USS Sperry AS-12 Association

Newsletter #GG-11

November 2009

To: All Sperry Shipmates & Guests

From:  George Gallas, President

Another Sperry Reunion is over but the memories of our time in Green Bay, WI still linger on.  To all that attended the 16^th annual affair, my heartfelt thanks for being there and showing your support for what the Sperry Association is all about and that is sharing memories and life’s experiences with one another and caring about each other in their present time of life.   A wonderful time was had by all that participated on all the tours.  The WI countryside was very picturesque and the weather was perfect.  We also had great and knowledgeable tour guides.

We had 100 at the closing banquet dinner.  Our Site Chairpersons, Wayne & Milly Roy, did an outstanding job in making sure that all the details of our time together were met.  I again thank them for a job well done.  At this time I also want to express my thanks and appreciation to any and all of you that gave of your time and talent and willingness to help and serve others, whether it was at the cake cutting ceremony (many serving hands), or cleaning up the Hospitality Room (that Joyce Quinby did) or assisting with the sale of raffle tickets at the banquet evening (that Harley & Jan Cheney always do so well), or packing up the Sperry merchandise (done by Dick & Margery Downey), or taking photographs and putting together a special photo album (that Paulette Holdridge did), plus the transportation of memorabilia from one site to another (by Jack & Rosemary Gunsett).

I want to announce at this time that we had several newcomers that joined the Sperry Association and attended a Sperry Reunion for the first time.  A “big” welcome to Rainer & Doddie Bindinger, Dalton & Marlene Brown, Larry Eldridge, Fred & Bernie Galindo, Carl & Mary Lou Jones, Carl & Jane Lechlitner, Bob & Peggy Marquart, Willard & Jean Rooney, and Michael & Mary Simmons.  Also, a new member to the Association who used to live in Green Bay stopped by Friday evening for a visit with his son but couldn’t stay for the banquet evening.  New member is James C. Parkinson, served 59-60, FT2, Weapons Div.  And last but not least, we had a “senior shipmate” by the name of Marvin Spracklen, who last attended a Sperry Reunion in 1999 in San Antonio, TX and returned after a 10 year hiatus.  Welcome back Marvin!  Marvin also was nominated to be our Site Chairman for the 2011 Reunion which will be held in Rapid City, SD

Well, October 2009 is over with therefore this letter is your “first reminder” that Dues are due for the next term of October 2009-2010.  Some of you already paid your dues at the reunion in Green Bay; some of you have submitted your dues after the reunion was over with; and some of you have previously paid your dues in advance.  Dues still remain the same at $10 per year.  The Association needs your continued financial support.  Submit your check made payable to “USS Sperry AS-12 Assn” and mail it to our Treasurer, Tony Ayala.  I will then mail you your blue membership card showing year of expiration.  If any of you have changes to your address or phone number or area code number or email address, please let Tony or me know so we can make the necessary corrections to the Muster List and Email List.

Several matters I wish to bring to your attention are as follows:

            #1.  This past September 2009, I received a Letter of Resignation from Arnold Ross, 1^ST V-Pres. A position for which he has held since 1998.  The Sperry Association deeply appreciates all that he has contributed as 1^st V-Pres for the past 11 years and we hope to acknowledge that service next year when he and his wife, Carol, can attend the 2010 Sperry Reunion.  I therefore appointed Wayne Roy, 2^nd V-Pres to the position of 1^st V-Pres to serve out the remaining term.  I then appointed Harvey Duty to take over the position of 2^nd V-Pres to serve out the remaining term.  At the Business Meeting on Saturday morning, the membership present unanimously approved the Executive Board of George Gallas, Pres and Wayne Roy, 1^st V-Pres, and Harvey Duty, 2^nd V-Pres and Tony Ayala, Treas and Jack Gunesett, Secy to serve the next term from 2009-2010   

            #2.  Jack Gunsett informed me that he would like to put together a digital slide show of pictures from past reunions.  All you shipmates that have digital cameras are requested to contact Jack.  Jack has a viewing screen with a built in DVD player and the equipment to put a DVD together and can even make extra copies.

            #3.  Fred Galindo contacted me to convey web sites for those of you that may be interested in obtaining a model of the USS Sperry.  The sites are http://www.motionmodels.com/ships/misc/auxship.html  The other site is http://www.motionmodels.com/ships/misc/as12.html

            #4.  David Jackson suggested an idea to increase participation in the Association.  All of you that attended recent Sperry Reunions and have received a Reunion Booklet showing the names, addresses and phone numbers of our shipmates can do the following.  Make a phone call to all those (inactive shipmates designated by an “N” on the left side of the page) that live in the same State where you live and by talking up our Association and our Reunion times, we may be able to get some to renew their financial support and possibly attend a future Sperry Reunion.  Make a log of your contacts and report any changes of information to Tony Ayala, Jack Gunsett or myself.  Let all of us give this a try.

            5^th.  The Sperry Reunion for 2010.  Site Chairman Ron Ciresi w/help from daughter Veronica Smith gave an update concerning plans made so far.  Mark Your Calendar for 2010.  Reunion will be held Sep 29^th thru Oct 2^nd.  Further details will be announced in the Spring 2010 Newsletter.

            6^th.  As mentioned earlier, the Sperry Reunion for 2011 will be held in Rapid City, SD, with Marvin Spracklen as the Site Chairman. 

In regards to the Sperry Reunion in Green Bay, the attendees were: Tony Ayala, Dick & Nancy Battershall w/daughter Debra Woodward, Frank & Mary Beissel, Rainer & Doddie Bidnger, Bobby & Arline Blackwell, Plank Owner Thomas & Marjorie Boone w/friends Dallas & Margaret Hafley, Dalton & Marlene Brown, Harley & Jan Cheney, Ron Ciresi w/daughter Veronica Smith, James & Marilyn Cobb, Richard & Margery Downey, Harvey & Elizabeth Duty, Larry Eldredge, Gary & Virginia Elliott, Fred & Bernie Galindo, George &Carole Gallas, John & Margie Gonge, Ed & Claire Gripp, Jack & Rosemary Gunsett, Ray & Joan Hacecky, Russell & Janet Harvey w/Shirley O’Conner, Raymond & Janice Hazlett, George & Sandy Hoffman, Ralph & Paulette Holdridge, David Jackson, Dean & Kathleen Johnson, Carl & Mary Lou Jones, Robert & Emma Lane, Carl & Jane Lechlitner, George & Judy Markle, Bob & Peggy Marquardt, Terry Miller, Plank Owner Isaac Newman w/Gail Ratmer, James Parkinson, Robert & Joyce Quniby, John & Anna Riggs, John Rockwell w/fiancé Karen Villamor, Carl & Dolores Rodkey, Willard & Jean Rooney, Wayne & Milly Roy, Al & Marilyn Schneider, Michael & Mary Simmons, Donald & Shirley Smallwood w/friends Edwin & Deloris Prugh, Marvin Spracklen, Chester & Norma Summerville, Elmo & Margaret Sweat, Norman & Pat Tarbot w/daughter Diane Tarbox, Frank & Sally Walter, Will & Marlene Weigel w/daughter Connie Njus

The two Plank Owners, Thomas Boone and Isaac Newman, were recognized with a framed Certificate of Attendance and a $25 gift certificate each.

Once again, L.V. “Red” Denson made two beautiful items from Sperry decking wood and donated the proceeds to the Association treasury from the ‘silent auction’.  One item was a clock and the other item was a wine bottle holder with a stopper top.  Another item donated to the ‘silent auction’ was an autographed football from the Green Bay Packers signed by all the team members.

At the end of the evening the winners of those three items were announced.  The clock was won by Raymond Hazlett.  The wine bottle holder was won by Shirley O’Connor and the football was won by Debra Woodward.

Numerous other items brought in by the attendees were raffled off and the lucky winners made choices of what to do with their winning ticket number.  Some took an item from the raffle table and many who had previously won an item donated their second or third winning ticket to an attendee who had not yet won an item.  It was nice to see the sharing and caring that occurred that evening.

The Oath of Office for the next term of 2009-2010 was then administered by John Riggs to:

                        George Gallas, President

                        Wayne Roy, 1^st V-President

                        Harvey Duty, 2^nd V-President

                        Tony Ayala, Treasurer

                        Jack Gunsett, Secretary

The Reunion evening was then closed with the traditional singing of “God Bless America” led by First Lady, Carole Gallas

As a reminder again to those of you that may have forgotten, I want to point out to you that the Sperry Web Site is  www.usssperryas12.org  and George Planic is still in charge of maintaining the web site. 

Contact me at email george-carole@sbcglobal.net for “user name” and “password code”, which is for the membership only section.

Thanks again to all that participated in making this a memorable Reunion and many thanks to all those shipmates that came to Green Bay, WI, for their first Reunion.  Hope to see you again at many more.

 Sincerely,

George Gallas, President

USS Sperry AS-12 Assn.

116 S. Higby St.

Jackson, MI, 49203-1521

517-784-7810