Latest Letter from Dave
26 Feb
Greetings '79!
Thanks
to the efforts of our classmate VADM John "Fozzie" Miller, the
first four Class of 1979 challenge coins are available to
purchase at the link below. As time goes on, more items will be
loaded on the website to include challenge coins with Techumseh
or John Paul Jones and a Christmas ornament, paper weight,
picture frame and keepsake box.
Here's
the link:
Class of 1979 Chapel Dome Memorabilia
Thanks
Fozzie from all of us for making this happen!
Best,
Dave
Greetings ‘79!
Welcome to the Dark Ages. Remember that sinking feeling
Plebe year when you returned to Bancroft Hall after having a fun
winter break with family and friends? I know that COVID
has many of us in a funk, but nothing was as bad as that feeling
Plebe year. I hope that many of you have received a COVID
vaccine and that you're able to breathe easier. For the
rest of us, I hope that the vaccine distribution gets sorted out
ASAP!
Midshipmen have returned to the Yard to begin their Dark Ages.
They had a longer than usual winter break and are just coming
out of two weeks of quarantine (assuming they have a negative
COVID test). Classes have been held virtually since 19
January and each class will go live if COVID protocols can be
observed (distance and masking). USNA Staff have started
to receive the vaccine, to be followed by Faculty and then
Midshipmen. Spring sports schedules are still in a state
of flux as the Patriot League continues to sort through COVID.
This
semester I was selected to participate in the Stockdale
Associate Fellows program. The class includes faculty,
staff and coaches from across the Yard. It is a leadership
development program, injected with events to give participants a
taste of the Midshipmen and Navy/Marine Corps team experience.
Last week we were supposed to do the 10 meter tower jump, but
that has been rescheduled by COVID. I remember as
Midshipmen when we did the tower jump and actually jumping was
the easy part … it was climbing up that rickety ladder with
others above you that really sucked. Now Midshipmen climb
stairs to a proper diving board. I will keep you posted as
I do events that will include running the obstacle course,
Gettysburg battlefield walk, visit to Norfolk and Quantico and a
five day backpacking trip with NOLS to Canyonlands, UT (https://www.nols.edu/en/coursefinder/courses/canyonlands-backpacking-leadership-expedition-GYLE/)
We are
close to having the Class of 1979 Chapel Dome momentos available
to purchase. I’d like to thank John (Fozzie) Miller for
his efforts in making this happen. You will have the
option of purchasing challenge coins with various inscriptions
on the back (Naval Academy logo, chapel dome, or front doors of
the chapel), or have the class crest inserted in picture frames,
keepsake boxes or Christmas ornaments. I’ve attached a
picture of an example of the challenge coins. Here’s a
link to the store:
https://usnachapeldome.com/collections/custom-orders
You
may have received an invitation last week for a brief by the
Alumni Association on the new Alumni Association and Foundation
Center. The brief will be on 4 February at 1100. The
new Center will be on King George Street, across the street from
the baseball stadium. It will be a 68,855 square foot
building that will have spaces for alumni to gather, including
-
300+
person main level conference center
-
110
seat upper level multipurpose room
-
100
person lower level bar/multipurpose room
-
On-site or nearby parking for > 100 vehicles
The
project is on schedule to open in 2022. The project cost
is $36M, of which $29M is in hand. There are opportunities
to be a Plankowner for those that donate a gift of $12,500
(payable over five years) or more. We already have had
four classmates graciously donate a total of $20k to the Center.
There
is also an opportunity to have the Class Crest displayed in the
Center if we donate at one of two gift levels, $100k or $250k.
Any individual gift made by a classmate counts towards the Class
Crest project. I think it’s important that the Class of
1979 Crest be displayed in the Center and would like to hear
your thoughts … just reply to this email or drop me a note at
dajaxn79@gmail.com
Finally, attached please find two pictures for your viewing
pleasure. They were taken outside my office at the Cutter
Shed. Please stop by when things return to normal.
That’s
all for now. Please continue to stay healthy and safe.
All
the best,
Dave