elsie item issue 65 - USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association

JOINT AMPHIBIOUS MANEUVERS AGAIN!LCI AND LSM/LSMR VETS MEET IN 2010“Full Speed Ahead—Together in 2010!”That, says Connie Mulherin, was the tenor of thediscussions with USS LSM/LSMR Association officerson the possibility of future joint reunions.Representing the USS LCI National Association,Connie Mulherin, Director Emeritus, met with officersof the USS LSM/LSMR Association onSeptember 10, 2004, in Savannah, Georgia.President John Cummer was scheduled to attendbut had to cancel out for health reasons.Representing the USS LSM-LSMR Association wereDavid K. Miller, President; Ted Taylor, VicePresident; and Edward Stevens, Secretary.Tentative plans were explored for a joint reunion ofthe two groups in 2010.“Everyone agreed that a merger of both associationsis a reasonable idea whose time has come,”reports Connie.On the day following the meeting with Connie, theofficers of the LSM/LSMR Association presentedthe proposal to their full business meeting, and itwas accepted by them.Among the topics discussed by Connie with theLSM/LSMR officers were the questions of whenand where we should meet.Spring or fall reunions?Our LCI Association has been meeting in the spring,while the LSM-LSMR’s, have been gathering in thefall. Because either season was acceptable to ourLCI group, it was decided that the next gatheringwould be held in the fall of 2010.Future Site?The District of Colmbia area was discussed as apossible site for our first joint reunion. Because ofthe high hotel rates in DC, it was decided toexplore the possibility of Baltimore, because of itsclose proximity to the nation’s capitol, allowing usto use bus trips to Washington, if desired.However, subsequent input from Ted Dey, of ArmedForces Reunions, Inc., has indicated that hotelprices in downtown Baltimore are quite expensiveand that, if we do go there, it might have to be inone of the hotels near Baltimore WashingtonAirport. A further complication is the scarcity ofhotel rooms in the DC area in the fall sinceCongress will be in session. For these reasons, thedecision concerning the site of our 2010 jointreunion is still open. Consideration will be given toa Midwest location.Though the possible merger of the two associationsis under serious consideration, discussions at theSavannah meeting centered on just the jointreunion in 2010. Both groups would need to makecharter and by-laws changes for a merger to occur.Ideas were shared concerning details of our firstjoint reunion. It was, for instance, agreed that itwould be good to have one joint hospitality room inorder to promote a quicker merging of the twogroups. Separate Ship’s Stores tables for eachgroup would be located in the hospitality room.Other joint activities would be sight-seeing excursions,banquets and memorial services.It was felt that each group should hold their ownboard meetings and business meeting but that itwould be important to have a joint meeting of officersof both organizations at each reunion.To iron out these and other questions, it was decidedthat officers of both associations should meet inthe near future. Plans for a conference call toaccomplish this will be made in the near future.10