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 Fall 2011 Meeting

By Marty Diller,
New England Chapter Secretary-Treasurer  

Typically, the New England Chapter meets in southern Maine or New Hampshire each Fall. On September 24th, the Bull N' Claw restaurant in Wells, Maine welcomed us back for the first time since 2008. A savory menu selection, fine weather, and the promise of changing foliage helped attract 60 members and guests for this meeting.

Featured Presentation

The subject of reported leaks in the McMurdo Station PM-3A nuclear power plant during its operation in the 1960s and '70s once again was a big topic of discussion. Instead of having a separate presentation, member Jim Kelly (ASA Det "C" DF'72-74) reported on the status of the DOD/VA investigation into this issue during the business meeting. In response to a letter from Senator Blumenthal (CT), Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki stated that the DOD is in the process of making a "McMurdo radiation dose exposure assessment" and is searching the National Archives to identify veterans that may have been affected by the released radiation. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency is to present their progress in making this assessment at a meeting of the Veterans Advisory Board on Dose Reconstruction (VBDR) in San Antonio, Texas on March 23, 2012 (www.vbdr.org.)The VA will enter dose exposure data into a NIOSH 'Interactive Radio Epidemiological Program' which provides a statistical estimate on the probability that a veteran's disease is associated with ionizing radiation exposure. If the VBDR determines that radiation exposure did occur, this will assist the VA in adjudicating claims and providing benefits to affected veterans. (See: wwwpublichealth.va.gov/docs/radiation-vbdr-insert-feb2011.pdf)

Jim also contacted Mr. Stephen Polchek, the VBDR Executive Director, who said weather records, documented dosimeter readings, and any other available data will be reviewed to help determine possible radiation exposure and the severity of any exposure to McMurdo personnel. Jim said that any veteran needing help in pursuing a medical claim should know that every U.S. Senator has a staff person assigned to help with veterans' issues. He added that information about possible PM-3A radiation leakage has not been widely disseminated throughout the VA and DAV. Veterans should not give up if medical claims are being denied. He recommended they provide a copy of Senator Blumenthal's letter and explain that they were stationed at McMurdo during the time in question.

Chapter Business

Since 2010, the Chapter has been cooperating with the Cape Ann Science Alliance (CASA) founder Bill Waller in advocating that NASA establish a prototype staging facility for planetary exploration in Antarctica, and that NASA take advantage of the collective wisdom that veterans (including OAEA members) of Antarctic expeditions can provide. NASA accepted that recommendation and a meeting was arranged for October 14th near Boston with Chapter members who have had experience in the construction of facilities in Antarctica. In recognition and appreciation of Bill Waller's continued interest and support of the Chapter's Education Program, the Chapter gave Bill an annual Associate membership in the OAEA.

Also, Fred Santino has established an OAEA New England Chapter MeetUp.Com web page with a link to the Chapter web site. Meeting and reunion announcements are on this web page. People can upload photos and sign-up to attend meetings by joining MeetUp. MeetUp is also accessible via Facebook. It is expected that the creation of an "OAEA-NE" group online will increase awareness of both the OAEA and the Chapter.

Meeting Schedule

The next OAEA-NE Chapter meeting is scheduled for Saturday, March 31, 2012, at Pelly's 19th Hole restaurant in North Kingstown, R.I. with an early (noon) start time.