CHAPTER NEWS Baltimore Chapter Pres: Jason Hardebeck ’87 p: 443-269-1599; e: jhardebeck@whoglue.com BGO Area Coordinator: LCDR Charles Mello e: Charlesmello@gmail.com Join the Chapter: https://www.signupnow.events/ USNAAlumni Chapter_ Annapolis/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1118214 745191/ (or search for: Naval Academy Alumni Annapolis Chapter)
Greater Southern Maryland Chapter Pres: Micheal W. Thumm '75 e: thummer75@md.metrocast.net Corr Sec’y: Michael Dougherty ’73 p: 240-925-7518; e: doughertymj8@aol.com
Detroit Chapter: The Pride of Nautibuoy was joined by the US Coast Guard, who made sure the party didn’t get out of hand.
Website: http://www.navyalumni.org BGO Area Coordinator: Kevin Schaaff e: Kevin.Schaaff@bgo.usna.com
EVENTS Please, check your email and the GSMC website www.navyalumni.org for all event updates throughout the remainder of 2021!
Michigan Detroit Chapter
Pres: Maj. Joe Zane ’07 USMCR P.O. Box 710, Birmingham, MI 48009 e: joseph.zane.2007@gmail.com Vice Pres: Shawn Hoch ’08 e: shawn.hoch@2008.usna.com Website: http://detroit.usnachapters.net
ALUMNI IN THE NEWS 1 July: CAPT Molly Boron ’95 was relieved as Aerial Targets (PMA208) Program Manager by Don Blottenberger. COMING EVENTS 1700, 2nd Tuesday of each month: Monthly Board of Directors’ Meetings. Virtual or Physical Location will vary. All other events are TBD. Please, check your email and the GSMC website www.navyalumni.org for all event updates throughout the remainder of 2021!
Communications Sec’y: Chris Bernard ’88 e: gcb117@gmail.com BGO Area Coordinator (Eastern) CAPT Michael Johnson ’79, USNR mj007mj@hotmail.com BGO Area Coordinator (West & Upper): Col. Benjamin Richmond ’93, USMCR e: brichmond97@earthlink.net
Massachusetts Boston Chapter
Pres: James Kras ’69 141 Dorchester Ave., Unit 406 South Boston, MA 02127-1836 p: 617-645-1032; e: jameskras@comcast.net Shipmate contact: CAPT Pete Seibert ’65 p: 781-235-5909; e: pkseibert@comcast.net Website: http://boston.usnachapters.com BGO Area Coordinator (Boston and SE Mass) Kimber Johnston e: Kimber.Johnson@bgo.usna.com BGO Area Coordinator (N Shore and Central Mass) - CDR David Grim e: david.grim@1982.usna.com BGO Area Coordinator (Western Mass): Mike Cousins e: Cuztri67@gmail.com
100 SHIPMATE • OCTOBER 2021
Art Bryant ‘66, was honored for his 45 years of service as the Chapter President.
Sit right back And you’ll hear the tale A tale of an alumni trip That started from St Clair Shores Aboard Droogleever’s renovated ship. OK, OK. Maybe Gilligan’s Island isn’t the way we should tell our tale, but if ever a gathering of USNA alumni deserved a theme song, this was the meeting.
After the pause we all endured for the pandemic, 18 alumni and guests gathered aboard Mike Droogleever’s Pride of NautiBuoy for some well-behaved fun. Besides celebrating our ability to again gather and swap seastories, our group recognized Art Bryant ‘66 and his remarkable 45-year service to Southeastern Michigan’s Naval Academy Alumni. He has held our group together, ensured meetings were scheduled, and welcomed both USNA’s returning and new Michiganders to the area. As all of us who serve in any capacity know, this role can be tiring and thankless. You’d never know this, though, from the warmth and generosity Art brought to his leadership. Art, thank you! Our group hunkered down for the trip across St. Clair Lake to begin our cruise along the Detroit River. Just as we cracked our beers and began regaling one another with new home office configurations, blue lights flashed in the distance. The Pride of NautiBuoy and its passengers, it seems, were no match for the US Coast Guard. The Guardsmen deftly maneuvered their craft alongside and boarded Pride of NautiBuoy to conduct their Five Star Google Rated Safety Inspection. Following the disembarkation of our new favorite Coasties, we took in the sight of Detroit’s revived Riverwalk and GM’s RenCen. As if on cue, a firefighting ship began
training and gave our passengers another remarkable view and selfie backdrop. We tried to convince Art that new president Joe Zane had put together the evening’s entertainment, but he wasn’t biting even if he was as impressed as we were with the night’s events. Our ride back to St. Clair Shores was complete with a small craft advisory, drinks spilling on bulkheads, and storm clouds on the horizon. Mike D and his XO, Alana, kept us all safe and comfortable even on the rough return. We appreciate your hospitality! Joe welcomes all local alumni to become part of our alumni association and encourages others to host social events. Want to lunch together at a favorite restaurant? Have access to a beach? Suspect you have a talent for planning an Army-Navy viewing that is fresh and exciting? He and the rest of the alum here in SE Michigan would love for you to host our next gathering. As for me? I wondered aloud how we could make these alumni chapter updates more engaging. Not every meeting is going to have boardings, water displays, or 45-year service celebrations that merit exciting updates. Passengers suggested serial stories and cliff hangers to bring readers to this section of Shipmate. I’m all for that, but I suspect something more tangible will entice readers from other states to come to our Michigan chapter’s column: candy. If you’re from outside of Michigan and you’ve made it this far, be the first to drop me a line at LMERB99@gmail.com and I’ll send you a bag of MichiGummies. They’re a sweet treat from my adopted state and travel far better than cheese curds from my home state. This also stands as a challenge to other alumni groups: how will you get us reading your column? Until next time, Beat Army!
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