March 2000                                 http://gewa.gsfc.nasa.gov/~graa                    16^th Year of Publication

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
March l4, 2000             ll:30 a.m., RecCenter - Regular GRAA Luncheon - Call Alberta 30l-937-7762 to reserve
April ll, 2000                 ll:30 a.m., RecCenter - Regular GRAA Luncheon - Call Alberta 30l-937-7762 to reserve
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--make reservations by                                     calling Alberta 30l-937-7762
Sept 28-Oct 2, 2000   Branson, MO trip - Round Trip Airfare/4 night accommodation/6 shows/Extended Continental                                    Breakfasts, etc., etc. - $725 Per Person - Double Occupancy - Make reservations ASAP by calling                                    Alberta 30l-937-7762
Oct. l8-25, 2000        Royal Canadian Autumn Cruise - Quebec City to Baltimore - Inside Cabin $l009 -
                                  Outside Cabin $ll49 - Plus Port Taxes/Airfare - If interested call Alberta 30l-937-7762

GEWA TENTATIVE TRAVEL 2000 (Contact: GEWA 30l-286-8498 for further details)

TRIP DATES, DURATION, FEATURES
New York City May TBD  2 days/l night Shopping, Broadway Show, Dinner, Overnight accs., Bus cruise to Nowhere July                                  3-6 3days/2nights Baltimore Departure SS Rembrandt
Niagara Falls & Aug. 7-ll  5 days/4 nights Casino, Maid-of-the-Mist, Toronto Motor Coach Winery tour, Toronto Harbor
                                 Cruise, 4 breakfasts, 4 dinners
Myrtle Beach, SC Oct. 9-l3  5 days/4 nights 3 Shows, Charleston tour, Motor Coach Casinos gambling, Waccamaw
                                 Pottery, 4 breakfasts, 4 dinners,
Bethlehem, PA Dec. TBD  3 days/2 nights Night Lights Spectacular tour, Motor Coach Christmas Village, Longwood
                                Gardens, Reading Outlets, 3 Breakfasts, 4 dinners
Christmas in NY Dec TBD  l day Radio City Music Hall, Motor Coach, FAO Schwarz, Dinner.

MAIL STUFFERS FOR FEBRUARY: Paul Pashby, Roland Van Allen, Agnes Smith, Bob & Mary Wilson, Frank Wrigley, Bob Wigand & Elaine Montgomery.

ADOPT-A-ROAD: Come prepared to help clean Good Luck Road (after 3/l4 Luncheon - weather permitting) - for about a mile - Also, still need volunteer to be the coordinator for this worthwhile effort - See you there -

TREASURER'S REPORT: Donations were received from Glenn Harris, Earl Moyer, Ralph Mollerick (in memory of Gerry Ascher) and Arthur Clarke. Betty Vaccaro, Mike's widow, has been donating scholarship money to Montgomery Blair High School, where he was an active adviser, for the past 8 years. GRAA's Board of Directors has decided to contribute the memorial fund which GRAA collected in his honor, and which with interest now amounts to $762.00 dollars, to that scholarship program.

COMMENTS FROM GRAA'S PRESIDENT, DR. PIEPER: I usually hesitate to say anything about recently deceased GRAA members because I didn't know many of them well enough to say anything meaningful, but this time I'll make an exception as follows: In addition to the loss of Goddard's first Director, Harry Goett, in January, GRAA also lost two other longtime and well known staff members in February, Lou Walter and Bob Langel. Lou, a geochemist, was at Goddard from l962 to l997, serving at various times as head of the Planetology Branch, chief of the Earth Surveys Application Division and associate director of science in the Earth Sciences Directorate. A first-rate scientist, Lou was perhaps even better known within the center for the splendid singing voice that he brought to many MAD productions. Bob Langel headed the geomagnetic research program at Goddard. He specialized in satellite surveys of the Earth's magnetic field, prominently with Magsat, and contributed greatly in the international geomagnetic reference field. The center's scientific reputation was enhanced by the contributions of Lou and Bob.

I would also like to proceed with the idea of having a general birthday party for anybody between the ages of 65 and 80 (l920 - l935 birthdays) maybe in April. Other than asking Barney to make a birthday cake to be shared by all, or a cupcake and candle for every birthday person - got any ideas to help here? (Some ideas from your Newsletter Staff: (l) How about supplying a birthday picture showing name, birthday, where you worked at Goddard; (2) Give an award to the oldest attendee, (3) Give an award for the youngest attendee - any suggestions received or submitted at the next Luncheon will be appreciated - should be fun)

LETTERS WE GET LETTERS!

MICHAEL M. ZIEGLER: Always enjoys receiving the newsletter. Recently moved to Stephens City, VA.

FRANK M. BENEDICK: Sends thanks to all for sending the GRAA newsletter.

RALPH MOLLERICK: Always impressed with the vast amount of information the newsletter provides - many of the articles on launched satellites in recent times is a reminder of the time when he was associated with the program as an engineer. (Note: Re your question about contacting an individual, it is suggested that the GRAA l998 Membership Directory be checked)

LLOYD E. HIGHTOWER: Writes he is residing at Webco East, an assisted-living facility in his hometown of Marshfield, MO. His wife, Vieta, suffered from Alzheimer's disease and a broken hip before her death in l998. Lloyd has funded two scholarship programs for engineering students at the University of MO-Columbia. The recipients have been very appreciative and a "Hightower" student activities room has been established in one of the engineering buildings.

OBITS:

LOUIS  S. WALTER: Died Feb. l, 2000, at a hospital in Boston from complications following surgery for lung cancer. He spent over 35 years at NASA in a variety of research and managerial positions.

ROBERT LANGEL III: Died Feb. 9, 2000, of a pulmonary embolism at a nursing home in Blacksburg, VA. He had a career with NASA for over 27 years.

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TICKET TO GRAA LUNCHEON

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