USS Arlington AGMR-2 9th Annual Reunion

Branson, Missouri     Wed. Oct 6^th to Sun. Oct 10th, 2010

Hotel: Lodge of the Ozarks, 3431 W. Hwy. 76, Branson, MO 65616 www.lodgeoftheozarks.com

Hotel:   Lodge of the Ozarks (Toll Free 800-213-2584 or 417-334-7535. Our reunion rate will be $85 (Plus 11.6% tax) and will include a hot buffet breakfast every morning. You can make your Hotel Reservations at this time, When registering, mention that you are with the USS Arlington Reunion or state the Group Reservation Number: 98320.  40 rooms have jacuzzi baths and all of the King rooms have a counter and sink, microwave and refrigerator. These rooms normally have higher rates, but for our reunion they will be the same price as regular rooms. Bear in mind that Civilian guests will have the same opportunity to get these rooms so if you want either a Jacuzzi or King room, I advise you to make your reservations soon. Remember: The early bird gets the worm!  Check the hotels website.

Driving Instructions: The Lodge is located on Hwy 76, at the western end of the Branson strip. Hwys 65 and 76 are the only two routes going through Branson. From Hwy 65N or 65S go west on Hwy 76. The Lodge right across the street from the Caravelle Theatre.

The Lodge of the Ozarks has a “Concierge Desk” in the lobby. The Concierge assists in getting tickets and transportation to shows and often can get discounted rates. You need only let the Concierge know what you would like to do and she will take it from there.

Airport Info: Branson’s airport opened May 2009 (www.flybranson.com) or Ph:  417-334-7813. Currently the airport is serviced by Airtran (www.airtran.com) 800-247-8726 and SunCountry Airlines (www.suncountry.com) 1-800-359-6786 and has connecting flights from two major airports, Atlanta, GA and Minneapolis/St Paul. Some airlines will fly into Springfield, Mo which  necessitates a shuttle. Currently the cost of a shuttle is $87 pp one way.

However, there is an Air Travel Service at Branson Airport. AS OF THIS WRITING, The Air Service Manager is Robert McCracken. You can reach him at 888-359-2541, ext 8841 or his direct line 417-334-8841 or email RmcCracken@flybranson.com. Robert will be happy to assist you in obtaining tickets from any airport, connecting to the best flights, shuttle service, etc.

Shuttle Services: Shuttles operating from the Airport are: Grayline Shuttle 417-332-2227 or Yellow Checker/City Cab 800-237-4466. As of Nov 09th, the rates to the Branson strip were about $13.50 per person one way. For couples, Checker offers $27 one way or $47 R/T.

IMPORTANT: Since we will not be arriving at the shows by busload, and no physical tickets will be issued, your Name Badge MUST BE worn to each activity. We will arrive together and be escorted to our seats, but there will undoubtedly be some stragglers. The USS Arlington Name Badge will get you in and seated in our section. So please remember:

WEAR YOUR NAME BADGE.

Shows/Tours: (All rates for these shows are special Military Group rates.)

Thurs, Oct 7th: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm: Branson Veterans' Military Museum. Our Admission Rate will only be $10 and you will pay this when entering the Museum. Since it is quite a ways from the hotel, we will need to run car pools, because if we scheduled a bus, our cost for this trip would end up being higher than regular adult admission. (www.veteransmemorialbranson.com).

Thurs, Oct 7th, 8:00 pm - The Jim Stafford Show (Directly across the street from our hotel. The Cost is $27.00 per person. Jim is a well known Country Singer and Comedian in the style of Ray Stevens. One of his hits, a few years ago was called "I Don't Like Spiders and Snakes". After the show, we have a special "Meet and Greet" with Jim Stafford in person. (www.jimstafford.com).

Fri. Oct 8th, 2:00 pm -  # 1 hits of the 60's (directly across the street from our hotel.) The cost is $20.00 per person. Talented youngsters singing and dancing to hits from AGMR-2's era. A combination of great music and comedy abound. (www.1hitsofthesixties.com).

In addition, in order to help make our reunion special, the show will create a video of Arlington crew members and life on the Arlington in general. They request that Arlington attendees send them 2 or 3 photos of yourselves or your buddies and/or shipboard activity. They will take the photos and create a video (set to music) dedicated to Arlington and her crew. This video will be shown during the performance. After the show, we will be able to purchase this video for only the cost of creating the CD, $5.00 each.The photos should be sent 30-45 days in advance and emailed to: twpiano2@suddenlink.net or just4jeanna@yahoo.com.

Fri, Oct 8^th, 7:00 pm:  The Association meeting is expected to take longer than usual, not only because Mike Ferderer will probably have AO information to disseminate, but we will be having elections for Skipper, Reunion Coordinator and any other position to be vacated. A site for the 2011 Reunion must also be chosen, so it will be a full slate. Therefore the Association meeting will be held after the Hit’s of the 60’s show. The show is over at 4:00 pm and time will be allowed for people to have dinner so the meeting will start at 7:00 pm.

Schedule:

Wednesday, Oct 6th. Check in day. No activities scheduled.

Thursday, Oct 7th: 

10:00 am –  various     Military Museum  (Car pools for transportation)

 8:00 – 10:00 pm         Jim Stafford Show

Friday, Oct 8th:

2:00 -  4:00 pm             # 1 Hits of the 60’s

7:00 – ????                   Association Meeting.

Saturday, Oct 9th

3:00 pm  - Various         Portrait & Group Photos

6:00 pm -  7:00 pm        Cocktail Hour with Memorial Ceremony at 6:30, prior to dinner.

7:00 pm – 8:00 pm        Farewell Banquet (Country Hoe-Down Buffet Dinner:

8:00 pm – 11:00 pm       “Arlington Idol” Karaoke Contest/Music & Raffle Drawings.

Saturday Farewell Banquet and “Arlington Idol” Contest: The Saturday Farewell Banquet will begin with gathering in the Dining hall at 6:00 pm. The Memorial Ceremony will be held at 6:30 pm followed by dinner served at 7:00 pm. The Banquet Buffet is a “Country Hoe Down” buffet featuring Barbequet Brisket, Fried Chicket, Corn on the Cob, baked beans, garden salad, cole slaw, potatoes au-Gratin, Corn bread, for desert, apple cobbler. The cost of this buffet is $26.00 which includes tax and any tips/gratuities. There will be a cash bar starting at 6:00 pm. Please do not bring drinks in from the Hospitality Room.

Photographer: Again we will use our own photographer. We will start taking pictures around 5:00 pm, and continue throughout the night.

Ships Store. Caps, cups and patches will be available for sale.

Registration Fee: Souvenirs from past reunions will be used for this years souvenirs. They will be displayed for “take anything and as many as you want”. Since they usually run around $5.00 ea  when purchased in bulk numbers, the Registration fee will be lowered to $20.00 to compensate. This is being done because the ships store inventory is growing steadily, with hardly any purchases. Storage space is limited, and reunion attendees habits of waiting until the last minute to register make it nearly impossible to estimate the number of souvenirs needed in order to prevent purchasing too many or too few.