December l999                  http://gewa.gsfc.nasa.gov/~graa         16^th Year of Publication

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

             December                 NO LUNCHEON MEETING

             December ll, l999     Children's Holiday Party (See details contained in Registration Form attached to GRAA's November                                                 Issue)..

             l2/26/99 - l/3/00        Lima Peru - Cuzco - Machu Picchu - $2499 per person - Call Alberta 30l-937-7762

             l2/28/99 - l/3/00       Aurora Millennium in Canada - Churchill, Manitoba Canada - all activities at Churchill Northern                                                Studies  Center - 7 Days - 6 Nights - $l649 plus taxes per person. Call Alberta 0l-937-7762 for details.

             January ll, 2000       ll:30 a.m., Rec Center - Regular GRAA Luncheon - Pls call Alberta 30l-937-7762 for reservations.

            May 17-24, 2000     Baltimore to Bermuda aboard the Crown Dynasty-Inside cabins from $1,025 and outside from $1,112.                                               Docks at the Royal Naval Dockyard for the weekend. This trip sells out very quickly-make reservations                                               by calling Alberta 30l-937-7762 asap.

MAIL STUFFERS FOR NOVEMBER: Agnes R. Smith, Lil Fleenor, Rose McChesney, Milton & Ruth Sing, Bob Wigand, John K. Steckel, Frank Wrigley, Paul Pashby, Ginny Wiseman and Elaine Montgomery.

TREASURER'S REPORT: Donations were received from Dave Taylor, Lloyd Hightower, Jim Meadows, Art White, George Ludwig, Dave Manges, Ray Strong and Bob Bourdeau.

COMMENTS FROM GRAA'S PRESIDENT DR. PIEPER; The November GRAA luncheon featured a fine talk by Frank McDonald, one of our pre-eminent senior scientists, entitled "In The Beginning . . ." about the earliest days of NASA and in particular the first days of GSFC. Frank gave a similar talk at the GSFC 40^th anniversary lunch last May. This time he added more details that brought many smiles of recognition from the large audience. In fact, Bob Hutchison was so impressed that he would like to say a few words at our next meeting in January about "The Early Days from a Personnel Point of View". Since Hutch hired many of us in those hectic days, we can expect some great tales. Plan to be there - Happy Holidays --

GEWA SPECIAL EVENTS (Contact: Catherine Simkins 30l-286-330l):
New Year's Eve Millennium Gala - GSFC RecCenter - Dec. 3l, l999 - 7 PM til l AM "Cocktail attire required" - premier evening - buffet dinner catered by  'Putting on the Ritz' - beer/wine/sodas, entertainment/prizes, Yellow Brick Road Band for dancing - Continental breakfast - Tickets limited - $65.00 Per Person -

ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THE GODDARD NEWS - UPDATE: Discussions between the GRAA officers and the Office of Public Affairs personnel resulted in a decision to continue to mail the GRAA Newsletter and the Goddard News. It is estimated that less than 5% of the GRAA members would elect to receive the Goddard News electronically. Thus, the cost savings would be minimal and the additional effort to keep the data base accurate would be excessive. As an example, we receive a great deal of information from the post office with the returned mail. Such information as "deceased", new forwarding address, forwarding address, forwarding order expired (foe), help us obtain the correct address that appears in the directory and on the mailing labels. Without this feedback our data base becomes obsolete and it takes considerable research to obtain the correct address. We request GRAA members to inform us of changes in their addresses via PO Box l63, Seabrook, MD 20703 or notify Bob Wilson 30l-422-8334 / r2wilson@erols.com. Do not send changes to GSFC.

APPALACHIAN TRUCK: Frank Martin will again pick up clothes/toys/etc. At GSFC on December 7 and December l4, l999, 8:00 a.m. to l:00 p.m. Besides donations, volunteer yourself and help Frank with the loading of the truck - If you think you can, PLS CONTACT FRANK BY CALLING 301-384-7788. LET'S MAKE THIS THE GREATEST YEAR EVER FOR THE APPALACHIAN TRUCK!

ADOPT-A-ROAD: - About fourteen large bags of trash was collected after the November luncheon by the following volunteers: Bob Wigand, Paul Pashby, Elaine Bobbitt, Elaine Montgomery, Roland Van Allen, Herman LaGow.and Danny Dalton. Thanks to each of you for making Good Luck Road a cleaner area - See you all next year.

GEWA COOKBOOK; Recipes - Dozens & Dozens - from GSFC Employees and Retirees - - Terrific Holiday Gift. Available in GEWA store after l2/l3/99 - $l0.00 per copy.

DREAMS, HOPES AND REALITIES: Copies of the history of Goddard's first forty years are still available at the discount price of $25 at the GEWA Store. A great Christmas gift for one of your old friends. GRAA absorbs shipping and handling costs for out-of-town members.

LETTERS WE GET LETTERS!

RAYMOND V. STRONG; Sends a note to thank all who work to keep the retirees up to date on all old friends -sends new address, now living in Berlin, MD.

DAVE TAYLOR; Sends thanks for being kept abreast of GSFC happening for the past twenty-five years - presently living in North Port, Florida.

SUSAN LIBBY: Presently living in Sun City Center, Florida - Sends her thanks for the Newsletter -

                ----   BEST WISHES FOR YOUR HOLIDAY SEASON   ----