2026 REUNION - Virginia Beach, VA

---

THANK YOU to Mark Mosher,  Mark Kirlough, Kevin Klager 

and the entire planning committee for SDR XII .....     BRAVO ~ ZULU  !

SEA DEVIL REUNION MEETING MINUTES

21 May 2026

Open Meeting Led by Commander Mark Mosher

Called to Order: 9:40 am

James Schenk stepped down from Association Chaplain.

Dennis "Doc" Dougherty volunteered for the position.

Overview

Meeting resolved immediate governance: committee formed (7 members) to plan the next reunion and make venue/time recommendations. 

Motion to use a professional reunion planner passed.

Association Commander:

Phil Stone

Association Vice-Commander:

Mark Mosher

Association Treasurer:

Kevin Klager

Association Secretary:

Ed Lynd

Committee Volunteers:

Skip Short

Todd McMahan

David Marcotte

Homer Waters

Financial position tightened: last reunion ended with $7,200 but current bank balance is $2,548; organizers estimated $5–6k needed to replenish funds. Buses were the single biggest cost driver and doubled outing expenses this year.

Attendance is declining: roughly 40 registrations referenced, older members dropping off due to health, and younger Shipmates under-represented — recruiting younger shipmates is a priority.

Location decision: the body approved San Antonio (Nimitz/Pacific Museum area) as the next reunion location; committee will refine timing (avoid summer heat) and logistics.

Finances & Fundraising

Treasurer reported $2,548 on hand (down from prior surplus of $7,200 after previous reconciliation). Several speakers noted the reunion cost more than previous years.

Biggest expense this year was chartered buses (COVID-era service reductions left only one operator, driving prices up). Meals, banquet room and two buses together equaled a large portion of cost.

Suggested remedies included: add donation link to the website, accept digital payments

(Venmo/PayPal/Cash App), explore GoFundMe, and solicit donations from attendees/extended family.

Fundraising target band mentioned: $5,000–$6,000 to restore working balance; one member offered to seed initial fundraising.The group agreed to track donations centrally and keep a record of donors (anonymous allowed if requested).

Attendance & Membership

Numbers are trending down at each reunion; several older members are ill or no longer able to attend, and many younger veterans have not been engaged.

Multiple ideas to increase turnout: targeted outreach to shipmates who served on related ships/ports, using Facebook and the website, calling known contacts, and asking local members to host or pick up attendees.

Consensus that reunions draw better when held where a concentration of members live; committee will analyze membership geography when selecting final location and timing.

Logistics & Vendors

Hotels are harder to negotiate post-COVID; many hotels require guarantees and are less flexible on rates and amenities.

Using a professional reunion planner (e.g., Military Reunion Planners) was discussed and a motion to engage such a service passed— planners can negotiate room blocks, arrange tours, create name tags, and reduce organizer legwork, but they charge a fee.

Committee will assess which planner services to purchase vs. what volunteers will handle to control overall cost.

Committee, Governance & Roles

A planning committee was created (odd-number target to avoid tie votes); the committee will meet regularly (Zoom offered) to evaluate locations, negotiate contracts, and make recommendations to the group.

Members emphasized the need for a final decision-maker (commander role or chair) to resolve ties and approve final contracts.

Information management: spreadsheets and contact lists must be maintained (addresses, phone numbers, emails will remain confidential) and synchronized with the website and Facebook page.

Location & Timing

Membership voted to hold the next reunion in San Antonio, TX (proximity to Nimitz/Pacific Museum and Riverwalk cited). The committee will refine exact venue and date.

Attendees cautioned against summer months because of heat; May was suggested as a preferred window but committee to confirm best time of year.

Considerations for remote or inland sites included travel cost and transport availability (loss of low-cost airlines affects reachability).

Memorabilia & Assets

The Sea Devil bell and  custody arrangements require follow-up with the Styles family and Mickey (current custodian). Committee/organizers will clarify custody and identify a point of contact for the bell and other artifacts.

POW/MIA table/materials (current custodian)

Communications & Website

The organization has a website (seadevilssn.org) and Facebook presence; organizers agreed to add donation links and concise reunion description/history for fundraising pages.

The information officer and volunteers will coordinate a cleaned, condensed write

up of Sea Devil history and reunion purpose for use in fundraising copy and outreach.

Decisions & Outlook

Motions passed: 

(1) consider using a professional reunion planner, 

(2) form a committee to run next reunion, 

(3) hold the next reunion in San Antonio, TX. 

The committee will meet over the next 3–6 months 

to firm up venue, date, budget and contracts.

Short-term priorities: complete donation/fundraising setup, 

update membership spreadsheet, confirm custody/transfer plan for bell/POW-MIA items, and begin vendor/hotel outreach (committee and planner to coordinate).

Meeting was adjourned at 10:41 am.

Respectfully submitted by

Ed Lynd {aka: "Fast Eddie"}