January  February  March  April  May  Summer Break  September  October  November  December

Chuck Schluter, Past President, and Ron Green our new President join forces.  Chuck presides over the installation of officers as they take their oath of office. They are Ron Green President, Raymond Deane 1st VP, Jim Seidl 2nd VP, Chet Baumer 3rd VP, and Terry Tassin Secretary.


Chuck Schluter gave a big thanks to all the officers and staff during his 3 years at the helm as well as a big thanks to the entire membership for their support pointing out that the membership is the heart of the Chapter. The membership has grown to 167 of which 39 are Auxiliary Members.
 

Left to right are Ron Green President, Raymond Deane 1st VP, Jim Seidl 2nd VP, Chet Baumer 3rd VP, and Terry Tassin Secretary

February 2002

Bill Thompson our Arizona Hall of Fame Class 2001 member died February 16, he will be missed.
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Chuck drove out to the Champlin Fighter Museum for a rally and got this picture with the Mustang that just happens to have my old 343rd Fighter Squadron of WWII paint scheme.

Guest speaker for the February 21, meeting was BG Richard Maxson Assistant Adjutant General Army speaking on National Guard Update.

Ron Green and wife Bette departing the McCormick Ranch meeting
 

Bill Johnson, our long standing, hard working Treasurer

Great trip to the Champlin Fighter Museum and Home of the Fighter Aces. What a fine museum that we are about to lose. Doug Champlin has decided to sell the museum and Scottsdale and Seattle are busy with their budgets to see who will win the bidding. The museum houses fighter type aircraft of WWI, WWII, and the Korean conflict. It also contains many paintings of individual combats or flights of specific aircraft. The Fighter Aces have their home here as well and has a collection of Aces pictures from around the world, those who have shot down 5 or more enemy aircraft in the air.
 

One of our groups in the Korean area of jet fighters including the F-86, F-4, Mig 15, & Mig 17.
 

Lunch at the Falcon's Roost topped off the trip and many said they would have to return to look some more.

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Chuck Schluter is nominated for the TROA National Board of Directors.

Guest speaker at the dinner meeting was BG Keith B. Connolly USA Ret. The General is District Rep for area 3 which includes Arizona and New Mexico and is over all the Air force Retiree Activity Offices. His talk was on Tri Care for Life and other issues of interest to our members.

Sixteen golfers met at Rolling Hills on April 27 in super weather conditions. Yes, Roy Anderson defended his title again and the Golfing Fool Hat went to President Ron Green. Mulligans contributed $75.00 to the Scholarship Fund and a lot of fun was had by all.

The Chapter Color Guard for 2002: Terry Tassin, Raymond Deane, Al Fueling, and Tom Houser. Chuck Schluter presented the Memorial Wreath.  Another great job guys.

saw the winding down of activities for the summer, but we did set a new record in scholarships. The Chapter gave two $1000.00 scholarships for the first time and I had the pleasure of presenting one to Jared Roberts at Apollo High School the other went to Adrian Sega.  Ron Green presented a medal to Frank V. Baimonte at Thunderbird High School.

 

Ron Green presented a medal to Frank V. Baimonte

Chuck Schluter sworn in as VP of the Council of Chapters.

Frank Birtciel, LtCol, USAF presents to Jared Roberts

Ron Drew has declined to continue on as Web Master and Tom Houser (pictured right) has stepped in to continue this essential work.  Isn't it great to have people who will fill in right when they are needed. Thanks Tom.

Tom plans to put the Sentinel on line and if you have a computer you will get the the Sentinel with pictures in living color. He has also alerted Board and Staff to get busy with items for their part of the new Arizona Chapter MOAA Web Site.

September closed the voting on the name change from TROA to MOAA and with 90% voting in favor of the change.  It became effective January 1, 2003.

BG R. Thomas Browning, former commander of Luke AFB, was the guest speaker for the September luncheon. He talked on current events and the future of Luke AFB.  Could not find a picture.
 

The October 25 dinner meeting guest speaker was CAPT Warren G. "Bud" Schneeweiss USCG Ret. Deputy Director for Benefits Administration Department TROA. My German has not been used for over 40 years, but doesn't Schneeweiss translate to Snowwhite? Good speaker anyway.

The Board is pictured here with Charles H. Schluter first on the left second row. Congratulations Colonel!
 

Photo by Steve Barrett; may not be reproduced by anyone else without the photographer's permission

Remember the Boy Scouts Motto "Be Prepared"? Well, that certainly applies to each of us as the years add up. The Sentinel carried a two page copy of the Afterburner Retiree Casualty Assistance Checklist for your use. It's use and a good briefing for your spouse will be of great assistance to your spouse when (not if) it is needed.

The Fall Golf Tournament was held October 9 at Falcon Dunes Golf Course with 20 members and guests. How about them apples. Cory Stegan, a guest of Chuck Schluter, unseated Roy Anderson with a 71and Roy came in a close second with a 73. Ron Green retained "The Hat."  Bob Rutherford and Bill Adams had to cancel due to not feeling well, but they donated their fees to Scholarship and the fees plus mulligans contributed $225.00 to that worthy cause. Thanks again Bernie for another great time.

The "Hat" is now offically designated "The President's Award" by our President, Ron Green.
 

November 7, 2002 was a gala affair at the Shrine Temple with the induction of Class 2002 into the Veterans Hall of Fame. Web Ellis, Chairman of the Unified Arizona Veterans opened the festivities. Governor Hull and Director Chorpenning made the presentations for the Honorees. The Chapter had three Honorees, Terry Tassin, Bill Toy, and Senator Tom Smith.  See our AZ Hall of Fame page. 

November 16 was our luncheon at McCormick Ranch and the honoring of some of our members with the Meritorious Service Award.  Helen Derouin accepted for her deceased husband Norman, Dan Conway, Chet Baumer, Velma Birtciel, Bernie Conway, Raymond Deane, and President Ron Green who presented the awards.

Meritorious Service Awardees on right are Helen Derouin accepting for her deceased husband Norman, Dan Conway, Chet Baumer, Velma Birtciel, Bernie Conway, Raymond Deane, and President Ron Green

Due to illness, Ray Hitzel's award was presented at his home by President Ron Green and assisted by Jim Seidl (pictured right). 

Awards for Jack Bryan (deceased), Pete Magadan, and Ron Drew will be presented at the next meeting.
 

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Dan Conway presented the Memorial Wreath at the Wesley Bolin Plaza for Pearl Harbor Day on behalf of the Arizona Council of Chapters.

The Christmas Party and Silent Auction were both highly successful both party wise and financially for the Scholarship / JROTC Programs.

Raymond Deane has resigned his positions and Richard Horn, Art Parker, and Mike Gannon have stepped forward to take over the Scholarship and JROTC Medal responsibilities to spread the work of this important activity. Super job done by Raymond Deane.

Art Parker

Dick Horn

Mike Gannon