Doesn't it seem to be taking months for NORM's Italian Vacation pictures to get developed?  You're right...it has been months. We're waiting for our Classmate...and the court will come to order.

Just after going to press for the June Class Notes, AL GRACEWSKI reported in from the Coast Guard Yard with this update: "What have the GRACEWSKI'S been up to?  In summary, living a normal, interesting, low profile life!  My wife SUZANNE is still the active mother, even though our daughter, Jessica, is a freshman at University of Central Florida, and our son, Nathan, is a junior at Broadneck High School in our current home in Arnold.  SUZANNE is also a part time home care nurse, normally caring for terminally ill patients.  I am sure those needing this kind of care consider her an angel.  She is also an active school volunteer raising money for the band and other student activities.  Jessica is going to major in communications. She is not sure if that is newspaper, radio, television, or corporate type marketing.  Since she has just started, changes are possible.   But I told her that when she becomes a TV Anchorperson, I would be happy to skipper and maintain her personal yacht!  Nathan is leaning towards engineering, but not the Academy.  He seems interested in electronics and sound (video, stereo, good vibrations).  He is not certain what college he wants to go to or for what just yet.....typical uncertainties for high schoolers contemplating the next step."  AL reports rewarding but challenging times at the Yard...resources (dollars) are tight and the Yard has downsized a bit and looked to other government agencies for work with about 10% of their business with the Army's Tank Automotive & Armaments Command, mostly floating causeway repairs. And the ever present pressure to privatize, to convert public facilities which perform functions which are not inherently governmental into commercial contracts, is another significant challenge.  So what's AL doing to balance those stresses?  "In my spare time, I have been working my normal rebuild projects.  You remember my 1971 35' Bertram sportfisherman?  Well, I am almost done with the restoration after 5 years.  I brought it down to the Yard by way of the Great Lakes, Erie Canal, Hudson River when I transferred from Wisconsin.  It was a great cruise! Just keeping all my rolling stock maintained fills my free time as I have 4 cars, a vintage Power Wagon pickup truck, two tractors (one a 1935 John Deere Model B).  I look forward to retiring so I can use all my toys!    Finally, our dog Cookie is still with us. She is a German Shepherd and threw out her rear hips chasing snowmobilers in Wisconsin.  She is aging gracefully and is basically a home decoration with her spot reserved on the couch. Say, anyone know whatever happened to BRYANT NODINE?  He seems to have dropped from everybody's radar."  Who can answer AL's question?  BRYANT...are you out there?  AL, while we wait for the answers, go over and scratch Cookie's ears for all of us!

NORM SEALANDER dropped a quick note saying that he's changed his Business address in Knoxville and his area code has changed to (865). His E-mail address remains the same so drop him a quick note by linking from our Classmates page.

One less Classmate remaining on Active Duty!  Got a quick note from KUCH: "HQ called on Monday (10 April) indicating that they have arranged the "daisy chain" and my request for retirement will be approved.  Next step will be to with LantArea my actual departure date."  JOE provided more details in a follow-up: "HQ OK'd retirement for 1 Aug & VADM Shkor approved departure of 1 Jun.  I have accepted a position with Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. (APSC) in Valdez AK. Alyeska operates two "assets" in Valdez: SERVS & the Marine Terminal.  I will be the SERVS (Ship Escort & Vessel Response System) manager. SERVS is largely a result of the EXXON Valdez spill - it provides for tanker escort in and out of Prince William Sound and oil pollution response.  The vessel escort piece is manned and operated by Crowley marine as a sub-contractor to APSC (Crowley just completing takeover of the contract from Tidewater).  Similarly, the pollution response workforce is provided by a subcontractor.  The total workforce in SERVS is somewhere in the 250+ range, with only about 40 being full time Alyeska employees.  This all started in December with a call from a friend telling me Alyeska had a job opening that I was well suited for.  Towards the end of December, at STACY's insistence, I called the company. The call established mutual interest and in mid January, STACY & I flew to Valdez to visit - mostly for STACY to decide if she was interested in living in Valdez.  She decided she wanted to live on the frontier - and the rest is history.  Valdez population is around 4500; it is noted as having among the highest (if not the highest) rates of annual snowfall in North America - 400+ inches. We plan to depart Norfolk on 1 June.  We'll fly to Valdez from here, perhaps with a couple of delays en route to visit family." 'Bout the time you were reading the June Bulletin JOE was beginning his Alaskan adventure.  Five of JOE & STACY's seven kids moved to Valdez with them and he sent along the great family photo. Adam (13) is next to STACY, Christopher (16) below Adam, Nathaniel (3) on Christopher's lap with Heidi (10) next to them, and Gretchen (6) sitting on Dad's lap.  Daughters Deborah & Donna are still living in the New Orleans area with Grandma & Grandpa's 3 grandchildren: Ashley (10), Jeffrey (2) and Austin (2).  One question JOE...they have cable in Valdez?

Sent in our first Amazon.com check for $28.75 and thanks to your purchases linking from our Home Page have earned another $3.48...slow but sure.  And Amazon.com has just added another on-line store...Tools & Hardware! Books, Music, DVD & Video, Toys, Software, Electronics, Kitchen, Lawn & Patio, Health & Beauty, Home Living, and now TOOLS.  Check 'em out and do your gift shopping on-line by linking from our Class Home Page at <http://www.oocities.org/CollegePark/Campus/7184>.

U.S. Coast Guard Maintenance and Logistics Command Atlantic welcomed its new Commander during a change-of-command ceremony at the Nauticus National Maritime Center in Norfolk May 26.  BERT KINGHORN relieved ERROLL BROWN '72 (my new boss as CCGD13), reporting from his previous assignment as Director for the Department of Transportation's Office of Intelligence and Security in Washington, D.C.  What's an MLC?  MLC Atlantic provides maintenance, logistical and supply support for Coast Guard commands in 40 states east of the Rocky Mountains, including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Europe. BERT's got responsibility for 450 military and civilian employees from the staff elements stationed in Norfolk and nearly 2900 employees at 70 subordinate commands and detachments.  BERT...any pictures from the CofC?

What a minute...I counted seven vehicles in the GRACEWSKI Fleet. How'd he get 'em from the Great State of Wisconsin?  "I made 4 trips to Wisconsin from Maryland besides the Bertram water trip. I have a flat bed trailer, so every time I went back, I brought another toy.  It was not as bad as you might think, because we were initially unable to sell the house and had to rent it.  So I went back to maintain it periodically and returned with another piece of our fun fleet.  It also gave my kids a chance to meet again with their friends in Marinette.  If there is no traffic tie-up in Chicago, I could make the drive in one long 0600 to 2200 day."  Sounds like a trains leaving at different times and speed math problem in there somewhere, but the tax write off is the important part!

DOUG KROLL is now CGA '71 and CGU '00.  "On 13 May 2000 I received by Ph.D. degree in history from the Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA.  I continue to teach part-time at several local universities while I seek a full-time teaching position.  I am also trying to get my biography of Commodore Bertholf, the First Commandant of the Coast Guard, published." CONGRATULATIONS Doctor DOUG!  DOUG's changed his E-mail address...link from our Classmates page and send him an ATTABOY!

Have update requests out to STEVE CORNELL and JOHN WALTERS...and I know NORM DUFOUR will find those pictures soon.  And DAVE WALLACE...weren't you suppose to be contacting BILL INMON?  Who's got the answer on BRYANT NODINE?  While we wait on our Classmates for answers...we're adjourned!