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Summary of the USS
SOLEY (DD707)
Doubletree Nashville Downtown Hotel
May 12-16, 2011
By all accounts, the reunion was a huge success.� Feedback from shipmates, wives, family
members, and guests was all positive.� The
reunion began on May 12, 2011, as shipmates arrived throughout the day.� Some arrived a day or two early to take
advantage of the southern hospitality of the fine city of
Shipmates attending included widows Ernestine Eble and Helene Wallace and their daughters Lynn Eble and Paula Wallace.� We are always happy and proud to have these fine ladies in attendance.� Also attending for the first time, was Bill and Heidi Olsen�s grandson, Eric, who quickly became everyone�s favorite and was adopted as the Soley mascot.� Everyone agreed that Eric is a fine young man, and we hope he continues to attend our reunions.� We also welcomed another first time attendee, shipmate Stanley Shaney.� Only one Plankowner was able to attend, Mike Masciola and his lovely wife Jean. They both seem to get younger and younger� at each reunion.
Representing their father, Plankowner
Richard Crandall, who recently passed away, were Peter and Carol Crandall.� Peter traveled all the way from
The first official reunion event was a welcome reception
hosted by our hotel on the afternoon of May 12. ��That
evening, we traveled by motor coach to the Troubador
Theater where we attended a show titled �A Tribute to the King, The Years
1953-1977�.� The show is the first and
only continuously running show paying tribute to Elvis Presley and the
recordings he made in
On Friday, May 13, we again boarded motor coaches for a trip
to the Grand Ole� Opry, the longest running live
radio show in the
Saturday, May 14, we traveled by motor coach for a �Star for the Day Tour�.� The tour included� a stop at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and a guided tour of RCA Studio B, where Elvis and many other country stars recorded their music,. While at Studio B, a professional sound engineer recorded our group singing one of Elvis�s songs �Can�t Help Falling in Love�.� We all purchased a CD of our performance for a nominal fee.� �The Soley Singers�, as the CD was labeled, sounded great.� Then it was off to the Wildhorse Saloon for a fabulous barbeque lunch, line-dancing, and entertainment.� Our CD was played over the speaker system for everyone at the Saloon to enjoy.
Shortly after our return to the hotel, we held our business
meeting. Reports by the Reunion Coordinator, Secretary/Registrar, Treasurer,
Storekeeper, Historian and Webmaster were made. All reunion committee members
volunteered to continue in their respective posts for the next reunion, and as
there were no other nominations from the floor, all were duly elected.�� It was decided that the next reunion would
be held in
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.
Committee Members and their Assistants elected for the next reunion are as follows:
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����������� Assistant
����������� Treasurer�������������������������������������������� Frank Hawkins
����������� Assistant Treasurer����������������������������� Jim Brown
����������� Secretary/Registrar����������������������������� Harland Hamm
����������� Assistant Secretary/Registrar������������� Bob Sefton
����������� Historian�������������������������������� ����������� Jim Hawker
����������� Assistant Historian����������������������������� Len Porter
����������� Ship�s Store Operator������������������������ Mike Kranack
����������� Assistant Ship�s Store Operator��������� Dave Cummins
����������� SCOOP Editor����������������������������������� Chuck Bruce
����������� Assistant SCOOP Editor������������������� Bill Smith
����������� Webmaster����������������������������������������� Frank Chesla
����������� Assistant Webmaster������������������������� Len Porter
We welcome our two new assistants, Bob Sefton and Jim Brown, to the Committee.� Thanks, Bob and Jim, for agreeing to serve.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.
Sunday, May 15 we motor-coached to the General Jackson
Showboat for our memorial service and a luncheon cruise, complete with a
fabulous band who entertained us with great music and some hilarious comedy.� �During
the memorial service we remembered the 35 shipmates that died since our last
reunion in
Monday, May 16, was a free day for everyone to do some sightseeing, hang out in the hospitality room, and/or prepare for the Banquet.� The Banquet was held that evening at the host hotel.� After dinner, Jim Hawker again stepped up as Master of Ceremonies, overseeing the evening�s festivities.� Included were introductions of our �Plankowner in Attendance�, our first-time attendee, the shipmates who have attended the most reunions, reunion committee members for this reunion and new committee members for the next reunion. �There was a 50/50 drawing, drawing for raffle prizes and door prizes, as well as announcing the winner of a silent auction for a 3-D photo of the Soley.� �A big thank you to all those who donated items and to Dottie Vigna and her crew for selling many 50/50 and raffle tickets, which raised lots of money for the Association.
I�d also like to give a big �thank you� to my fellow committee members for volunteering their time and effort to help keep the Association going on a day-to-day basis, and for all their hard work leading up to and during the reunion.� Also a thank you is in order to all those shipmates, wives, and family members who lent a helping hand during the reunion. A great time was had by all, and we look forward to the next reunion in the Fall of 2012.�
Everyone stay healthy and spread the word about what a grand time we have at our reunions.
See you in
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Mike Pollack