PLANNING UNDERWAY FOR
MINNEAPOLIS 2001
The three officers of the 33rd Army Band Alumni Alumni Association, Lorelei Giddings, Gene Karjala, and Frank Schlatter, met in Minneapolis the weekend of June 16-18 to develop plans for the next reunion, to be held June 21-24, 2001 in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. The three checked out the Doubletree Hotel Minneapolis Airport at the Mall, 7901 24th Avenue South, Bloomington, MN 55425, the site chosen for accommodations, our banquets, "concerts," and get-togethers, toured Minneapolis-St. Paul, and shared views regarding possible activities for the 33rd Alumni.
The Doubletree is right across the street from the Mall of the Americas--purportedly the largest mall in the country, one that includes under its roof a roller coaster, ferris wheel, and other carnival-like rides and booths plus all the shops and major stores--so it is anticipated that band members and their families will want to spend some time there. Also nearby is historic Ft. Snelling where alumni members will be able to learn what it was like to be in the American army in the 19th century, to see people in the dress of the time performing in a variety of roles--as blacksmiths, wheelwrights, candle makers, etc. Shortly before or after the tour of historic Ft. Snelling the reunion-goers will have lunch together at the Officers Club. On the evening of June 23, we will attend the annual concert of the 451st Army Band, which is stationed at Ft. Snelling. The concert is scheduled to be performed at the University of Minnesota.
Additional activities for the reunion will include the same kinds of events that we enjoyed at the 1997 reunion--playing musical selections together, viewing slides and photo albums from the different time periods, and sharing all the stories that alumni members have to share with one another. As this newsletter goes to press, our Minneapolis contacts are also looking into the possibility of a boat cruise. In addition, it has been learned that the weekend we will be in Minneapolis a special Degas exhibit is scheduled for one of the numerous art museums in Minneapolis, so a trip to that museum may also be an option.
It's clear that the four days in June 2001 will provide memorable experiences for all who attend, and if you have not already given some thought to the coming event, you are encouraged to start planning now to be there. In the near future, the conference planners will be sending you a questionnaire to find out who within the association is expecting to attend and members' preferences for reunion activities.
UPDATE ON 33RDERS
(The newly "found" and address changes)
BLACKBURN,
Donald J.
DEFENBAUGH, Walter, (Elf or Mike)
DRENNER, Dale
HELLER, George
HUDSON,
George
HUTCHENS, John P. (Pate)
JOHNSON, Chan L.
LAMB, Gary
MEYERSON, Don
PRATO,
Richard
SHELBURNE, Jr., Col. L. Bryan
WINKLE, Kenneth
WOOD, Lane
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About the 33rd Army Band Alumni Association
The 33rd Army Band Alumni Association is a not-for-profit organization that has been developed to provide a means for former members of the USAREUR Band to be in contact with one another via the quarterly newsletter Passing in Review and through periodic reunions. The organization's website: http//:www.rt66.com/~obfusa/33rd. Webmaster for the site: Dee Tonning, 2265 Tawny Woods Pl., Boise, ID 83706. E-mail: dtonning@aol.com
Persons who are not former members of the 33rd Army Band but who are interested in participating in the activities of the alumni association are welcome as associate members. Annual dues for all members is $15, payable to the 33rd ABAA and sent to the secretary-treasurer.
Current officers of the association
President: Lorelei Giddings, 4323 Longfellow Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55407. Tel: 612-729-4413. E-mail: oboemuse@uswest.net
Vice-President: Gene Karjala, 10810 St. Croix Trail North, Marine on St. Croix, MN 55047. Tel: 651-433-4351 E-mail: karja002@tc.umn.edu
Secretary-Treasurer, Membership, and Newsletter Editor: Frank Schlatter, 3111 Futura, Roswell, NM 88201 Tel: 505-622-6898 Fax: 505-622-1611 E-mail: obfusa@rt66.com
Steve Millman, a Baritone with the Seventh Army Soldiers Chorus 1973-1975, has been in contact with the secretary-treasurer of the 33rd ABAA. Steve is the contact person for those who were members of the chorus over the years, and this summer, the chorus alumni are planning to meet (now get this) in Minneapolis the weekend of July 21. Steve wrote:
"I would be interested in knowing any information about any former Chorus members that you may come across. I would likewise do so for the Band members. During my days in the chorus the band and chorus were totally separate. Other than stealing members from each other's groups there were probably only one or two times we ever performed together, out of more than 500 shows."
"I would go to band performances whenever I could and always respected the level of musicianship and excellence they gave to their performances."
"We do not have a real web page yet, I am going to build one soon - time permitting. We do have me as a contact and an ever growing roster. What happened with the chorus is that people from different time periods maintained their own rosters of the people from their era and did not know of each other's existence. We are now combining all the rosters and copying names from travel orders, memories, etc. to fill it out. We still need to figure out where the people currently live, their phones and e-mail addresses."
"E-mail is the greatest thing since sliced bread. I encourage the members to all get on it whenever I send a newsletter. With e-mail I can send the roster and correspondence to hundreds of people worldwide instantly and cost free. Such a deal."
"Take care and please do stay in touch."
[Ed Note: Steve's e-mail address is as follows: SteveM001@cs.com
. His address is 8615 Westmoreland Lane, St. Louis Park, MN
55426. He can also be reached via fax: 952-938-9008.]
George Heller, tuba player and arranger from June '67-December '68, wrote regarding three occasions that came to his mind with regard to times he soloed with the band: "a Midnight Sun Festival in Harstad, Norway; a concert in the Stadthalle in Heidelberg, and a performance done from the rehearsal hall that was broadcast over the Armed Forces Radio Network. My aunt in the US picked up that broadcast and recorded it. I still have a tape of it."
George said that CWO Edmonds was the C.O. when he was with the band, and he heard that Edmonds had played in the "Tonight Show" orchestra after he was mustered out. "But I cannot confirm that," he said. Confirmation someone?
George also said "I was the arranger and conductor of the Nato-Musikfest marching show held in Moenchengladbach in August 1968. I don't know if that is the Bremen marching show for which you were seeking information. I don't recall that we played in Bremen that year, but it's possible."
Frank Gomes (May 55-Apr56) wrote in early May to say: "We are looking forward to next year's reunion in Minneapolis. We still talk about the great weekend in DC. I think it will be hard to top it, but knowing you people you'll come up with something great again."
Chan Johnson (55-59) wrote in April to indicate that their house had been burglarized some months previously and "it took awhile to get a new computer." He says he's thankful for house insurance.
Daniel Caron (73-84) wrote, expressing his appreciation for the directory and the newsletter, saying "Keep up the good work. It is great to be able to contact folks I served with during my most enjoyable years in Heidelberg."
Mrs. J. Brown van Heusden Pettenstraat,
Arnhem, Holland, sent an inquiry to us. She wrote: "In 1958 the 33rd
Army Band played in Arnhem. We met James Wallace then. He played the
tuba. Have you, or any other members of the band his address? We
would like to contact him. We really enjoyed the music you made and the
performance you gave, and we are wondering if there was a recording or film made
of that time in Arnhem."
[Ed Note: Mrs. Pettenstraat has
since been written and told that at this time we do not have any
particulars on James Wallace. However, there was indeed a recording made
of that Tattoo, which one of the former band members from that time period had
forwarded to Frank Schlatter. Frank does not now remember who sent that
recording to him. If you were the one that did, please let Frank
know! Thanks!
A copy of the tape is being forwarded to Mrs.
Pettenstraat.]
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Know some Band Alumni who haven't paid their dues? You might inform them that they didn't get this issue of Passing In Review...
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Note: Unfortunately, pictures in the articles provided by
Fracis Rizner, George Hinze, Lorelei Giddings and Mike (Fish) Kaye,
and reproduced in the paper issue of Passing In Review, were not
of sufficient quality to be reproduced on this website. Sorry about that.
However, the article submitted by Francis was previously discussed by Greg
Browne in our May 1998 issue of Passing in Review and can be viewed by clicking
on the following internet address:
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IN THE NEXT ISSUE--We hope to have one or more of the pictures from some time prior to June of 1981 sent to us by Martin Leibolt (June 81-85). Martin says he found them while going through some old boxes in his attic. However, he is not sure how he happened to come into possession of the photos. Those of you who were there just prior to 1981 will be asked to identify who's who in the photos.
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