Well, there weren’t fireworks or an incredible poet laureate, but John Adams has now assumed the role of President (un-elect) of the Oregon and SWW Chapter of the USNA Alumni Association.  I’m honored to give Mike a well-deserved rest, and at some future date the members might choose to elect me and make it official.  We’ll continue to “do our thing” during the pandemic, maintaining our comradery and looking forward to the time when we can resume our monthly luncheons.

Instead of Mike being the new Oregon Blue and Gold Area Coordinator, the Candidate Guidance Office has selected CAPT Jill Richards, who lives in Bend, to assume the role.  The transition from Butch Bewick to Jill is planned to be completed by June, but we know Butch will always be available to assist, as Mike will be to help me.  It is our every intention to maintain the close relationship that has long existed among the B&G, the Parents Club and our Alumni Chapter.  Jill has said she plans to join us at happy hour when she can, so we will welcome her and get to know her.

Coming up in April, it is time for our next Council Meeting.  We will address unresolved topics from past meetings, and prepare to address anything new.  Please send matters of concern to the Chapter to me by email as you think of them.  I will prepare an agenda in March and publish it.  Wouldn’t it be nice if this is our last, Zoom Council meeting for a long time?

Meanwhile, we will be further investigating opportunities to bring people together electronically, at the very least, and we are always actively soliciting ideas to improve or add to the work that we are doing today.  Once again, thank you for being enthusiastic members of the Oregon/SWW Chapter of the USNA Alumni Association.

Additionally, we received notice that the VA is offering COVID vaccines to its members.  I’m sure you know how to contact them if you need to.

Go Navy, Beat them all,

John Adams ‘69, CDR, USN (Ret)

And finally, from Mike’s January message:  The Chapter continues to have its weekly happy hour zoom meetings at 1800 hours every Wednesday.  We are having consistently 10 to 12 participants each week.  We would love to have all of you join in.  There is no driving required and it is a fun time to connect with local alumni.  Contact the chapter for login information.

On behalf of the United States Naval Academy Oregon and SW Washington Chapter I would like to wish all of you a wonderful new year and hope that 2021 far exceeds 2020 (how can it not).

The Chapter continues to have its weekly happy hour zoom meetings at 1800 hours every Wednesday.  We are having consistently 10 to 12 participants each week.  We would love to have all of you join in.  There is no driving required and it is a fun time to connect with local alumni.  Contact the chapter for the invite.

The chapter is beginning a transition in leadership.  John Adams ’69 will be taking my position as chapter president effective 1 February.  I will take his position as vice president, but more importantly will begin a transition to relieve Butch Bewick of his duties as Oregon BGO Area Coordinator.  Butch’s shoes will be hard to fill as he has been such a dynamic force in ensuring Oregon has the highest quality of applicants to the Naval Academy each year.  The Academy Alumni Association leadership often tells me that the relationship between the Chapter, the BGO organization and the Parent’s Club is as strong as they have seen anywhere.  This is in great part due to the efforts of Butch over the many years he served as our area coordinator for the BGO organization.   While we are making this change now, once we start having meetings again, we will confirm it with a vote of the chapter.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge the Parent’s Club leadership, both current and future.  They have done a remarkable job and have strengthened both their and our organizations.

Outgoing officers:
Doug DiCola, Treasurer (Justin ’23),
Marie-Louise Vallancey-Martinson, Secretary (Alexandria ’21)
Jeneane Douglas, Social Media Administrator (Cameron ’21)
Kathy Barnes, Past President (Taylor ’20)
Transitioning:
Dawn Brucker, President to Past President (Evan ’21)
Shelley Liscom, VP to President (Kirk ’23)
Jennifer Scypinski , Web master to Secretary & Web Master (Jack ’22)
Remaining in Current Position:
Ilene Wells, Send Out Cards (James ’22)
Incoming:
Barb Rivoli, Treasurer (Jon ’24)
Jen Wiley, Social Media Administrator (Nick ’21)