USS Monticello (LSD 35)

[Beamer]

I had been seaching for shipmates years back before the internet. I seached the VFW and the American Legion magazines for a listing of a possible ship's reunion. Then one evening while logged into an online dial-up bulletin board, my wife came in the office amd told me "your ship is having a reunion", I said "when", she said "as soon as you start planning it."

That was my wake up call. I called local folks that build websites and they wanted anywhere from $1800 to $2500 to build a website for us and then more money for the maintenace fee. I went to the bookstore and bought two books one on "FrontPage" and one "HTML." Our website has been online since 2004. We have had over 600 former crewmembers log-in and have had over 25,000 visitors.

Our first reunion took place in Las Vegas, NV. We had 75 attend. We charged a flat registration fee of $150. The second reunion was in Branson, MO. We had 100 attend. . Our next reunion is back in Branson in September of this year. The fee is still $150. This pays for entertainment, the snacks and beverages in the hospitality room and the banquet.

In 2007 I wrote letters to all the shows in Branson and asked them for a "donation" of show tickets for our "registration raffle." We had enough tickets and other gift items for each couple that attended.

We sell hats, shirts, coffe cups, etc to help pay for web hosting and domain name fees.

We also have each couple bring an item associated from their hometown or state to be placed in the banquet raffle.

We joined an organization called the "Reunion Friendly Network" these folks assist military reunion planners by holding conferences throughout the country in host cities. The fee to attend is minimal and they invite the local CVB, hotels and other local vendors to the conferences. They also publish a quarterly magazine. They have been a great help to my wife and I. We have hosted all three reunions.

This year we signed a contract to have 30 rooms per night to earn one night for the planners. Free breakfast, hospitality room, banquet room, parking and rooms at $79 per night.

We purchase landyards with the ship's name and print name tags to be worn during "official" functions. We also buy a lapel pin that is designed especially for each reunion. (These pins and landyards have become collectors items.)

Our reunions take place every two years, once I retire we can think about an annual event. The plankowners tell me that they aren't getting any younger.

Our reunion notice is published in about 19 different veteran's magazines and numerous locations on the internet.

Thank you for this forum. I look forward to our meeting in D.C.