USS L. Y. Spear (AS-36) Association

2013 USS L. Y. SPEAR (AS-36) Association Reunion

Join us in Jacksonville!

In addition to this year's theme of "fun in the sun", we will be celebrating the 35th Anniversary of the first women to report aboard the USS L. Y. SPEAR. On November 1, 1978, two female officers, Ensigns Linda M. Day and Linda L. Crockett, crossed the SPEAR's brow for duty, beginning the era of women being assigned to non-combatant US Naval ships. As a tribute to this event, all female crewmembers in attendance will be recognized at this year's reunion. Also, starting with this year's reunion, all children in attendance will be "piped aboard" as Junior Crew Members of the USS L. Y. SPEAR. Join us for what promises to be a GREAT time in Florida! For an interactive map of Jacksonville, click here.

	When:	September 4-8, 2013
	Where:	Wyndham Jacksonville Riverwalk Hotel 1515 Prudential Drive Jacksonville, FL 32207
	*Room Rates:**	$89/Night Rate is subject to all current local taxes. This special rate includes a hot breakfast for two each morning and free self parking.
	Reservations:	Phone: 866-845-8862
*	When making your hotel reservation, be sure to mention that you are with the USS L. Y. SPEAR Reunion to receive the special negotiated rates. These rates are also good for 3 days prior to the reunion and 3 days immediately following the reunion. Please note that if you do not make your reservations through the group block, you may not receive the complimentary breakfast and/or free parking (normally $12/day).
Click here for hotel's website.
* IMPORTANT HOTEL INFORMATION * The hotel reservation cut-off date is August 3rd to get the negotiated room rate. After that date, the rooms will be released back into the hotel's inventory and you may not get that rate or a room. There are only a limited number of rooms reserved at this special price, so please make your reservations as soon as possible. * BONUS * If you make your hotel reservations by July 6th, your name will be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card (MC/VISA type). Drawing will be held at the final evening banquet. Must be present to win. *** * * Please note: This hotel does have a Debit Card Policy**, whereas a one-time charge will be held until after check-out. Please contact the hotel directly if you need more information or further clarification on their Debit Card Policy.
AIRPORT INFORMATION If you will be flying to the reunion, you will want to fly into Jacksonville International Airport (Airport Code JAX). For transportation to the hotel, the hotel staff recommends contacting Kwic Airport Connection at 888-707-5942 or via email at kacicustsvc@gmail.com no later than one week in advance to make arrangements for pick-up. They are offering a discounted price to our reunion group of $10/per person with a 2 person minimum (each way), and will need your name, cell phone, airline, flight number, and date & time of arrival. The airport is 17 miles from the hotel, so this is a great deal!

Reunion Starts - Wednesday, September 4th (noon) The 2013 Reunion begins with the opening of the Hospitality Room at noon on Wednesday. After checking into the hotel, come to the 5th Floor and enjoy some light snacks while visiting with your shipmates. Dinner will be on your own, but we always have a group that wants to go out to dinner somewhere - perhaps to Ruth's Chris Steak House just down the street!. FREE TIME - Thursday, September 5th (all day) Because we will be in Florida and there is SO much to see in the area, Thursday will be a "free" day. Go off on your own or grab a few of your shipmates, and check out the sites! There will be Visitor Guides in your Welcome Packets to help you decide how to spend the day.
About 40 miles south of our hotel, you can drive down to the "Nation's Oldest City," St. Augustine. St. Augustine's historic district, with its cobblestone streets, cafes, bars, unique shops, and beaches, offers a leisurely way to spend the day. The "Fountain of Youth" is also located in St. Augustine at the location where Spanish explorer Pedro Menendez de Aviles established the first and oldest continuous European Settlement in the US. Of course, it also commemorates the founding of Florida by Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon and his search for the legendary Fountain of Youth.
If you go 40 miles to the north of the hotel, you can visit Amelia Island. The Island's historic downtown in Fernandina Beach is like going back in time with its quaint streets and Victorian homes. Take your time around the Island by going on one of the walking tours, or renting bicycles or kayaks. For history buffs, check out Fort Clinch and the Museum of History. Of course, there's also the beach.
If you flew to Jacksonville or left your car at home, you can still get to these locations by renting a car for the day right at the hotel! There is a car rental office right next to the Front Desk.
Having our hotel right across the St. Johns River from downtown Jacksonville makes it easy to get around and explore the city. You can walk or drive over the Main Street Bridge to get to downtown, take the water taxi, or ride the free Skyway monorail, which conveniently stops near our hotel. Visit the Jacksonville Landing for dining & shopping or to just sit by the river and watch the boats go by.
If you're a fire fighter or dreamed about becoming one as a youngster, you will want to visit the Jacksonville Fire Museum. A water taxi ride away, it is located right across the river near the home field of the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL team.
If you're a golfer, join us on a memorable golf outing to perhaps the world's most famous golf course: THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. Home of THE PLAYERS Championship, birthplace of the TPC (Tournament Players Club) Network, and backdrop to the PGA Tour headquarters, the TPC Sawgrass golf course in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, is home to the notorious par-3 17th hole. If you follow golf on television, you've seen this hole on its island green. Playing this course is definitely a "bucket list" item for any golfer, and our reunion group has been given a special discounted price of $238 per person to play 18 holes. This price includes tax & $20 caddie gratuity and covers greens fee, cart (with complementary bottled water), forecaddie fee, and practice balls. An 8:00 a.m. tee time has been reserved for our group, and both guys and gals are invited to play. We've also been invited to stay for lunch on our own at Nineteen in the Clubhouse. If you are interested in taking advantage of this special price, be sure to mark this on your Registration Form. If you need to rent clubs, TPC Sawgrass has them available for $65. You may be able to find them cheaper at a local pro shop or by contacting Golf Clubs Away (877-553-9970 or www.golfclubsaway.com).

And, if you're not too tired after a round of golf, stop by the World Golf Hall of Fame located in St. Augustine.
If you're one of those folks who likes to keep the Lone Sailor company whenever you visit a town, you will find him on the Riverwalk between our hotel and the Crown Plaza.
Just want to relax in the sun? Jacksonville offers miles of beautiful beaches and waterways, or you can sit by the hotel's spacious outdoor pool.
Of course, you can always spend the day visiting with your shipmates! The Hospitality Room will be open all day from as early as 8:00 a.m. to as late as midnight. Dinner is on your own.

REUNION TOUR - Friday, September 6th EVENT: Tour of Naval Station Mayport (8:00 am - 3:00 pm) Our day starts with boarding a clean, comfortable motor coach to travel to Naval Station Mayport. Just sit back, visit with your shipmates, finish that second cup of coffee, or just grab a few more Zzzz's during our 20 mile ride to the base. Uniform of the Day will be comfortable shoes, with slacks and flat-heeled shoes recommended for the ladies as we may be touring a ship and don't want to have any accidents. Your name badge must be worn while on our tour, and be sure you have your picture ID with you. You won't be admitted on the base without it. Other guidelines for our visit include: No children under the age of 8 are permitted aboard a ship. Sadly, this is base policy. They would have to stay on the bus with an adult during this time. No backpacks or bags larger than a woman's handbag will be allowed onboard the ship (they can be left on the bus). No photography of ships, aircraft or security personnel will be permitted. Photography is allowed on board the ships but is at the discretion of the ship's CO. After a security sweep, we will proceed through the gate for a "windshield tour" of the base. Our escort will provide a thorough tour and discuss such topics as personnel, economic impact, quality of life initiatives, and ships homeported at NS Mayport, along with taking your questions. We hope to be able to stop at the barracks to see how young single Sailors live these days. At the end of our windshield tour, we will be stopping at the Navy Exchange to do a little shoppin'! That's right, the good ol' NEX. Even if you don't have a DoD ID card, you may still make purchases with the exception of alcohol and tobacco products. After we build up an appetite from all that shopping, we will have lunch at the Ocean Breeze Conference Center located on base right on the beach! A hearty buffet lunch of Beef Tips and Gravy, Roasted Chicken, Rice Pilaf, Green Beans, Tossed Green Salad, Dinner rolls and an assorted dessert station awaits us! We are still working out the final details but if there is a ship in port during our visit we should be able to take a ship tour. Accessing an active duty Navy ship will depend on how many ships are in port at the time of our visit and the "type" of ships in port. Our hope is to hold our annual Memorial Service off the bow or stern of a ship, to include a wreath toss ceremony. If we are unable to board a ship during our visit to the base, we will hold our Memorial Service possibly pier-side or at another waterside location on base. We will also try to schedule a "Wet Trainer" exercise or Firefighting demonstration to make up for not getting aboard a ship. After our visit to Naval Station Mayport, it's back on the bus. We should arrive back at the hotel around 3:00 p.m. "Five O'clock Somewhere" Social Hour (5:00 pm) After a break to rest and change clothes, join us for a trip to Margaritaville! A cash bar will be set-up for all your cocktail needs, including some "frozen concoctions to help you hang on." Margaritas, Pina Coladas, and Strawberry Daiquiris (alcoholic & non-alcoholic varieties) will be available, along with standard cocktail beverages. We will even have Jimmy Buffett's own Land Shark Lager on hand! "Cheeseburgers in Paradise" Buffet (6:00 pm) Around 6:00, we will have a "Cheeseburgers in Paradise" buffet. Our dinner selection will include cheeseburgers (of course) and hamburgers with the standard condiments and toppings. We'll also have potato chips, pasta salad, potato salad, and Key Lime Pie! *"Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes" Contest* We want you to come dressed in your best Margaritaville outfit! We will have a contest and award prizes for: Best Parrothead Outfit Best "Parakeet" Outfit (for the kiddies) Tackiest Tropical Shirt Afterwards, enjoy the music, sit out on the terrace, and visit with your shipmates. As Jimmy Buffett says, if you don't have a good time, "it's your own darn fault." :-)


Saturday, September 7th Business Meeting (8:00 am - 9:00 am) Our Annual Business Meeting will be held in the Hospitality Room. After that, the rest of the day is on your own. Group Photos (5:30 pm) Be sure to get back in time to clean up for our group photographs. Muster in the designated area for our group shots (we'll post the location in the Hospitality Room). Cocktail Hour & Banquet Dinner After our photo shoot, join us in the Banquet Room to unwind with a drink or two. Cocktails will be available from the cash bar starting at 6:00 p.m. and dinner will be served at 7:00 pm. Our final evening's Banquet meal will be a plated dinner choice of Marinated Flank Steak with Mushroom Gravy, Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Sliced Green Beans; Chicken Marsala with Rice Pilaf & Seasoned Vegetable Medley; or Pasta Primavera (vegetarian option). We've even thought of the kiddies, so meals for children under 11 are also available. Dinner includes Tossed Salad, Fresh Rolls & Butter, Dessert, Coffee, and Iced Tea. Meals for special dietary needs are available upon request. Please make your selections on the Registration Form. Once again, we will be having our Raffle Prize and 50/50 Cash Drawings to be held after dinner (must be present to win). Tickets are $1 each or 12 tickets for $10, and will be sold whenever the Hospitality Room is open. If you are interested in donating a raffle prize, please contact Patty Kelso via email at pattykelso@usslyspear.org or by calling 913-677-1837. Reunion Ends - Sunday, September 8th (noon) After a fun few days, it's time for goodbyes. The Hospitality Room will be open until about noon on Sunday to gather and say "goodbye", and to pick up your memorabilia items. If you are able to stick around for an extra day, join us as we cross the river to watch the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Jacksonville Jaguars at 1:00 p.m.! Just a water taxi ride away so no fussing with parking! We need a minimum of 10 people to get the group discount. Group tickets range from $30-$300 per person depending on where you want to sit (click here for pricing chart). A final count is needed by August 3, 2013.

REGISTRATION & PAYMENT Registration Forms are due by July 31, 2013 You can register for the reunion by using the 2013 Registration Form. This form requires that you have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. To download the latest version of Adobe's free Acrobat Reader, click here. Important Notes Regarding Your Registration: Please Read! Registration forms received after the due date of July 31, 2013, are accepted on a space available basis. Refund requests must be made in writing, and received on or before August 31, 2013, and are subject to a 10% cancellation fee. Requests received after August 31, 2013, will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Keep a copy of the completed Registration Form for your records. Once your Registration Form is received, you will be sent a confirmation letter. Payment Methods We are offering two ways to pay your reunion fees: Mail your form along with either a check or money order, or Email your form and be sent an invoice to pay by either credit card or PayPal account. The Registration Form will require you to indicate which payment and form submission you intend to use.
How to Submit Your Completed Form
		Download the 2013 Registration Form to your computer and complete.
Pay by Check/Submit Form by Mail Your check must be accompanied by your completed Registration Form. In the "Select a Payment Option" at the bottom of the form, select the option (click on the small circle to the left of the description) to pay by check or money order. Click the "Print Completed Form" button. Mail your check and form to: USS L. Y. SPEAR (AS-36) Association 6916 Lamar Ave. Overland Park, KS 66204 Pay by Credit Card or PayPal/Submit Form by E-Mail To pay using this option, you must complete the "EMAIL" field on the Registration Form. In the "Select a Payment Option" at the bottom of the form, select the option (click on the small circle to the left of the description) to have an invoice sent to you. Click the "E-mail Completed Form" button. If prompted by a Security Warning box, click "Allow". A window will open asking you to indicate whether you use a Desktop Email Application or Internet Email. If you are unsure which option to select based upon the guidance provided in the wizard, choose Internet Email. If you use a Desktop Email Application, the wizard will automatically create a new message. All you need to do is send the message to complete the submission. Please note: If your client email program is not already open, you may need to open the application and make sure the "send/receive" function moves the message from your "Outbox" to "Sent". If you use Internet Email, you will be prompted to save the form so that you can attach it to an email message later. This will save the completed form. Please make sure that you give the form a filename and save it in a location that you will remember when you are ready to attach it to your message. Log-in to your email, create a new message, attach the completed form, and send to reunions@usslyspear.org.
Reunion Checklist So, you think you're ready for an L. Y. SPEAR reunion?? Read through this checklist to see if there's anything you forgot. Punch a hole in your 2013 calendar now to make sure your reunion dates are available. However you decide to travel, make arrangements well in advance (tickets, stop mail, house sitter, dog walker, etc.). Complete your Reunion Registration Form and submit it as directed on the form ASAP. It must be received no later than July 31, 2013. To guarantee a hotel room at our negotiated rate, make your hotel reservations no later than August 3, 2013 (July 6th if you want to be entered into the drawing for $100), and remember to jot down your reservation number. Arrange for personal transportation to/from hotel (shuttle, taxi, rental car, etc.) If you are able to donate one or more items to the Raffle table, give some thought now to your selection. Contact Patty Kelso (PH: 913-677-1837, EMAIL: pattykelso@usslyspear.org) to let her know what you're donating. Drop by your local Goodwill Store and find that one-of-a-kind tropical/Hawaiian shirt that has what it takes to win Friday night's "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes" contest. Remember to pack photos, keepsakes, memorabilia, and all your stories (true or fabricated) from your days on the SPEAR to share with your friends and comrades, old and new. A week or two before you hit the road, call the hotel (with that confirmation number you wrote down) and confirm your reservations to avoid any unpleasant surprises. Come prepared for a great time, and we'll do our best to make sure you're not disappointed!
Any questions? Check out "What to Expect at a USS L. Y. SPEAR Reunion". If you still have questions or need assistance in submitting your Registration Form, please contact Patty Kelso by phone at 913-677-1837 or via email at pattykelso@usslyspear.org. To print this entire page in Adobe Acrobat format, click here. Back to top