December 17, 2021
Virtual Membership Meeting TBA in Spring 2022
USNPAA 2022 Reunion Postponed
Dear USNPAA Members,
The purpose of this communication is to inform you that the USNPAA board of directors met on 13 December and made the difficult decision to postpone the April 2022 reunion. The reunion, as you know, was scheduled for 1-2 April in Arlington, Virginia. In addition to a financial risk we faced, the health and safety of our members are of paramount importance.
The rise of the omicron variant and prevalence of the delta strain are causing much uncertainty, particularly when it comes to travel. This was confirmed when our board members called and emailed our members to see if they planned to attend the reunion. Many of our members said they are hesitant to commit and may only do so at the last-minute. This makes reunion planning very difficult.
To date, we have received only 29 registrations for the reunion. Our numbers currently stand at 27 people for the Friday dinner, 23 for the Saturday meeting/lunch, and 21 for the Saturday evening reception. Only three people have reserved hotel rooms at the Hilton Garden Inn.
While statistics from past reunions show that our group tends to register closer to the reunion, we faced a significant financial risk due to cancellation penalties in our hotel contract. The Hilton hotel agreed that we could cancel the reunion with no cancellation penalty if we cancelled before December 31, 2021. If we cancelled in 2022, we would incur cancellation fees that could go as high as $25K, depending on how close to April 1 we canceled. The board decided this financial risk was not in the best interest of USNPAA.
For those of you who have already sent in your registration form and check, you will receive a refund check in the mail in January. The hotel has cancelled our room block, so if you reserved a hotel room, you should receive an email from the hotel telling you your reservation has been cancelled.
On a more positive note, the board of directors agreed that we should hold a virtual membership meeting in 2022. We have some important business to outline to members that changes the direction of the Association. Our membership needs to ratify this new vision that is focused on supporting CHINFO and the Navy public affairs community. In my opinion, this new direction will make the USNPAA a more vibrant and substantive organization.
As a matter of note, the awards we planned to present at the April 2022 reunion will be presented at a time and place to be determined. Once the details have been worked out, we will send an email to our members outlining them.
Additionally, we discussed the possibility of holding an in-person reunion in 2023 or 2024.
I would also like to inform you that the board approved my successor as president of the Association—Rear Adm. Dawn Cutler. Dawn will assume her role in October 2022. Dawn is currently the Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.
In the meantime, I am looking at many of us who live in the Washington, DC area to have a luncheon sometime this spring—conditions permitting, of course. I would recommend that those members who live in other areas with a concentration of members to consider holding similar mini-reunions if conditions permit.
I am also looking at getting some of our speakers who were going to meet with us in April to do so virtually as USNPAA Happy Hour sessions. We will keep you posted as those plans develop, too.
Our reunion planning committee and our board of directors are very disappointed that they will not see you in-person at an April 2022 reunion. I want to personally thank Sheila Graham (the grand duchess of event and reunion planning), Betsy Bird, Chuck Connor, Brian Gray, Jim Noone, and Dick Thompson for their efforts in pursuing our reunion. The time and effort they expended on our last reunion, coupled with their efforts over the past few months, is most commendable. They are a great team, and I cannot say enough about them.
I hope you will join us virtually this spring. We will be providing details as they are finalized.
Tom Jurkowsky
President
November 8, 2021
April 1 - 2, 2022 in Arlington, VA
Top 5 Reasons to Attend USNPAA Reunion 2022
Dear USNPAA Members,
Plans are underway for a dynamic USNPAA Reunion 2022 on Friday, April 1 and Saturday, April 2, 2022, in Arlington, VA. Reconnect with friends in the Hospitality Room at the hotel on Friday afternoon and Saturday afternoon and evening. Enjoy socializing with friends at the Army Navy Country Club Welcome Reception and Dinner on Friday evening and a Farewell Reception at the hotel on Saturday night. Hear from top leaders about what is happening in the Navy and DOD at our Saturday morning Business Meeting.
If you have not registered yet, here are the top five reasons why you should register now for Reunion 2022.
Reason #5: Our risk-free guarantee is a good deal, and it is cheaper this time
Are you hesitant to book travel due to COVID-19? Maybe our risk-free guarantee will help. Reunion registration fees are refundable until March 17, 2022, and the Hilton Garden Inn Shirlington/Arlington allows free cancellation of guest rooms before 11:59 PM EST the night before your reservation starts. Thanks to our Board of Directors, who approved $10,000 to subsidize the cost of this reunion, our registration fee is $20 cheaper than it was for the 2019 reunion. This subsidy will cover increased hotel and event costs, so we don’t have to pass those costs on to you.
Reason #4: Take in new sights in DC – before or after the reunion
In addition to its spectacular museums and monuments, Washington, DC, has a wealth of tourist opportunities you haven’t seen. The District Wharf, on the Potomac River near the Washington Navy Yard, is a waterfront destination showcasing restaurants, retailers, and businesses with waterfront views and a vibrant culture. Just steps from our hotel's front door, the Village at Shirlington offers many excellent restaurants, small boutiques for shopping, and the Signature Theatre. If you want to come early or stay after the reunion, take advantage of the hotel’s discounted rates of $149 (plus tax) for the nights of April 1, 2, and 3, 2022 and $169 (plus tax) for Mar 31. To get this rate in our hotel room block, use Group Name “Navy Public Affairs Association Reunion” and Group Code “NAA.” Use this link to reserve your hotel reservations.
Reason #3: Reconnect with friends and honor colleagues at the Army Navy Country Club
Special thanks to CAPT Chuck Connor for sponsoring us at the elegant Army Navy Country Club in Arlington on Friday, April 1 for a Welcome Reception and Dinner. Held on the Rooftop Terrace with its spectacular view of the Washington Monument, the reception will include hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. We have invited Secretary of the Navy, Carlos Del Toro, to be the guest speaker at our three-course seated dinner in the Five-Star Ballroom. The USNPAA “Award for Exemplary Service” will be presented to an active-duty public affairs enlisted member recommended by CHINFO. The CAPT Thomas Coldwell Award for Significant Achievement will be awarded to a USNPAA member for significant achievement after Navy service. The Distinguished Service Award will go to a group or non-member who has distinguished himself/herself not only in the area of public affairs but through a project or program that has benefitted humankind or enhanced the lifestyle of those in need.
Reason #2: Find out what is happening in the Navy, DOD, and USNPAA
Our Business Meeting on Saturday morning from 0900 to 1200, will include guest speakers, a Treasurer’s report, and a membership report, along with other official business. You will get the real scoop about what is happening in Navy and DOD from keynote speakers, including CHINFO, Rear Admiral Charlie Brown. In addition to learning about the new path ahead for our association, this is your chance to get involved with decisions about the future of the organization. This will be a lively conversation about future reunions, membership goals, awards, and the direction we will take in the future to support CHINFO and the active-duty Navy.
Top Reason to Attend – #1: Gather with friends at a “happy” event, not a funeral
Every time we bury a PAO at Arlington Cemetery (or other cemeteries) our fellow PAOs turn out to pay their respect to shipmates who have passed. The one recurring comment people make is: “We need to get together for a happy event, not just for funerals.” This is your chance to get together for a happy event in 2022. Let’s tell sea stories, reminisce about the good old times, find out what our shipmates have been doing since they left the Navy, and meet our active-duty colleagues.
It is easy to register. Just send in your registration form and check. Help us get out the word by forwarding this reunion email and the registration form to your shipmates and encouraging them to attend, too. Hope to see you in April 2022.
August 30, 2021
USNPAA 2022 Reunion: April 1-2, 2022
Dear USNPAA Members,
I hope you are planning to join us Friday and Saturday April 1-2, 2022, in Arlington, VA, for our USNPAA 2022 Reunion. The reunion will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn Arlington/Shirlington, the same hotel where we held Reunion 2019. Located about 10 minutes from Reagan National Airport, the hotel is in the lively Shirlington Village with its many restaurants, stores, theater, and grocery store.
As I mentioned in my July 17 email, we were planning to do a reunion in San Diego in 2021 but COVID and the unexpected passing of Roger Copeland put those plans on hold. We determined that the easiest way to get back on track would be to hold a 2022 reunion in the Washington, DC, area using the same sites we used in 2019. Looking ahead, Jill Votaw stands ready to plan Reunion 2024 in San Diego and we’re looking for volunteers to help her.
Knowing you may be hesitant to book travel due to COVID, we took that into consideration in our planning. Our hotel room rate allows free cancellation before 2359 (11:59 pm) Eastern Time the night before your reservation starts. Reunion registration fees may be refunded up to March 17, 2022. We hope this risk-free approach will encourage you to register.
Our Board of Directors approved a recommendation to help subsidize the cost of the reunion. While hotel and event site costs have increased since 2019, this subsidy will allow us to cover the increased costs AND offer you reunion registration rates that are $20 cheaper than they were in 2019.
Welcome Reception and Dinner: Chuck Connor graciously agreed to sponsor our group for a kickoff Welcome Reception and Dinner Friday, April 1, at the elegant Army Navy Country Club (ANCC) in Arlington, a 10-minute drive from the hotel. Held on the Rooftop Terrace with its spectacular view of the Washington Monument, the reception will include hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar followed by a three-course seated dinner and program in the Five Star Ballroom including two bottles of wine for each dinner table. There will be complimentary valet parking and free self-parking. The dress for the dinner will be Business attire. Suits or sport coats are recommended for men and dresses, skirts or pants outfits are appropriate for women. If you register just for this event, the cost is $20 cheaper than it was in 2019.
Business Meeting and Lunch: We’ll convene a Business Meeting Saturday, April 2, from 0900 to 1200 in the hotel’s Environment Room. In addition to a Treasurer’s report, membership report and other official business, we will have several top-notch guest speakers. Lunch is included and will be held in the hotel restaurant following the Business Meeting.
Board Meeting: We’ll hold a short board meeting in the hotel on Saturday after the lunch. This will be open to board members only.
Farewell Reception: On Saturday evening we’ll conclude our reunion with heavy hors d’oeuvres at a Farewell Reception in the hotel.
Hospitality Room: Our Hospitality Room will be in the hotel’s Environment Room on Friday afternoon and Saturday. You’ll have some free time Saturday afternoon to explore Washington or Shirlington – or just spend time connecting with old friends.
Reunion Registration: To register for the reunion, complete the USNPAA 2022 Reunion Registration Form and mail it, along with your check, to USNPAA Reunion, c/o CDR Dick Thompson, 12040 Fairfax Station Road, Fairfax Station, VA 22039-1215. Payment is by check only, payable to “USNPAA”. The Best Value for your money is “Full Registration” for just $215 per attendee, $20 cheaper than it was in 2019. Full registration includes all the events, meetings, and the Hospitality Room. If you or your guest prefer to attend select events only, the Friday Welcome Reception and Dinner will be $100 per person, the Saturday Meeting and Lunch Package will be $75 per person and the Saturday Farewell Reception will be $60 per person. The dress for all events (except the Friday dinner) will be Business Casual.
Hotel: You must make your own hotel reservation directly with the reunion hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn Arlington/Shirlington in Arlington, VA. The hotel has given us a special rate of $149 (plus tax) for the nights of April 1, 2, and 3, 2022. The rate for Mar 31 is $169 (plus tax). These rates have free cancellation before 2359 (11:59 pm) Arlington, VA, time the night before your reservation starts. Hotel guests can park in the parking garage next to the hotel for a special overnight rate of $18 per night. Daytime parking in the garage is free for local people attending the events.
The Group Name for our room block is Navy Public Affairs Association Reunion. In order to get this special room rate, hotel reservations must be made no later than March 1, 2022. After March 1, the sleeping rooms in our room block will be released for others to use. To make hotel reservations by phone, call the hotel at 1-800-HILTONS. To make hotel reservations online:
These reunions are only successful when our members volunteer to help. I hope you replied to the survey that was sent out July 17 and that you signed up to volunteer to help. If you didn’t do the survey and still want to volunteer, write that on your registration form. Our Reunion Planning Committee will contact volunteers closer to the reunion to get them involved.
I hope you’ll put April 1-2 on your calendar and join us at Reunion 2022. It’s only seven months away, so send in your registration form now.
Sincerely,
Tom Jurkowsky
President
July 17, 2021
USNPAA 2022 Reunion & Survey
Dear USNPAA Member,
On behalf of the Board of Directors, it is my pleasure to invite you to Reunion 2022 on Friday and Saturday April 1–2, 2022 in Arlington, VA.
Last year we were making plans to hold a reunion in San Diego in 2021. Jill Votaw and Roger Copeland were on board to plan the reunion. Unfortunately, COVID put those plans on hold and made future planning difficult, particularly with the unexpected passing of Roger. We determined that the easiest way to get back on track would be to hold a 2022 reunion in the Washington, DC, area using the same sites we used in 2019. The team who planned the 2019 reunion agreed to take on the project and the sites were available for April 1–2, 2022. Looking ahead Jill Votaw stands ready to plan a 2024 reunion in San Diego, and we are looking for volunteers to help her.
Our 2022 reunion will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Arlington/Shirlington – the same hotel where we held the 2019 reunion. Conveniently located about 10 minutes from Reagan National Airport, the hotel is in the lively Shirlington Village with its many restaurants, stores, theater and grocery store. The Hilton is giving us a room block with reduced room rates: $149 (plus tax) per night for King or Queen beds for April 1, 2 and 3 and $169 (plus tax) for March 31.
Chuck Connor has graciously agreed to sponsor our group at the elegant Army Navy Country Club in Arlington for a Friday night (April 1) Welcome Reception and Dinner. It is just a 10-minute drive from the hotel. We will have drinks and hors d’oeuvres on the covered terrace overlooking the Washington Monument followed by a delicious, seated dinner and program in the club’s Five Star Ballroom.
On Saturday morning (April 2) we will convene at the hotel for a business meeting and a special buffet lunch. You will have some free time Saturday afternoon to explore Washington or spend time connecting with old friends. On Saturday night the reunion will conclude with a Farewell Reception at the hotel.
In the next few months, we will send you a reunion registration form and more details about the reunion program as well as a link for booking your hotel room at the Hilton’s reduced rate.
In the meantime, we would like your input on the reunion. Please help us by completing and returning the attached 8-question USNPAA 2022 Reunion Survey by 1 August so we know your reunion preferences.
This USNPAA 2022 Reunion Survey can be downloaded to your computer, tablet or cell phone and can be opened, read, and completed using Adobe Reader, a free download for Windows, Apple iOS, and Android operating systems.
You can tab through the fill-in-the-blank fields completing the text fields and clicking on the preference boxes to indicate what you would like included in the reunion program.
Once you have completed the USNPAA 2022 Reunion Survey, please save it to your computer desktop and then email the form as an attachment to [email protected] for processing. You can also mail the completed survey to USNPAA Reunion Survey, c/o CDR Dick Thompson, 12040 Fairfax Station Road, Fairfax Station, VA 22039-1215.
Please contact [email protected] should you have difficulties downloading, completing, or returning this document.
I hope you will put April 1 – 2, 2022 on your calendar and join us at Reunion 2022.
Sincerely,
Tom Jurkowsky
President
More Notes from the Admiral
Virtual Membership Meeting TBA in Spring 2022
USNPAA 2022 Reunion Postponed
Dear USNPAA Members,
The purpose of this communication is to inform you that the USNPAA board of directors met on 13 December and made the difficult decision to postpone the April 2022 reunion. The reunion, as you know, was scheduled for 1-2 April in Arlington, Virginia. In addition to a financial risk we faced, the health and safety of our members are of paramount importance.
The rise of the omicron variant and prevalence of the delta strain are causing much uncertainty, particularly when it comes to travel. This was confirmed when our board members called and emailed our members to see if they planned to attend the reunion. Many of our members said they are hesitant to commit and may only do so at the last-minute. This makes reunion planning very difficult.
To date, we have received only 29 registrations for the reunion. Our numbers currently stand at 27 people for the Friday dinner, 23 for the Saturday meeting/lunch, and 21 for the Saturday evening reception. Only three people have reserved hotel rooms at the Hilton Garden Inn.
While statistics from past reunions show that our group tends to register closer to the reunion, we faced a significant financial risk due to cancellation penalties in our hotel contract. The Hilton hotel agreed that we could cancel the reunion with no cancellation penalty if we cancelled before December 31, 2021. If we cancelled in 2022, we would incur cancellation fees that could go as high as $25K, depending on how close to April 1 we canceled. The board decided this financial risk was not in the best interest of USNPAA.
For those of you who have already sent in your registration form and check, you will receive a refund check in the mail in January. The hotel has cancelled our room block, so if you reserved a hotel room, you should receive an email from the hotel telling you your reservation has been cancelled.
On a more positive note, the board of directors agreed that we should hold a virtual membership meeting in 2022. We have some important business to outline to members that changes the direction of the Association. Our membership needs to ratify this new vision that is focused on supporting CHINFO and the Navy public affairs community. In my opinion, this new direction will make the USNPAA a more vibrant and substantive organization.
As a matter of note, the awards we planned to present at the April 2022 reunion will be presented at a time and place to be determined. Once the details have been worked out, we will send an email to our members outlining them.
Additionally, we discussed the possibility of holding an in-person reunion in 2023 or 2024.
I would also like to inform you that the board approved my successor as president of the Association—Rear Adm. Dawn Cutler. Dawn will assume her role in October 2022. Dawn is currently the Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.
In the meantime, I am looking at many of us who live in the Washington, DC area to have a luncheon sometime this spring—conditions permitting, of course. I would recommend that those members who live in other areas with a concentration of members to consider holding similar mini-reunions if conditions permit.
I am also looking at getting some of our speakers who were going to meet with us in April to do so virtually as USNPAA Happy Hour sessions. We will keep you posted as those plans develop, too.
Our reunion planning committee and our board of directors are very disappointed that they will not see you in-person at an April 2022 reunion. I want to personally thank Sheila Graham (the grand duchess of event and reunion planning), Betsy Bird, Chuck Connor, Brian Gray, Jim Noone, and Dick Thompson for their efforts in pursuing our reunion. The time and effort they expended on our last reunion, coupled with their efforts over the past few months, is most commendable. They are a great team, and I cannot say enough about them.
I hope you will join us virtually this spring. We will be providing details as they are finalized.
Tom Jurkowsky
President
November 8, 2021
April 1 - 2, 2022 in Arlington, VA
Top 5 Reasons to Attend USNPAA Reunion 2022
Dear USNPAA Members,
Plans are underway for a dynamic USNPAA Reunion 2022 on Friday, April 1 and Saturday, April 2, 2022, in Arlington, VA. Reconnect with friends in the Hospitality Room at the hotel on Friday afternoon and Saturday afternoon and evening. Enjoy socializing with friends at the Army Navy Country Club Welcome Reception and Dinner on Friday evening and a Farewell Reception at the hotel on Saturday night. Hear from top leaders about what is happening in the Navy and DOD at our Saturday morning Business Meeting.
If you have not registered yet, here are the top five reasons why you should register now for Reunion 2022.
Reason #5: Our risk-free guarantee is a good deal, and it is cheaper this time
Are you hesitant to book travel due to COVID-19? Maybe our risk-free guarantee will help. Reunion registration fees are refundable until March 17, 2022, and the Hilton Garden Inn Shirlington/Arlington allows free cancellation of guest rooms before 11:59 PM EST the night before your reservation starts. Thanks to our Board of Directors, who approved $10,000 to subsidize the cost of this reunion, our registration fee is $20 cheaper than it was for the 2019 reunion. This subsidy will cover increased hotel and event costs, so we don’t have to pass those costs on to you.
Reason #4: Take in new sights in DC – before or after the reunion
In addition to its spectacular museums and monuments, Washington, DC, has a wealth of tourist opportunities you haven’t seen. The District Wharf, on the Potomac River near the Washington Navy Yard, is a waterfront destination showcasing restaurants, retailers, and businesses with waterfront views and a vibrant culture. Just steps from our hotel's front door, the Village at Shirlington offers many excellent restaurants, small boutiques for shopping, and the Signature Theatre. If you want to come early or stay after the reunion, take advantage of the hotel’s discounted rates of $149 (plus tax) for the nights of April 1, 2, and 3, 2022 and $169 (plus tax) for Mar 31. To get this rate in our hotel room block, use Group Name “Navy Public Affairs Association Reunion” and Group Code “NAA.” Use this link to reserve your hotel reservations.
Reason #3: Reconnect with friends and honor colleagues at the Army Navy Country Club
Special thanks to CAPT Chuck Connor for sponsoring us at the elegant Army Navy Country Club in Arlington on Friday, April 1 for a Welcome Reception and Dinner. Held on the Rooftop Terrace with its spectacular view of the Washington Monument, the reception will include hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. We have invited Secretary of the Navy, Carlos Del Toro, to be the guest speaker at our three-course seated dinner in the Five-Star Ballroom. The USNPAA “Award for Exemplary Service” will be presented to an active-duty public affairs enlisted member recommended by CHINFO. The CAPT Thomas Coldwell Award for Significant Achievement will be awarded to a USNPAA member for significant achievement after Navy service. The Distinguished Service Award will go to a group or non-member who has distinguished himself/herself not only in the area of public affairs but through a project or program that has benefitted humankind or enhanced the lifestyle of those in need.
Reason #2: Find out what is happening in the Navy, DOD, and USNPAA
Our Business Meeting on Saturday morning from 0900 to 1200, will include guest speakers, a Treasurer’s report, and a membership report, along with other official business. You will get the real scoop about what is happening in Navy and DOD from keynote speakers, including CHINFO, Rear Admiral Charlie Brown. In addition to learning about the new path ahead for our association, this is your chance to get involved with decisions about the future of the organization. This will be a lively conversation about future reunions, membership goals, awards, and the direction we will take in the future to support CHINFO and the active-duty Navy.
Top Reason to Attend – #1: Gather with friends at a “happy” event, not a funeral
Every time we bury a PAO at Arlington Cemetery (or other cemeteries) our fellow PAOs turn out to pay their respect to shipmates who have passed. The one recurring comment people make is: “We need to get together for a happy event, not just for funerals.” This is your chance to get together for a happy event in 2022. Let’s tell sea stories, reminisce about the good old times, find out what our shipmates have been doing since they left the Navy, and meet our active-duty colleagues.
It is easy to register. Just send in your registration form and check. Help us get out the word by forwarding this reunion email and the registration form to your shipmates and encouraging them to attend, too. Hope to see you in April 2022.
August 30, 2021
USNPAA 2022 Reunion: April 1-2, 2022
Dear USNPAA Members,
I hope you are planning to join us Friday and Saturday April 1-2, 2022, in Arlington, VA, for our USNPAA 2022 Reunion. The reunion will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn Arlington/Shirlington, the same hotel where we held Reunion 2019. Located about 10 minutes from Reagan National Airport, the hotel is in the lively Shirlington Village with its many restaurants, stores, theater, and grocery store.
As I mentioned in my July 17 email, we were planning to do a reunion in San Diego in 2021 but COVID and the unexpected passing of Roger Copeland put those plans on hold. We determined that the easiest way to get back on track would be to hold a 2022 reunion in the Washington, DC, area using the same sites we used in 2019. Looking ahead, Jill Votaw stands ready to plan Reunion 2024 in San Diego and we’re looking for volunteers to help her.
Knowing you may be hesitant to book travel due to COVID, we took that into consideration in our planning. Our hotel room rate allows free cancellation before 2359 (11:59 pm) Eastern Time the night before your reservation starts. Reunion registration fees may be refunded up to March 17, 2022. We hope this risk-free approach will encourage you to register.
Our Board of Directors approved a recommendation to help subsidize the cost of the reunion. While hotel and event site costs have increased since 2019, this subsidy will allow us to cover the increased costs AND offer you reunion registration rates that are $20 cheaper than they were in 2019.
Welcome Reception and Dinner: Chuck Connor graciously agreed to sponsor our group for a kickoff Welcome Reception and Dinner Friday, April 1, at the elegant Army Navy Country Club (ANCC) in Arlington, a 10-minute drive from the hotel. Held on the Rooftop Terrace with its spectacular view of the Washington Monument, the reception will include hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar followed by a three-course seated dinner and program in the Five Star Ballroom including two bottles of wine for each dinner table. There will be complimentary valet parking and free self-parking. The dress for the dinner will be Business attire. Suits or sport coats are recommended for men and dresses, skirts or pants outfits are appropriate for women. If you register just for this event, the cost is $20 cheaper than it was in 2019.
Business Meeting and Lunch: We’ll convene a Business Meeting Saturday, April 2, from 0900 to 1200 in the hotel’s Environment Room. In addition to a Treasurer’s report, membership report and other official business, we will have several top-notch guest speakers. Lunch is included and will be held in the hotel restaurant following the Business Meeting.
Board Meeting: We’ll hold a short board meeting in the hotel on Saturday after the lunch. This will be open to board members only.
Farewell Reception: On Saturday evening we’ll conclude our reunion with heavy hors d’oeuvres at a Farewell Reception in the hotel.
Hospitality Room: Our Hospitality Room will be in the hotel’s Environment Room on Friday afternoon and Saturday. You’ll have some free time Saturday afternoon to explore Washington or Shirlington – or just spend time connecting with old friends.
Reunion Registration: To register for the reunion, complete the USNPAA 2022 Reunion Registration Form and mail it, along with your check, to USNPAA Reunion, c/o CDR Dick Thompson, 12040 Fairfax Station Road, Fairfax Station, VA 22039-1215. Payment is by check only, payable to “USNPAA”. The Best Value for your money is “Full Registration” for just $215 per attendee, $20 cheaper than it was in 2019. Full registration includes all the events, meetings, and the Hospitality Room. If you or your guest prefer to attend select events only, the Friday Welcome Reception and Dinner will be $100 per person, the Saturday Meeting and Lunch Package will be $75 per person and the Saturday Farewell Reception will be $60 per person. The dress for all events (except the Friday dinner) will be Business Casual.
Hotel: You must make your own hotel reservation directly with the reunion hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn Arlington/Shirlington in Arlington, VA. The hotel has given us a special rate of $149 (plus tax) for the nights of April 1, 2, and 3, 2022. The rate for Mar 31 is $169 (plus tax). These rates have free cancellation before 2359 (11:59 pm) Arlington, VA, time the night before your reservation starts. Hotel guests can park in the parking garage next to the hotel for a special overnight rate of $18 per night. Daytime parking in the garage is free for local people attending the events.
The Group Name for our room block is Navy Public Affairs Association Reunion. In order to get this special room rate, hotel reservations must be made no later than March 1, 2022. After March 1, the sleeping rooms in our room block will be released for others to use. To make hotel reservations by phone, call the hotel at 1-800-HILTONS. To make hotel reservations online:
- Open this Booking Link
- Click on “Special Rate”
- Put in our Group Code which is “NAA”
- Click on “Update”
- Put in your name, address and payment information
- Click on “Book Reservation”
These reunions are only successful when our members volunteer to help. I hope you replied to the survey that was sent out July 17 and that you signed up to volunteer to help. If you didn’t do the survey and still want to volunteer, write that on your registration form. Our Reunion Planning Committee will contact volunteers closer to the reunion to get them involved.
I hope you’ll put April 1-2 on your calendar and join us at Reunion 2022. It’s only seven months away, so send in your registration form now.
Sincerely,
Tom Jurkowsky
President
July 17, 2021
USNPAA 2022 Reunion & Survey
Dear USNPAA Member,
On behalf of the Board of Directors, it is my pleasure to invite you to Reunion 2022 on Friday and Saturday April 1–2, 2022 in Arlington, VA.
Last year we were making plans to hold a reunion in San Diego in 2021. Jill Votaw and Roger Copeland were on board to plan the reunion. Unfortunately, COVID put those plans on hold and made future planning difficult, particularly with the unexpected passing of Roger. We determined that the easiest way to get back on track would be to hold a 2022 reunion in the Washington, DC, area using the same sites we used in 2019. The team who planned the 2019 reunion agreed to take on the project and the sites were available for April 1–2, 2022. Looking ahead Jill Votaw stands ready to plan a 2024 reunion in San Diego, and we are looking for volunteers to help her.
Our 2022 reunion will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Arlington/Shirlington – the same hotel where we held the 2019 reunion. Conveniently located about 10 minutes from Reagan National Airport, the hotel is in the lively Shirlington Village with its many restaurants, stores, theater and grocery store. The Hilton is giving us a room block with reduced room rates: $149 (plus tax) per night for King or Queen beds for April 1, 2 and 3 and $169 (plus tax) for March 31.
Chuck Connor has graciously agreed to sponsor our group at the elegant Army Navy Country Club in Arlington for a Friday night (April 1) Welcome Reception and Dinner. It is just a 10-minute drive from the hotel. We will have drinks and hors d’oeuvres on the covered terrace overlooking the Washington Monument followed by a delicious, seated dinner and program in the club’s Five Star Ballroom.
On Saturday morning (April 2) we will convene at the hotel for a business meeting and a special buffet lunch. You will have some free time Saturday afternoon to explore Washington or spend time connecting with old friends. On Saturday night the reunion will conclude with a Farewell Reception at the hotel.
In the next few months, we will send you a reunion registration form and more details about the reunion program as well as a link for booking your hotel room at the Hilton’s reduced rate.
In the meantime, we would like your input on the reunion. Please help us by completing and returning the attached 8-question USNPAA 2022 Reunion Survey by 1 August so we know your reunion preferences.
This USNPAA 2022 Reunion Survey can be downloaded to your computer, tablet or cell phone and can be opened, read, and completed using Adobe Reader, a free download for Windows, Apple iOS, and Android operating systems.
You can tab through the fill-in-the-blank fields completing the text fields and clicking on the preference boxes to indicate what you would like included in the reunion program.
Once you have completed the USNPAA 2022 Reunion Survey, please save it to your computer desktop and then email the form as an attachment to [email protected] for processing. You can also mail the completed survey to USNPAA Reunion Survey, c/o CDR Dick Thompson, 12040 Fairfax Station Road, Fairfax Station, VA 22039-1215.
Please contact [email protected] should you have difficulties downloading, completing, or returning this document.
I hope you will put April 1 – 2, 2022 on your calendar and join us at Reunion 2022.
Sincerely,
Tom Jurkowsky
President
More Notes from the Admiral