|
* |
* |
* |
* |
CURRENT AS OF 2 AUGUST,
2025
CLICK ON ANY OF
THE FIVE TITLES ABOVE TO SEE MORE DETAIL ON SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF THIS YEAR’S
REUNION.
*** NOTE: The “HOTEL” link above is just for info on hotel
facilities. Please follow the directions
under “SIGNING UP” to register. ***
|
Once again, the Beach Cove has worked with us by
continuing to provide a fine banquet dinner even with our falling
numbers. Don’t let yourself get
comfortable with that though. We
really need to pick up our numbers this year.
Some of you regulars have experienced a variety of issues causing you
to be unable to attend reunions recently.
Hopefully this year you’ll be able to help us reach something like our
previous numbers. We know you enjoyed
your time with us, and you know we’re anxious to get together with you
again. Also, we still have so many of
you whom we’ve never (or very rarely) had the pleasure of your company at the
reunions. We home
you’ll make an effort to join us this year! And while a lower number of attendees
doesn’t affect the reunion fun-factor, the old saying “the more, the merrier”
does remain true! There are still a few items that aren’t
finalized, so some updates will still be added to this page. Stop back often to check for those
updates. You can check the “attending”
section below to see those who have already indicated an interest in
attending the reunion. I know it still
feels early, but similar to last year, we are
currently at a VERY LOW participation level.
I hope we’ll see many more of you saying you want to attend! Those of you who’ve been to reunions before
will know of the good times that are to be had, and I can guarantee a good
time to those of you who may be attending for the
first time. You should not
procrastinate too long in registering with the hotel (following the
guidelines under “SIGNING UP”). You can
reserve your room at the Beach Cove immediately if you want to. The Beach Cove will be reclaiming
unassigned rooms from our reserved block on 15 August. When that occurs, those rooms will be
returned to the general public and your ability to
get a room will be based solely on availability. DON’T MISS THE BOAT! Reserve sooner rather than later. You can always cancel for
a FULL REFUND if your situation changes and you’re unable to attend the
reunion. If that should happen, just
be sure to contact either me (Pete Johnson at
980-328-4150 or [email protected]) or Jake Reece (336-601-3522 or [email protected])
and we’ll make the arrangements to be sure you’re TOTALLY refunded. Please
note that reunion fees, as well as ticket fees for the Carolina Opry Theater
(if you choose to attend the show) MUST BE PAID PRIOR
TO THE REUNION. Also,
when you send in those fees, you MUST SELECT YOUR
ENTRÉE CHOICE FOR THE FRIDAY EVENING WELCOME DINNER. Below are some details on what we’ll be up to this year. As mentioned earlier, a few bits of
information are not yet confirmed, so again, check back every now and then to
see if additional numbers/details have been included or changed. In the meantime, you should consider
getting yourself signed up, particularly getting registered at the Beach Cove.
Scan through the info below and see what’s going to be
happening. *****SPECIAL
NOTICE*****
|
*FRIDAY 12 sEPT* (Salon
assignments are tentative) 4:00
PM HOSPITALITY ROOM OPEN (TBD) 6:00
PM WELCOME DINNER (Salon D) Welcome
to Reunion 2025, our 25th
annual reunion! As in previous years, the
first event of the reunion will be a welcome dinner. NOTE THAT IT IS BACK TO OUR USUAL 6:00 PM.
Please wait to enter until 6:00 to allow us
time to get things ready for you. The
evening will begin with a presentation of the National and Air Force colors
followed by some brief welcoming comments by Jake Reece. The dinner will be hosted by the Beach
Cove resort and service will begin at 6:30 PM. We will have a table outside Salon D that
will have your name tag, your t-shirt
(if you ordered one), your theater ticket (if you’re attending it) and
your dinner selection tag. Be
sure to pick all that up. We are asked to provide the
hotel with our final dinner selections no later than September 1st. Therefore, PLEASE BE SURE TO INCLUDE EACH PERSON’S DINNER CHOICE
WHEN YOU FORWARD YOUR REUNION FEES! Here are your dinner
choices: ENTRÉE CHOICES:
Each dinner will be accompanied
with iced tea/water; Tossed green salad; Balsamic Vinaigrette and Ranch
Dressing; Steamed Medley of Seasonal Vegetables; Garlic Mashed Potatoes; Warm
Rolls with Butter Balls. Dinner will
be followed by a dessert and coffee service.
The Hospitality Room will be open after dinner and throughout the
reunion…normally between the hours of ~ 10:00 AM and as late as people choose
to hang around. It may be closed
during any time that a group event occurs off the resort property. NOTE: If
you want to be included in the Cornhole Tournament, get in touch with me
anytime during the evening or as soon as possible Saturday so the bracket can
be filled out before play begins on Saturday. *Saturday
13 SEPT* (Salon
assignments are tentative) 10:00 AM
PUTT-PUTT TOURNAMENT Meet in the lobby. This is also an OPT-IN event, not
covered by your reunion fee. You
will pay the fee at the venue. As
in the past, it will be held at Molten Mountain. If you want to participate and don’t have
transportation, there will be folks willing to give you a lift. If you’re having difficulty arranging a
ride, seek out Mark Gransden, Jake Reece or me, Pete Johnson and one of us
will help you with the arrangements. ~10:00 AM
HOSPITALITY ROOM (SALON A/B) The Hospitality Room will be open all
day until the last person puts down their last drink of the evening, except
for the period from about 6:30 until about 9:30 when most people will be at
the Carolina Opry. If there is someone
not going to the Opry and who is willing to remain in the Hospitality Room
until we return, it can remain open during that time. Other than that, the day is free until
about 6:00 PM when you should be preparing to leave for the Theater show if
you’re attending it. Should you need a
ride to the theater, this would be the time to hit up a potential driver!
7:00 PM CAROLINA OPRY THEATER This is an OPT-IN function. It’s not covered by your Reunion fee
and of course you don’t need to attend if you choose not to. The fee is $34 per person. The show begins at 7:00, so you’ll want to
arrive closer to about 6:30. We have
attended the Carolina Opry a number of times, so
those of you who’ve been to previous reunions will be familiar with the type
of performance they put on. It’s
basically a musical performance covering a variety of music types which are
interspersed with some comedy skits.
They have always put on a fine show, and incidentally, they always
have a tribute to the military and first responders. YOU MUST INCLUDE YOUR TICKET FEE ALONG WITH YOUR
REUNION FEE. The
Beach Cove will be picking up our tickets before we arrive at the reunion. NOTE: Probably wise to eat before the show. Most restaurants will be closed by the time
the show is over. *Sunday
14 SEPT* 1:00 PM LIGHT LUNCHEON
(SALON A/B) This
event will be catered by the Beach Cove Resort. This is an update from our original Sunday
plans. The Beach Cove will put
together a light lunch display for us that will include a variety of
sandwiches, some chips and dips as well as some fruit. We will provide beer, wine, water, and soft
drinks. It will provide a nice venue
for a mid-day gathering where, together, all of us can enjoy some food, some
conversation, and likely some spirited continuing competition on the Cornhole
boards. You will be free to roam the
rest of the day. Spend some time on
the beach, around the pools, and at the pool bar. In the evening many will plan on going to a
favorite restaurant for dinner. Join
in! When you return to the Beach Cove,
take an evening stroll on the beach, and of course, the Hospitality Room is
always there for you. The
Hospitality Room will remain open, again until the
last die-hard decides it’s time for bed. *Monday 15 SEPT* (Salon
assignments are tentative) 10:00
AM – about 12:00 PM
BUSINESS MEETING (Salon C)
I think we may be on the verge of becoming
“the Association of Friends and Family of KAS Survivors.” Seems that as the number of members
attending reunions declines, the number of friends and family who show up
increases! That’s not a bad
thing. Having said that, it is a bad
thing that membership participation is declining; but it’s understandable. We’re getting old and those of us still
standing require more and more support to remain
that way! On the other hand, though,
I’m thrilled to see some of my kids as well as others’ kids and friends being
interested in participating and meeting/making new
friends in the process. But, back to
the schedule, the business meeting is just we members. As I point out every year, we only meet
in-the-flesh once a year and it’s our one chance for members to discuss
face-to-face any/all issues relating to our group – the good, the bad, and
yes…the ugly. Bring it on. Hold nothing back. I have at least one fairly
significant issue to bring up.
You’ll have to show up to learn what that is. We hope (expect
actually) that all members attending the reunion will be sure to attend the
business meeting. If you also have
thoughts that you’d like to see discussed, come prepared to bring them
up. You may receive a little flak, but
it’ll all be light-hearted. I’m sure
there must be SOMETHING you’d like to see done a bit differently, or maybe
something we should be doing that isn’t currently done at all! Share what you’d like to see in the future;
what you’ve liked or disliked at past reunions. Let it all hang out; we’ll all have our
big-boy pants on, and crying will be kept to a minimum. In addition to any topics of discussion,
we’ll have our usual Chi service, yes, authentic Turkish tea (not Lipton
teabags!) served in those little glass cups and saucers we all remember from
the ferry service to Istanbul. We will
once again miss having our good friend Ed Watts supplying some of his dry
“Great State of East Tennessee” humor while raffling off some highly
desirable items. Mark stepped up last
year to keep that tradition alive.
He’ll do it again this year.
Among the many treasures to be raffled off will be a sizable check
from the fund left by our good friend Ed Watts. Be prepared to leave the meeting a winner! 10:00 AM – about 12:00 PM
LADIES’ TEA (Hospitality Room) During the members’ Business Meeting the
ladies will enjoy a tea service in the Hospitality Room. There will be a variety of teas as well as a
variety of munchies…both healthy and downright un-healthy. Be sure to show up. I’m told there are rousing
chatty-conversations that take place while the menfolk are taking care of
critical high-stakes organizational issues in the Business Meeting. I expected lots of grief at last year’s
reunion for including that comment but…crickets! So I’ll leave it in again this year.
We hope all the ladies will attend and enjoy the tea. 6:00
PM – When ever
ANNUAL BANQUET (Salon C/D)
The
Annual Banquet is a very special part of every reunion. The pictures above are just a random
selection from last year’s banquet. The
doors will open at 6:00 PM. Please
honor that and don’t attempt to enter earlier. We and the Beach Cove staff will be busily
getting a plethora of things organized and it usually takes right up to the
last moment to get done. Beginning
at 6:00 there will be a cash bar where you can purchase a variety of beers
and wines. We will be invited to the
buffet tables by about 6:45. When we get that word, Dick Casseri
will offer thanks for the dinner after which we will proceed to the buffet on
a table-by-table basis. Incidentally,
we will continue to have access to the bar during the
course of the meal, so if another wine (or beer) suits your fancy
during dinner (and you have change in your pocket} help yourself! Now, here’s what you’ll be
looking at when you belly up to the banquet tables:
Following
a hearty meal we’ll have a short little program. It’s what you do at an organizational
function! Passing on it just isn’t
done! There’ll be a somber bit, but
we’ll hopefully end it with something a little more light-hearted. We will
certainly recognize our fallen brother from last year; Ed Watts. We will all eventually be added to the list
of those who have fallen, but in some cases it’s especially difficult to
accept their ever being on that list, until they
are. Ed was one of those. He passed
within a week of our reunion last year so we couldn’t appropriately recognize
him at that time. We’ll do that this
year. Then we’ll
spend a bit of time on the lighter side. We’ll make fun of something or
someone. Who knows? Maybe it’ll be you! Then you’ll wish you’d steeled yourself
with a couple additional glasses of wine during the dinner! But it’s too late. You’ll be left saying “regrets, I’ve had a
few.” I encourage anyone who feels the urge to make comments
before the group during the program (appropriate ones please!). Contact me ([email protected] or 980-328-4150) or catch me at the reunion
and let me know so I can make sure to call on you. Alternatively, you can just come up to the
mike if something you want to share strikes you in the moment! Don’t hesitate! The group will surely enjoy hearing from
you, particularly any stories from Karamursel that come to mind. Maybe a story about one or more of the guys
in the crowd or that we’ve remembered over the years. I know the folks would rather hear from
some of you than to listen to me drone on and on…and on! Just bear in mind that there will be ladies
present! Hehe! After the
program, we’ll gather in the Hospitality room and take the dreaded group
photo. Make sure you’re a part of it.
2024 reunion. We want to see YOUR smiling face in this
year’s picture! *Tuesday
16 SEPT* (Salon
assignments are tentative) 7:30 – 9:00 AM
DEPARTURE BREAKFAST (Salon C/D) The departure breakfast is always the same,
so there’s no good reason to change the words from previous reunions. Therefore, I didn’t. Here are the old words: As we always do, we’ll close out the
reunion with our departure breakfast.
Some will have to leave early to meet transportation schedules, but
for most of us this will represent a final chance to say goodbyes, trade hugs
with friends both new and old and maybe get a last picture or two. Don’t sleep through it! Our good friends at the Beach Cove Resort
always put on a very good breakfast buffet which we know you’ll enjoy. Eat your fill, take a few pictures, shake
some hands, and give/receive some hugs.
Remember, KAS 60-61 is a family.
Make plans with other members/spouses to meet again next year. Our numbers may be getting smaller, but the
good times just seem to grow. No one
knows the future and with us now bumping up against the “codger class,” it’s
important to live the moment. Whatever
future we may have in front of us is a blessing, but don’t short yourself on
the present. GO HOME GLAD THAT YOU SHARED
ANOTHER GET TOGETHER WITH SOME OF THE VERY BEST PEOPLE, or as Bill Hesseltine used to say, “the cream of
the cream of the crop!” The few
costs associated with the reunion are listed
below. You should know that when you
make your room reservations, the hotel will charge your card with your first night’s stay. The balance of the nights you reserve will
be due when you arrive and check in.
If you need to cancel your reservation for any reason, do NOT contact the hotel. Contact either Jake Reese (jdon[email protected]
336-601-3522) or Pete Johnson ([email protected])
or 980-328-4150). One of us will
contact the hotel to make sure you receive a FULL REFUND of your reservation charge. We will also ensure that you are refunded
any reunion fees you’ve paid, with the exception being payment for the
Carolina Opry Theater. Once the
tickets are purchased, we can’t turn them back in. We will see if another member is interested
in purchasing them from you. Here are
the fees:
Once you’re prepared to sign up for the
reunion, there are a few simple steps to follow. The order you complete them in is not
important in most cases, however completing them all IS important. It will make things go much more smoothly
for you and for the organizers of the reunion. · Call the Beach Cove Resort reservation service at 888-974-5531 to reserve your room.
Be sure to let them know you’re with the KAS 60-61 reunion so that you’ll receive our discounted rate.
You’ll want to reserve the nights of 12, 13, 14, and 15
September. You will also be able to
reserve up to 3 days before and/or 3 days after the reunion
at our discounted rate. If you
encounter ANY problems in this process, contact either Jake Reece (j[email protected] or 336-601-3522) or Pete Johnson ([email protected] or 980-328-4150)
and we will resolve the situation with the hotel. · If you require handicap facilities in your room let (j[email protected] or 336-601-3522) or Pete Johnson ([email protected] or 980-328-4150)
know. We will make that arrangement
for you. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MAKE IT
WITH THE RESERVATION CLERK. They may or may not be aware that those
facilities can be made available to you. · Once you have reserved your room, please let Pete Johnson
(info above) know so that we have an on-going accurate count of the rooms
that have been reserved and what attendance to expect. · Send a check to our treasurer for the reunion
fee(s) and for any show ticket(s) if you want to attend the show. At the same time, include your choices for an entrée at the Friday
welcome dinner. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THIS
ALL BE DONE AND RECEIVED BY THE TREASURER NO LATER THAN 15 AUGUST. Make your check out to “KAS 60-61”
and mail it to:
That’s it!
You’ve completed the process.
Now you can sit back, relax and know that in a very short time you’ll be
at the beach among old buddies from long ago, and maybe some new ones you’ve
first met over the years from previous reunions – or maybe you have never met
at before. It’s all part of the fun. I’m told we’re scheduled for great
weather! As usual, you can expect
great stories, many retold for the umpteenth time, more colorful with each
iteration. If you have memorabilia
from your time in Karamursel, think about gathering it together and bringing
it to the reunion. Our memorabilia
table always welcomes new examples of old items from your days of
service. They’ll be safe in the
Hospitality Room and if, in all the excitement you
neglect to collect them all at the end of the reunion, we’ll get them back to
you. We know where you live!! Yep, this is the place! Will you be there? LET US SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER!!!
….and below is current list of who you’ll see there! Below is a chart indicating who has already
indicated an interest in coming to this year’s reunion. If the information on you is incorrect,
please let me know at [email protected] or call at 980-328-4150 so I can correct
it. When you do get yourself signed
up, be sure to follow the directions in the “SIGNING UP” section. Also, even if you’re not yet ready to make
your reservations or to send in your reunion fees, but fully expect to attend
the reunion, let Pete Johnson know as soon as you can using the contacts
listed above. Having an accounting of
likely attendance as soon as possible helps us to solidify plans early. The chart will be updated as new
information is received. NOTE: for planning purposes,
persons are considered committed to attending the reunion after paying
reunion fee and/or making a room reservation.
HOPE TO See ALL OF
you at the reunion! |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
