March 1998                                                                                          15th Year of Publication

LUNCHEON MEETING : HURRAH! The RecCenter is now back to its normal schedule and available to GRAA exclusively for LUNCH 3/10/98 at 11:30 AM. Barney says he is ready to serve us in the style we've become accustomed so please call now with your reservations (ALBERTA 301-937-6104). Our speaker for March 10th will be Center Director Al Diaz if he is available at that time. He should have information about the reorganization of the Center.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
             March 10, 1998               11:30 AM LUNCH -- RecCenter
             March 17,1998                 VANGUARD I  40TH ANNIVERSARY: At the time of this                                                       printing, we still do not have any specifics. If interested, suggest                                                       a call be made to:
                                                                         Bob Pickard 919-480-8506 or
                                                                         Ed Scobey 301-649-1881
                                                       These two are possible sources of information having worked                                                        on the project at NRL in 1958.
             March 26-30, 1998           GRAA Branson, MO. -- Six shows, 4 continental breakfasts,                                                        four nights lodging, round trip air, amphibious vehicle tour,                                                        taxes & tips on activities in package -- $675 per person                                                        double occupancy (NOTE: Only 6 spaces left)
             April 14,1998                    11:30 AM LUNCH -- RecCenter
             April 25-26,1998               NY Bus Trip - For details, pls call the GEWA Store                                                        301-286-8498
             September 16-23,1998      CRUISE/TOUR ALASKA ALONG THE GLACIER                                                        ROUTE: SS Jubilee, Carnival Cruise, Airfare, and port taxes,                                                        from $1,753 Inside Cabin; $1,803 Outside Cabin. CALL                                                        ALBERTA for brochure & flyer 301-937-7762.
             October 8 -12,1998           Myrtle Beach, SC - 5 Day Trip                                                        Concert/Theater/Shows/Shopping - Watch this spot for further                                                        details next month. Block your calendar now for this fun-filled                                                        short vacation.

NOTE OF INTEREST:
OCEAN CITY RENTAL: 3 BDRM 2 1/2 BATH OCEANVIEW CONDO 135TH ST &                                          OCEAN DRIVE 6TH FLOOR -- Wks in May/June Available -- Also                                          last 2 weeks in August - PLS CALL IF INTERESTED: E. Montgomery                                          301-464-0476.

MAIL STUFFERS FOR FEBRUARY:  Bob Wilson, Bob Wigand, Wilma Chigas, John Steckel, Frank Wrigley, Rose McChesney, Elaine Montgomery, Marty Eiband, Milt & Mary Sing, & Roland Van Allen.

TREASURER'S REPORT:  Donations were received from Bob Plaumann, Ed Korklin, Nina Regan, Herb Butler, George Hogan, Tillie Kroto and Flo Hickel. A financial report covering all the Association's transactions during CY1997 was printed out using Quicken and submitted to the board of directors.

LETTERS WE GET LETTERS!!!
FLO HICKLE:  Moved recently to Heritage Harbor Mid-December and immediately fractured her foot. Hopes to enjoy the facilities of The Club -- presently has cabin fever. Expects to make a Luncheon soon - especially when Paul & Elaine Butler attend. Her new address has been noted.
GEORGE HOGAN:  Presently resides in Southbury, CT working for Raytheon Optical Systems which recently acquired Hughes Electronics -- another mega merger. Always enjoys the Newsletter --encourages the good work. New address noted.
TILLIE KROTO:  (Known at Goddard as Travel Tillie) - sends sincere greeting to all. Enjoys reading the news of all retirees. She's okay but has a heart problem w/pacemaker yet for a lady of 89 years, not doing too badly. Retired in 1973 but was fortunate in working parttime until 1992. Lives locally, enjoying her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Enjoys receiving the Newsletter especially since names are familiar. Wishes all good health. NOTE: Tillie, both Alberta & Elaine appreciated your note -- yes, we fondly remember Tillie.
EVELYN BAUMANN:  Sent a note from Fla -- attended a big too re 40th Anniversary of the Explorer I launch. Asks about the 40th Anniversary of Vanguard (See info re this affair mentioned in the schedule of events). Mentions she's enjoying the weather in Florida, has a lot of company. Also getting together w/USDA retirees. Walks 2-3 miles at least 5 days a week -has joined a Fitness Center. Hopes to be back in Seabrook, MD, around March 24^th.
NINA KATHRENE REGAN:  Moved recently to North Carolina. Enjoys receiving the GRAA Newsletter and the Goddard News. Misses the Greenbelt-Washington area -- especially the NASA Federal Credit Union. Saw Goddard & NASA publications recently at the Library -- glad the public aware of the find things NASA does with tax dollars..Sends her thanks to all. (New address noted)
RALPH L. HICKS:  Sends thanks for GRAA Newsletter - (change of address noted) Was able to re-establish contact with a couple of people that he used to enjoy working with due to the email published addresses.
W1LL1AM E. EDELINE:  Many thanks for being kept informed -- sends thanks to all who put together the GRAA Newsletter.
HERB BUTLER:  Presently living in Hightstown, NJ. Sorry to send a report that his wife of 57 years, Kay, died recently . Herb is still growing dahlias which he used to bring to all the secretaries. Kay was a Past President of the Goddard Wives Club that sponsored the Ballroom Dancing, that they both enjoyed. Will join the GRAA on-line soon -- sends best wishes and thanks for the wonderful job of keeping us in touch.

OBITS:
DOTT WITT WELLS:  Died January 30th in Richmond after a stroke. Worked for 39 years before retiring in 1991 as a mechanical engineering technician with NASA. In addition to NASA, worked for the NAVY. From 1991 to 1994 was a technician with Swales & Assoc., a Beltsville company that does work for NASA.

EDWIN J. ISLER:  Passed away September 28,1997, in Corona, California. Native of Yakima, Washington.

ALBERT LUNCHICK:  Died 1/l/98 as a result of a car accident in West Palm Beach, Florida.

DR. FREIDRICH VON BUN :  Who died 12/26/97 was born in Vienna, Austria 6/22/25.He received a PHD in Physics and Applied Math from The Technical Universities of Vienna and Gratz. He married Maria Sidel in 1952 and they had two children Elisabeth, and Freidrich. He was with the U S Army Signal Corp 1953 to 1960 and joined NASA GSFC 1960 until 1983 where he became the Director of The Office of Applications. He then transferred to NASA Hdq until retirement in 1988. He continued applied research at the Applied Physics lab. He was active as a volunteer in the Senior Science and Engineering Org. of Wash. D.C. During his NASA career he was granted The Distinguished Service Award among several other honors.

Pick-up Trash Day-On Goodluck Rd our duties require a minimum of 4 pick-ups each year, we are scheduled for 3/10, weather permitting. When you come for lunch on this day remember to wear work shoes and bring gloves if you intend to join in our "Spring Festival of Trash".

March 6: Black Holes, Thermodynamics, and the Information "Paradox"; Robert Wald, University of Chicago.

March 13: Cryptography; Clint Brooks, National Security Agency

March 20: COBE and the Diffuse Infrared Background; Mike Hauser, Space Telescope Institute

March 27: Dance of the Continents; Paul Hoffman, Harvard University

April 3: Monsoons - Processes and Predictions: Peter Webster, University of Colorado

April 10: Superstrings - Why Einstein Would Love Spaghetti in Fundamental Physics; James Gates, University of Maryland

April 17: New Results in Ocean Biology from SEAWIFS; Chuck McClain, GSFC Laboratory for Hydrospheric Processes.

April 24: The Origin of Universal Scaling Laws in Biology; Geoffrey West, Los Alamos National Laboratory

May 1: Pfiesteria Piscicida, Killer of Fish; Joann Burkholder, North Carolina State University

May 8: Recent Developments in Gamma Ray Bursts; Jan van Paradis, University of Alabama, Huntsville

May 15: Magnetic Mars; Mario Acuna, GSFC Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics

May 22: Experimental Chaos Control; William Ditto, Georgia Institute of Technology

May 29: Supercomputer Simulations of Gas Flows in Binary Star Systems: John Blondin, North Carolina State University

June 5: JOHN C. LINDSAY MEMORIAL LECTURE Our Sun - Puzzles and Surprises: Eric Priest, University of St. Andrews.