Do you have an Atlas nearby?  We’ll take a short recess while you go find one, but then the Court will come to order!

DAN SHOTWELL has the solution of Homeland Defense:  “MIDGE and I have a unique solution to the defense of our home.  In addition to three cats and a large dog we have two skunks living in the house with us.  One, Scott, an 8 pound male is descented and fixed.  The other, Scarlet, a 4 pound female, is fully operational.  I “pity the fool” who breaks in and surprises her.   Seriously, Scarlet was our problem baby from last season.  She had a chronic sinus infection, which developed into pneumonia and didn’t respond to any of the progressively stronger antibiotics we tried.  We finally cultured her nasal discharge and found the cause was a bacteria called Proteus and were able to cure her with Batril (Enrofloxicin). I‘d really like to release her, but our concern now is that she has become so habituated to humans and domestic animals (dogs in particular) that she may not be “quick enough on the trigger” to survive a hostile encounter with another animal in the wild and may even seek the company of humans.  We have a permit from the State of Ohio to keep two skunks as educational animals and we may end up keeping Scarlet as well as Scott.  We do some educational programs and a show and tell animal, especially one as cute and interesting as a skunk, can help encourage donations.  And if one is good, two should be better!  At this point, we have so much time and money invested in her care that Scarlet shouldn’t feel bad about staying with us and working a little toward her room and board and maybe helping a little toward the care of other orphaned babies.  I do feel bad about keeping her, though.  I had pinned a lot of hope on     releasing her and knowing she’d at least have a shot at living a normal life, mating and being a mom and all that mushy stuff.”  DAN maybe you should go into consultation with STU MARSH, DVM...and does tomato juice really work?  

AL SGANGA provides an update on his move back to Virginia Beach from Margaritaville:  “Key West was wonderful, but maybe even too much to handle.  I can sum it up best as…it is a great place to visit, but I didn’t want to live there!  I am not certain if it was too much of a good thing, or simply too homesick for friends and family in Virginia Beach.   Fortunately, LORI and I didn’t burn any bridges, or even sell our house in VB.  So it was a pretty simple prospect to sell our oceanfront condo (loud sobbing noise) in KW and move back home.  Our son Albert married his college sweetheart Anna this past September.  And daughter Bethany, with a little help from her husband Daniel, is making us grandparents next month!   I went back to my old job of teaching math at Hickory Middle School and Old Dominion University.  All in all, I’m glad we hard the courage and opportunity to try living in Margaritaville, but it is good to be home.”  CONGRATULATIONS Grandma & Grandpa...but where is the photo?  OK, the Court will grant an enlargement until the next issue.

That Atlas handy?  See if you can find Nine Mile Falls...it’s in Washington.  Why?  Because DAN WHICKER’s reportin’ around.  “I’ve been lucky.  It’s dumb luck, but it still counts.  There is family I love, we’re healthy, and have a fair amount of happiness.  My wife, LESLIE, and I live just outside of Spokane, Washington in the small community of Nine Mile Falls.  We have a few acres that holds a changing menagerie of pets.  LESLIE is a terrific grandmother.  Her theory is to spend time with them before they become teenagers.  We have three granddaughters and a grandson.  Step-daughter Carrie and husband Mark are the proud parents of Paige (12), Shelby (10), and Ricki (7).  They live about 20 minutes from us and have a one hour bus ride to go to school in the small town of Reardan.  Step-daughter Kelly and her significant other Jeff have the youngest grandchild Jesse (2).  They don’t live as close, but we see them fairly often.  LESLIE has traveled to get kids to spend Saturday night at our house on the average of every other weekend since Paige was 2 months old.  I separated early from the Coast Guard while going through a depressed period that ended up with stomach ulcer type problems.  Thankfully, over the next batch of years with help from family and friends I got things into perspective and moved forward.  Until recently my work skills have been oriented towards facility engineering with emphasis in HVAC.  During the last 20 years I’ve worked for the Spokane School District, the Air Force at Fairchild AFB outside of Spokane, and the local Community Colleges District.  Just couldn’t get away from those public agencies.  Before that I worked construction around the area.  About two years ago, I was hired by the local electric and gas utility.  Our office controls the generation and transmission of electricity and interchanges with surrounding utilities.  It’s a different type of technical job, but one that lets me work an average of 40 hours a week and have time for my own priorities.  We’ve been making payments on a 100+ year old Victorian for the last seven years that is a 6-unit apartment building.  I practice remodeling skills there and then try to do it right at home.  Wish me luck in next year’s kitchen remodel.  I’m proud to know the members of the Class of ’71.  Good job at the reunion, ’71, the pictures were great. May your families treat you with great love and respect, you all deserve it.  Later.”

Got a quick note from MAUREEN SHERWIN: “WALT is home recovering from a total hip replacement performed last week (the middle of March).  I promise we will get something to you during his recuperation period at home - right now we are busy completing sports award certificates for Sunday's winter sports awards program.”  Hope everything is going well with WALT’s recuperation.  The Court takes judicial notice of the promise...next issue?

Another enlargement.  JERSEY offered a guilt trip from Headquarters.  “Good perseverance on your part as Class Scribe.  You have me on a guilt trip for not providing some updates.  Will do that by end of this week (the end of March) - am wrapping up some loose ends before I depart today at High Noon for a 2-day conference.  Plenty of "talk" going around CGHQ regarding Flag Officers.”  

Speaking of our Flags, by the time you read this, THADMIRAL will be Coast Guard Chief of Staff.  Look for a report and photos of his 14 May Change of Command as LANTAREA in the August issue.  BERT KINGHORN’s moving back to Headquarters, relieving RON SILVA as Chief Engineer.  RON will be 9th District Commander and moves to great quarters (lots of room for visitors) in Lakewood.  Atlas time again.  Hopefully photos of his CofC as well, since I think RON’s starting the domino chain, relieving Jim Hull ‘69 who’s relieving THADMIRAL.  CHARLIE WURSTER doesn’t have to think about moving boxes...he remains Assistant Commandant for Acquisition.

JAY TAYLOR’S on the move again.  “This trip has been very nice and interesting with visits to Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.  Despite the present economic crisis in Argentina, the people are all quite amiable and rather patient.  I'm generally not a big fan of large cities, but Buenos Aires is very nice with many large plazas and parks which are well maintained.  The appearance of the people and buildings looks more like Europe than Latin America.  The vast majority of the people in the city are well educated and most speak English as well as Spanish.  Beloved Evita Peron is still worshiped in death at the cemetery next to La Iglesia del Pilar. The legendary Juan Peron is not buried in BA, but instead in a family plot somewhere else in Argentina.  No visit to BA would be complete without witnessing a protest against the government in the present economic crisis.  I didn't plan it that way.  It just happened.  I went to the National Congress Building which is an impressive structure.  A group of a few hundred people were marching down the street while banging pots and pans and holding up signs.  Most police stood passively nearby while a few provided good traffic protection.  The group stopped at the congressional office building to hold a rally.  I had the opportunity to discuss the situation 1 on 1 for about 10 minutes with a TV news reporter before he transmitted live on the air.  The situation will not be resolved quickly.  The standard joke here is that there is a new President of Argentina every week.  No one appears to want to make the tough decisions to turn the economy around and political corruption abounds.  The fact that the peso-U.S. dollar exchange was 1 to 1 for many years was a precursor to the present problems.  Next stop was Iguazu Falls (Cataratas del Iguazu) which are located very close to where Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina meet at a point where the Iguazu River flows into the Parana River.  I first visited the Brazilian side of the falls as well as the largest hydro-electric dam in the world (Itaipu) which is a joint project of Brazil and Paraguay.  The plant generates electricity for 75% of Paraguay and 25% of Brazil.  I also visited Ciudad del Este in Paraguay for a while which is a run down shopping area and reportedly has a nearby training area for Islamic terrorists. The following day I visited the Argentinian side of Iguazu Falls. The views were spectacular and I walked for miles but it was hot and humid as blazes. After all, this place is in the jungle.  Next port of call was Colonia, Uruguay via a large catamaran ferry from Buenos Aires.  Colonia has cobblestone streets and many old colonial Spanish buildings.  The area is quaint and tranquil.   Uruguay suffers because of Argentina's financial problems.  When the Argentinean peso was strong, tourism in Uruguay benefited.  Many Argentineans traveled to the beaches east of Montevideo as well as towns such as Colonia for vacation.  Now, Argentineans have economic difficulty traveling outside the country as the peso fluctuates wildly.  When I arrived, the conversion was US$1 - 2.35 pesos.  It changed to as high as 3.80 while I was here and appears to be stabilizing at about 3.15 today (3/27).  The bottom line for tourists from the USA is that everything is rather inexpensive in Argentina right now.  A very nice 4 or 5 star hotel in Buenos Aires costs about $25-$50/nt.  It's time to pack for the homeland.  Hasta mas tarde.”

MARY JANE had a Nursing Conference in New Orleans the second weekend in March and I was able to go along to carry the bags.  We were able to go out to dinner with GORDON and JULIE MARSH to an outstanding, well known ‘locals’ restaurant.  If you’re familiar with NOLA, you know the place.  If not, when you visit make sure you include Jacque-Imo’s <http://neworleans.citysearch.com/profile/4430740> on your ‘must do’ list.  Run by Chef/Owner Jacques Leonardi ‘84, you’ll partake in, as one reviewer wrote, “the best Cajun food in New Orleans!”  I hadn’t seen GORDO since graduation.  You know he retired last February to become the Director of Marine Engineering at Litton Avondale Industries.  Here’s an update: “With the latest reorganization and consolidation of Avondale and Ingalls under one operating Northrop Grumman sector known as Ship Systems, the two Engineering Staffs have been combined into one Engineering Organization supporting both the Ingalls and Avondale Production Operations.  NGSS Engineering is split into two groups; R&D - Advanced Design, and Production Engineering - Detailed Design.  I have shifted from Director of Marine Engineering for Avondale Engineering up to Site Director for the NGSS New Orleans Production Engineering Site.  In this position I have supervisory and administrative responsibility over about 350 direct employees and 250 contract engineers and designers currently at the site.  We are presently finishing up the detailed design for the Navy LPD-17 Class Amphibious Assault Ships, providing Field Engineering Support to Avondale Production Operations for the Polar Tanker Program and Bob Hope Sealift Vessels, and looking forward to participating in the development of new National Security Cutters and George's Bank Cutters under the Deepwater Program.  I stay busy but I'm still having fun!  If you know of any Coasties that want to get back to their roots and do real engineering let me know.  I have at least four CGA grads currently on my staff.”  BTW, that’s Jacques behind JULIE in Jacque-Imo’s small and very busy kitchen!

JIM ARMSTRONG couldn’t make THADMIRAL’s CofC, but he did send a quick update: “I cannot make the change-of-command, it is amazing how two teenage boys can change your life!  I should have had them earlier so I could relax now.  I will start planning on attending any future change-of-commands and at some point a retirement.  Maybe we should plan, as a class, for a reunion at one of Thad's future events -- I expect there to be at least one more round of change-of-command invitations, who knows?   My oldest son is a junior and hasn't thought about college much, so this summer we told him to visit colleges I might be interested in.  To my surprise he wants to visit the Merchant Marine Academy and they have a sponsor meeting him -- what did I do so wrong?  My youngest son plays the double bass and we are busy taking him concerts and competitions.  We have to have a truck to transport this thing.  I shouldn't complain as his teachers say scholarships abound for the double bass.  If things work right for their college tuitions, I might be able to retire some day.”

KEN COFFLAND’s still flying in Alaska. “I’m still flying the bush up here, managing the Air Ambulance service…hope to hand that off to someone else soon…flew less than 500 hours last year…management work & jumping in to cover flight medic is interfering with being a pilot.  DEB and I have been talking about the problem of not enough hours in the day to do what’s important.  The girls and grandbaby Erin are fine.  Jen is a great mom.  Megan is 16 going on 26 coming up on 5 years after Hodgkins…a typical amazing teenager…the student rep for the State School Board.  Jen (now 26) is a great mom.  Erin passed her first birthday healthy and happy.  Her mom survived the major leukemia bout 7 years ago so the kid has survivor in the genes.  In short…life is good…we are blessed.  Wake up next to my sweetheart in the morning.  Look out the window & see the Alaska range most mornings.   We’re seeing lots of sunshine & temps above freezing regularly…breakup on the rivers soon.”  Great news that after starting her life at just over 2 pounds Erin is doing so well!

Did you see the movie Zulu?  Know where Rorkes Drift is?  Told you to get that Atlas.  Well, CHUCK and CHERYL BECK didn’t get that far northeast in South Africa.  “Just got back on 14 April from Cape Town South Africa after an 11 day journey. CHERYL spoke at a conference the weekend of 5-7 April so we tacked on some days to be able to see the country a bit.  Cape Town sits on the South Atlantic side of the southern most part of the African continent. The climate and landscape reminded me very much of San Diego.  The wx was perfect during our entire stay. We stayed with an associate of CHERYL’s who lives in Cape Town. She was the main organizer behind the conference. Her husband is a semi-retired businessman. He drove us around while his wife Liz was working the conference. We drove from Cape Town to the Cape of Good Hope and then east a bit towards Cape Arglus, which is actually the southern most point of the continent and where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. We also squeezed in a day trip to wine country to sample the nectar of the gods.  South Africa has some very good vineyards that produce very good wines. The best part is that food and wine is very nicely priced even for South African dollars (called rand).  A very nice bottle of wine might cost $27R. With the exchange rate at 10.18 rand per US dollar that put the cost of the wine at $2.50! And it had a cork vs a screw cap!  Cheryl and I treated our hosts to dinners out whenever we could.  A gourmet dinner for 4 would run about $400R including the customary 10% tip.  At less than $40 US dollars we were living the good life.  CHERYL got to pet a couple of cheetahs that are being bread in captivity for later release to the wild.  Later in the week we drove to our hosts' vacation home in Sedgefield (between George and Plettenberg Bay) which is due east of Cape Town and on the Indian Ocean. That stretch of the Indian Ocean coast has some developments that would rival Newport, RI or even La Jolla, CA. The vacation developments are bracketed by some areas of abject poverty (known in South Africa as "informal settlements) making for some interesting contrasts.   A good time was had by all. The only regret is that we did not have time to make it north to the "bush" to see the lions and tigers and elephants (oh my) or perhaps to locate RAY and PATTY COYE’s son Travis.  Maybe next time.”  CHUCK, from one who knows, great boondoggle!

Another old Classmate joined us at our 30th Reunion and just reported around with a Wicked Big BOB  MCKINSTRY update: “In 1969, I headed out of New London to Woodstock.  Wow, what a different side of the coin!  I wasn't ready for the Academy, and I wasn't ready for Woodstock.  Shocking!  Realizing I needed socialization (parties and freedom), unstructured environments, and WOMEN, I enrolled at the University of Connecticut, my home state university.  Major-chemical engineering which after 2 months of all nighters, changed to civil.  Fewer white socks and Picketts on the belt!  The regimented Academy study habits helped get me through the next 2 years successfully and have my share of fun.  I took 9 months off and hitchhiked throughout the country ending up at RICH SWAIN’s casa in So San Francisco.  We promptly went to Taco Bell and sat through 4 Clint Eastwood movies at a drive in!  In late 72 I went to work for Bethlehem Steel Corporation in their "loop program" where as a young engineer slated to be a someday manager works in various areas of the fabricated structural steel arena.  This was a home run.  I left the Coast Guard because I did not want to be moving all the time and ended up moving  8 times in 7 years from Bethlehem Pa. to San Francisco (lived with Swain).  I met a lovely young (20) lady in Bethlehem who would not move to the left coast (parents) so we got married in 1975.  In 1980 had our first son, in 83 a second while back in New York now in sales for Bethlehem Steel, limos and expense accounts and TOO much fun.  I divorced in 1989, unfortunately, but married again in 1992.  Since Bethlehem basically got out of the business, I’m now working for another steel company as V.P. of sales for Barker Steel, a New England-New York, New Jersey Rebar fabricator.  Do about $150 million/year and have fun.  Have a 7 year old son and 8 year old daughter with my wife Mindy who is a stay-at-home Mom (teacher by profession).  We live in Woodbridge, Ct., the town next to Ansonia, Ct. where I grew up, having taken the likes of Bob Gonor, Mawhinney, Cleaveland, Swain to many local parties and establishments.  My oldest son is a senior at UConn, #2 a freshman at UMass, who has done a movie, the Crucible with Daniel Day Lewis and Winona Rider for which he still gets residuals!  Hopefully, he'll support me.  He still is doing acting and recently auditioned for a Showtime Movie in NYC.  I enjoy golf, fishing, backpacking, snowboarding, tennis and on and on - still physical and still "Wicked Big!”

OK, you can put the Atlas away.  Rorkes Drift is about 100 miles NNW of Durban...we’re adjourned.