(Journal 647) August, 2013 in THIS ISSUE President's Message Page 3
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IN THIS ISSUE President’s Message Page 3 Articles Page 5-36 About the Cover Page 4 Letters Page 37-42 Local Reports Page 4-13 In Memoriam Page 42 Calendar Page 44 Volume 16 Number 8 (Journal 647) August, 2013 —— OFFICERS —— President Emeritus: The late Captain George Howson President: Phyllis Cleveland ......................................................... 831-622-7747 .................................... [email protected] Vice Pres: Jon Rowbottom ............................................................ 831-595-5275 ....................................... [email protected] Sec/Treas: Leon Scarbrough ......................................................... 707-938-7324 ...................................... [email protected] Membership Tony Passannante ..................................................... 503-658-3860 ................................... [email protected] —— BOARD OF DIRECTORS —— President - Phyllis Cleveland, Vice President - Jon Rowbottom, Secretary Treasurer - Leon Scarbrough Floyd Alfson, Rich Bouska, Sam Cramb, Ron Jersey, Milt Jines, Tony Passannante Walt Ramseur, Bill Smith, Cleve Spring, Larry Wright —— COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN —— Convention Sites. .......................................................... Ron Jersey ............. [email protected] RUPANEWS Manager ............................................. Cleve Spring ......... [email protected] RUPANEWS Editors................................................ Cleve Spring .................. [email protected] Widows Coordinator .............................................. Carol Morgan ........ [email protected] ....................................................................................... Patti Melin ..................... [email protected] RUPA WEBSITE……………………………………………………………...http://www.rupa.org —— AREA REPRESENTATIVES —— Arizona Hawaii Phoenix Road Runners ............................... Ken Killmon Hawaiian Ono Nene’s ................................... Larry Becker Tucson ...........................................................Randy Ryan Illinois Chicago ....................................................... Bernie Sterner California McHenry .................................................................. Pending Dana Point ..................................................Ted Simmons Nevada Los Angeles South Bay ............ Arvid von Nordenflycht Las Vegas High Rollers ............................. Andy Anderson Monterey Peninsula ............................ Phyllis Cleveland Jerry Johnson San Diego Co. ............................................... Bob Harrell Reno’s Biggest Little Group ............................. Gary Dyer San Francisco Bay ........................................ Sam Cramb Lyle U’ren San Francisco North Bay .......................... Bob Donegan New York Thousand Oaks ............................... Denny Fendelander New York Skyscrapers ............................... Pete Sofman Oregon Colorado The Columbia River Geezers ............................. Ron Blash Denver Good Ol’ Boys ............................. Ted Wilkinson Tony Passannante Florida The Intrepid Aviators of Southern Oregon .. Bob Niccolls N.E. Florida ................................................ Steve Moddle Ohio S.E. Florida Gold Coast .................................................... Cleveland Crazies ................................. Richard McMakin October thru April, - Lyn Wordell & Ned Rankin Washington May thru Sept., - Jim Morehead & Art Jackson Seattle Gooney Birds ............................... William R. Brett S.E. Florida Treasure Coast Sunbirds .... Bob Langevin Brent F. Revert S.W. Florida ......................................... Gary Crittenden Washington D.C. Tampa ............................................... Matt Middlebrooks Washington D.C. ........................................ E.K. Williams J The renewal date for dues is your birthday and is printed in the back cover address box. Send your $25 renewal check (made out to RUPA) and/or your updated information to: RUPA, PO BOX 400, VINEBURG, CA 95487-0400 E-mail: [email protected] Change your mailing address for any reason, permanent or temporary, advise RUPA at the above address or email. You can even phone: 707-938-7324 DO NOT forget to fill out the Post Office mail forwarding postcard!! The P.O. will only forward the “NEWS” for 60 days, so tell everybody! RUPANEWS (USPS 017-562) is published monthly for members for $25 per year by the Retired United Pilots Association, 1104 Burke Lane, Foster City, CA 94404-3636. Periodicals POSTAGE PAID at San Mateo, CA and additional mailing offices: POSTMASTER: Send address changes to RUPANEWS, P.O. Box 400, Vineburg, CA 95487-0400 2 August, 2013 RUPANEWS PRESIDENT'S LETTER Welcome new members: Capt Donald R. Tanner of Thousand Oaks, CA; Capt Norman C. Paulsen of Coupeville, WA; Capt Michael S. Ross of Fairfield, CA; Capt Robert C. Mays of The Woodlands, TX; Capt A. R. “Buzz” Shiely of Barrington, NH; John W. Craig of Denver, CO; Capt Lindsay G. Johnston of University Place, WA; Capt Kenneth J. Sobzack of Castle Rock, CO; Capt Michael L. Weidler of Westminster, CO; Capt Robert C. Granville of Walnut Creek, CA; Capt Robert T. Moorman of Lake Forest IL; Capt David W. Sullivan of Porter, TX; Capt Timm Gilmore of Lakeway, TX; Capt Daniel R. Leo-Toulouse of Smyrna, GA; and Capt Herbert M. 'Bud' Himes of Scottsdale, AZ! The RUPA Board voted this month for the new officers for the 2013 – 2015 term. Your new President is Jon Rowbottom, Vice President is Tony Passannante, and long time incumbent Leon Scarbrough is Secretary/ Treasurer! Congratulations to Jon, Tony, and Leon and thank you for your continued volunteer spirit! These three gentlemen will serve with the integrity and the dedication that they have repeatedly demonstrated throughout their airline careers and with their recent volunteer work with RUPA. In October RUPA will celebrate 50 years!!! Though our airline is gone our association is strong and we continue with our mission of keeping our retirees informed and providing opportunities to socialize maintaining the camaraderie and friendships we established well flying the line. It has been my pleasure and honor to have served the RUPA membership. It has been the best of times and occasionally not so enjoyable. Dealing with the change over of management from United personnel to Continental personnel has presented some problems that normally would not have been encountered. Change is difficult and watching our airline disappear and so many of the people we knew with it was very difficult indeed. Knowing part of our livery is all that is left of our heritage and careers is nothing new in the airline industry. It was such a long sad goodbye! This was also a period of slow growth for RUPA because of the change in the FAA’s “Age 60 Rule” to age 65 which created a long period of few new members. But since December that has changed! We are growing and with that we are reestablishing old relationships lost with retirement. The primary mission of RUPA is to maintain the camaraderie we knew on the line. Our retirement years provide more opportunities for enjoyable times with some old and new friends and colleagues. Lunches, local events, our cruises, and an occasional game of golf or tennis or an airshow gathering keeps that contact and activity available for all of us to share and enjoy. We have accomplished many goals because of the many hours of time and dedication given to RUPA so generously by our volunteer Officers and Board, making RUPA the best it can be - all to better serve our membership. Without the enthusiasm and follow through of Jon, Leon, and Cleve we wouldn’t have the association we enjoy today. Others like Bill Powell, who has worked behind the scenes for years, and Tony Passannante, who joined the Board last year as Membership Chair, confirms a quality team produces bountiful results. Please join me in thanking these hard working gentlemen who have so benefited my term as President and you through your membership. FYI: for those of you using the old SKYNET website that will soon be phased out. The preferred website is https://flyingtogether.ual.com. Our sincere thoughts and prayers to you and yours who were affected by the recent forest fires, tornados, and flooding. No doubt many UAL employees/retirees were impacted by the Black Forest fire near Denver. Thank you all for your many emails and phone calls over the last two years. RUPA did open doors to old and new friends! RUPA is a wonderful association and I’m glad to have had the opportunity to be a small part of its continued success. See you at the airport - over! Phyllis Cleveland August, 2013 RUPANEWS 3 ABOUT THE COVER Our thanks go out to Mike Ray for another great cover picture of a B-737-NGX. S.E. FLORIDA TREASURE COAST SUNBIRDS (June) LUNCHEON Our June Luncheon was held on another DELIGHTFUL day at Shrimper's which has been our hangout now for several years since we no longer have access to Mariner Sands CC......and once again, we were not disappointed. The food was appreciated and ENJOYED by ALL and we were VERY WELL attended to by our Primary server, Gabrielle (aka 'Gabby'). We had a total of 8 attending the Luncheon and the conversation(s) covered many subjects including, but not limited to, the Best Dr's. to go to for various needs, Smart Phone App's. and capabilities, how WELL Pass Riders are being treated by Continental CSR's and F/A's, QB (Quite Birdmen) Meetings and activities, and various new Restaurants