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To:  Members and Friends of Island MCB 7 at Large

From:  John Blaisdell, Secretary/Treasurer, Island MCB 7 at Large

Subject:  Spring 2002 Newsletter

What a dumb winter this has been.  We had milder weather in January and February than in March.  We also had some pretty good snow, too, which made it difficult for mothers and fathers to hide Easter eggs in the yard.   Of course, I never did understand how a bunny could come up with eggs unless he was messing around with the chickens again.  Why don’t we just have an Easter Chicken?  The chicken could provide the eggs and the bunny could provide the chocolate covered marshmallow treats.  Aw, I’m too old to worry about that.

Why do they say something is out of whack?  What is a whack?

The questions I hear frequently are:  Where is the next MCB 7 reunion to be held?  Although I have no confirmation, I believe it will be held this fall in or near Seattle, Washington.  I do not know who is doing the coordinator duties in Seattle.  I would think we will be getting mail soon regarding this.  Nick Mastrocola has asked to be relieved of his duties as reunion Secretary/Treasurer but to my knowledge there have been no volunteers to replace him.  I felt he was doing a terrific job but some others did not.  He will still maintain the roster of names of former members and will continue to have the mailing list.  

“I am” is reportedly the shortest sentence in the English language.  Could it be that “I do” is the longest sentence?

The second question is:  Where do we get tee shirts, ball caps, and assorted MCB 7 items from the Ship’s Store?  The keeper of the supply is now Chester Poole.  He can be reached at 440-255-5333 or 8798 Allen Troy Ct, Mentor, OH  44060-6273.
That is, if he is home from Naples, Florida, where he spends the winter.

If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn’t if follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked and drycleaners depressed.

The third question I have received is:  Have life membership fees gone up this year?  The answer to that is they WILL go up as of July first by $50.00 each age group.  I have received several requests for life membership this spring as a result of the increase.  If you are an annual dues paying member and would like to become a life member, please fill in the enclosed membership application.  Write the check to: Navy Seabee Veterans of America.

Why does a “non-stop flight” make me nervous?  Shouldn’t it be  a “one stop”?

We will need some volunteers to be delegates to the next National Convention, August 8, 9, 10, and 11, to be held in Fayetteville, North Carolina.   We will be entitled to six delegates.  I will be unable to attend due to a family commitment.  Please let me know if you will be attending and would like to be a delegate. 

My wife and I got out of town for a few weeks this past winter, when the weather was pleasant here in the north country.  We drove to Florida to spend a few days with the Chester Pooles.  I tried to call some of you along the way but didn’t have much luck finding some of you home.  We stayed in Largo, FL, where we now own part of a condo.  That is a long story.  I hope to spend my winters there during my “golden years”.  I did catch Jim Greene at home in Moore, OK, and we spent an afternoon talking about some of you guys that we knew “back then”.  He swears as soon as he can retire he will try to attend one of the reunions.

Sometimes I sits and thinks and sometimes I just sits. 

I would like to thank all you guys who sent mail, usps and e-mail.  I get requests for copies of the roster.  I now have a system where I can print a list by the years you were stationed with Seven and reduce the amount of paper.  In case you haven’t heard, the price of postage is going up again.

The difficult we do immediately, the impossible takes a little longer.