THE OFF-YEAR PICNIC

OUR FIRST ANNUAL OFF YEAR PICNIC RALLY

FT. DESOTO PARK, ST. PETERSBURG, FL,   27 MARCH, 2010

THE PICNIC WAS HELD AND WE HAD A BALL.WE LUCKED OUT WITH A PERFECT DAY AS FAR AS THE WEATHER WENT

                        FORT  DESOTO PARK PAVILLION   

 HERE'S WHO SHOWED UP:

BILL BADALUCCA    DOUG BISHOP   WILLIAM BOWES   BENJI BRAYTON   JIM BRUCE   JACK BUXTON   GEORGE DALY   RON HALSCHEID   LLOYD HENDRICKS    J.P. HEMMER   STACEY LEONE  JOE McCLEARY  J P OLSSON   BOB PATE    RON RYLAND(AND A COUPLE OF GUESTS)   TOM SCHIFFGENS  HENRY TRAYLOR   PETER WILCOX    RON ZENTEK    ALL TOGETHER WITH WIVES AND FRIENDS WE HAD ABOUT 35 PEOPLE AT THIS PICNIC  

                                                       

                                                                

EVERYONE REALLY ENJOYED THE GREAT FOOD WE HAD.

HERE'S HOW IT WENT DOWN:

FRIDAY EVENING ABOUT 20 OF US GATHERED AT "BILLY'S STONE CRAB" RESTAURANT FOR A SOCIAL HOUR.

IT WAS GOOD TO SEE ALL THE OLD FAMILIAR FACES AGAIN AND SOME NEW FACES WE HAD NEVER SEEN AT ANY OF OUR REUNIONS TO DATE. WE HOPE WE SEE MORE OF THAT IN THE FUTURE. SOME OF US ATE AT THE BAR AT THE TOP AND OTHERS GOT A TABLE IN THE MAIN DINING ROOM FOR THEIR DINNER. ALL THIS LASTED A COUPLEOF HOURS OR SO.

SATURDAY; THE PAVILLION WE RENTED AT FT. DESOTO PARK WAS SET UP, A BANNER WAS HUNG AND PETE WILCOX GOT THE CHARCOAL GOING. YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE THE QUANTITY OF FOOD WE HAD THERE. WE HAD HOME MADE HAMBURGERS, BEANS, 2 DIFFERENT KINDS OF MACARONI SALAD, POTATO SALAD, GREAT ALL BEEF HOT DOGS ALL THE TRIMMINGS, DESERTS AND LATER PETE COOKED UP A BUNCH OF CHICKEN.

WE HAD ALL THE USUAL COLD DRINKS, SNACKS DESSERT CAKES AND DURING THIS WE HAD TWO DOOR PRIZE DRAWINGS.

THE FIRST DOOR PRIZE WAS A $50.00 GIFT CARD FROM WALMART

THE SECOND DOOR PRIZE WAS A $50.00 GIFT CERTIFICATE FROM THE L L BEAN CORPORATION.

JIM BRUCE WON THE WALMART GIFT CARD AND RON ZENTEK WON THE L L BEAN GIFT.

LATER, SECRETARY BILL BADALUCCA READ A STATEMENT FROM ASSOCIATION COMMANDER BOB EDGE WHO COULD NOT MAKE IT THIS WEEKEND DUE TO A PRIOR COMMITMENT.

THE MESSAGE WAS A HEADS UP ON PLANS AND CHANGES TO THE UPCOMING REUNION TO BE HELD IN 2011 IN GROTON or MYSTIC, CONNECTICUT.

WE DISCUSSED THE PROS AND CONS OF WHEN TO HOLD THE REUNIONS AND ALMOST BY POPULAR MAJORITY, THE BEST TIME WAS FOUND TO BE IN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF JUNE RATHER THAN MAY OR SEPTEMBER

THESE IDEAS WILL BE CONSIDERED WHEN THE ASSOCIATION STARTS HOLDING MEETINGS ABOUT THE REUNION PLANS.

OUR SPECIAL THANKS TO SOME OF THE GUYS WHO CAME FROM A LONG WAYS OFF TO ATTEND;

GEORGE DALY- DETROIT, MICHIGAN      JOHN HEMMER- AUSTIN, TEXAS   AND BENJI BRAYTON- RUTLAND, VERMONT

THAT'S A LONG WAY TO GO TO MEET UP WITH SOME OLD BUDDIES FROM 45 YEARS AGO

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FOR MORE SHOTS OF THE PICNIC GATHERING, GO BACK TO THE MAIN WEBSITE HOME PAGE AND CLICK ON

"SENT IN BY THE CREW"

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TO ALL HANDS WHO COULD NOT ATTEND AND THOSE THAT DID, STAY IN TOUCH AND WATCH THE BANCROFT WEBSITE FOR NEWS ON FUTURE EVENTS.

BILL BADALUCCA-SECRETARY

USS GEORGE BANCROFT SSBN 643 ASSOCIATION