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For Products You Can Trust, Trust Texaco |
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A report from Al
Patsy
and I just got home from a 25 day trip to the West which started with our annual
Texaco Retiree Reunion in Colorado Springs, CO. It was a great one and for
a while I thought we just might reach the 60 count for attendees. However
I think the highest bookings we got to was around 56 and that fell back to a net
of 47 as the final count. A list of attendees is shown below. We had
never been to Colorado before because we did not have anyone on the ground who
could handle the preplanning and on-site negotiations for rooms, restaurants,
and golf. Normally that involves a separate hotel, two restaurants,
and two golf courses. Based on feed back from our 2013 reunion in Austin,
TX there were a lot of requests to try and reduce the need to travel from the
hotel to our planned dinners, and golf outings. Also Colorado was one of
the most requested locations for us to go in 2014. Darryl Shields
suggested we try a resort rather than a hotel which would enable us to have our
golf and dinners at the Resort with not need to leave for either. Of
course CO Springs has so many attractions in and around the area it seemed a
perfect place if we could work a deal. We focused in on the Cheyenne
Mountain Resort with the hopes we could get their rooms rates, dinners, and golf
at a price point acceptable to all who would want to come. Thankfully that
did occur, and Pierce and I went to make our inspection trip and sign the
contract in mid-January.
Monday,
August 25th, was our first day and our hospitality room was full with lots of
good friends, good wine, and good times. All the non-golfers began to make
lists of who was going where on Tuesday. The golfers were excited to Play
the CMR Country Club Golf Course. Then about 5:30 pm the heavens opened up
and for twenty minutes we all stood at the windows and watched a never ending
down pour of marble size hail. When it cleared there were three inches or
more of hail all over everything and the beautiful CMR Golf course was TOTALLY
WHITE.
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
7:00AM - 9:30AM Breakfast in the Mountain View Restaurant
10:00AM - 3:00PM Golf Tee Times at
The Country Club
of
(Tee times may be moved up to 9:30AM if possible)
9:00AM - 4:00PM Shopping, site seeing, other activities of your choice.
4:00PM - 6:30PM
5:30PM - 6:30PM Prize Drawings- Must be present to win!!
Information on Wed.’s golf parings and format.
7:00PM - 9:30PM Group Dinner - Remington’s 1 (room with mountain
views/fireplace and located in the main building)
We had negotiated all breakfasts to be
included in the daily room rate, and the full Breakfast buffet at the Mountain
View Restaurant was all you could ever want and then some.
Though all the golfers hoped for the best, the
course was closed Tuesday morning and most all of the "to be" golfers added
their names to the lists of groups going to Pike's Peak or The Air Force
Academy.
Actually two diehard foursomes did get off around 1:30pm
but only completed six holes before they had to come in due to lightning in the
area.
Richard Lambert went out on his own around 3:30 pm and
actually played 18 holes.
The great thing for all was it
was FREE as the Club Pro compt all green fees.
Our hospitality hour and dinner was full of tails of
what everyone did for the day and were planning for Wednesday.
Of course all the golfers were back on course and
ready to play in the tournament Don Holden had set up for us.
The first of our two dinners was in the Remington II
room which had a full wall of windows facing the golf course and the mountains
to the West.
Beautiful sunset and wonderful setting for our first dinner
together.
Best of all, it was only a short walk from the hospitality
room to dinner.
7:00AM - 9:30AM
Breakfast in the
Mountain View Restaurant
9:30AM - 2:30PM Texaco Golf Tournament
The
Country Club of
9:00AM - 4:00PM Shopping, site seeing, other activities of your choice.
4:00PM - 6:30PM
5:30PM - 6:30PM Results of Golfing challenge; Winning team awards
Discussion of places for next year and selection of new Planning team.
6:45PM - 9:30PM
Final Night Group Dinner at the
Centennial 2 banquette Hall
From
OK, after another BIG BREAKFAST the golfers were off to start their big day of golf. Don Holden had set up the foursomes based on everyone's "somewhat honest handicaps" and after missing Tuesday everyone was out early to get warmed up at the driving range and putting green. Considering the hail storm we had had 36 hours earlier the course was in good shape. That filled our day until around 3:30 pm leaving enough time for a good shower, rest and on the to hospitality room around 5:00 pm. A group of 23 ladies all joined together and went over to the Cliff House Restaurant in Manitou Springs. That was unbelievable to see. I don't know if it was Marlene Shields, Faye Wilks, or Beverly Mathe's idea to go to the Cliff House, but Judy Lambert and Stephanie Oelkers took over from there with the logistics of how this was going to work. Believe it or not all 23 women were in the CMR lobby on time, ready to go, and all make it to the Cliff House on time, and NO ONE GOT LOST!!!! The last time we men had to drive somewhere to play golf, we lost two foursomes somewhere in NW Austin. Trying to take a picture of each foursome was like herding a bunch of goats. After lunch, many of the ladies went over to the shops at the Broadmoor Hotel and do what ever ladies do with idle time and "sugar daddies" cash.
During the hospitality hour Don Holden recognized the winning teams in the day's golf tournament with the usual
"sleeve" of golf balls. Not to be out done, the ladies shared some of the high points of their day as well. Based on feed back from all attendees the whole event was voted a success. If possible, they wanted to hold future events at a location which allows everyone to stay on property for hospitality hours, collective dinners, and golf outings. The resort verses hotel was a winning combination. Darryl Shields agreed to join with Gene McGraw to head up next years agenda. Warren Tate will be handling all administration matters, and Don Holden will once again plan all golfing events. No definite decision as to location has been made as yet, but it was agreed if we could work out the budget and other price points with the Biltmore Resort in Asheville North Carolina, that would be our first choice.
Thursday, August 28, 2014
7:00AM - 9:30AM Breakfast in the Mountain View Restaurant
12:00 PM (Noon) Check Out for those leaving today
Several of our group stayed for a few more days to enjoy the Colorado Springs area, but most of us left to return again next year for a few wonderful days of renewing old, but lasting friendships. For those who planned to come, but had to cancel, we missed you and hope to see you in 2015. And for those who could not fit us in this year we missed you too, and hope you will make an effort to come again. Next year will make the 20th year we have been gathering together. It is a fun time and we would love to have all who can, come and add to the great memories.
I enjoyed having the opportunity to lead our team as we planned this years event. I especially want to thank Pierce Treadwell for always being in the wings with great counsel, and Don Holden for all he did to make our golfing event successful. And a big "Thank you" to all you ladies who pulled together and planned activities that made all of us feel apart of the whole.
Your friend and co-retiree, Albert Derden