Christmas Greetings to the Grey Eagles of Reno-Tahoe!
2024 Recap:
We enjoyed a very successful 2024 year as Reno-Tahoe Grey Eagles. Culminating with a great turnout of 26 at our December 10th Christmas/Holiday Party at Zozo’s. Thanks to all of you who could join us in the festivities!
Congratulations go to our "Christmas Vacation" Movie Trivia Winners Bob & Kelly Jordan, who had the highest score. And to our 50-50 Raffle Drawing winners Tom & Donna Luciano. Incidentally after dinner, “Lucky” and Donna very graciously donated back their half of the 50-50 raffle drawing to the Veterans Guest House. Thank you Lucky & Donna!
You donated $362 to the Veterans Guest House from both the "50-50” drawing, and all of you who graciously "rounded-up” your Christmas/Holiday dinner fee. THANK YOU Reno-Tahoe Grey Eagles! You received a copy of the donation receipt, and I'll follow that with the official 501.C.3 contribution letter which the VGH sends out in January.
We thank Ed Cook for a $750 “payday loan,” from our Grey Eagles Western Area Director. Ed stepped-up to personally cover the entirety of APA’s promised and very generous Reno-Tahoe GE Holiday Party contribution. Those funds had crossed in the mail. Hopefully by now they’ve made Ed “whole” again. Those funds reduced your Holiday Party cost for the evening’s dinner from $45pp to just $16.15 per person…that’s a whopping 65% “Airline Discount!” Thanks to Ed of the Grey Eagles and APA!
Our regular 2025 Monthly Luncheons will resume the 2nd Tuesday of the Month on January 14th at The Twisted Fork, on Steamboat Parkway. An “e-Postcard” announcement will soon follow.
Our 2024 Reno-Tahoe Grey Eagles luncheons were enjoyed at the following venues with these fine guest speakers:
Jan: The Grill (Speaker 2024 GE President Steve Catalano)
Feb: Famous Dave’s
Mar: Pakiz de Jade
Apr: Murrieta’s
May: Bully’s
Jun: Crosby’s (Speaker John Melarkey, Chief Pylon Judge - Reno Air Races)
Jul: Zephyr Cove (Speaker AA Capt Bob Mulchay “call-sign Fr. Mulchay”)
Aug: Brook’s Bar & Deck (Speaker Economist Charles Campbell)
Sep: Jason’s Beachside Grill
Oct: Skipolini’s (Speaker MGEN Bob Millman, USAF (Ret.)
Nov: Murrieta’s
Dec: Zozo’s (Christmas/Holiday Party)
For 2025 we’re looking forward to "keeping it fresh” by searching out new restaurants and returning to old fave’s. Your suggestions are highly encouraged and welcomed! I’m especially appreciative of Ed Madigan, who’s dining suggestions have earned him a field promotion to "S-2 Officer-in-Charge of Restaurant Intel!” Have you also got some good restaurant ideas to suggest? Call and let me know!
In Memoriam, I’m glad to report I don’t believe any of our Reno-Tahoe membership “Flew West” in 2024. However, I am aware that 2 of our members tragically lost their home and possessions in the September 7th Davis Fire that went through parts of St. James’ Village. Fortunately they were unhurt. But let’s all continue to keep Reno-Tahoe GE's Franc and Alene Andrijeski in our prayers, as they continue along the pathway of restoring themselves into a new home.
Turning to our National Grey Eagles, our esteemed Treasurer and Executive Boardmember Steve Browning retires December 31st after many years of faithful service to the Grey Eagles. On January 1st our new Treasurer becomes Steve Conlon, a former APA BOD member who served on 2 National Committees, and who supervised the finances of APA’s Welfare Benefits master Trust (approx $200 million). I had the pleasure of flying with Steve Conlon for many years, and he served as our LAX Domicile Chair. As your GE 2024 Chair of the Nominating Committee, I was honored for the opportunity to highly recommend Steve Conlon for nomination as 2025 Grey Eagles Treasurer.
Here’s your roster of senior officer’s on the 2025 Grey Eagles Executive Board:
President: Joe Sellers
1stVP: Steve Hart
2ndVP: Sam Mayer
Secretary: Bill Rose
Treasurer: Steve Conlon
Kristina and I Wish to take this opportunity to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas/Holiday Season, and a Happy and Safe New Year.
Bill & Kristina Baerresen
Bill Baerresen
Reno-Tahoe Luncheon Coordinator
Grey Eagles 2023 President and 2024 Nominating Committee Chair
bill.baerresen@gmail.com
Mobil 951.317.8531
Grey Eagles Western Area Report for Spring 2024
Greetings Fellow Grey Eagles!
Now that the world is somewhat back to normal, I’m excited to share our upcoming 2024 Grey Eagle’s scheduled events which are back and better than ever before!
RETIREMENT DINNERS ARE BACK !!!
The Allied Pilots Association in conjunction with The Grey Eagles are holding many future retirement dinners around the country, two of which will be held here out West.
If you have retired from American Airlines and have never been honored at one of these dinners, now is the time! Every retiree is “good for one free dinner per cAAreer” !!!
You are more than welcome to be honored at the domicile dinner of your choice—not just where you retired from. Please contact Toni Kennard/APA at (817) 302-2279 to schedule you for the next event.
The great news is that we will be hosting more of these in the future thanks to large numbers of retirees, so if these dates don’t work, make sure to let us know and we’ll put you on the next available dinner of your choice!
As always, please come out and support our newest retirees at our dinners; it truly is a memorable experience!
LOCAL AREA LUNCHEONS ARE BACK
Please volunteer if you able to help us fill these spots! Email me at: westerngreyeagles@gmail.com if you are interested or want more information.