Itís too late...doesnít make any difference.  No matter how you add, subtract, multiply or divide, youíre still going to have to finish doing the taxes, so bite the bullet and sit down and get ëem done...but not until you finish reading these note.  The Court will come to order.

My daughter Kristin and I are back alive and well after a truly outstanding Antarctic cruise aboard CRYSTAL SYMPHONY.  What a Father-Daughter adventure!  It was a GREAT cruise...from white water rafting in Puerto Montt, Chile, to having to skip ërounding the Horní and the Falklands port visit because of extreme wind and sea conditions transiting the Drake Passage.  Hellova storm...Holland Americaís AMSTERDAM was forced to leave about 900 passengers on the beach in Stanley for an exciting overnight camp out.  Donít know where they put ëem...Stanley only has about 1800 residents!  Although disappointed over missing the Port Stanley stop, we enjoyed visiting a Magellanic penguin rookery in Punta Arenas, unique shopping in Ushuaia, and an interesting first time visit to Puerto Madryn, Argentina.  We went on a disappointing excursion to a village founded by original Welsh settlers, which I had envisioned as being a village modeled after a real Welsh village.  Unfortunately, it was just a very sleepy small town with a small 3 room museum.  A highlight was stopping at a gas station so people could use the facilities since the bus head wasnít working!  A much better time in Montevideo where we went on a tour (and sampling!) of a winery.  We arrived in Buenos Aires on the 8th and after a city tour, took a taxi to Recolletta Cemetery, a truly amazing tourist attraction.  Itís a major tourist draw, primarily to visit Eva Peronís mausoleum, but just looking at the mausoleums is unbelievable...one competing with the next, a contest to see which family has the biggest and best.  Kristin and I enjoyed exceptional weather while cruising the Peninsula and outstanding wildlife...one morning at about 0400 (see I was working!) we had 50+ humpbacks feeding around CRYSTAL SYMPHONY as we headed to Deception Island.  More whales than Iíve seen on any previous trip.  Approaching Palmer Station we watched a leopard seal swimming around and rocking a small floe that had 4 Adelie penguins on it...very unhappy campers!  The attached photo is as we approached Lemaire Channel, the southernmost point in the cruise at approximately 64∫W 65∫S.  Hey, someoneís got to do it!

Some members of the CT Chapter of the Class of 71 (SLY, PETER B, PETER T, CHRIS V, CHUCK and MOONERS) gathered for an Orange Bowl party at PETERís new and rather impressive house overlooking the Connecticut River. Of course it was dark by the time everybody arrived therefore difficult to see the river but the Connecticut Yankee Nuclear Power Plant could be seen ìglowingî in the distance just to the north. The idea was conceived by SLY who astutely selected someone elseís house for the location.  Thatís why he is El Presidente, hey?  Some newsworthy tidbits were unearthed during the gathering.  PETER T. reported that he recently took the plunge again; got married.  MOONERS reported that he has a significant other; Doctor Laura.  Of course all conjured up ideas of MOONERS dating the radio personality therapist which by the way would have been appropriate. However, his steady is an educator.  SLY reported that he was made a first time grandfather just before the New Year. Daughter Erin and her husband Mike presented a baby girl. Iím sure he will be glad to provide photos and details. You also have to wonder if SLY put any pressure on the young couple to have the baby before 1 Jan to get the maximum tax break?  Speaking of photos, CHUCK B brought a newly released 2005 UCONN Calendar.  Daughter Lisa is Miss January.  Fortunately, the picture is an action shot of her skating during a womenís ice hockey game, thus she is more than fully clothed. Certainly beats the alternative from a parental point of view.  Good food, fine drinks, great conversation and cigars were had by all; well maybe not the cigars. The party ended before mid-night and before the end of the game thanks to USC and perhaps the age of the participants.

WAYNE VERRY reported around from Foley, Alabama: ìThings are fine here in AL.  Holidays were grand – 12 people here for Christmas dinner, and lots of family coming & going throughout the holidays.  Our son Sonny got himself officially engaged, much to the joy – and relief – of his mother and sister.  RITA and I are busy in our consulting work with the Navy – even have a part time Admin Asst. to help us along.  New grandson Dominic (in KY) celebrates his 1st birthday on St. Patrickís Day.  Granddaughter Natalie (lives down the street) is 11 going on 18; great fun when she drops in unannounced.  I picked up a used but nearly new 21 ft. sloop.  That goes along with my 2 person kayak and my 13 ft. Sunfish – Iím a bloody Fleet Admiral!î

While checking addresses for the ongoing Alumni membership drive, got a quick update from BRUCE SCHOOLING: ìWhere to start?  Don't remember where I left off or when, so if some of this is old news, please disregard it.  My reconnecting with USCGA continued with a trip to San Francisco, really Alameda, for the change of command for Admiral Harvey Johnson (í75 I think).  It was great to be on a Coast Guard station again -- been a long time and LINDA was never a part of my history so it was all new.  The only other big thing was being asked and accepting the position of Dean of the School of Business at Point Loma Nazarene University.  All that really means is that I have less time in the classroom and have more headaches.î  

The olí SEADOG is alive and well in Tennessee: ìWe continue to love East Tennessee living, and it is hard to believe that we have been here for almost seven years.  MELODY and I love the changing seasons and the rural lifestyle after years in the L.A. area, and the people here are wonderful.  Our daughter, Kari, is in her second year at University of Tennessee and has moved into an apartment near campus, so we are enjoying the ìempty nesterî phase of life.  Son Troy, his wife Angie, and our grand kids (Levi, Shelby and Kobe) are about seven hours away in central Illinois and we really love seeing them whenever we can.  Sealander Associates, Inc., our environmental, health and safety consulting company keeps me very busy and mostly out of trouble.  You can see me working very hard in the photograph, doing an environmental survey of a local lake.  I am multi-tasking - - - simultaneously navigating a treacherous passage while deploying a submerged aquatic biological sensing device.  Life is good.î

Wait a minute!  PETE TEBEAU got married?  Whereís the photos?

JERRY KOKOS forwarded a very interesting article on his company and his CG heritage from Mass High Tech, the Journal of New England Technology: ìJERRY KOKOS was raised in Pittsburgh and didnít see the ocean until he enrolled in the U.S. Coast Guard Academy as a bright-eyed 17-year-old. He left after rising to the rank of lieutenant commander.  Heís back on land now, and the Boston company he heads, VFA Inc., recently closed on $3 million in funding.  Indeed, his web-based software and consulting services business is focused largely on managing land-based facilities — though one of his biggest clients has been the U.S. Navy.  ìBeing in the Coast Guard was an outstanding experience,î said KOKOS, who has been CEO of VFA since 2000.  Total investment since 2001 has been $6.5 million. KOKOS has been able to interest investors because his company appears to have a winning technology that major institutions are willing to pay for.  VFA provides web-based software and consulting services for managing facilities portfolios. Since its founding in 1998, it has assessed more than 16,000 properties worldwide for more than 250 customers.  KOKOS graduated from the Coast Guard Academy with a bachelorís degree in engineering and received a masterís in business administration from Yale University.  He served on the high seas for more than a decade. He left after an injury promised to keep him on land. Located in Boston after he left the Coast Guard, he served for close to a decade with Prime Computer and then held senior management positions at several New England corporations.  KOKOS was executive vice president at First Data Corp., where his responsibility included strategic management of the companyís information technology.  Another position he held was corporate vice president and general manager at New England Business Systems, where his duties included management of a $70 million division that provided software and computer forms to small businesses.  He also served as a vice president and general manager of a division of ComputerVision Corp.  Today he runs a growing company that uses software programming and engineering skills to prosper in a competitive but fragmented field.  ìWhen you are on a ship with 200 others, you learn a lot about people and how to manage.  Right now our company has about 105 employees, and will be adding 25 or 30 in the coming year. We have the wind at our back.î

After promising an update, ROGER COURSEY reported around: ìSince the last reunion, I have gotten remarried.   On 12 April 2003, I married a wonderful lady, SUSAN.  Picture enclosed of me, SUSAN, and step-daughter Casey.  We are living in the log home that I built when I retired in 1994. I still have about 90 plus acres that it is in the middle of.  Some of that is in planted pines.  As you may, or may not remember, I had several knee operations by the time we graduated from the Academy. By 2003 I had a total of 6 knee operations with 4 on the left knee.  By then it was completely worn out, with bone-on-bone. I had a left total knee replacement on Dec 16, 2003.  It went good for about 6 weeks before I started having problems (initially caused by being too aggressive with physical therapy). I had a second surgery May 11, 2004 for manual manipulation and removal of scar tissue.  By summer of 2004, it was infected.  I spent about 8 days during August in the hospital due to infection, when they inserted a PICC line in my left arm to receive antibiotics.  Oct 19 was my 3rd surgery and on Nov 9, 2004 my fourth surgery when they took the knee back out and put a cement spacer in it's place (can't bend my knee).  I had the PICC line for about 4 1/2 months receiving antibiotics 2-3 times a day.  They removed the PICC line in January, hopefully the infection is about gone.  I am scheduled for another surgery April 6 to get another new knee.  I had to quit work due to all this.  I taught NJROTC for over 10 years.  I really enjoyed working with the kids and will miss that.  But such is life.  My wonderful new wife, SUSAN, has had a heck of a last 15 months taking care of me and driving me around. I am really lucky to
have her. ì  SUSAN, welcome to the Class, thanks for taking care of our Classmate, and we all hope the April surgery goes well...keep us posted!

Hey PETE...ROGER sent in a wedding photo.  Whereís yours?

Our esteemed President came through...he promised heíd get a photo to Jean Wilczynski for this edition.  Great photo of Nani Peg and granddaughter Julie Elizabeth.

AL GRACEWSKI is alive and well in California.  ìYes, alive and well (at least physically, mental health is debatable).  I still have my tractor, but my usage has taken a big hit since moving to CA.   No logging, no parades, and no homeowners association to help out like Maryland.  I may sell it and get another toy!?  OK, yes I did promise to update you, but you know I am a liar, so what can you expect?  Really, there has been little to nothing to report.  I have not even seen ROB WENDT yet, and I know he is about 25 miles away.  I guess I have been sucked into the vortex of the second career and earning money to support a California mortgage....I had hoped at this stage in my life to own the home I live in, but no such luck yet.  Maybe when I really retire?  Holidays were great.  We went to visit CHARLEY & DOREEN ALLEN in Pasadena for the New Year's Rose Parade.  We had never seen it live and figured we had better go.  It was great to see the floats 10 feet away.  After watching it on TV for years, it seemed strange to see it in real time right in front of us.î  Whaddaya mean sell the tractor?  Spray it with glue, blow grass clippings on it, and next year pull a float!  And CHARLEY...whereís the photo that DOREEN promised?

JON WALDRON is a Practice Group Chair...think thatís some sort of legal thing?  ìI am happy with the merger with BlankRome; it is hard to believe that we have been a 450 attorney firm for 2 years.  I remain the practice group chair for maritime, international trade and government contracts which keeps me more than busy.  My daughter Nicole (23) has settled in Charlottesville, Virginia and has a job as a dietician at the University of Virginia hospital after finishing her internship at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond last year.  My son Nathan (27) works nearby as a closer for a mortgage company.  JAN continues to stay active playing tennis and keeping me on track with life.  Have gotten together with DAVE WALLACE and DAN KALLETA recently and have kept in touch with other classmates in the Washington area through our dinners with THADMIRAL ALLEN.

Speaking of seeing Classmates, PAUL BARLOW just saw JON.  ìJust saw JON WALDRON.  He was in Cleveland for a maritime conference.  He's doing fine and so am I.  I'm off to St. Louis for an Auxiliary Conference for the next 4 days; part of my new job here back with the Coast Guard.  It's better than being a computer nerd which I did for 6 years.  It's not too stressful so I can work on my masters in National Security Studies on line through American Military University.î

STAN and SUE NORMAN sold their house and have moved into an apartment.  ìSue and I sold the house in Federal Way, bought a retirement/vacation home in Florida and moved to an apartment in Tacoma.  We'll be here until June and then moving to our first pastoral appointment.  I'll be retiring from state service at the end of May, graduating from seminary on June 4, and starting work as a full-time pastor at a church in the Pacific Northwest on July 1.  We're going to try to work in visits to Houston and Florida and a few days of rest before moving during the last week of June.  We've been offered a church and accepted, but we can't announce where we'll be serving until the Bishop makes the official announcement in February or March.î  STAN, for continuity shouldnít that graduation be June 9?

Great ESTES family photo thanks to Bob Gravino ë69.  After being properly chastised for dereliction of photo submission duty, DON provided some details: ìThe photo Bob sent you was taken in our cabin on Smith Lake, Crane Hill, AL. in early July.  Back Row, JOAN, Matt (son), Kathleen(DIL), Dalton (GS#1) Front Row, Grandpa Don, Eric (SIL), Janel (Daughter) & LapBoY Ryan (GS#2).  Note the wall decoration in the back. One of my treasured mementos from the crew at Air Station Clearwater. The kids are the joys of our lives. The Grand kids are even more wonderful. Had to buy Dalton a 4 wheeler for the lake. It stays parked in the basement with Grandpaís promise that no one gets to drive it until he returns. Talk about planting a seed for Mom and Dad to bring him back to GPís and GMís. It really works. The little guy tries to copy his big brother but still has his own personality.  God has been great to me and my family. We brought Mom down last Sept from Michigan. She requires 24 hr care, but has been worth the effort.  Weíre making up for all those years I spent away from her while in the CG. We know she doesnít have too long so weíre making the evenings sitting on the couch watching TV and reliving memories...something very special.  We just had the ESTES Christmas gathering at Gatlinburg, TN. My son Matt, his wife Kathleen, and their two sons, Dalton and Ryan from the DC area met me and JOAN, my daughter Janel and her husband Eric in Gatlinburg for a three day pre Christmas get together. Its cold but nice since many of the tourists stay away and the town is lit up with all the lights.  The company I work for (QTEC) is doing well with our Army and NASA efforts. We deal in Systems Engineering type stuff and have built a niche over the last 6 years.  Iíve now been at this small company for 4 over 4 years. My Aviation Division just surpassed the NASA Division and continues to grow.  JOAN is still working in the nursing area...part time working, full time spending.  I finally had to give in to lower back surgery. The bottom disk was completely gone and I was in chronic pain and very limited movement or lifting. I even had to stop jogging. That was the final blow. I had surgery in October and recently started some easy stuff on the treadmill.  I'm spending a lot of time preparing for the upcoming fishing season (stripers) on Smith Lake in Winston County, Al.  We have a nice cabin (lake home according to JOAN) with a great view. I give fishing tours for Classmates or old cross country runners.î

Another Classmate was just under the knife.  CHARLIE HARRIS reports: ìI had to travel to Italy on the week of the 16th for business. Of course, while I was gone, DC experienced the coldest week of the year AND my heat pumpís backup electrical strips decided to quit, leaving Mrs. Harris in a house that was only getting what little heat can be squeezed out of 13 degree airÖ.my old Thermo class was never a strong suit but even I can solve that equation!  Folks, there are few experiences in life like getting irate text messages from your wife describing the pain associated with certain porcelain conveniences when the ambient indoor temperature is around 56 degrees while you are looking at the Alps enjoying a nice cappuccino!   As you can guess, paybacks are hell.  We now have a brand new top of the line system that does everything but drive us to workÖand I have the receipts to prove it!  To top things off, I underwent shoulder surgery on the 24th for what I thought was minor arthroscopic surgery.  Well, things were more involved than we planned; doctorís words were ìÖlooked like crabmeatÖî so Iím starting on the long rehab process now.  All in all, quite the month!î

BRAD and BONNIE TROTH journeyed south to the lower 48 to move BRADís Mom back to Montana.  MARY JANE and I were able to get together with them over a great dinner at the Gold Club at Newcastle overlooking Seattle and Puget Sound.  BRAD continues to enjoy managing the Jamin, Ebell, Schmitt & Mason law firm in Kodak.  Even more enjoyable...acting as a guide for fishing and bear hunting trips.  I know, I know...whereís the photo?  No excuse, Sir!

TOMMY and SUSI CLARKE sent in another great family photo, a Christmas gift to SUSI from the kids.  SUSI reports: ìWendy continues to work part-time as an adjunct professor for UCONN.  Son-in-law Andy is working on his doctorate at UCONN.  They are both fortunate that they spend a great deal of time with their little Gwen (20 months in the photo).  Dan is working for Card Technologies & Services in Connecticut and just got engaged to Anne.  Sheís a Connecticut girl and she is employed by Verizon.  Katie is in the 8th grade, continues to be an excellent student, and is looking forward to high school.  TOMMY and I continue to enjoy playing tennis, hiking, camping, and doing volunteer work in addition to my part-time work for United Way.î

UCONN?  Didnít CHUCK BECK report (brag) about daughter Lisa being Miss January?  ìThe photo used on the calendar was also one used during recognition of her academic achievements (two consecutive 4.0 semesters) between the Duke vs UCONN football game back in September. (By the way that streak has now been extended to three semesters.) The Athletic Director, Jeff Hathaway, and UCONN Womenís Ice Hockey Coach, Heather Linstad, made the presentation on the 35 yard line between the third and fourth periods of the sold out game (40K people). As reported by the Hockey East new release:  Once again demonstrating their merits beyond the ice, 62 female student-athletes crowded the Womenís Hockey East All-Academic team, representing a dramatic 25 percent increase from last seasonís total of 50. To qualify for the team, an individual must achieve a grade point average of at least 3.0 in each of the two academic periods during which she was actively competing. Among the Huskiesí ranks was junior defenseman Lisa Beck (Tolland, CT), who achieved a perfect 4.0 over the course of the season.î

J.B.ís en route Disney World.  ìKIM and I have sort of 'hunkered down' for the winter here in West Virginia.   We just dug out this morning from 6 inches of snow.  My work with the Fish and Wildlife Service continues to be challenging and rewarding. KIM is preparing a presentation she will deliver at the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) International Conference and Exposition this coming June in Orlando.   Her presentation is about Return On Investment (ROI) for leadership training in the federal workforce.  Since we'll be near the 'mouse,' we've booked the week in the Shades of Green <http://www.armymwr.com/shades/index.html>, the military resort on Disney property.î  Shades of Green is a new one on me...looking forward to a complete report after the visit with Mickey.

Before we adjourn, have you ordered your brick yet?  Donations of $1,000 make the donor eligible for the Plaza Brick Donation Program.  We will have the bricks of the Class of 71 grouped together on the Plaza.  And remember that we want to purchase the bricks for our deceased classmates.  WAYNE VERRY has suggested a relatively painless way to make a donation.  He noted that by increasing an existing allotment by $35 per month, over three years, that's $1,260 - which is $1,000 for a personal donation and $260 for our deceased classmates.î  You can change your allotment with a call to the Retired Pay section at 1-800-772-8724.   If you have any questions about Alumni membership or making your Alumni Center Class of 1971 Gift, contact the Alumni Association at (860) 444-8237 or by E-mail at cgaalumni@cgaalumni.org.  Now weíre adjourned!