America s Finest City to Host our 6 th Reunion. October 25 to 28 San Diego, California

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1 USS CANOPUS ASSOCIATION February 2007 Reunion Issue The HELMSMAN America s Finest City to Host our 6 th Reunion October 25 to 28 San Diego, California Association Officers Chairman Vice Chairman Secretary Treasurer Historian Chaplain Richard Retin Ed Pado Jim Mushy Morschhauser Chuck Norris Richard Retin Jack Peters Reunion Coordinator Richard Retin usscanopus@mail.com Our host hotel is: Handlery Hotel and Resort 950 Hotel Circle North San Diego, CA (619) (direct) (800) (toll free) The hotel s website is home.asp. Rates are $99 for 1-2 people; $109 for 3 per room; and $119 if 4 to a room. Rooms with double and king beds are available. Rate is also good for 3 days before and 3 days after the reunion. There is a special 8-day, 7- night room rate of $675 for those who want to have an extended vacation during the reunion, which is highly recommended. There are many, many attractions in the immediate area, and Disneyland and Knott s Berry Farm are just a 1.5 hour drive away. If you decide to stay a week, add the extra days to the front side of the reunion, as a huge medical convention starts in the week after our reunion. Note: It was brought to my attention that it is not a good idea to go to Tijuana, Mexico, due to problems with Americans being held for ransom. You are responsible for making your own reservations, which must be done by September 22, Be sure to mention you are with the USS Canopus Association (group code: USSC) in order to get our group rate. All rooms are non-smoking. If you are a smoker, be sure to ask for a room that opens to a private patio area. If you have problems walking, ask for a room close to our Balboa meeting room. San Diego s Lindberg Field (SAN) is just 6 miles away. If you are two or more, share a taxi, which will cost about $ You can also take Cloud 9 Shuttle service, which is $11.50 per person. For those driving to the hotel, parking is not free. We will be getting a reduced rate of $5 per day for unlimited in-and-out parking. For those coming to the hotel just for the day, there is a $3 parking fee. If you need a car for just a day or two, there is an Enterprise Car Rental agency just off the hotel lobby. The hotel shuttle is available to take you to nearby attractions such as Fashion Valley Mall (adjacent Cheesecake Factory restaurant!), Mission Valley Mall, Sea World, Old Town, world-renowned San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park and Fashion Valley Transit Centers. For golfers, the hotel is adjacent to the Riverwalk Golf Club and the shuttle will drop you off and pick you up. The hotel s restaurant offers a breakfast buffet each morning. I have negotiated a reduced rate of $10 (includes tax) for the buffet. There is also a full breakfast menu available. Bring your swim suits for swim call. The hotel has a large swimming pool and separate whirlpool. There is also a fitness room available. Our meeting room is the Balboa Room. The meeting room will have lots of tables for displaying our photo albums, cruise books, plaques and other memorabilia. Be sure to bring your own photos and mementos to share with your shipmates. The Association will be providing snacks and cold drinks in our meeting room. Hotel rules will not allow us to set up our own bar. All alcoholic beverages must be purchased from the hotel bar. continued next page...

2 Page 2 The HELMSMAN Continued from page 1 The Ship s Store will have coffee mugs, tee shirts, license plate frames, command caps and patches for sale at slightly cheaper prices than if you ordered them from the website, since there are no shipping costs. All profits go to the Association to pay the ongoing costs for holding reunions and maintaining the website. Dinner will be in the Terrace Room. We will hold our customary cocktail hour prior to our banquet dinner Saturday night. We will have our own standalone no-host bar, and you will get one voucher for your initial beer, wine or well drink. The hotel is in a setting of lush tropical gardens. I am very confident that we will have a great time here. All Naval and Maritime Themes for our Outings Richard Retin and Ed Pado were in San Diego this past January to plan the following outings: Friday: We will start the day with a 2-hour cruise of San Diego harbor. The Navy Submarine base, North Island Naval Air Station, and SEALS Training Center are just some of the sights. Expect to see lots of Navy ships and marine life, plus just the natural beauty of San Diego. We will then take a tour of the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum. Featured are more than 35 exhibits that will bring back many memories of our time aboard US Navy ships. The tour includes an audio guide you use to navigate your way throughout public areas on the second deck, hangar deck, flight deck and up in the island. Cost is $50 for everything. Saturday: We will start the day with our business meeting. The meeting will begin with special recognition of the Canopus Lifers. If you haven t paid your lifetime dues yet, now is the time to do it, so that your contribution is recognized. There will be a reading of Optional Events for those with Extended Stays Wednesday night: Join us at 7:00 p.m. as we return to Rota Spain minus a few items like 100 American style bars; hostesses; and the La Guardia Civil with sub-machine guns. We will be having a no-host dinner at San Diego s very authentic Spanish restaurant Club Sevilla. Ed Pado and I tested the dinner service there, and it was really great. Bring extra money as we can no longer pay just 15 for a beer or 40 for a mixed drink! Parking is practically non-existent in the area, so we will need to form up into car pools in the hotel lobby. There is valet parking for $12 across the street from the restaurant. Buffet Dinner Planned for Saturday Night We will have our traditional banquet dinner Saturday night. Suggested attire is dressycasual, coat and tie optional. Just before dinner, group pictures of the shipmates and of the guests will be taken. In addition, the Canopus Lifers will have their own group picture taken. Another good reason to send in your lifetime membership! the business meeting minutes from the 2006 New London reunion; Treasurer s report; and discussion for cities for future reunions. Nominations for Association officers will be taken and voted on. At 11:00 a.m., we will board our bus for Seaport Village. There you will have 1.5 hours for on-your-own lunch and shopping. The Village offers a wide variety of restaurants, ranging from fine dining to sidewalk eateries. More than 50 unique shops are there for window shopping and to help wear down the raised lettering on your credit card. We will then proceed to the San Diego Maritime Museum, which has one of finest collections of tall ships in the world, including the HMS. Surprise used in the film Master and Commander. The tour highlight, especially for those of us on board in 1968, will be the Russian Attack Submarine B-39. Might this be the one that collided with one of our two FBMs that year and required the construction of coffer dams in order to do the repairs. Cost for admission and bus ride is $ Did you do boot in San Diego or attend A school there? If so, the Naval Training Center grounds and many buildings are still there, although the facility is in the process of being converted to mixed-use commercial and residential housing. Ed and I drove through it and still recognized many sights from our stay there in the mid-60s, the USS Recruit being one of them. We will need to form up into car pools again Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. Once there, a self-guided tour is available. After dinner, you are invited to speak about your Canopus experience to the group. It is recommended that all Officers say at least a few words. Cost is $34 per person. Assorted Salads London Broil Rosemary Chicken Grilled Salmon Herb-Roasted Red Potatoes Market Vegetables Fettucini Alfredo Chef s Dessert Table

3 Reunion Issue Page 3 USS Canopus Association Challenge Coin [planned size 1.5 ] Front Back Design 1 Back Design 2 It was proposed at the New London reunion that the Association have a challenge coin produced. It will be given to all current Canopus Lifers and to shipmates when they pay dues starting from the first of this year. It will also be available from the Ship's Store for $10. Richard Retin and Ed Pado came up with the above two designs. They differ only in how the ship is depicted. Design 1 uses the ubiquitous Tom Denton print, and Design 2 is an engraved version. Our treasurer, Chuck Norris, suggested that we also have them available as a keychain to provide functionality, so it will not be just a dust collector on your desk. Shipmates are encouraged to comment on the designs; state a preference; or even submit an alternative design. You can provide feedback on the website s Deck Log or include them with your Reunion Registration Form. The plan is to have them in time for the reunion, so there is plenty of time to hear from you. USS Canopus Model in Kings Bay Our model is at the St. Marys Submarine Museum. If you are in the area, be sure to stop by to take a look, along with lots of other Canopus memorabilia. Next year s reunion will be in Jacksonville, and we will visit the museum as one of our day trips. Plan for Future Reunions In New London, Richard Retin presented a map showing where our shipmates live. He proposed that reunions be held yearly and primarily along the east coast, since the majority of shipmates live there. After discussion, it was decided to cycle the reunions between northeast, southeast and regional. After discussion and vote, next year s reunion will be in Jacksonville (SE) and 2009 will be in the Philadelphia area (NE). At the San Diego business meeting, we will decide on the city for 2010 regional. It will need to be in the Midwest, in keeping with the concept of giving all shipmates, at some point in time, the opportunity to attend a reunion within convenient travel distance.

4 USS CANOPUS ASSOCIATION Forwarding Service Requested VISIT OUR HOMEPORT: Reunion Schedule Plan of the Day: Wednesday October 24 Optional Activity 1900 Form up in the Handlery lobby for dinner at Club Sevilla Plan of the Day: Thursday October 25 All Day Shipmates arrival 1200 to 2200 Registration in Balboa meeting room Sales of Ship s Store items Meet and greet your shipmates Display and share your memorabilia Plan of the Day: Friday October Board bus for Harbor Cruise and USS Midway tour 1500 Return to Hotel until 2200 Swap sea stories with your shipmates in our meeting room Plan of the Day: Saturday October Business meeting (guests welcome) 1100 Board bus for Seaport Village On your own: sightseeing, shopping and lunch 1300 Tour San Diego Maritime Museum 1500 Return to Hotel 1800 Cocktail hour 1900 Dinner in Terrace Room Saying of grace After dinner speakers Plan of the Day: Sunday October 28 Departure Optional Activity 0900 Form up in the Handlery lobby for Naval Training Center Tour

5 USS Canopus Association Shipmate & Reunion Registration Form To ensure we have your current and complete information, please fill out this form and send it to me, even if you are unable to neither attend the reunion nor formally join the Association. We want to be your resource for Canopus shipmates to hook up. This information is strictly for the sole use of the USS Canopus Association and will never be used for commercial purposes. Mail to: USS Canopus Association c/o Richard Retin Call me at if you need more information or have questions. Would you be interested in attending a future reunion in Rota? circle one: yes no maybe PLEASE PRINT Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Telephone number: address: Years served: (19xx 19xx) to Rate/Rank: Ship s Division/Shop: Nickname aboard ship, if you had one: For those shipmates that had more than one tour of duty aboard the Canopus: Tour 2 Tour 3 Years served: to Years served: to Rate/Rank: Rate/Rank: Ship s division/shop: Ship s division/shop: [over]

6 Dues AS-9 and Widow/Widower Honorary Members Free If you wish to support the USS Canopus Association, please forward the following dues. Lifetime membership $100 (A Canopus Lifer card will be sent to you).. $ New member $20. $ Renewing for 2006 $10 Renewing for 2007 $10 Renewing for 2008 $10. $. $. $ I will be attending the 2007 Reunion in San Diego I will be attending with: Name(s) for Name Tag If staying at the Handlery, state dates: from to If not staying at the Handlery, where are you staying?: Friday Harbor Cruise and USS Midway Tour Cost per person $50 or $100 for two $ Saturday Seaport Village Outing and Maritime Museum Tour Cost per person $26 or $52 for two $ Saturday Night Banquet Dinner Cost per person $34 or $68 for two $ Total $ Optional Activities Wednesday Night Dinner at Club Sevilla Sunday Morning Naval Training Center Tour No. in party: No. in party: Do you or your guests have any disability or dietary needs that require special attention? Please return this form by September 22, 2007 with your check made payable to the USS Canopus Association to: USS Canopus Association c/o Richard Retin