G.R.A.A.
Goddard Retirees Alumni Association
P.O. Box 163 Seabrook, MD 20703




DECEMBER                                           http://graa.gsfc.nasa.gov                       18th Year of Publication


SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Dec. 3 & Dec. l0  APPALACHIAN TRUCK: 3lst Annual Christmas Drive -lead by Frank Martin of the John Lamb Foundation - Donations of                               clothes, toys, food, household goods, etc. requested.- also, volunteers are need to assist Frank - so, if you can give a little of                               your time for a worthwhile cause, pls call Frank Martin - 30l-384-7788. NOTE: The Collection starts at 7:30 am and closes 3:00                               pm - and will be held at GSFC's Motor Pool - on Soil Conservation Road
Dec. 5, 2002         VENDORS' FAIR - Bldg 8 Auditorium - l0am - 3pm - Call GEWA Store 30l-286-8498 -
Dec. 6, 2002         Poinsettia Plants from Behnke Nursery -(Must be ordered by l2/6) Order Forms available at GEWA Store - Pickups Dec. 19
                              between l0am & 2 pm - Bldg l, RM $l00D - For further info call GEWA Store 30l-286-8498.
Dec. l0, 2002       NO LUNCHEON - This has been our custom for many years since there are many activities and events used by GSFC                              personnel at the Rec Center during this month. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!
Dec. l0, 2002       LANCASTER, PA - Christmas Shopping/Christmas Show/Bus Transportation /Dinner - Historic Strasburg/Holiday Jubilee,                              American Music Theater, orchestra seats - Bus departs Visitor Center l0:00 AM - Returns Visitor Center l0:30 PM - $70 Per                              Person - Pls Call 30l-937-7762 - Limited reservations --
Dec. l4, 2002       Children's Holiday Party - GSFC Auditorium - Open to retirees' children/grandchildren - ages 0-8 Face painting, clowns, Disney                              video theater, Magic Show at 2 pm, visits w/ Santa & Mrs. Claus, color photos and a personalized gift. $7 per child, $l per guest                             over the age of 8. Registration open thru December llth. Call Alberta for reservations 30l-937-7762 - Forms available at GEWA                              Store.
Dec. l6, 2002       Toy Liquidation Sale - Call GEWA 30l-286-8498 for further information.
Jan. 25(?),2003   SUPERBOWL PARTY - RecCenter - Tentative plans regardless of who is playing -Dinner/Football Pools - about $50 pp - Call                              30l-937-7762 -
May - 2003         LONDON/PARIS/ROME - Tour includes Air Transportation/9 nights hotel/breakfast daily/3 dinners/airport escorts/hotel &                              train portage/all group transfers/guided sightseeing/entrance fees to selected sights/full time multilingual tour director - Cost:                              $2,l02.00 - $300 deposit now - final payment due February 2003 - PLS Call GEWA 30l-286-8498
Oct. l2-26, 2003  Switzerland/France/Italy/Austria/Munich(Germany) $2409 pp - (includes air transportation/tour director/hotels/hotel service                             charges/tips/baggage handling/local taxes/motor coach, etc) A $300 Deposit due now & before Dec. l3, 2002 will get $l00                             discount - No refund after l/l5/2003 - Final payment due 7/l5/03 - Call Pat GEWA Store - 30l-286-8565.
GRAA TRAVEL PLANS - 2003 - Costa Rica, Iceland, Cruise to Bermuda, Australia, Branson, (depending on cost) - Any interest? Pls Call                             30l-937-7762.

COMMENTS FROM GRAA'S PRESIDENT, DR. PIEPER: Our November lunch was a good one to have missed! Fortunately, we had no speaker lined up and only the thirty or so regulars planned to come. Because of a paperwork problem, Barney did not get the reservation form. Barney, good guy that he is, opened the bar for us anyway, so although we went away hungry, we were not thirsty. Alberta's looking into the situation to be sure this doesn't happen again.As you have read here and possibly elsewhere, Bea Hoyt, Barney's wife and co-manager of the Rec Center, has been in poor health since August.. As a result, Barney is retiring from the Rec Center job on December 3lst. At our next lunch (which is in January on the usual second Tuesday, the l4th, because we normally skip December) we plan to honor Bea and Barney for their many years of outstanding work on our (and the rest of Goddard's) behalf. Please plan to be with us on January l4 for this occasion.

Also, on January l4th, we need to put together a list of nominees for the GRAA Board for our biannual election. The current board consists of Charles Boyle, Bob Hutchison, Bob Morrissey, Bob Wigand, Bob Wilson, George Abid and George Pieper. Nominations will be collected in January and a ballot will be put out with the February Newsletter. Last month we bid a sad farewell to three key people from the early days of Goddard. Glenn Ferris, John Quann and Nelson Spencer. In response to inquiries, places where contributions in their memory may be sent are:
                   Glenn Ferris          St. John Episcopal Church, 9l20 Frederick RD, Ellicott City, MD 2l043
                   John Quann          U. of MD Medical System (UMMS) Foundation, 29 S. Green St., Suite 500 Baltimore, MD 2l20l-l534
                   Nelson Spencer    The American Parkinson Disease Assoc. National Office
                                                   1250 Hylan Boulevard, Suite 4B, Staten Island, NY l0305

TREASURER'S REPORT; Donations were received from Ruth and Ralph Liebermann.

ROAD PICKUP: Our quarterly clean-up of the GSFC frontage area on Good Luck Road was postponed due to the bad weather - However, we still need to do this before years' end. VOLUNTEERS DESPARATELY NEEDED -Bob Wigand will be calling soon - so - be prepared to help.

MAIL STUFFERS FOR NOVEMBER: Bob Wigand, Ewald Schmidt, Agnes R. Smith, Hugh O'Donnell, Bob & Mary Wilson, Roland VanAllen, Frank Wrigley, Elaine C. Montgomery, Marge Gustafson, and Rose McChesney.

LETTERS WE GET LETTERS!!
BRUNO SEPPI:
of Bowie, MD - Sends thanks for hard work in compiling the directory and the newsletters - enjoys them very much - (incorrect phone number noted)
DELORES FAISON: of Crofton, MD - sends thanks for sending the Newsletter.
HARLEY J. MANN: of Las Vegas, NV - sends thanks for the newsletter - appreciates reading what's going on a GSFC. This is the fourth year that he and his wife have been serving the poor and homeless in the Las Vegas valley. We volunteer at Poverello House (a day time house of hospitality for homeless men and women where they come to get off the street for a day - they can shower, wash their clothes, have a good meal, watch TV without being hassled or told to "move along") and the Variety Day House (a non-profit day care for 268 kids from age 6 months to 6 years.) Both facilities are located in the area where there have been l8 gang/drug related murders this year. (Note: If any of you retirees reading this are interested in helping also and have some educational material that could be used for the kids, the Manns' would be very grateful - let a member of the Board know - in the meantime, a copy of the Manns' letter will be given to several areas at Goddard)
HARRY W. STREET: of Berkeley Springs, WV - sends with his address change a comment that he enjoys receiving the GRAA publications.
RALPH LIEBERMANN: of Gallatin, Tenn. - sends with his address change "regards to the old 8l5 gang"



BOOK: Tailey Whaley - a very special children's picture book - authored by Charles Boyle, a Goddard Retiree, has made special arrangement with GRAA to purchase this $l5 book for $ll (shipping included) of which $2 goes to the GRAA Fund. This full color, hard cover book will be signed and bear an "autographed" sticker. The book sells online and in stores nationally (go to Amazon.com and see its 5 star ratings). The book may be evaluated by pre-reading the entire book at www.whalebook.com. To make a purchase, send your name, address and payment to Elaine Montgomery, 492l Enterprise Rd., Bowie, MD 20720. This offers you a service with four benefits from one action: You buy and get a discount/you solve a Christmas-present problem/the special kids in your life get a superb gift/the GRAA Fund gets a contribution on each sale.


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                                                                    SPECIAL ADMITTANCE
                                                                TICKET TO G.R.A.A. LUNCH
                                                            You must be accompanied by a GRAA
                                                           member or GSFC employee with a badge
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