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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Dear TCTAA Members,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Planning for our 2010 Convention is coming right
along and we hope to have everything finalized by May 1. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The contract for the hotel has been signed and
members may now starting booking their suite at the Victorian Hawthorne Suites.
This is the URL for the web site <A
href="http://www.hawthorn.com/Hawthorn/control/Booking/property_info?propertyId=30815&brandInfo=BH&cid=ROMLBCHW">http://www.hawthorn.com/Hawthorn/control/Booking/property_info?propertyId=30815&brandInfo=BH&cid=ROMLBCHW</A>.
I would suggest calling the hotel directly, but you might want to try the
Wyndham 800 number first. The identification is Troop Carrier 2010 to get the
group rate of $77.00 per night for a one bedroom suite or $125.00 a night for
2-bedroom. (Taxes will also apply. In order for us to not have to pay state
sales tax, we would have to pay for all of the rooms with a single
check.)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>There is one thing I would like to get some
feedback on. The main complaint about the hotel in 2006 was the breakfast,
particularly that people felt rushed due to the size of the room. I have
obtained a proposal from the caterer to provide breakfast for us in the
hospitality room at a cost of roughly $13.00 per person. Benno is offering three
menus, one built around scrambled eggs with sides and meat, one around a
vegetable omelete with ham and the other a Mexican breakfast. We could have a
catered breakfast on Friday, Saturday and, possibly, Sunday mornings. The
advantage would be a much better breakfast than the hotel breakfast, which is
typical of the complimentary breakfasts offered at hotels, and would also give
us privacy. <STRONG><FONT size=3>Please let me know what you
think</FONT></STRONG> so we can decide at the planning meeting next month if we
want to go that route or not. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Speaking of the planning meeting, we will be
meeting at the hotel on Saturday morning, April 17. We're expecting about a
two-hour meeting starting at 10:00 and finishing in time for lunch. If you'd
like to help with planning and are close enough to Galveston to participate and
are not already involved, please let us know. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Our tentative schedule for the convention
is:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Thursday, October 21 - arrive, register,
catered reception that evening (probably at the Lone Star Flight
Museum)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Friday, October 22 - breakfast, board meeting,
members meeting, banquet that evening at the hotel.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Saturday, October 23 - breakfast, travel to
Ellington Field for the Wings Over Houston Air Show. No formal event that night
but we'll have barbecue brought in and served in the hospitality
room.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Sunday, October 24 - breakfast (possibly catered),
rain date for air show. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The total cost for the event has yet to be
determined, but the registration fee will be under $150.00 per person, and that
includes the cost of the reception (which is essentially a meal,) two or three
breakfasts, the dinner on Friday and barbecue Saturday evening - in essence,
food from Thursday evening through Saturday night and Sunday morning.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>As you know, we are also offering a cruise leaving
Saturday, October 16 from Galveston on Carnival ECSTASY. To keep things simple,
we're letting people make their own reservations through whatever means they
wish - <A href="http://www.carnival.com">www.carnival.com</A>, AARP, travel
agent, etc. I understand that Carnival offers special rates for veterans,
subject to availability. At some point (once I've made my own reservations and
set it up) you'll need to call Carnival and let them know you are part of the
Troop Carrier group for identification purposes. This is mainly for dining room
seating. Carnival rates are all-inclusive except for alchohol and soft drinks,
shore excursions and a couple of other things. They are also per person so any
people who are planning to go alone might get in touch with someone else who is
doing likewise and make your reservation together and share a state room. Each
state room has beds that can be made up a one king or two queens. The lowest
rates are for inside cabins, and go up through Ocean View on up to
balcony.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>We'll keep everyone as well informed as possible as
details emerge. The names of those who have indicated they are coming are
being posted on the web site at <A
href="http://www.troopcarrier.org/2010attendance.html">www.troopcarrier.org/2010attendance.html</A> as
we get them. Once we start taking registration forms, the names will be posted.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>We're looking forward to a great convention, and
expect for everyone to have a lot of fun! Make plans to come and pass the word
around to other troop carrier/tactical airlift veterans you know.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Sam McGowan</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Secretary/Editor</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>