COMARA Newsletter - 12 March 2005
http://www.comara.org/
http://www.comara.org/social/april3.htm
Out on a limb...
Death of Don Ross
Update Email Address When You Change
News Wanted for Next Newsletter
Live Via Early Bird - VHS or DVD Available
Possible Tax Saving Tip (Thrift and Savings)
Text of the April 3 Social Announcement
Early Bird Web Links
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OUT ON A LIMB...
Your webmaster (Ron Garlow) has had a busy month and didn't keep up
with some of the mailings as intended. So, he's going to go waaay out
on a limb and suggest that even though the deadline for the lower cost
for the social on April 3 is now past, that if you act NOW and get a
check in the mail in the NEXT FEW DAYS, you'll probably get away with
the lower rate. If he's wrong, COMARA may decide to get a new
webmaster or he will be forbidden to send email.
This should be a great social. Since it also celebrates the 40th
anniversary of Early Bird, we are hoping for some distinguished
guests. It's also the first time we've tried to have one in the
afternoon. There have been many requests for that. We've also picked a
location that is easy to find. It will be daylight, and there is ample
parking around the building.
At the Board meeting this week, we learned that several people are
working to link other locations with web cast. With the increased
availability of WiFi (wireless internet connections), this may become
an affordable option for this and for future meetings. We've been
looking for a way to be able to include our many members outside the
Washington area in these socials. So join us on April 3 to see what
Bob Yamazaki and others manage to put together.
We'd also like you to contact your former co-workers and remind them of
the upcoming social. The web page is
http://www.comara.org/social/april3.htm
The text on the announcement is included at the end of this newsletter.
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DEATH OF DON ROSS
From: Harry Gross
Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2005 15:58:21 -0500
Received this message from Willie Lee on the death of Don Ross. Don't
know if it was passed on to COMARA so am passing it on with the
request that it be posted on the COMARA web page. Don was the manager
of the COMSAT Operations Center for many years and interfaced with
many of the international participants on operational matters.
----- Original Message -----
From: Willie Lee
Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 12:54 PM
I just got a call from one of Don's son with the info on visitation
arrangements. It will be at 1pm Thursday March 10th at the Muller
Funeral Home. Address is 3200 Golansky Ave., Woodbridge, VA 22193.
Hope this info can be passed on. Much thanks.
Willie Lee
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UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
One of the discussion at the Board meeting was the time and expense
required to send newsletters through the mail to all members. Members
without an email address will continue to receive newsletters through
the mail, but the rest of us will receive emailings. It is a constant
battle to try to keep the email list up to date. It takes hours, and
takes time away from updating the web pages. So, PLEASE remember to
notify COMARA when you decide to change email providers. We do provide
two email addresses for each person, and send to both. So, if you have
a backup email address, please let us know. Send changes to
webmaster@comara.org
You can update your information after you sign in. Just click
the "Edit my Profile" link after you sign in and keep the information
current.
Of course the real problem is getting to those who have changed.
About 30 new "bad email addresses" were found. Some of these may, in
fact be valid email, but due to anti-spam measures, the email was
rejected. If you are using spam control, please add
"members@comara.org" to your address book. That may help us.
Finally, if you have know of any former COMSAT who changed their email
employees who changed their addresses in the past six months, let the
webmaster know.
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NEWS WANTED FOR COMARA NEWSLETTERS
We do try to deliver good news about our members. Send Ellen Hoff
any news that can be included in future newsletters. Send to
ehoff@wlpco.com.
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LIVE VIA EARLY BIRD - VHS OR DVD
From Ed Martin
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2005 14:53:48 EST
The Comsat Legacy Foundation is planning to make available some Comsat
videos of possible interest to you. The first of these is "Live via
Early Bird", a 26 minute film professionally produced 40 years ago with
much nostalgic footage including clips of Comsat people at the Control
Center and Inaugural ceremonies for the first live commercial
transatlantic television with Walter Cronkite narrating. The film can
be obtained in VHS or DVD in response to a donation of $20 to the
Comsat Legacy Fund. Let me know if you are interested and in which
format.
Ed Martin
(301) 770-0984
edmartin752@aol.com
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POSSIBLE TAX SAVING TIP
From Jack Hannon
At the Board meeting, Jack Hannon noted that some Thrift and Savings
contributions were post-tax dollars, and you therefore would pay no
taxes when withdrawing these sums.
After the meeting I went back and checked my records from the
"rollover" exercise from Fidelity to Vanguard in 1999, and found that
I had about [several thousand dollars] in post-tax money in my 401k as
of early 1999. Like Bob K., I too got a separate check for the post-
tax money and I invested it in a taxable account. Only the pre-tax
money went into a new Vanguard IRA. So I do not have a recordkeeping
problem in what is now my Vanguard IRA - it is all pre-tax money.
"Actual results may vary." I will try to write this up in the near
future.
[webmaster's note: Most of the benefits content is only available
to paid members after you sign in to the web site. If you haven't
found an easy way to sign it, send an email to webmaster@comara.org
and I'll help you get things set up. It can be as easy as one-click!]
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TEXT VERSION OF SOCIAL ANNOUNCMENT
http://www.comara.org/social/april3.htm
Early Bird Anniversary & COMSAT Alumni Social - April 3, 2005
Please join your COMSAT friends and colleagues for a social gathering
on Sunday afternoon, April 3 at the Doubletree Hotel in Tysons
Corner, Virginia. This will be a chance to celebrate the anniversary
of Early Bird by COMSAT, as well as visit and catch up with friends
and acquaintances from your COMSAT days. Spouses will be welcome.
Buffet style antipasto, fruit, steamship round, honey-baked ham, and
an open cash bar will be available.
DATE: Sunday, April 3, 2005
TIME: 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm
PLACE: Doubletree Hotel, Tysons Corner
7801 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22043-2497
Tel: 703-893-1340
DIRECTIONS: From I-495 North or south, take Exit 47B Falls Church
(Leesburg Pike, Route 7 East). Turn right at first light onto Ramada
Road, and come to the hotel parking.
Directions also at: http://www.doubletree-tysons.com/directions.html
ARRANGEMENTS: Cash Bar - Wine, Beer, Soft drinks and mixed Drinks
Food Service - Food service (see above)
DRESS: Casual
PARKING: Complimentary
PRICE (per person): $25.00 if check is received before
Saturday, March 12, $30.00 if payment is received after March 12
RESERVATIONS: Check payable to COMARA and mailed to:
COMARA
Attn: April 3 Reservations
Post Office Box 34594
Bethesda, MD 20827
QUESTIONS? You may contact the Social Planning Committee members:
email: social@comara.org
Jack Hannon ( 703-356-2181 )
Irv Dostis ( 703-821-0429 )
Stan Schachne ( 703-437-4492 )
Please confirm your reservation with a check right away to help ensure
a successful event. Also, pass the word to others with COMSAT
backgrounds. Note that although this social is being organized by the
COMSAT Alumni & Alumni Association (COMARA), the event is open to all
former COMSAT employees and spouses.
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EARLY BIRD LINKS
Some of these are long and must to be included on one line in your
browser. For more, Google "early bird satellite"
http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/C/htmlC/communication/communication.htm
http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/bss/factsheets/376/earlybird/ebird.html
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/satcomhistory.html
http://www.connected-earth.com/Journeys/Telecommunicationsage/Satelliteandmicrowave/Thefirstsatellites/EarlyBird/earlybird(06.04.1965).htm
http://www.scienceandsociety.co.uk/results.asp?image=10298852&wwwflag=&imagepos=6
http://www.skyrocket.de/space/doc_sdat/intelsat-1.htm
http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,841856,00.html
http://history.acusd.edu/gen/recording/television3.html
http://www.satnews.com/satbook/chap4-birth-of-global.html
http://www.pacificsatellite.com/project2.php
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Email sent to members@comara.org is forwarded to a Board member. So
please feel free to send your questions and comments. If you reply to
this newsletter, try to delete the newsletter before sending.