RAFINO Report
ISSUE 21 - Fall 1998  - Return to Index

George, Our Prez, Sez: Holiday Greetings!! -- to each of you and your families.  May you enjoy the season in peace, happiness, and the company of family and friends. RAFINO has had a very busy schedule since our last newsletter.  Here are some highlights.

Colonel Mo Denny, reunion chairman, and Command Sergeant Major Denny Davis, the reunion vice chairman, and a bunch of hard working committee folks delivered to RAFINO and RAFINCO members one wonderful reunion during late September.  They had entertainment and educational offerings for everyone - even providing sufficient time for the members to spend with their friends and comrades.  Our sincere thanks to each of you who jumped in to work so long and so unselfishly in our behalf to host that great gathering.

We had a fewer-than-usual attendance; possibly so because of the weekday timing in late September.  (Could be an important lesson there!)  However, everyone who was there apparently had a wonderful time.  Mo Denny managed to arrange many optional tours, including an all-day trip to Charleston that took two buses to transport all the attendees who signed up.  The golf tournament was a great success producing many smiling faces when the prizes were awarded.  The Fort Jackson Golf Club people certainly did a good job supporting our players.

The highlight of the reunion was the tour of the Finance School.  The Commandant of the School, Colonel Ed Stanton, his officers, NCOs, and civilians did an outstanding job of making us feel to be again an important part of the Army, especially of our Corps.  The new school facility is beautiful and well designed to help the staff and faculty accomplish their mission.  We were briefed on the use of the "debit cards" provided to trainees going through the basic course; a computer system that does work in the field; and a good general update on what's happening in and to the Corps.  In the afternoon we toured the well-worth-seeing Finance Corps Museum.  Since our visit RAFINO and RAFINCO were pleased to present the FSUSA with our official "Gray Diamond" plaque expressing our appreciation for their hard work and enthusiastic support of the reunion.  Colonel Stanton has promised to display the plaque in a prominent place.  Ed, we thank you and your staff and faculty for a job so well done in hosting us.  Also we thank you for taking special care of our future members.  They do look so young!

During our business meeting BG Roger Scearce updated us on current Defense Finance & Accounting Service status and the support being provided by DFAS to all of us.  Many thanks, Roger!  We also conducted our biennial elections with the following results: Colonel Warren Murray is our new 1st VP.  LTC Jim Martens is our new 2nd VP (in charge of Reunion 2000), and re-elected as our Secretary/Treasurer is LTC Phil Anderson.  Also, as is apparent, I was re-elected for another term as your President.  I look forward to working with all of you gentlemen.

During that highly important part of the business meeting, i.e., "where do we meet in 2002?" - Col. Ralph Dixon, supported by several already anticipating reunion committee members, offered to host our 2002 reunion in Indy and to put on a super show for us.  We accepted and now look forward to visiting "back home in Indiana." 

Our "Tour Admirals", Bob and Mary Lou Radomski, are planning a 1999 RAFINO cruise to somewhere worth seeing.  Look for details now and in Spring.  We hope you can find the time to tour with your friends.  And, as you may well expect, Reunion 2000 planning is already ongoing by Jim and Glenna Martens and the nucleus of their reunion committee.  They are working on a huge celebration for us to enjoy during that 2-5 Sep 2000 Labor Day weekend.  Without doubt you will also be wise to plan to take full advantage of the special millennium events and displays that are certain to be available at that time in the DC area.

And finally once more, to all those who work so hard and continuously to keep this Society functioning, namely Phil (the custodian of our money and the official records) and Jeannie Anderson, Bob Flewelling (our database guru and teacher), Bob and Mary Lou Radomski (who develop and arrange our cruise programs), Chick and Sjelja Cecchini (who publish our RAFINO Reports), and, oh, so many others - WE THANK YOU! 

Smile!  George and Jan Beckett