Since our last Reunion we have had 11 additional Association Members join the Club. That brings the total of those who have joined since the Club's inception to 235. That is the plus side. On the down side we lost 7 members to death and 7 more for non-payment of Association dues. So, for the year we had a net loss of 3 members from the active roster. This is the first year where we've had a net loss; but this isn't surprising given the maturity of both the Club and its membership. It is probably what we can expect from now on as we move toward that Last-Man-Standing.

Concerning our VIP's. Here we have had changes at both ends of the Roster. On 10 June 2010, our then Oldest Member, George Braceland, passed away after a couple years of failing health. Replacing him as our Oldest and #1 VIP is Roland "Rollie" Taff of Belleville, IL. Rollie was presented our trophy emblematic of this status at a surprise 95th birthday party in his hometown in July. Rollie enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1935 and was assigned aerial photo related duties for public information and conventional intelligence related applications. In 1941 he entered Photomapping as we in the AFPMA define it. He was the Aerial Photographer in charge of Operational Testing of the Tri-Metrogon camera system in a B-17 aircraft over Labrador and Newfoundland. He separated from the Service in 1947 as a Chief Warrant Officer. Following service he began a career in Audio-Visual fields and applications. In addition to work he served in several responsible positions benefitting his community. He served as a Trustee for his local Fire Protection District for 26 years and retired as its President in 2006 at the age of 91. He also is an active member of his church and served as its President for eight years. Currently he is enjoying life with Marion, his wife of 68 years. It is interesting to note that Bill Sapp, our first Oldest held that title for 5 years. Our second Oldest was George Braceland who held the title for 6 years. Our challenge to Rollie is hold it for at least 7 years so as to continue that progression. He appears to me to be one lean and mean dude, so I have every confidence that he will do just that!! You can read a lot more about Rollie on the Oldest page of our website and you can see his picture in the Hospitality Room.

At the other end of our Roster lies our youngest member or Diaper Dandy. Ready or not, after three years in that capacity, Ron Bogard has now been released into the general Old Fart population. His place in the Play Pen has now been taken by Barry Anderson of New Jersey who was born on 3 March 1947. You might say our Diaper Dandy title is "Going to the Dogs" as Barry raises English Setters. This interest in dogs is something one might expect from a young'un. But, he is also building a new cabin in the mountains of New York into which he plans to move very shortly, which is NOT activity associated with youth. We'll keep you posted on his maturation progress as we go along.

Now let's discuss the Oldest Photomapper Committee. Last year I alerted you to the fact that I was going to try to restock the Committee with younger members so we could better assure leadership that might be around until we get to that Last-Man-Standing. I think we've been successful and I'd like to take the rest of my time to thank several people involved. First I'd like to recognize one more time the Committee Members who served for the first 12 years of the Club. The following members were retired to stud during the last year: The late great Dale Kingsbury heads that list. Also retired were Bruce Sophie and Bob Swanson. In their place we now have Committee Members Jimbo Kinter, John Redmond and Don Munro. Still on the Committee because his position as Director of Admin and Comm for the Association is Dennis Davis, who was our Diaper Dandy when the Club was formed and is still our 26th youngest. I will also remain on the Committee for one more year as a working member just to provide some continuity but will surrender the role of Chairman to Jimbo Kinter immediately after this presentation. I would also like to thank one more member. Lou Frye volunteered to serve on the Committee and I readily accepted. However I later learned he does not have e-mail access. It would be nearly impossible as we are presently postured to do Committee work without a computer so I had to subsequently decline his offer. Knowing how hard it is to get anyone to volunteer for anything, I do want to acknowledge his offer and let him know it was appreciated.

That's it for this year regarding the Oldest Club. As always we are looking for new members from Association Members who are current with their dues. If interested please see me or one of the other Oldest Committee Members. Or, there are enrollment forms in the Hospitality Room. Just fill one out and you're in the Club.

OK, I am now officially retired as the Committee Chairman. I did ask Jimbo Kinter, who was unable to attend the Reunion this year, if he wanted to continue the tradition of presenting a bottle of our signature Old Fart wine to the Oldest Association Member present who had not yet received one. He said he did and asked me to do the honor of presenting it for him. So, who is the Oldest Guy here? Do we have anyone 90 or older? (The bottle was presented to Jim Tilton who was born on 06/05/1924. Thanks to the Madsens, we had a second bottle to present this year. It went to Dale Peckman who was born on 10/05/1928).

Gordon Barnes

29 Sep. 2010