Flying Tiger Line Pilots Association Pilots and employees of the Flying Tiger Line, dedicated to preserving the memory of a great airline and those who served in China and in World War II March 4th, 2015 www.flyingtigerline.org 2015 New Orleans Reunion Update Rooms are still available at the New Orleans Marriot at the $179 group rate. You can make your reservations by clicking HERE. You can also call Marriot Reservations directly at 1 (800) 654-3990. Be sure to identify yourself as part of the Flying Tiger/Seaboard Reunion Group. Those who have previously booked at a higher rate should be able to change over to the group rate, but don’t delay. Everyone is asked to check the Who’s Coming link. If your name is not in BOLD, then you haven’t sent your form and payment yet. Please note that the deadline for ordering name badges April 1st. An updated Registration Form is attached to this newsletter for your convenience. The real begging will start next month. Please help us out and get those payments in. The Friday lunch matinee, Tribute to the Andrews Sisters, at the National WWII Museum is completely sold out. On the Registration Form you can still purchase discounted tickets to the museum for $25 per person, for use on any day. These tickets will include the showing of the 4-D production of Beyond All Boundaries. A second day pass can be purchased for only $6 by presenting your original ticket at the museum ticket window. Quick Links Reunion Page Who’s Coming Registration Form Previous Newsletters Frequent Questions Next months newsletter will be full of suggestions, ideas, and everything else you’ll want to know about our event. In the mean time, please contact us if you have any questions. Gray Line Tours Link Gray Line Tours has created a custom web page specifically for our group. The list of available tours is now much easier to navigate and our FTLPA 10% discount is already included when you make your reservation. Most tours can be cancelled or changed with very short notice. Visit http://www.neworleanssteamboat.com/2015/FTLPA/index.html to book your tours early. Reunion Poster Orders Reunion Poster Order Susan Skinner’s latest addition to the poster series she has created is now available for pre-order. Orders will also be taken at the reunion up to 3pm on Friday afternoon. The price for this year’s poster is $25. Previous years from 2011 to 2014 are also available for $15 each. Posters are 16 x 20 and suitable for framing. Proceeds of this year’s poster sales will go towards one of Susan’s favorite charities, the Effie Yeaw Nature Center in Carmichael CA, an award-winning educational establishment on the American River. (Click image for larger view) (Click image for larger view) To order your posters email John Dickson Flying Tiger Line Pilots Association – March 2015 Page 1 of 6 REUNION AGENDA DATE Wednesday May 6th Thursday May 7th Friday May 8th Saturday May 9th Sunday EVENT 0800 Hospitality Suite Opens 0800-1200 Grey Line Tour Rep Available for booking Note: Tours fill up quickly. Plan and reserve your tours now. Use the link at right to book now and enjoy the 10% discount offered to attendees 0800 Hospitality Suite Opens 0900-1200 Grey Line Tour Rep is available (see above) Suggested Free Day for all attendees to enjoy The Big Easy 0800 Hospitality Suite Opens 0800-1200 Grey Line Tour Rep is available (see above) 0900-1700 Suggested day to visit the National WWII Museum 1145 Tribute to the Andrews Sisters Lunch Matinee 1030 Special Group viewing of newly acquired P40 . Click HERE for more details 1700 Parrothead Party in our Hospitality Suite Click HERE for costume ideas 1900 Suggested meet up at Margaritaville (20% off F&B) 1000 Business Meetings for each association FTLPA (Balcony M-N) SPAR (Balcony L) 1100 Guest Speaker – Captain Joe Crecca 1200 Hospitality Suite Opens Note: Change of room from previous days 1600 Party Gras in our Hospitality Suite Click HERE for costume ideas It was decided that there will be no planned event for Mothers Day. LOCATION Riverview Room (41st Floor) Grey Line Tours Riverview Room (41st Floor) Riverview Room (41st Floor) National World War II Museum Stage Door Canteen (WWII Museum) New Pacific Road to Tokyo Exhibit Riverview Room (41st Floor) Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville Individual Salons (4th Floor) Balcony M-N (4th Floor) Mardi Gras Ballroom (3rd Floor) Proposed Bylaw Changes Since our beginning in 1974, the FTLPA has been governed by a set of bylaws, originally written by Shad, passed down through the years, and often revised over time to better fit the direction of our group. The last change to our bylaws was during the Monterey Reunion in 2011. Under the ever-watchful eye of the IRS, we are considered a Social and Recreational Club, governed by IRS 501(c)(7). We submit a form each year to confirm this status. Bylaws, along with other more formal requirements such as balance sheets and meeting minutes, are not required of us. Nevertheless, a current document creates a continued formality to our affairs and provides a template of procedures for future officers to follow in the future. Recently the Executive Board officers (John, Larry, & Peter) had their yearly meeting and certain revisions to the existing document were decided upon. Most of the changes we are proposing are self explanatory, such as changing required votes from two-thirds to just a majority, and deleting any requirement for paper ballots. The Executive Board felt that the following more substantial changes should be brought before the membership for consideration by those in attendance at our next business meeting in New Orleans: Selection of future cities for us to hold our reunions, beginning with 2018, will be by majority vote of the Executive Board officers, after consideration and consultation with our meeting planner. Affiliate Members (surviving spouses of those who have Flown West) will now be called Life Members. Consideration for Honorary Membership will now be based on the following criteria: o Attendance at the reunion during which they will be voted upon at the business meeting o Attendance at a minimum of two former reunions, for a total of three o Honorary Members will now pay dues as Regular and Associate Members do. The current bylaws state that they may be amended only at an Annual Reunion and by a majority vote of the Regular and Associate Members present and voting. A fuller explanation of the reasons behind these changes will be presented to all in attendance before we bring it to a vote. In the mean time everyone is encouraged to take an active part by reviewing the proposed new bylaws. You can read the current bylaws, and the proposed new ones by visting the “Officers Page” of our website at www.flyingtigerline.org. Or you can just click on the links below: Current Bylaws Flying Tiger Line Pilots Association – March 2015 Proposed Bylaws for 2015 Page 2 of 6 Future Reunions The city and venue for our 2018 Reunion has been decided and will be announced at the business meeting in May. 2016 Napa Wine Train Napa Valley Marriott & Spa 3425 Solano Avenue Napa, CA 94558 April 20th to Sunday April 24th, 2016 Hot air balloons over Napa Valley 2017 Downtown Portland Red Lion Hotel – Jantzen Beach 909 N. Hayden Island Drive Portland, OR 97217 May 17th to May 20th, 2017 P40 at Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum Online Video Library Got a favorite link that relates to our group in some way? Send it to John Dickson for inclusion below The Flying Tiger Line American Volunteer Group Flying Tigers “Can Do” Spirit (35:08) Tribute to the Flying Tiger Line (4:05) The True Story of the Flying Tigers (43:17) The Flying Tigers Cargo Company (9:56) Tribute to Bob Prescott (PDF) Elephant Arrival in Burbank (12:56) Wings Over China –The Story of the Flying Tigers (47:44) Flying Tigers: "The Story of the Fourteenth Air Force" (39:50) The Flying Tigers (7:11) The Flying Tigers – Famous Dogfights (43:59) Dick Rossi Interview, 1999 (41:18) Flying Tigers Bite Back (4:33) History, Books, and Art Discussion Forum The P40 Warhawk Miscellaneous How to Fly the P40 Warhawk (28:18) WW2: Curtiss P-40 Warhawk (46:00) P40, Warbirds of WWII (45:17) P-40 Warhawk Vs. Japanese Zero (4:52) P-40 Cockpit Tour (6:01) Pearl Harbor P40 Boys (5:58) Boeing 707 Barrel Roll (4:31) Douglas DC-8 - The Birth of a Jet (13:16) Flying Tiger Line Pilots Association – March 2015 Page 3 of 6 Vintage FTL Advertisements In the early 1950’s, the Flying Tiger Line was well on it’s way to becoming the largest all-cargo airline in the world. Mr. Prescott realized the value of mass marketing and began a series of cartoon style advertisements, which ran in Fortune, Life, and Time magazines. Beginning with this Newsletter, we’ll publish a copy of the 18 different ads we have in our possession from this period. You’ll enjoy them! The Flying Tiger Club The Flying Tiger Club is an association very similar to ours, comprised of former employees from all departments. Formerly the Tiger Retirement Club, this group gathers on several occasions throughout the year and shares in the camaraderie and heritage that we all enjoy so much. Dinner reservations are still available for their March 21st Annual Dinner Meeting at the Flight Path Museum. For more information email Don Ashbrook at djashbrook@verizon.net or give him a call at 760-2477870. All FTLPA members are encouraged to join. The Flying Tiger Gallery If you haven’t had the chance, you should stop by and see it Flight Path Museum 6661 West Imperial Hwy Los Angeles, CA 90045 http://www.flightpath.us Member News & Announcements • Donna Maziarka has a reservation for 3 nights beginning Wednesday, May 7th and is still looking for a roommate to share the cost of her hotel room. Contact her at sailngrl@msn.com if you’re interested. • Howard Hawkins reports that Amtrak is now offering a 30% discount on tickets from Memphis down to our reunion via the famed City of New Orleans. For more info contact him at hawksluv@comcast.net. • Joe Healy, member and former FTL President, has written an excellent article on his experiences during FTL operations into Vietnam in the early 1970’s when he was Executive VP. Click HERE to read it. • We’ve had a recent report that Vern Wastman may have passed away last September. Anyone with any info is asked to contact us. More member news and announcements can be found by visiting the Discussion Page on our website. If you have problems accessing it then contact Peter or John. Time Magazine -- March 17, 1952 Flying Tiger Line Pilots Association – March 2015 Page 4 of 6 Tigers Flown West The following Flying Tigers have made their final flight since our last reunion in Seattle. More information might be found in t h e Memoriam Section of our website or in the FTLPA Discussion Forum if details were sent to Peter. If you are aware of the passing of any others within our Tiger family, then please bring it to our attention so that we can post it below. Al Taylor – May 8th, 2014 Bill Popp – June 8th, 2014 John Ristaino – July 17th, 2014 Gene Petrie – July 20th, 2014 Marty Salva – July 30th, 2014 Ramon Vasquez – August 11th, 2014 Lou Sanders – August 16th, 2014 Harry McCarthy – September 2nd, 2014 Vern Mays – September 9th, 2014 Manie Morris – September 21st, 2014 Frank Therian – September 23rd, 2014 Ray Hopcus – October 14th, 2014 Art John – November 10th, 2014 Jim Camp– November 18th, 2014 Art Del Nero – December 18th, 2014 Mel Smith – January 7th, 2015 From The Prez Some have asked me about the wisdom of not having a formal dinner this year, and what’s behind the theme parties at happy hour on Friday and Saturday. I assure you that we will return to the traditional banquet and dance next year in Napa. One of the primary reasons for the informality this year is that the officers of FTLPA, primarily myself, felt the need for a break from all the planning, and this particular year seemed perfectly suited for such an opportunity. Another reason is the unique ambiance of the city and all that it has to offer. Who wants to dress up and sit in a windowless room on Saturday night when the French Quarter is out there begging to be explored? Probably the most important reason for breaking tradition and letting our hair down these two nights might be summed up with the following quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson. “It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them” Laissez les bons temps rouler! I think Emerson would have made a fantastic cargo pilot. Two months to go. Please help us out and get those forms and payments in! John Dickson President Fr8rcap@gmail.com (208) 699-5909 Larry Weeks Vice-President weeks.larry@gmail.com (206) 258-3911 Peter Okicich Secretary-Treasurer/Webmaster paokicich@comcast.net (206) 246 4271 Robin Pestarino Flight Attendant Representative rpestarino46@hotmail.com (360) 588-8177 George Gewehr Historian gjtiger@msn.com (520) 574-1932 Sandra White Meeting Planner robsanwhite@sbcglobal.net (619) 284-7484 Flying Tiger Line Pilots Association – March 2015 Page 5 of 6 NEW ORLEANS 2015 JOINT FTL/SWA REUNION I am planning on attending YES NO Only 2015 Dues Enclosed Name______________________________ Partner____________________________ (other guests attending, list names here:______________________________________________________ For FTLPA address Street__________________________________________ correction: (Please complete even if City________________________State____Zip_________ unchanged) Tel:(____)____-______ Email:_____________________________ Enclosed, $20.00 for 2015 FTLPA dues (If Applicable).....…………..….……$ Enclosed, $35.00 per person for registration…………………...….…………….$ Enclosed, $60.00 per person for 5/8/15-11:45 WWII Museum Tour includes Admission & "Tribute To Andrew Sisters" Lunch Matinee…...$ Enclosed, $25 per person for Nat'l. WWII Museum Admission & 4D movie "Beyond All Boundaries" (Good Anytime For One Day)..........$ Enclosed, $6.00 each for custom name badges (Deadline is April 1)......$ Indicate which style and names as you want them to appear: __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ____ _______________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ Total Enclosed……..$ Mail to FTLPA, 14248 56th Ave. S, Seattle, WA 98168 SOLD OUT
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