On May 3, 2008, at 11:33 AM, Arthur Hayes wrote:

 

     The schedule of events for the 37th FAA Flight Standards Retirees Reunion and registration form are included in this issue.  Please reserve early.  Cut-off date for group reservations is August 22.
    

     Either after August 22 or when the group block is full, reservations will be accepted at the hotel’s best available rate. 
     The Paula Deen Tour, on September 22, will be 4 hours long and will include lunch at UNCLE BUBBA'S OYSTER HOUSE ˗˗ mentioned on Paula Deen's Food Network show as featuring some of the low country's best food.  The tour will give us a peek into the life of this famous southern cooking entrepreneur.  We will visit a few of the shops that Paula frequented, and still showcases, on her way to establishing her place as one of the most popular restaurants in Savannah, THE LADY AND SONS.  The TOUR also includes a voucher for VIP at THE LADY AND SONS RESTAURANT (to be used at a later date).  The TOUR will include a few surprises that are sure to give our group an appetite for more of the 'Good Ole South' and Paula.  The TOUR will take us through the Historic District and the Bethesda Boys Home where Paula and Mike were married.  We will get to know Paula as Savannah knows her.
     The visit to THE MIGHTY EIGHTH AIR FORCE HERITAGE MUSEUM, 3.5 hours on September 23, will be a custom-crafted excursion to one of Savannah's most moving museums.  This fine museum is dedicated to honoring the courage and commitment of more than 350,000 members of the EIGHTH AIR FORCE from World War II to the present.  Our guide will lead us on a 'behind-the-scene ' exploration of the museum, introducing us to the vast collection located in the museum's library.  We will have free time to browse the museum's fine exhibits, artifacts, art, and interactive displays.  
     After the museum TOUR we will return to the hotel in time for lunch on our own with free time to explore leisurely other areas of
Savannah.  No events are scheduled for the afternoon or evening on this date — Enjoy!
     Our Dinner on Wednesday, September 24, will include some fine selections with provisions for special diets (with an early notice from you).  Each diner must select one of four menu options: London Broil, Boneless Chicken Breast, Baked Flounder Stuffed with Crabmeat, or Special Diet with notice.  If the Special Diet is selected, please specify the details of your needs.  Again, enjoy!
     While answering a question posed by Don Tyson, I found the following in Vice President Bud Shaw's column in the March 2005 Newsletter: 'During our last reunion we discussed our declining membership.  Our losses are due to deaths and non-renewal.  The last memorial service was for 30 of our members.  It was recommended that each of our members recruit at least one new member and a good way to get that member is to give a friend you worked with a membership.'  I believe this is still a good idea.  In addition, I have appointed Jack Kenton to head a New Members Committee to pursue an effort to increase our membership. 
     The Executive Board and Editor have been discussing the "Executive Board" Meetings.  The "Executive Board" is the President, Vice-President, and Secretary/Treasurer; however, our reunions' "Executive Board" Meetings have traditionally included other members of our organization so that they looked like "Board of Directors" Meetings.
     I requested inputs from the "Executive Board", "Board of Directors", and other members; however, I received no replies.  In the absence of any response,  I’m proposing that our Savannah reunion meeting of the "Executive Board" be a "Board of Directors Meeting" in two parts:  in addition to the "Board of Directors", which is former officers of the organization who have served within the previous three years and Directors who have requested to serve longer, those attending should include the current "Executive Board"; Newsletter Editor; Historian; Chaplain; Webmaster; Chairman of the Nominating Committee; Charter Members; and any other member who has been given a special task.  Special tasks could be publishing the Newsletter, maintaining address lists, and maintaining artifacts of our organization.
     The current members of the "Board of Directors" are Chairman Lois Shaw, Arthur J. Hayes, Frank Kellogg, Bud Shaw, A. C. Caviness, Bob Hightower, and John Vaughn.

     SOMETHING NEW: any person who has served the organization as President three times should be considered a member of the Board of Directors for life.  In baseball, three strikes and you're out; and in our penal system, three strikes and you're in prison for life.

Arthur Hayes

FSR President

artnmaryhayes2008@hotmail.com