The New England Chapter
of
The Old Antarctic Explorers Association

Membership By State

Chapter Membership Dues

     OAEA-NE By-Laws establish voluntary annual dues of five dollars for each member to help cover the Chapter's administrative expenses.  The fiscal year starts on October 1st with a dues drive.  Dues can be paid in person at a Chapter meeting or mailed directly to Secretary/Treasurer Marty Diller at the mailing address on the OAEA-NE web site "Officers/Contact" page.  Please make out all OAEA-NE checks to "OAEA-NE".  If you have any questions about your dues, please contact Marty Diller.

New England Chapter Summer Meeting

By Marty Diller,
New England Chapter Secretary-Treasurer

     OAEA's New England Chapter (OAEA-NE) returned to historic Sturbridge, Massachusetts again this year for our summer meeting. Average attendance at summer Chapter meetings since 2004 has been 44 people, and true to form, exactly 44 people, including 35 members, showed up at Rom's Restaurant on July 12th. Rom's again provided great service and food with an all-you-can-eat hot lunch buffet, including dessert and drinks, at a very reasonable price.

 Featured Presentation

     With no guest speaker on the slate, the afternoon's main entertainment was a 30-minute video produced by Walt Disney in 1960 as part of their "Peoples and Places" series, titled "Seven Cities of Antarctica". It was presented while attendees enjoyed their lunch buffet dessert bar, and featured extremely interesting black and white footage of the construction of seven U.S. research stations for the International Geophysical Year 1957-58: Amundson-Scott, Byrd, Ellsworth, Hallett, Little America V, McMurdo, and Wilkes (Knox Coast). The video did an excellent job of conveying the serious challenges faced by military personnel and science teams in building these stations, but was very humorous at times. Other extreme hazards to polar operations - such as crevasses for tractor-train traverses, ice pack hazards to ships, and weather hazards to aircraft - were also addressed in detail. More than once during the show, ex-Seabees in the crowd recognized a coworker or even themselves in the video! Many attendees inquired about obtaining their own copy of this Disney production, and the Chapter intends to contact Disney to see if this title is available today in either video or DVD format.

Chapter Business

     The business meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Charlie "CB" Bevilacqua, who keeps the ceremonial South Pole Station US and POW/MIA flags (flown every Christmas Day at the Pole) during the austral winter, but dutifully provides them for display at Chapter meetings.

Under "Old Business":

• A report on the progress of obtaining OAEA "class rings" was provided by Dave Hazard, who reported that non-gold rings would cost about $200 each, and a one-time $500 die charge would need to be factored in. It is hoped that the OAEA National Merchandise Committee will adopt this venture, but to date, only tentative discussions have taken place.
• In the ongoing 2008 Chapter election, nominations of members for the offices of President, Vice-President and Director closed this date. Outgoing President Dave Hazard assumes the vacant immediate Past President slot. Similarly, VP Fred Santino is not eligible for re-election to the VP post. However, Director Mike Hall is eligible for another term as Director, or election to the President or VP slots. Election ballots will be sent by mail and voting ends on August 23rd. New officers begin their terms in office after the fall Chapter meeting.
  

Fundraising

      Limited-edition, color OAEA-logo belt buckles were again the featured fundraising items at the meeting, and OAEA-logo ball caps and polo shirts were also available for sale. The Chapter Board of Directors has voted to donate belt buckle #001 to the 2008 OAEA National Reunion Committee with the intent that it be used to raise funds for the OAEA Scholarship Program.

     In the last meeting report, owners of buckles #002-017 were listed. New owners include: Marty Diller (018), Buz Dryfoose (019), George Wood (020), Frank Williams (021), Jerry Marty (022), Charlie Swinney (023, 034), George McLaughlin (024), Henry Storm (025), Charlie Thompson (026), Gordon Williams (027), George Parker (028), Al Yoas (029), Bert Chaput (030), Richard Hefley (031), PK Panehal (033), Jim Bain (035 -038), Phil Holloway (039), and Herschel Smith (040 - 042).

     Distribution of the OAEA-logo belt buckles continues on a first-come basis. Remaining belt buckles can be obtained for $20 plus $4 shipping & handling. Just go to the "OAEA-NE Merchandise " link on the OAEA website ( http://www.oaea.net ), or contact Dave Hazard directly at: 207-353-9068.

     Also, the Chapter is still has a quantity of Noel Gillespie's original-edition books about VX-/VXE-6, "Courage, Sacrifice, Devotion", and is selling them for $25.00. A bookplate signed by the author accompanies each book.

     For the raffle, prizes were either donated by Chapter members or the Chapter.

Meeting Schedule

The next OAEA-NE Chapter meeting is scheduled for 1:00 PM on Saturday, 20 September 2008. Various members are searching for a site in New Hampshire, where the Chapter hasn't held a meeting since March 2004 when the spring meeting was held at the Red Hook Ale Brewery in Portsmouth.

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     Noel Gillespie was at the 2006 OAEA National Symposium/Reunion signing copies of his book "Courage, Sacrifice, and Devotion". He sold out very quickly leaving many members still wanting copies of his book. The New England Chapter has received signed copies of Noel's book and now has them available for order.

Cost: $25.00 plus shipping.

To order "Courage, Sacrifice, and Devotion"
Please contact Dave Hazard via:
Phone: (207)353-9068 or
Email: Dave Hazard