G.R.A.A.

Goddard Retirees and Alumni Association

P.O. Box 163, Seabrook, MD 20703-0163

JUNE 2005 http://graa.gsfc.nasa.gov 21^st Year of Publication

IMPORTANT DATES:

June 14	GRAA Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. at the Barney and Bea Recreation Center. Gil Colon, Manager of the Solar Terrestrial Program, will speak on the topic: “Space Weather and How It Affects Us on Earth.” Reservations are required, so please call Alberta Moran at 301-937-7762 no later than noon on Friday, June 10.
July 12	Mark your calendar for the GRAA Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Dr. Ed Weiler, Center Director, will speak on the topic: “Search for Life in the Universe and Goddard’s Role in It.”
August 9	Mark your calendar for the GRAA Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Jerry Longanecker will speak on the topic: “Awareness, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Prostate Cancer.”
September 13	Mark your calendar for the GRAA Luncheon at 11:30 a.m.
September 29 – October 3	Trip to the Country Music Capital of Branson, MO, for $875 per person. Contact Alberta Moran to sign up or to obtain details about the trip.
Early December	Holiday shopping trip and music theater event in Lancaster, PA (date not yet established). Contact Alberta Moran for details.
August 2006	Something to look forward to! GRAA Travel (Alberta Moran) is planning a cruise and land tour in Alaska. Details will be published in future issues.

COMMENTS FROM RON BROWNING, GRAA PRESIDENT: Bob Phillips provided a vivid pictorial commentary of his solo cross-country bicycle trip. He spent 60 days biking from Puget Sound, WA, to Dewey Beach, DE. Bob chose a northern route through the Cascade Mountains, Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota plains, and Wisconsin dairy farms. He crossed Lake Michigan by ferry and then dropped south through Indiana’s Amish farms, around Lake Erie in Cleveland, and then came south to Pittsburgh into Maryland, where he traveled the C&O Canal bike trail. Bob carried over 80 pounds of camping gear and food supplies in containers mounted over the front and rear wheels. Lodging was sometimes in farmers’ yards, but he mainly stayed in state and city parks and RV campsites. He averaged 70 miles per day, and with good conditions 120 miles, over the 3650-mile trip. Bob has once again demonstrated that age does not have to be a deterrent when pursuing extreme adventures.

As reported in last month’s issue, there seems to be growing interest in hosting a reunion of the Delta Project at a future GRAA Luncheon. Several individuals have expressed a willingness to help organize the event, but we’re still seeking someone to take the lead and launch the mission. Volunteers should contact me at arkabee@comcast.net or 301-927-1209.

FROM THE GODDARD ARCHIVES-IT HAPPENED IN MAY:

Jun 7, 1966: Atlas-Agena launched OGO-III, which observed geophysical and solar phenomena.

Jun 10, 1973: Delta launched Explorer 49, which focused on radio astronomy.

Jun 12, 1975: Delta launched Nimbus VI, a weather research satellite.

TIMELY LUNCHEON RESERVATIONS A MUST: It is important to make timely reservations to attend the GRAA Luncheons for both food preparation and security purposes. We’ll do our part by distributing the newsletter earlier than in the past. We ask that you do your part by contacting Alberta Moran by noon on the Friday prior to the luncheon (the second Tuesday of each month except December).

RETIREMENT FAREWELL: Gayle Richardson, a valuable member of the Laboratory of Extraterrestrial Physics over the last 35 years, will be feted at a retirement luncheon at the Barney and Bea Recreation Center on Thursday, June 16, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $17.00 and may be obtained by contacting Frank Ottens at 301-286-7974 or Sharon Smith at 301-286-3585.

ENVELOPE STUFFERS FOR MAY: Marj Gallagher, Marge Gustafson, Barbara Hamilton, Rose McChesney, Elaine Montgomery, Dave Moulton, Ewald Schmidt, Bill Shields, Agnes Smith, Eloise Tarter, Bob Wigand, Mary and Bob Wilson, and Frank Wrigley.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Treasurer Bob Wigand reports that donations were received from the following retirees: Mike Lauriente, Henry Price, John Quill, and Charles (Chuck) Trevathan.

GEWA’S ANNUAL NASA FAMILY PICNIC: Consider attending the Annual NASA Family Picnic at the Barney and Bea Recreation Center on Saturday, June 25, from noon to 4:00 p.m. The theme of this year’s event is “Return to Flight Celebration.” There will be two bands for music lovers, games and attractions, water slides, interactive basketball, picnic buffet, astronaut autographs, clowns, face painters, and much more. Tickets are available at the GEWA Exchange Store, but buy early, as the prices go up after June 11. And don’t forget to bring your bathing suit!

GRAA NEWSLETTER MAILINGS: If you no longer wish to receive GRAA mailings, please forward a note to our Seabrook address or an e-mail to Dave Moulton at davidlmoulton@comcast.net. If you have moved or want to correct the mailing address we use for you, please write to our Seabrook address or send an e-mail to Strat Laios at stratlaios@comcast.net.

REMEMBERING OUR FORMER COLLEAGUES:

Ellouise B. Mears of Atlantic, VA, passed away on February 10.

Joseph M. Roberts of Bowie, MD, passed away on May 10 at Doctor’s Hospital in Lanham, MD. He served as a procurement officer at the Center from 1963 to 1971, when he retired.

Robert W. Rochelle of Knoxville, TN, passed away on June 10, 2004. He worked at NRL and Goddard from 1949 to 1973 on satellite telemetry issues, which included preparing for the launch and operation of Vanguard II. His wife, Peggy, joined him in the afterlife on April 11. She was very active in the Goddard Wives Club.

Charles (Chuck) H. Vermillion of Huntingtown, MD, was fatally injured in an automobile accident in Brandywine, MD, on April 27.

E-MAIL ADDRESS UPDATES: John Davis (vidjfd@verizon.net); Ray Davis (rayd55@bellsouth.net); Pat Greco (patgreco@comcast.net); Ray Hartenstein (judray@eastex.net); Robert Joyce (foozler2@earthlink.net); Fidel Rul (mayorul_@hotmail.com); and Chuck Trevathan (helenct@teleplex.net).

ROAD CLEANUP: GRAA’s quarterly cleanup of Good Luck Road along the east side of the Center will be held following the June luncheon.

SPECIAL TOUR OPPORTUNITY: Did you ever wonder how your Washington Post newspaper makes it to your doorstep every day? If your answer is “yes,” you may be interested in accepting an invitation for an exciting, interesting, and free tour of the Washington Post Print College Park Plant on July 12 (Tuesday) from 10 to 11:00 a.m. [Note: Don’t fret, as after the tour you’ll still have plenty of time to attend Dr. Weiler’s presentation at the GRAA Luncheon.] During the tour you will see four of the biggest presses in the world that can produce 55,000 papers per hour. These presses are five stories high and over one-half of a football field long. You will also tour the Robinson Terminal, where train cars actually come inside the facility. Sign up now, as space is limited. The one-hour tour will be led by 31-year employee Jim Shirlen. Contact Jody (Shirlen) Fillmann to sign up at jody@closecall.com or 301-577-5905.

LETTERS, WE GET LETTERS:

David Hepler wrote, “Carolyn and I moved to a retirement community in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, PA, on the day of your April luncheon. We are near one of our daughters, and are not mowing lawns and other such things. Please keep the newsletter coming.”

Henry Price wrote, “I enjoy the newsletter. I still recognize some of the names, but the familiar people are rapidly disappearing.”

Chuck Trevathan wrote, “Many thanks for helping us folks scattered across the country keep up with what’s happening at Goddard and with our fellow retirees. It’s good to read the news even though it isn’t always pleasant. I would like to relay some good news I heard recently about my good friend and fellow retiree Tom Taylor. [Note: See following item]. I’m sure the folks who know Tom will not be surprised to learn that he was chosen as the national winner of the “Big Brother of the Year” award. Seems as if retirement just gave Tom another way to excel. Everything is going well here in the North Carolina foothills. The only downside is the large number of people who continue to learn that it is such a great place to live in retirement! Keep up the super work and I hope my small donation will help.”

GSFC RETIREE TO RECEIVE NATIONAL AWARD: As noted above, Tom Taylor of Huntsville, UT, has been chosen to receive the 2005 Big Brother of the Year Award from the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization at its national convention on June 10 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC. Tom has mentored his Little Brother, David Gessel of Kaysville, UT, for more than eight years. Through weekly get-togethers and family vacations, Tom has been a steadying influence on David and has helped his Little Brother rediscover his Native American heritage. The pair was matched soon after Tom relocated out west in 1996. He applied as a Big Brother in hopes of establishing “a one-on-one relationship with a kid at risk.” At the time, David’s life was not a stable one. He lived with his grandparents because his parents were incarcerated, and he had failing grades in school. Right from the start, Tom and David connected over burgers, ball games, jazz, and homework. They also discovered a shared passion for travel. Little Brother David, now 17, says, “Tom has helped this little boy in school, and changed an ‘F’ student into an ‘A’ student. Tom has taught life lessons to this little boy, which no one else could teach. Tom Taylor has changed a little boy into a man.” Keeping up their passion for travel, David will join Tom onstage at the awards banquet. Congratulations to both Tom and David, as we think they’re both winners!

RECENT RETIREES: Margaret Belote, Vivian Britton, Jettis Hedgpeth, Theodore Michaelis, William Muney, Barbara Reamy, Joan Tomasello, and John Yagelowich.

GEWA EXCHANGE STORE: Do you ever feel so “blue” that you wish you could just “pop?” Well, now you can – pop blue, that! New from Avenue Gourmet comes Blue Popcorn. Yes, the kernels are really blue, but they pop up so white and fluffy that you’re bound to forget what’s been making you so feel so down. The kernels come in a 6-ounce package, so they will make enough to fill a bowl without having leftovers. This way you can have Blue Popcorn along with a favorite movie and sure feel a whole lot better.

Don’t forget the Graduate!!! Now available are not only graduation cards, but also an assortment of gifts for the graduate. For a gift for the graduate’s parents, there is a chrome picture frame for a 4x6 photograph with an apple in the lower corner big enough to have engraved. If you have a 5x7 photograph, then take a look at the wooden frame that has a pewter cap and tassel at the top corner and a pewter diploma at the bottom. For a gift for the graduate, pick up a “stack of books” in pewter, with a cap and tassel on the top. This item is actually a trinket box, with the cap serving as the lid. All of these items are in limited supply, so hurry in to the store before they’re sold out.

REMEMBER FLAG DAY: On June 14, Flag Day, all patriotic Americans are asked to take a moment during the day to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in support of our men and women in uniform and the freedoms we all enjoy in this great nation.