Pilot for a Day - Professional Loadmaster Association

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Page 6 THE LOADER CALLING ALL LOADS GENERAL DUANE CASSIDY WITH A GATHERING OF OLD TIMER LOADS On February 2, 2001 ( Photo standing) MSgt Ted ‘The Godfather” Venturini, SMSgt Tom Connell, CMSgt Bill Cannon, SMSgt Craig Johnson, General Duane Cassidy and CMSgt Mike Welch (kneeling) MSgt Al Capone, CMSgt Charlie Jackson and CMSgt Jim Lis (all retired AF/ANG) attended the Airlift / Tanker Association (A/TA), See Seventeen Chapter’s first 2001 Social. The Airlift / Tanker Association (A/TA), See Seventeen Chapter in Long Beach, California had their first 2001 Social. This event, which featured the A/TA National Chairman - General Duane Cassidy, (retired), former Commander-in-Chief of USTRANSCOM and MAC as the honored guest speaker, will be remembered by all that attended this gala event in Long Beach, especially the eight retired Loadmasters in attendance. General Cassidy commended the Boeing Company on its superior aircraft – the C-17 – and how well it is operating in the AMC world today. He reminisced on how the Boeing and USAF Loadmasters and US Army personnel made sure the money part of the aircraft – the cargo compartment – was the way they wanted it to ensure the C-17 became the Airlifter of the Future. During development he remembers many frantic phone calls in the middle of the night concerning the deletion of some necessary systems for the cargo compartment the Loadmasters required and he considered this a lifesaver for the Airlifter of the Future. The evening was capped off with Mike Welch presenting some needed C-17 golfing supplies for General Cassidy’s next golf game. Mike Welch, PLA Public Relations Volume 4 Issue 2 The Northwest Chapter of the PLA is announcing the 2002 “Gathering of Loads.” The 2002 gathering will be held in conjunction with Air Mobility Commands “Air Mobility Rodeo” and will run from Saturday, 22 June through Wednesday 26 June 2002. The Tacoma Best Western and Copperfields Restaurant will be the location for all gathering events. We will begin on-line pre-registration for this great event in the next month. Look for more information in the upcoming editions of The Loader or at the PLA website : http://www.loadmaster-pla.org Please put this event on your calendar and plan to join us here in Tacoma for a great time of fellowship and renewal of friendships. If you have questions please feel free to contact our POC, CMSgt Stephen Spotts at 253.982.2797/ 253.875.3890 or by e-mail at : spottss1@aol.com We’ll see all of you there! Loadmaster Appreciation Picnic At McChord AFB Hosted and paid for by Bill Cannon. After 6 months of careful planning the 2nd of June arrived as a drizzly overcast day. This would be the day of Bill Cannons tribute to his many Loadmaster friends in the world. It was decided that a little bit of very typical Northwest weather would not be a deterrent to the Master Plan. The events kicked off at 10 AM with people arriving from as far away as Missouri —Larry Chitty. A total of 200 People showed up and made this a day to remember for everyone. Live music was provided by Jim Kettermen and his All Star Band. The food was catered from “WARTHOG BARBQUE”. The menu consisted of delicious pork ribs and chicken with corn bread and all the trimmings. Many volunteers worked very hard to bring this together. Thanks to Mrs. Cannon, Lillian Cannon, and Dan Watson for the great job in the kitchen. Deserts were the greatest and provided by Loadmasters and their wives. Thanks to Norm Keppler and the many people who arrived as early as 8 AM to set-up for the Picnic. Thanks to everyone for coming out and enjoying a great day at Holiday Park. It was a great day of Friendship. Most thanks of all goes to Bill Cannon for footing the cost of the get together. Thank You Bill Cannon. We will never forget. You are indeed a true friend of all Loadmasters. Special Item: It was voted upon and approved to dedicate the Loadmaster Memorial Gazebo (In Progress), a Memorial to our fallen Loadmasters to Bill Cannon. The tentative name will be: “The Chief MSgt Bill Cannon Loadmaster Memorial” Continued on page 10
VOLUME 4 ISSUE 2 Mid-Atlantic Chapter Pope AFB, NC The last quarter has been a busy one in the Mid-Atlantic Chapter. We were preparing for and then executing our 3rd Annual Golf tournament. It was a great success. We raised over $1,100 for our chapter. We also gave prizes away to thirteen teams. In the raffle after the tournament we gave away a weekend trip to Myrtle Beach and a gold putter (won by our VP). Many thanks to our numerous sponsors. Our next meeting is scheduled for 28 June at 1630 in the Pope AFB Enlisted Annex. We are in the process of planning our Chapter picnic. We will break tradition and have it in August , so that our loadmasters can come before they deploy for their AEF rotation. Brian A. Brech, Chapter President Parker-Aguillon-Payne Chapter Travis AFB, CA THE LOADER Chapter Reports Golden West Chapter Southern California Page 7 Members of the Golden West Chapter are anxiously awaiting their trip to visit the C-17, “Globemaster lll” at the Boeing Plant in Long Beach CA. The trip planned for July 21st is being coordinated with Mike Welch, Public Relations Officer, of the PLA. Walt Byrns and Joe Ward recently visited March ARB and talked to the Commander and Chief L/M of the 730th about membership in the Golden West Chapter and the PLA and their planned trip to Boeing. Chief Thompson displayed a memo board in the L/M Section that has PLA and Golden West Chapter activities. Two members of the chapter are worthy of accolades for their continuing blood donations through the San Bernardino and Riverside Blood Bank, Jack D. Gregory, recently surpassed the 24 gallon mark with his apheresis donations, Joe Ward will donate his 40th pint or 5 gal’s of whole blood in June. Joe’s donations are currently shared with the VFW and American Legion. Joe says that donations can be made to most organizations that have a participation of 35 members or more. He also reports that the Blood Bank has recently extended the upper age limit for senior blood donors from 70 to 75 years of age, those turning 76, will need a permission slip from their physician. Five new members were added to the Golden West Chapter during April and May: James Flowers, Jack D. Gregory, Craig S. Johnson, Duke Sanders and Ed Silbermann. Walt Byrns, Chapter President We are in the planning phases of our 3rd annual chapter picnic. It is currently scheduled to be held at the Solano Park near Winters CA. We have reserved a picnic pad for the 25th of August. If you’re in the area, please stop by for a day of family fun. The chapter is sponsoring a PLA booth at the Travis Air Expo on the 16th and 17th of June 2001. What a great opportunity for us to tell what we are about and increase our exposure to the hundreds of loadmaster that are in our community. We hope to increase our national membership and encourage more participation in our local chapter. We will be having brochures and applications available that will tell them what we are all about and how they can belong. RC Jones and Mike Druding continue to support our local chapter as executive committee members and outstanding participating in chapter activities. Joe Adams that has taken over the museum display and has done an outstanding job of tracking down pictures and getting them displayed. Other members of our chapter that routinely support our monthly meetings and offer inputs are highly appreciated. We need the support of all members to keep our association going and on the right track. Our monthly meetings are scheduled the first Tuesday of every month at the Delta Breeze Club (NCO Club), on Travis AFB, at 1900 hrs. Mark E. Raymond, Chapter President Nortwest Chapter McChord AFB, WA The Northwest Chapter is doing very well. We have about 136 members and growing. We have several projects pending: On Memorial Day we will visit local cemeteries and place US Flags upon the final resting places of our departed Loadmaster friends. The McChord AFB open house will be 16th and 17th of June. We will have a PLA Display set up in one of the open hangers. Our main function at these shows is to recruit new members. We are also in the Planning/Approval Stages of establishing a Loadmaster Memorial at the McChord Memorial Grove. The plan is to build a medium size gazebo with the floor made of bricks engraved with the names of our fallen. This is part of “Remembering Our Own”. The Gazebo will also honor the Air Force’s two Enlisted Medal of Honor Recipients John Levitow and William Pittsenbarger. We will need help with the actual building of the gazebo as well as dollar donations. Local Chapter members have already pledged a generous amount but more will be needed. Another project that we are working on is the GATHER- ING OF LOADS 2002. We have the deal pretty well set with a Motel in the McChord area. We need input from our members to come up with ideas that will make this the best Gathering yet. The Northwest Chapter Meets at 9 AM on the 2nd Saturday of each month. The meetings have been interesting and productive. Harold Edvalds, Chapter President
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Page 5: VOLUME 4 ISSUE 2 Chains and More Ch
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