Carolina Military Academy
An Alumni Association
April 2011 Newsletter
Volume 3 Maxton, North Carolina April 2011 Number 12
THE GUIDON
Vice-President\Webmaster
Randy Jennings
rjennings2553@gmail.com
843-450-5800
Mike (Bart) Davis - President
Davism@rcgov.us
803-695-1349-
2011 Annual Reunion Update
New Annual Award Announced
Hey Everybody
Are you ready for the CMA 2011 Reunion? I hope that all of you are looking forward to our warm weather get together, I know that Randy is working hard at putting the finishing touches on the best reunion ever for us because he calls me about everyday wanting my advice, you know that's what a President does, "Give Advice". We have some surprises and some of the same old stuff, you know telling lies, eating, telling lies, eating, oh did I mention a little drinking will be going on also.
We are sorry to inform everyone that the Rioz Brazilian Steakhouse event did not get enough people signed up and we had to cancel and refund the money for those's who did sign up. If for some reason you have not gotten your refund, get in touch with Randy for credit cards and Ed Dunn for checks, they are the ones holding all of the money.
Speaking of money, the T-shirts and hats will be handed out at the Official Welcome - Meet & Greet In the Bali Ballroom just before the CMA Cook-Out on Friday 13 May 2011 between 4:00 PM & 7:00 PM. We will also try to have them available for the early-bird arrivals on Thursday 12 May 2011, between the hours of 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM in the Sand Dunes lobby and Mango's bar. We will also give out your reunion packages with Friday & Saturday dinner tickets, "Legends in Concert" tickets and the Official CMA 2011 Reunion programs. There will be a "tear-out schedule" in the program as well as a blown up schedule posted in the hotel lobby and in front of the Bali Ballroom so that no one will miss any of the festivities. If you are going to be arriving late please let us know and we will leave your package at the front desk and you can pick it up when you check in.
IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Checks made out to the "CMA Reunion" will be the only form of payment accepted for the T-shirts and Hats & for any outstanding balances on your reunion account. We just do not have the ability to make change or keep cash on hand.
SEE YOU AT THE BEACH - FRIDAY 13, MAY 2011
I am proud to announce the establishment of the new "Colonel Leslie C. Blankinship Memorial Award for Excellence", This award will be given each year during our CMA Memorial Service to a deserving individual, cadet or faculty member, living or deceased. The winner each year will be someone who has contributed or served Carolina Military Academy or It's Alumni Association in a deserving and exemplary manner.
The recipient of the award with be nominated by the CMA membership both cadets and faculty members in an on-line pole in which they will place a name in nomination and give reason why this individual deserves to receive this award. The pole will be in the blind and each member will be able to place only 1 name into nomination. A selection committee comprised of 3 Cadets and 2 Faculty members will be chosen by the newly formed CMA Advisory Committee (Members Listed Below). These individuals will be asked by the advisory committee to volunteer for a 1 year term and will be anonymous to everyone except the advisory committee. There job will be to take the top 5 nominees and come up with 1 winner based on the number of votes and exemplary actions of this individual.
I have not worked out the details on how the notification will be sent to the selection committee, but I believe that a way for these nominations to be sent to the selections committee with only one person on that committee having access to the poll can be arranged. Anyone found to be lobbing the advisory or the selection committee will be disqualified for this award for life.
Now for this year,
The Board of Directors, Past CMA Board Members and Faculty Advisors
have chosen the "2011 Recipient" of the
"Colonel Leslie C. Blankinship Memorial Award For Excellence"
To be given posthumously
to the 1962-1965 CMA Athletic Director
and 1971 Teacher in Sociology, Economics and World History
"Coach Clyde Parrish"
For his unselfish dedication to his students and his athletes.
This award will be presented by the attending "CMA Football Alumni" with Dedication by Professor Joseph McCraw to the daughter of Coach Parrish, Margaret and her husband Randy Ledford.
The Newly Formed "CMA Advisory Committee" will consist of the following individuals
1. Current Board of Directors, Michael Davis, Randy Jennings, and Ed Dunn
2. Past Board Members, Tommy LeMacks, Melvin Roberts, Leslie (Scott) Blankinship, Chuck Pless, & Leo Fuller
3. Faculty Advisors, Cal Humbert, Ed Dodd, Frank Lea
These gentlemen will serve until their resignation from this committee and will be advised about any upcoming plans or activities by the Current CMA Board Of Directors, they will be requested to offer there advice and opinions of these plans and activities.
Thank You for your attention
Randy Jennings
Vice-President, Web-master, Event Coordinator
"That's All Folks"
"Photo's Of The Month"
Since I have had no Guess' with these photos, I am going to discontinue this section, I guess nobody cares anyway.
RJ
Cadet Watch & CMA News
Just a few words about some of our cadets;
Spoke with Harrison McCraw CMA 1963 and long lost Yuma AZ resident John Ward CMA 1962/63/64 they both are looking forward to seeing all of there old friends at the reunion.
Tommy Le Macks our 1964 year cadet from Charleston SC has accepted our offer to be the official host of the CMA Hospitality room 1226 at this years reunion.
I understand that Salem Van Every has recently been told that he needs a hip replacement, unsure if he plans this surgery before or after the reunion but from an email I just received "The Fat Man Will Attend".
I recently had a drink with our cadet friend Fred Majors CMA 62/63 he has recovered from all of his surgeries and is making a change in location from the sunny coast of South Carolina to the southern gulf coast of Mexico. than is right old Fred is selling the restaurant and all his property in SC and will become an American in Exile in
Chetumal, Quintanan Roo, Mexico. Fred plans to attend the 2011 CMA Reunion and will tell you all about his move. We wish Fred the best of luck.
John (MB Mayor) Rhodes recently had an auto accident fortunately no one was injured, I have not been able to get in touch with John today to find out all of the juicy details but he was well defended in the Sun News today by a columnist who said that just because a city official has an accident that is no reason for a constituent to dress him down in a public meeting (no details on that occurrence either). Some days because of my CMA duties I am not always able to read the paper completely.
Word has just reached us of the passing on April 9, 2010 of one of our CMA Cadets, His name was Richard Bordeaux of Sanford NC, CMA Class of 1964, you may visit his "In Memory Page" by clicking on the link below. Please leave a message for his family.
I plan to use this space in the newsletter to keep everyone up-to-date with our cadets but I can not do it without news and emails from you. If you have information about the health or life changes of any of our cadets or faculty or family members please let me hear from you at rjennings2553@gmail.com
TO: ALL CADETS
FROM: FRANK LEA
LEVEL: EXTREMELY URGENT
A serious situation has arisen regarding the Award For Excellence. While we would all agree that Randy's frequent e-mails regarding this award have been at times confusing and contradictory, the method of selecting a recipient has somehow been lost in translation. While everyone concurs that Coach Clyde Parrish is most worthy of the 2011 award, attention now centers on the 2012 award.
The rumor that has gained traction is that after this year all subsequent winners will be by popular Internet vote. Perhaps American Idol played a role in this phenomenon. A fellow cadet whose name shall be withheld but whose nickname is a fish leads all cadets in voting to date with 12,210 votes. All of his votes were generated from one computer in Charleston. A close Charlestonian friend of "the fish" whose nickname is "Big Bubba" is frantically trying to become computer literate so he can become part of the voting frenzy and vote for himself.
Other cadets have obviously solicited the help of their wives, children, and grandchildren. Although these votes come from very few computers, each vote tally is already in the thousands.
This must stop. As we all know, Randy becomes rather fractious just prior to, during, and after each reunion. This is doing nothing but exacerbating his condition. The voting has overloaded his computer. He says it will crash soon. I presume he is referring to his laptop. We must not let this happen. No one does nearly as much or as well as Randy. A "crash" would spell doom for us all.
Do not misconstrue this message as unduly critical of those voting for themselves. At this stage of our lives, it would be gratifying for others to finally recognize us for the excellent individuals we always knew we are. Oh, how wonderful it would be to have your photo in the local newspaper receiving this award. And to have folks mumble to themselves, "You know, I was wrong all along about this fellow".
To clarify matters, the 2012 award winner can be nominated by an association member and will be chosen from those nominated by a committee. If you are really serious about getting this award, consider bribery. With this rough economy, you might get a majority to see it your way.
