passing of  Shipmate Doug Iorio, SK3 1963-65.  Shipmate Iorio's son, Paolo would like a photograph of his father in a Navy uniform while aboard ship.  If any shipmate can find a photograph of Shipmate Iorio in uniform, please forward to Shipmate Mike Troiano for passing along to son Paolo Iorio.  Mike can be reached at "michael.troiano@att.net"  I have been thru all my files and since I was not aboard with Shipmate Iorio, I found nothing showing SK3 Iorio.

FINANCIAL:  The beginning and ending cash balance is $45.51 with no changes; the beginning and ending saving balance is $2,386.37 with no changes; the beginning and ending Reunion Committee balance is $971.02 with no changes.  Totaling $3,402.90.

All for now.  Any questions or comments, please contact me at "cmbaltairaks32@fastmail.us"

Best Wishes To All.........Charles 

July 2023 monthly report by Charles Brecheisen

 Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your report for July 2023.


Not much news and not much going around my neck of the woods.  Due to no rain, burn bans everywhere and daily temperatures  102-106 daily with higher humidity.

SHIPMATE PASSING:  It was report the following shipmate's passing:

    Babyak, Douglas, MM2, 1961-1963 on or near June 2, 2023

FINANCIAL:  Beginning cash balance of $65.46 with a Domain Renewal cost of $19.95 leaving a balance of $45.51; The beginning and ending savings balance of $2,386.37 with no changes; the beginning and ending Reunion Committee balance of $971.02 with no changes;  totals of $3,402.90,

All for now.  Any comments or questions please contact me at "cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us"

Best Wishes To All......Charles

June 2023 monthly report by Charles Brecheisen

 Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your monthly report for June 2023.


HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!  Hope every one has a fun filled, good food and a safe holiday!  It's still hard for me to believe that this year is already half gone........Halloween items are already being sold.

SHIPMATES PASSING:  
    Fuller, Joel, SN 1963-1965; MIA
    Guzdziol, Harold L., IC3 1954-1955; passed 29 March 2023
    Smethers, Charles W., SKSN 1952; passed 2 Nov. 2014

FINANCIAL:  Beginning and ending cash-on-hand balance $65.46 with no changes; Beginning and ending savings $2,386.37 with no changes; beginning and ending Reunion Committee balance $971.02 with no changes.  Total Altair balance of $3,422.85.

All for now.  Any comments or questions please contact me at "cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us"

Best Wishes..........Charles

May 2023 monthly report by Charles Brecheisen

 Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your monthly report for May.


AIR QUALITY:  Air quality in the NE USA is horrible and dangerous.  Since I have severe lung problems, I watch air quality reports very  closely.  I found a new web site where I get up to date and forecast air quality reports.  The site is "airnow.gov" and just plug in your zip or city.  

SHIPMATE PASSING:  Jindracek, Roy, DK3 1954-1956; passed Nov. 2020.

FINANCIAL:  The beginning and ending cash-on-hand $65.46 with no changes; the beginning and ending Altair savings is $2,386.37 with no changes; the beginning and ending Reunion Committee Balance is $971.02 with no changes.  Totaling $3,422.85.

All for now.  For comments or questions email me at "cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us"

Best Wishes to All.........Charles

http://www.ussaltair-aks32.org
http://aks32.blogspot.com
http://altair.smugmug.com

March 2023 monthly report by Charles Brecheisen

 Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your monthly report for March 2023.


WEATHER:  It's been a wild weather start for 2023.  I hope all our shipmate and their families keep an acute awareness of the forecasts in their areas; and have emergency plans.  I have been lucky here in NE Texas and we have only had the tail end of the major front systems.  The rest of the country has not been so lucky.  TAKE CARE!

FINANCIAL:  My beginning balance was $162.24 and had expenses of $55.00 for postage and $41.78 for printing, leaving a balance of $65.46.  The beginning and ending  balance of the Savings Acct. is $2,386.37 with no change.  The beginning and ending balance of the Reunion Committee Acct. is $971.02 with no change.  Totaling $3,422.85.

SHIPMATES PASSING:  Unfortunately, we lost a few shipmates:

    Ledesma, Ernesto, SK3, 1961-1962; passed Jan 15, 2022
    Konwinski, Stanley W., BT1, 1963-1965; passed Dec. 24, 2020
    Williams, Jackie Lee, SN, 1962-1964, passed Feb. 16, 2023
    Treaster, Donald L., AM1, 1962; passed Feb. 16, 2023
    Fallone, Arthur, SN, 1959-1960; Memorial Service June 17, 2022

All for now.  For questions and comments, contact me at "cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us

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

http://www.ussaltair-aks32.org
http://aks32.blogspot.com
http://altair.smugmug.com

February 2023 monthly report by Charles Brecheisen

 Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your report for February 2023.


SHIPMATE PASSING:  Shipmate Juan Phillips, FA, 1963-1964 passed away Feb. 6, 2023, reported by Shipmate Mike Troiano.  Our condolences to the Phillips family.

WISH I COULD:  A good ham radio friend here at Holly Lake Ranch, Texas, told me that he and wife will be travelling to Barcelona for a weeks vacation in April.  I volunteered to be a travel guide but was sharply turned down due to being in the Navy.  Sob sob......

FINANCIAL:  My February cash on hand began $66.39 and I received $500.00 from savings and had expenses of $404.15 leaving a balance of $162.24.  Expenses were with GreenGeeks web service of $9.95 for ID Protection; and, $394.20 for the next 3 years of web service (called EcoStarter (USA)).  The beginning savings was $2886.37 and $500.00 was sent to me for expenses leaving a balance of $2,386.37.  The beginning and ending Reunion Committee Balance is $971.02.  Total balance is $3,519.63. 

All for now.  Please contact me for any questions, info, etc. at "cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us"

We only have 218 shipmates on email.  63 shipmates do not have email.  Total shipmates 281.

Best Regards to All.........Charles

January 2023 monthly report by Charles Brecheisen

 Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your report for January 2023.


SHIPMATES PASSING:

    Planes, Tom; MM2, 1960-1963; passed Jan. 5, 2023
    Ridgeway, Kenneth,; MA3; 1962-1964

FINANCIAL:  The beginning and ending cash balance is $66.39, no changes; the beginning and end Savings balance of $2,886.37, no changes; the beginning and ending Reunion Committee Balance of $971.02, no changes.  Totaling $3,923.78.

EMAIL SPAM:  I received 6-7 emails from shipmates each asking a small question of "Do you shop at Amazon?"   Some sort of SPAM and I did not reply.  I also received on this email address, 50 SPAMS three different times.  Fortunately, that quit.  I also received an email with a strange named attachment which they wanted me to pass to all the shipmates.  I did not as I have to be so careful sending anything to all the shipmates for fear of spreading a problem.  I would rather be safe than sorry.  It's as bad as getting all those "RoBo" calls.

All for now.  Any questions of comments please contact me at "cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us"

Best Wishes to All.........Charles

December 2022 monthly report by Charles Brecheisen

Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your monthly report for December 2022.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!  Let's all have a healthy and happy 2023!

Another year has passed!  I never thought I would get thru year 2000!  And, here it is, 2023.  

Shipmates Passing:
    Bruce, Joseph G., BT3, 1955-1956; passed 2017
    Lee, C.O., SN, 1960-1962; passed 2022
    McClain, Joseph E., LT, 1961-1964; passed 2016

Shipmates MIA:  These are shipmates that have been on the email lists recently, but we can no longer find them anywhere or in the obits, etc.  Therefore, I call them "Missing In Action" and have taken them off the active rosters. I still maintain all their information.
    Deslauriers, Joseph, RMSN, 1959-1960
    Foley, James, SN, 1959-1961
    Babyak, Douglas, MM2, 1961-1963

FINANCIAL:  The beginning and ending cash balance is $66.39, no changes; the beginning and ending Savings balance of $2,886.37, no changes; the beginning and ending Reunion Committee Balance of $971.02, no changes.  Totaling $3,923.78,   

All for now.  For any comments or questions please contact me at "cmbaltairaks32[at]fastmail.us"

Best Wishes to All........Charles 

November 2022 monthly report by Charles Brecheisen

 Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your monthly report for November 2022.


TODAY IS "PEARL HARBOR DAY"  Please remember our fallen!!!

Another year has almost passed;  where did it go?  I wish I knew.......

FINANCIAL:  Beginning and ending cash balance of $66.39, no changes;  beginning and ending savings balance of $2,886.37, no changes; Reunion Committee balance of $971.02, no changes.  Total of $3,923.78.  

All for now; for comments or questions please contact me at "cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us"

Best Regards...........Charles

http://www.ussaltair-aks32.org
http://aks32.blogspot.com
http://altair.smugmug.com (Photograph site)

Veterans Day 2022

 Courtesy of shipmate Dan Douglas.  Thanks Dan!


Subject: Fwd: Veterans Day Video
Date: Monday, November 14, 2022 5:30 PM

Courtesy of Shipmate Dan Douglas.  Thanks Dan!

Subject: Veterans, Gold Star Families get free lifetime pass to national parks, wildlife refuges, other public lands
Date: Thursday, November 17, 2022 5:04 AM

October 2022 monthly report by Charles Brecheisen

 Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your monthly report for October 2022.


Not much news around here except the Holiday season is approaching rapidly.  In fact, it seems like the entire year slipped by and I didn't even notice.  Where did it go?

FINANCIAL:  Beginning and ending cash balance of $66.39, no changes; beginning and ending savings  balance of $2,886.37, no changes;  Reunion Committee balance of $971.02, no changes.  Total of $3,923.78.

Happy Thanksgiving to all Shipmates and families!

All for now; for comments or questions contact me at "cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us"

Best Regards........Charles

http://www.ussaltair-aks32.org
http://aks32.blogspot.com
http://altair.smugmug.com  (Photograph site)

September 2022 monthly report by Charles Brecheisen

Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your report for September 2022.

HURRICANE IAN:  What an unbelievable storm!  I have received no reports from shipmates as to damage status.  To all I hope and pray for the best.

REUNION PHOTOS:  Reunion photos have been uploaded to the Altair Photo web site; Thanks!  To date, I have received no other reports on the reunion;  access to the site:

    http://altair.smugmug.com

FINANCE:  My cash-on-hand is $66.39, no changes; savings balance, $2,886.37, no changes; the Reunion Committee Balance increased by $300.71 increasing to a total of $971.02.  Total $3,923.78. 

All for now.  Any questions or comments to "cmbaltairaks32 [at] fastmail.us"

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

August 2022 monthly report by Charles Brecheisen

Greetings Altair Shipmates.  Here is your report for August 2022.

SHIPMATE:  Shipmate passing reported from daughter:

    Knox, Arthur F., LDCR, 1963-1965, passed 1 Feb. 2015. (Was still on the snail mailing list)

FINANCIAL:  The beginning and ending cash balance is $66.39, no changes; the beginning and ending saving balance is $2,886.37, no changes; the beginning and ending Reunion Committee balance is $670.31, no changes. Totals $3,623.07. 

Sorry for the delay in the monthly report as I have been a little under the weather.  Keep me posted with info and notes.

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