THE BULLETIN BOARD
Austin Chapter --------- The Retired Officers Association 

News and Information for Members

November 1996                                          Pat Oyston, 894-4036

THE PRESIDENT'S CORNER

The "In-Group"

     I remember being part of an organization one time which was controlled and operated by a small group of driving persons who perpetuated themselves in power from year to year. They were known as the "In-Group"! The rest of us were the "Outsiders" ! There was no opportunity for any outsider to contribute or participate to the decisions of the organization. The "In-group" decided for us!
     Fortunately, TROA Austin has not been dominated by such a group. But, it has been served by a regular group of dedicated persons who have been willing to accept, year after year, the tasks and responsibilities that must be met if meetings are to be held, telephone calls to members are to be made, the Bulletin is to be collected, written, edited and distributed month after month, etc. These selfless people your board, and the service representatives, are not trying to perpetuate themselves - they have just been around a long time and know what has to be done - and they do it.
     Now this is all well and good for awhile, but I know that there are others out there with new and fresh ideas and also with some available time, who should be stepping forth to share their thoughts and volunteer their time for the betterment of the organization and all members.
     If you are one of those men or women, please show yourselves. We need to have your input. If Austin TROA is to survive in the future and provide the stimulation and pleasure to those who are coming into the retirement ranks
 today and tomorrow, it must have the directions and push from the newer members. The organization will only be as good as those who guide and direct us.
     So, step up now. Contact me, or any officer or Service Representative, and let us know what you would like to do - or what you would like your officers and board to do. Or, attend a board meeting and see what we do and how we do it.   Then, you can decide if you would like to make yourself available to participate in the decisions and planning. Jack Ledbetter CAPT USN (Ret.)
NOVEMBER 11 - VETERANS DAY

EVENTS

20 Nov. - 1830 Dinner Meeting @ Tracer 22 Nov. - ROWC Luncheon @ Austin C.C. 
              - See Back Page 25 Nov. - 1600 Board Mtg @ Camp Mabry 
28 Nov - Happy Thanksgiving 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS CHRISTMAS DINNER/DANCE WILL BE DECEMBER 11.
         

 

 

 

 

 

 

BOARD PROFILE Lt. Colonel Bill Bomar, USAF (Ret) Air Force Representative      In 19421 was working at the local draft board in a small town in western North Carolina. Seeing my number coming up, I volunteered for the Army Air Corps.
     After basic training, pre-flight and flight training, I was in B-17s in England in late 1943 and 1944. Returning to the States I instructed navigation ground school for French Cadets (didn't speak a word of French) until the end of the war. I decided to stay in the Air Corps and applied for a Regular Army Commission and was accepted.
     1946 to 1948, 1 was at Clark Field for a year and at Kadena AB for almost two years flying war weary B-29s. Every flight a thrill. Also had additional duty as Food Service supervisor for Kadena.
     The next nine years were spent at Carswell AFB and Fairchild AFB as a squadron standardization crew and flight evaluator in B-36s. Attended the Air Tactical School in 1950.
     In 1957, moved to Travis AFB as Staff Operations Officer in the 14AD. Went through B-52 training and moved with the Air Division to the newly activated Beale AFB, Attended Air Command and Staff College of the Air University 1961-62.
     Upon graduation was assigned to the Minuteman ICBM program. After more schools was in the initial cadre for activation of the 44SMW as Missile Combat Crew training officer. In 1964 moved from frozen South Dakota to sunny southern California at Vandenberg AFB as Deputy for Operations in the Strategic Missile Evaluation Squadron. In 1967, I was assigned to SAC Headquarters as Chief of Missile Combat Crew Training and Standardization, Directorate of Operations. Four years later I retired, moved to San Marcos, and a year later moved to Austin.
     I studied electronics for a year and worked for two years in quality control for a company making electronic test equipment. Found it rather boring so I became retired - retired.
     Every one has memories. Two events stand out for me. In August 1953 our B-36 wing a Fairchild AFB deployed 18 aircraft to Okinawa week before the Korean truce was to be signed.  Flight was non-stop, non-refueled and 37 hour flight time. The truce was signed and we cam home. Had it not been signed??. For a month in 1968, 1 was privileged to fly with a Navy crew from Patuxent River NAS.  Flying a P2E we were testing devices at the Matagorda Bombing Range staging from the Dallas NAS. Every thing I had was decaled "Fly Navy." I obtained a SAC decal about two feet square and put it under the pilot window. A year later it was still there, the only Navy aircraft to have an USAF insignia.!
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
To: Capt Jack Ledbetter, USN, 
President Austin Chapter of TROA
     We have tested and examined the ledgers and retained financial records of the Treasurer, Austin Chapter, Retired Officers Assoc., for the period 1 June 1995 to 1 June 1996. The cash balance of the Chapter's account on hand at the end of this period was $10,472.25 - an increase of $1,602.15 over the prior year. Nothing came to our attention to indicate that the records and balances were not in a totally acceptable condition.
     In reviewing the expenditures, it came to our attention that the Organization is paying out a Christmas Bonus of $250.00 to the servers at Tracer. We thought the Board might like to review this expenditure. Our understanding of the payment of the bonus was that it was to go to the steady help, that were once employed, to serve our meals. Today there appears to be new help serving us at each meeting.
     Another area that we thought worth exploring would be chits for drinks. This would allow the Organization to keep the price of dinners down for another year. 
                                                                                           (signed) J.T. Burrill, CAPT, USN (Ret.)
                                                                                           W.K. Petticrew, LCDR, USNR (Ret.)

 

 

DINNER MEETING ==> November 20, 1996
Where: Tracer Dining Hall at 6500 Tracer Lane, just off Ed Bluestein
(Highway 183), South of Webberville Overpass.
When: 1830 Hours-Enter by front door only!
RSVP: SERVICE REPS WILL CALL FOR YOUR RESERVATIONS, OR YOU MAY CALL
YOUR REP BY 2100 HOURS ON THE SUNDAY PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
TO CANCEL A RESERVATION, CALL YOUR SERVICE REP. BY SUNDAY EVENING. NO SHOWS WILL BE BILLED FOR THE RESERVATION. ALL RESERVATIONS WILL BE SEATED FIRST. IF YOU SHOW UP WITHOUT A RESERVATION, YOU MAY NOT BE SERVED. Please remember - the doors open promptly at 6:30 PM - we appreciate your cooperation. The only exceptions are the Board Members who arrive at 6:00 PM to prepare for the evening. (If there is extremely inclement weather or someone experiences an emergency, early admittance would be granted.)
COST IS $14.00 PAYABLE BY CHECK 
COAT AND TIE

Menu

Vegetable Salad 
Roast Turkey 
Mashed Potatoes & Gravy 
Carrots 
Rolls & Butter 
Coffee, Tea 
Southern Pecan Pie


Happy Easter


TAPS BRUCE R. WHALEN Lieutenant, USN (Ret) 10-25-96
SCHEDULE
1830-1915:-Social Period - 
REGISTER WITH YOUR SERVICE REP.
PAY TREASURER - BY CHECK. - $14.00 EACH 
SELECT DINNER SEATS ON THE RESERVATION FORMS (LOCATED ON THE TABLES). THEN ENJOY THE CAMARADERIE
1915-1925 :  Salute to the flag and invocation
1925-2000:Dinner and Door Prizes
2000- 2100:Speaker
PROGRAM COL JAMES P. SCARFF, JR. Director, Retiree Activities Office and JANICE JARZOMBECK Casualty Assistance Representative Randolph AFB "HOW WE CAN HELP YOU"
 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER OFFICERS 1996 -1997

PRESIDENT: CAPT JACK LEDBETTER, USN 345-9755
1st VP (Programs): COL Veme Philips, USAF 345-0643
       
3rd VP (Support): COL Paul Fritz, USAF 328-6963
Secretary: Pat Oyston, 894-4036
Treasurer: LCDR Walter Conley, USN 261-5618
Chaplain: LTC Bruce Barrett, USAF 926-5197
Assoc. Chaplain: CPT Sam Nicholson, USAF 892-1015
Personal Affairs: CAPT Anne Steinocher, USN 346-8801
Past President: LTC Gerry Shinn, USAF 327-6252
USA Rep: COL. Leon Holland, USA 335-1224
USAF Rep: LTC Bill Bomar, USAF 441-6143
USN/USMC/USCG/
USPHS/USNOAA Rep:
CAPT Mary Conley, USN 261-5618

Appointed By The Board:

Legislative Affairs: LTC Tom Spencer, USA 258-3681
Awards & Presentations: COL John Stavast, USAF 892-1277
BOARD NOTES
1. Due to the rime constraints of his job, LTC Gary Davis has found it necessary to resign as 2nd V.P. in charge of membership.

2. The position of TOPS Representative (Officers Placement Service), formerly held by MAJ Roger Gatewood, is now vacant.

Please contact Pres. Jack Ledbetter - or any member of the Board - if you are willing to volunteer to help in these capacities. Knowledge of computer skills is preferable.
ROWC 
The Retired Officers Wives Club will meet on Friday, Nov. 22 at the Austin Country Club. The program will be Ann DuPont, Heritage Bridal Show. The Bridge Group will meet on the second Friday - call Eva Costello at 458-9064.  Caring and Sharing Widows group will meet the first Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at Steak and Ale Restaurant, 2211 W. Anderson Lane - call Elly Draper at 345-2554 or Fran Davis at 346-1242.  If you wish to join ROWC, call Milly Anderson at 258-3539. Farnlvn White- Puhlicitv 282-0056