NEWS
(8/26/2008)
HOTEL BOOKING IS NEARING FULL (see HOT NOTE #5 below)
NEW HOT NEWS & SEE OUR SPONSOR'S LIST
HOT REUNION NOTES:
We have had some problems with booking the Supper Shuttle, but have resolved them as follows:
If you use the internet to book the Suppershutttle please use BIGSA (first 5 charcters of "Big Safari, in Capital letters) for the Discount Code. note you will be going to and from the Embassy Suits - DTC. On the "Departureto and Arrival from Service Options" page, select the "Shared Ride Van Service of $19.00". It will autofill the rest of the page and you should scroll down to the bottom of the page where you can see a TOTAL of $15.00 and below that will be the Grand Total amount. Now you can finish with the booking.
The Supper Shuttle telephone number operators CAN'T give you the discount rate over the phone. Because of this, if you do not have access to a computer for the booking, please call Diane Dillinger (Lookheed Martin Denver Coperate Concierge) at 719-277-4947. If she is not availble, leave her a voice mail and your phone number , she will call you back and make the booking for you.
If you still have problems, again call Diane above and she will help you.
2. August 20th is the Cut-off date for the guaranteed Reunion rate at the Embassy Suits - DTC. After that hotel room availibility may also be an issue. TIME IS RUNNING OUT!
3. The date for tickets to the Colorado Rockies/LA Dodgers game at Coors Field has passed. Diane Dillinger will be turning those back. If you call her in the next few weeks she maybe able to help, but there's no guarantee.
4. 2008 Reunion Sponsor list below updated (8/21/2008)
5. We are still good on rooms for every night except Friday night and the hotel is approximately 80% full as of 8/25/2008 for Friday 12 Sept. You need TO BOOK NOW!! DO NOT DELAY!!
CLICK HERE: for the Reunion Events Letter
CLICK HERE: for the Reunion MAIL-IN Activities SIGN-UP Letter
OUR SPONSORS FOR THE 2008 REUNION
ATK Integrated Systems
BAE Systems
L-3 Communications Integrated Systems
Textron Defense Systems
Sierra Nevada Corporation
BSA REUNION 2008 IN DENVER, COLORADO
SEPTEMBER 10 THRU 13
Yes it's time to start making your plans for attending this year's Reunion in Denver, CO. Our Host's for this years reunion are Lockheed-Martin and Serria Nevada Corporation (SNC), both located in Denver. Also in Denver is Big Safari's newest Operating Location (OL) the 661st AESS OL. The Reunion Hotel is the Embassy Suites Denver - Tech Center. We contracted a BSA rate per night of $140.00 (+ taxes). This includes a complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast each morning along with complimentary hors d'oeuvers and your favorite beverage each evening for their guests. While detail planning is still "in-work" the agenda will most likely follow our normal profile: Wednesday the 10th is registration day with our hospitality room open for get-together's. Plan on a Great Golf Tournament early Thursday morning , the 11th, at one of the best Golf courses in the area. I'm sure we will have other events for you in the afternoon and evening. On Friday, the 12th, we currently considering a bus tour to a local event(s) and a free night out in Denver for you to enjoy on your own. Saturday, the 13th, starts early with the seminars and a BSA business meeting. Saturday evening we will have a formal reception and banquet. As always, the hospitality room open will be open each day for your use.
The BSA EVENTS Letter along with the MAIL-IN Activities SIGN-UP Sheet was mailed out this week. You can also down load and print these LETTERS by CLICKING on the two Buttons above. Please fill out and return your Activities SIGN-UP early so we can start getting a good count of the number attendees. The letter has all the details on the various events with dates and times. I've provided LINKS to all the EVENTS below to help you chose.
NOW is time for you to make your reservations to get these special BSA rates.
You should call the toll-free reservation number 1-800-EMBASSY(362-2779) and ask for reservations for the Embassy Suites Denver - Tech Center with the rate code BSR. The direct number for the Embassy Suites Denver - Tech Center is (303) 792-0433. Embassy Suites Hotels in major cities like Denver are very popular. Rooms book very fast as many experienced last year in Dallas. Those that didn't book their rooms early, found the rates increased significantly and availability became a real issue. Those that had to cancel their reservations didn't have a problem. Again, BOOK EARLY.
Here are LINKS to our various EVENTS.
Just CLICK on the one you would to see.
Use your Web Browser's RETURN to come back.
EMBASSY SUITES _ TECH CENTER DENVER, CO
TRAILDUST STEAK HOUSE RESTAURANT
* * * * * * BSA REUNION INTERNET SPECIAL "BASEBALL GAME TICKETS" * * * * * *
The Lockheed Martin folks have 40 seats on hold, for the Colorado Rockies/LA Dodgers game at Coors Field , on the night of September 13th. That is our FREE (on your own) night on the town in Denver, during the Reunion. The game starts at 7:05 PM. You can find more information at thier web site at http://Colorado.rockies.mlb.com/ . If interested please contact Diane Dillinger via email; diane.m.dillinger@lmco.com or call her at 719-277-4947 NO LATER THAN 1 August. Ticket information:
20 tickets @ $28 (normally $38-$70) Section 117 (outfield boxes behind first base)
20 tickets @ $11 (normally $24-$50) Section 158 (Pavillion, outfield behind the 420' wall under near the main scoreboard)
TAPS
Major John C. Chipman, USAF, Ret. passed away on 25 May 2008. John was an RC-135M Airborne Mission Supervisor (AMS) assigned to the 6990th Electronic Security Group, Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan. He flew the "Combat Apple" mission over Vietnam in the very early days of the War. John was the one first AMS to be Commissioned as a 2nd Lt. during his Kadena AB assignment. John was also assigned to Det 2, Greenville, TX later in his Military career.
Lt. Col. Kenneth (Ken) D. Oliver, USAF, Ret. passed away on 23 May 2008. He served as Det 4. Commander at Lockheed Aircraft Service Corp. Ontario, CA facility modifying various Special Mission C-130.
Lt. Col. Robert (Bob) J. McMahon, USAF, Ret. was killed in a car accident on 3 December 2007. Bob was an RC-135M Navigator assigned to the 82nd Strategic Reconnaissance Squardron (SAC) Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan. He flew the "Combat Apple" missions over Vietnam in the very early days of the War.
Chuck Riechers, passed away on 14 October 2007. He served Big Safari in Det 4, AFLC/AZ and SAF/AQLG. At the time of his passing he was the Air Force's principal deputy assistant SAF/AQ. Chuck was an ardent Big Safari spokesperson. He was a Seminar presenter at Dallas 2007 Reunion.
Maj. Gen. Doyle E. Larson, USAF, Ret. passed away on 14 August 2007. Gen. Larson was the Commander of the 6990th Electronic Security Group, Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan during the early days of the Veitnam War. This unit flew the "Combat Apple" missions in the RC-135M aircraft. In later years Gen. Larson was the Commander of the Electronic Security Command located in San Antonio Texas. Until his death Gen. Larson was very active in the intelligence community.
Lt. Col. John King, USAF, Ret. passed away on 22 Dec 2006 in Rockwall Texas. John was an RC-135 Pilot and also served as the Big Safari Det 2 Commander at the E-Systems Greenville Texas facility. John was an early leader in the development of the RC-135 Programs. His dedicated service was instrumental to the current success of these important airborne programs.
CMSgt Jimmie E. Ely, USAF, Ret. passed away 29 May 2006 at his home in Montgomery Alabama. Jimmie retired after 55 years of distinguished service to his country with 32 years retiring as a Chief from the U.S. Air Force, 18 years civilian duty at Wright-Patterson AFB and five years as a contractor. Jimmie was a "corner stone" to the Big Safari Program. His positive dedication, influence and guidance to the many Big Safari programs will continue for many to come.
Lt. Col. Lloyd T. Navarro, USAF, Ret. passed away on 18 January 2006 in Universal City Texas. Lloyd served his country for over 31 years in both the U. S. Marine Corps and the U. S. Air Force. He was an early RC-135 Raven on many of the Combat Apple missions in the late 60's. After retirement from the service Lloyd was an accountant for the City of Austin Texas.
Mr William J. (Bill) McCormick passed away on 4 January 2006 at his home in Austin Texas. Prior to his retirement Bill was the Lead and Senior Project Engineer for the Big Safari ELINT program for E-Systems at the Greenville Division. He was instrumental in the development of the AEELS sensor installed on the RC-135 aircraft. His was a dedicated Engineer and totally devoted to supporting the various Big Safari programs though-out the world.
Lt. Col. William (Willie) C. Mueller, USAF, Ret. passed away 13 October 2005 according to the Albuquerque Journal, 14 Oct 05 edition. Willie was an early RC-135 Raven and was assigned to the EWO training school at Mather AFB, CA for many years before his retirement. Willie flew as a Raven on many of the Combat Apple missions in the late 60's.
Mr Wade Drew Whitaker passed away on 18 September 2005 at his home in Canton Texas. Prior to his retirement he was Vice President of Special Projects (Big Safari) for E-Systems at the Greenville Division. He also served in the United States Air Force. Wade was instrumental in the delivery of the first Block III Rivet Joint Aircraft.
YOUR ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR 2007/8 ARE:
The Associations Current Board of Directors:
President Mr. Jack Cooke
Vice President Mr. Kim High
Secretary/BSA Web Master Mr. Barry A.Kibbe*
Treasurer/Membership Chairman Mr. John Reynolds
Other Elected Board Members
Mr. Danny Bryant
Mr. Tom Coffield
Mr. Joe Durant
Mr. Bill Ernst
Mr. Bill Grimes*
Mr. Sam Klein
Mr. Mike Meermans
Mr. Kevin McNellis
Mr. Ralph Pollitt
Mr. Mike Patterson
Appointed Board Member
Col. Robert R. Hoffmann
Serving as BSA Historian
Mr. Pete Hurd
* Permanent Director Status (IAW BSA Bylaw 3.1.2)
We recently mailed a postage post card to all BSA members. This post card will show your period of your current membership (membership good thru date) after your name. If the date shown after your name is 2007 or earlier its time to renew your membership. Our dues are still: $10 per year or 3 years for $25.00. If there isn't a date after your name, you are not a BSA member. For those desiring to join the Big Safari Association, please notify me me by the email link below. We will email you a current Membership form. For those wanting to renew your BSA Membership, please mail your dues to our Treasurer: John Reynolds at 4448 Beach Dr. Greenville, TX 75402-8776. Checks should be payable to the: Big Safari Association with RENEW and number (1 or 3 ) of years on the Memo line.
CLICK HERE: for the BSA Membership & Renewal Form
Big Safari Association
10511 Linda Lane
Greenville, TX 75402-3519
Click Here
for Email:
kibbeb@bigfoot.com