I received word today - that Association President James Wyckoff, who has been the reunion coordinator since he founded the Association and held its first in reunion in 1989 (17 yrs ago) in San Antonio, TX .. is hospitalized.

He entered the hospital on 19 May to have surgery done to remove 2 tumors - while surgery was successful - as Jim was recovering he developed complications that at the present time has left him incapacitated and still hospitalized.

When the Association Treasurer, George Tlghman passed away 1 March 2006, Jim Wyckoff assumed the position of interim Treasurer, until one could be elected at the 2006 Business Meeting (which was to be in Branson).

Because reunion coordinating is a task done in stages - from preplanning of tours and find the hotel to the right hotel with the appropriate hospitality rooms for a large group .. to arranging transporation to double checking that each attendee has paid the appropriate fees .. to making routinely checking with the chosen hotel (reunion HQ) as to if there sufficient rooms for all the attendees to banquet planning and enough meals - and there are always last minute additions .. and that all this requires a deposit for the group .... and as a result of circumstances beyond anyone's control .. its necessiary to cancel the 2006 reunion ... and look ahead to the 2007 Reunion - tentatively in Corning, NY.

If you have already sent in your Reunion RSVPs w/payment for your membership dues and reunion activities fees ... Betty Wyckoff, Jim's wife is authorized to reimburse funds sent in less your membership fees.

However to be able to step in and take over the remaining details of the reunion coordinator that lead up to the reunion and the duties that are needed be once at the reunion as well the duty of the interim treasurer done at the reunion - she will not be able to as she will need to remain home to over see her husband's care and recovery.

IF YOU KNOW A REUNION ATTENDEE THAT DOES NOT HAVE EMAIL THAT YOU KNOW IS A REGULAR AT THE REUNION - PLEASE CALL AND LET THEM KNOW THE REUNION HAS BEEN CANCELED!!

NOTE: Typically Jim has sent out the reunion notices each year of the upcoming reunion - he shared with me that they are sent to all members who have paid their dues for that year and reunion notices are sent to ALL those who attended the previous year's reunion (in this case 2005 - Washington DC). With Jim being the one who sent out the mailings .. I do not know who specifically they were sent to (other than in general as stated abv) .. not do I have a list of those who have currently paid their dues .. something the treasurer would have - or in this case the interim treasurer - but Jim is unable to relay this information. However, I do have a list of attendees from last year as I am the one that generated the list for the name tags to be made. Therefore I will using this list to send letters out to those who don't have email and did not received email regarding the 2006 Reunion being cancelled.

BUT - we all have our own little groups of reunion friends that we sit with on the tour bus or sit with at the Banquet .. if you know they do not have email and thus could not receive the reunion cancelled email .. please give them a call .. and let them know - then email me and let me know you have contacted them .. so that postage can be saved - no need in sending a letter out to someone who already knows the reunion has been cancelled.

NOTE: IF YOU ALREADY MADE YOUR HOTEL RESERVATIONS - YOU NEED TO CALL THE HOTEL AT 1-800-850-6646 AND CANCEL YOUR INDIVIDUAL ROOM RESERVATION.

Anyone with questions and/or concerns, please email me at: webmaster@39th.org

Pete Weiler
webmaster - 39th.org