Contributed by Nick Mulich nicknjax@gmail.com
[22FEB2003]

Dear Mad Foxes,

We have gotten off to an early start (for a change) in planning for the 2004 Reunion. We have tentatively settled on April 23-24, 2004. Since the early 1980s, the Jacksonville area Reunions have been at the Best Western/Spindrifter motel in Orange Park. The motel lost its affiliation with Best Western a few years ago and was an independent motel known as the Spindrifter last May when we held our most successful Reunion.

Since the last Reunion, however, the motel has been sold to new owners and is being upgraded to become a Quality Inn franchise. We have met with the marketing personnel and the function previously held be one person is now divided between two people - one for rooms and one for food, etc. We feel that these people are not bending over to help us hold our next Reunion at this location. They are quoting a room rate of $57 (which is currently going for $39) and we are unable to see the rooms because they haven't been upgraded yet. Essentially, we feel as though we're buying something that may or may not materialize. Also, the same food is $2 higher per person. So we have doubts about continuing in Orange Park.

We're hesitant to move away because so many of our members lived in the Orange Park or Westside area of town while stationed at NAS Jacksonville, Florida; their homes were in this area as well as their friends, and they have a certain comfort level here. However, we have been looking at alternatives and want some feedback from the membership before making a decision.

First of all, we could move to the Holiday Inn at Jacksonville Beach. This is an old hotel, but in excellent shape. They have adequate meeting rooms, an excellent view and proximity to the ocean (on the front), and several specialty restaurants close by. Their room rate is $79 w/breakfast, per night, but the sales rep insists the regular rate for those rooms in April 2004 will be at least $159. They will extend this rate from Wednesday, April 21 to Tuesday April 28. April 23-25 is the opening weekend for the 2004 beach season and there will be many activities on the beach. The drawback, in addition to room price, would be nearly an hour drive to the base for a squadron visit.

We also looked at two hotels next to Jacksonville International Airport, the Clarion and the Holiday Inn. Both are very nice, spacious, and clean and offer rates of $59 per night. Drawbacks at both are a lack of shopping, restaurants, etc. within about 4 miles. Both are about a half-hour’s drive to the base.

Another alternative place we found is the Holiday Inn on Baymeadows Avenue. This is adjacent to I-95 and about 15 minutes from the base. It, too, has spacious meeting rooms and room rates of $59 per night. There are many restaurants, shopping centers, etc. within close walking distance and there is even a golf course across the street. Nick held a VP-50 Reunion there last October when he couldn't strike a deal with the new Spindrifter management and says everyone was pleased with the service and activities.

Another thing we’d like to pass by the membership is the inclusion of a non-refundable registration fee for our attendees. This would allow us to more accurately plan as to the number of persons attending when we order food for our Friday and Saturday night functions. It also strengthens our hand in negotiating with the hotel for additional hospitality rooms and services. When we held the last reunion, many, said they were coming and didn’t show and several showed that we had not heard from.

Non-refundable registration fees are not unprecedented in the Reunion business. In fact, of the other organizations that we belong to, we’re the ONLY one NOT collecting registration fees. Ray belongs to both VP-2 and VP-45 Reunion organizations and Nick belongs to VP-50 and the Mariner/Marlin Association. They all change non-refundable registration fees. Each of these organizations, however, also provide each member with a bag of goodies (paid for by the fee) on “check in” that includes items such as hats, t-shirts, coffee cups, name tags, bumper stickers, etc. The fees for the organizations range from $25 to $50 for registration fees. And, of course, as you might expect, all of these organizations are much better organized than we are and have or are applying for, tax-exempt status with the IRS. We would like to improve our status as well in time.

We’ve also been trying to find other activities that we could make available earlier in the week. With more than a year to plan for the Reunion and a response from the membership, perhaps we can schedule some group activities. Deep-sea fishing by charter boat might appeal to some. The casino cruises are also available. This area is a golf mecca for those who like it. There are just riverboat dinner cruises without the gambling. Clay County has lots of historical landmarks, including a Clay County Historical & Railroad Museum. These are just a few of the activities that have always been available should there be any interest. We can try to have brochures for several activities included in a mailing later on.

Your Reunion coordinators:

Ray Chute raychute@bellsouth.net
Nick Mulich nicknjax@gmail.com