DESTROYER USS ORLECK DD 886
2012 REUNION SCHEDULED FOR NORTHERN KENTUCKY
June 21-24, 2012
We had a fine time at the 2010 Newport RI reunion and there you voted to have our next event in Northern Kentucky, a wonderful military reunion destination point. The Cincinnati Riverfront and the Newport and Covington side of the river are so chuck full of great things to do. I speak of this as our Northern Kentucky Reunion but actually, Cincinnati Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Dayton, Ohio are the venues for this upcoming reunion. Our base of operations will be the upscale Holiday Inn at the Airport. So the place has been picked, a class hotel has been chosen, the events have been arranged and we are now ready to begin registration. The dates are June 21 (Thursday) through June 24 (Sunday). Many of you have said that 3 days for a reunion is not enough so I have built into the schedule the possibility of a 4th optional day on June 20 where those willing and able would visit the Kentucky Horse Park. So put the dates June 21-24, 2012 in your calendar and maybe June 20 and start making your plans now. There is even a possibility of another optional event at the close of the reunion should the Cincinnati Reds have a baseball home game scheduled during that time. (The 2012 schedule is not available so more on that later)
Our reunion is within one days drive of 60% of the US population. Those flying in will be picked up at the Greater Cincinnati Airport (located in Kentucky) in a complimentary shuttle.
Most of the activities at the Airport Holiday Inn, our base of operations, will take place right in our hospitality room. Our hospitality room will be used to finalize our registration to provide you with all the information you will need to make the reunion a fun success. There we will sell shirts and caps and display our auction and memorabilia items. We can have soft drinks and snacks there (hotel will be providing ice and cleanup for us). We can have pizza or lunch we bring in if we choose or I have another alternative for that lunch that you might like that will be included in your registration fee. I will discuss that later. On Friday our night banquet will be in the same room and I have arranged to have buffet breakfasts served there as well from 5:30 AM to 9 AM each morning Thursday through Sunday the cost of which is included in your registration fee.
The room rates you will be responsible for are $89.00 per night. These rates are extended for 3 days prior and/or after the event dates.
We will be having a raffle and auction for items you bring as we always have in order to help defray the costs of the reunion that are over and above the registration fees you pay. Let Bob Orleck know if you are planning to bring anything for the raffle or auction.
Now about registration information. There is a separate sheet below. A careful reading of that will leave you with no doubt about how to make your reservation at the hotel.
You will also need to register for the reunion with Bob Orleck at the DESTROYER USS ORLECK ASSOCIATION and you can do that by using the enclosed application or if on-line the application that will appear and print a copy and mail it to Bob Orleck, Reunion Organizer, DESTROYER USS ORLECK ASSOCIATION, P.O. Box 213, Randolph, VT 05060. If you have any problems finding the form or understanding it call me at 1-802-728-9806.
Early registration: If you are planning on attending but not sure, you would be best to register early, which will guarantee you a room and get you the best rate for "Early Registration" for the events ($199 vs. $235). You can always cancel if things do not work out. (Check cancellation policy of hotel when registering.) (As for events you can cancel up to 10 days before reunion for sure.)
Plan of Day-Wednesday, June 20, 2012 (Optional Day)
Action Items
- 5:30 AM - 9AM: Breakfast at Holiday Inn in Hospitality Room for those registering at hotel on June 19.
- 12:00PM - 12:00AM: Hospitality room open (hours dependent on people to man the room)
- 11:00AM: Board buses for optional event registrants.
- 12:30PM: Lunch at Kentucky Horse Park for optional event registrants.
- 5:00PM: Board Buses for optional event registrants to Holiday Inn.
- Evening: Dinner on your own.
Information
The reunion does not officially start until June 21, 2010 but many have requested a longer reunion so I have worked up an option of attending the Kentucky Horse Park. And it is just that, an option and the option is dependent on having sufficient people who want to do the option for we have to fill at least one bus. The price of the option is $40 per person that will include the bus, lunch and admission to the Park. It is a great place and worthy of a visit but it will require a lot of walking and more stamina than some of us have and so I did not include it in the list of regularly scheduled events. The Park takes in more than 1,200 acres in the heart of Kentucky's famous Bluegrass region and is the home to about 50 different breeds of horses. There are shows, film presentations and a fantastic presentation of what you would expect at a real working horse farm in the heart of Kentucky.
Many of you will be arriving on the 20th so you will be all set for the events that begin on the 21st. We will have the hospitality room open at 12:00 noon on the 20th so you will be able to gather and catch up with old friends and make new ones. For those choosing the optional trip to the Kentucky Horse Park you may be arriving on the 19th in order to take part in it.
Plan of Day-Thursday, June 21, 2012
Action Items
- 5:30AM - 9AM: Breakfast at Holiday Inn in Hospitality Room.
- 10:00AM - 4PM: Hospitality room open
- 12:00PM - 3PM: Registration in Hospitality Room or in Foyer.
- 5:30PM: Board buses for dinner in Newport Kentucky.
- 6:00PM - 9:00PM: Dinner at Hofbrahaus Newport House.
- 9:00PM: Return to Holiday Inn
- 9:30PM - 12:00AM: Hospitality Room open.
Information
During Hospitality Room opening you will receive your name badge, a packet of information that will have up-to-the-minute information on the reunion and how you can best negotiate through the event and take advantage of what is offered to you. We will either be bringing lunch into the hospitality room for you or we will be running buses to the Dixie Chili Parlor for lunch. You can choose if you wish to have the bus drop you off at the Levee in Newport where there are many unique shops and entertainment venues including the world famous Newport Aquarium.
The hotel will be providing a complimentary shuttle to get you from the airport to the hotel if flying into the Greater Cincinnati Airport. Please keep Bob Orleck informed of your travel plans.
We usually have dinner at the hotel on our opening night but we are varying from this in Kentucky. We have the opportunity to have our first banquet at the Hofbrauhaus Newport. "Where it's Oktoberfest Everyday!" The restaurant has a weighty responsibility that they say is "...upholding a tradition of superior brewing and world-class enjoyment that started over 400 years ago in Munich, Germany. We are 100% committed to continuing this tradition in Newport. We celebrate many of the old-world traditions and also create some of our own with the help of enthusiastic guests like you."
It has been a pleasure for me to set up this event and I can tell you it will be a lot of fun. The food is authentic German cuisine and this is the first replica of the original German Hofbrauhaus in the USA. I know you are going to love it.
Plan of Day-Friday, June 22, 2012
Action Items
- 5:30 AM - 9AM: Breakfast at Holiday Inn in Hospitality Room.
- 9:30AM: Board Buses at Holiday Inn for day's events.
- 9:45 - 10:30AM: Memorial Service at Peace Bell in Newport, Kentucky
- 10:45AM: Board Buses at Peace Bell for BB Riverboat.
- 12:00 - 2:00PM: Luncheon Cruise on Paddlewheel Boat on Ohio River.
- 2:15PM: Board Buses for tour of local area as we return to hotel.
- 3:00PM - 6:00PM: Free time
- 6:30PM - 9:00PM: Dinner at Hotel & Entertainment
- 9:00 - 12:00: Hospitality Room open.
Information
The day is filled with activity but it should not be too hard on anyone. All of the events are close by and most of the time you will be seated, eating and enjoying entertainment or just talking and visiting with each other. Joe Correia (Padre), our Chaplain will lead our Memorial Service at a very special place in Newport Kentucky, the World Peace Bell. Right after the service we will make our way and board the BB Riverboat for a luncheon tour of the Ohio River. I hired Banjo Bob (not me) who is a great entertainer to accompany and treat us to his talent. Following that we will see some of the local sights by bus on the way back to the hotel where you can gather in the spacious lobby with friends or go to your room for a nap to prepare for a wonderful evening banquet at the hotel, special entertainment, speakers and a fine dinner.
Plan of Day-Saturday, June 23, 2012
Action Items
- 5:30AM - 9AM: Breakfast at Holiday Inn in Hospitality Room.
- 9:00AM - 3PM: Hospitality room open
- 9:30AM - 2:00PM: Buses to and from various Museums of your choice.
- 3:30PM: Board Buses for Wright Patterson Air force Base in Dayton, Ohio.
- 5:00PM - 10:00PM: A special time and Banquet at the National Air Force Museum.
- 10:00PM: Board buses to return to Holiday Inn.
Information
The day you will begin with a good breakfast then be transported to the Museum of your choice. Your attendance fees are all a part of your paid fee. You can go to the Creation Museum, the Union Terminal, the Underground Railroad Museum, the Baseball Museum or the Cincinnati Museum of Art. Buses will be circling from the hotel to the museums so you can come and go as you please. The last run of buses will be at 2 PM so please be on them to return to the hotel and prepare for the final fabulous banquet at the National Air Force Museum. We have the entire place to ourselves from 6 PM until 10:00 PM and we will even be touring former Air Force One aircraft including the one that brought assassinated President John F. Kennedy back from Dallas. This museum has the largest display of aircraft in the world and our banquet will be right in the middle of it between those planes that served in Korea and those planes that served in Vietnam. You can see the actual B-27 that dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki and even a Sputnik. It is an unreal place. Have you seen a Stealth Bomber or Fighter? You will that night. A great meal is planned as well as entertainment and an honor guard and military speaker.
Plan of Day-Sunday, June 24, 2012
Action Items
- 5:30AM - 9AM: Breakfast at Holiday Inn in Hospitality Room.
- 8:30AM - 9:30AM: Church Service led by our Chaplain Joe Correia
- Shuttle to airport for those flying.