Once again members of Chapter 33 ventured from all points of the compass and joined forces at the Quality Inn (better known as the Chalet) in Cleveland, Tennessee for our twenty-fourth Fall Chapter Meeting. If you missed this one, you missed a really great meeting. The die-hards were there (they always are), but we also had a few new guests of which two will probably become members. But more on that later. Friday was the day of gathering the troops. We missed our normal Friday night dinner at the American Legion mainly because the American Legion ain't there no more. I understand the building was sold for umpteen millions of dollars and the Legionaries are now in the process of looking for a new home. For the time being they, it's my understanding, are being housed in the VFW building. I guess no one in our chapter on Friday night knew exactly where the VFW was (or maybe the VFW doesn't serve food) but for whatever reason, we all just hung out at the Hospitality room in the Chalet and munched on the goodies that some gay spirit provided for us. Check out Friday's hot photos here.

Eventually, all good things must come to an end and Friday nights at our chapter meetings are no exception. Sometime in the wee, small hours of Saturday morning, all members staggered off to pay homage to the Gods of Sleep.

Saturday, some of us adjourned to the local eatery---The Cracker Barrel---for our morning jolt of coffee, hot cakes, eggs and bacon. Meanwhile, back at the Hospitality Room, the hosts of the meeting (Hash n' Hash, Greene n' Greene) were busy restocking the tables and ice chests and coolers with the snacks, mixes, liquor and beer for the upcoming influx of people. Our meeting commenced precisely at the stroke of two on the clock with the outgoing President pounding the table with his gavel. Then, half way through the meeting, the outgoing President and his staff abruptly stood up and moved to the wings of the hall. At this time, our newly elected President (and his staff) took their place at the table. The maneuver was a bit odd to say the least but the new President (and his staff) took the bull by the horns and continued on with the meeting without so much as batting an eyelash.
You can check out Saturday's attendance here.

The newly elected officers (Bill Long, Bob Hines, Hugh Johnson) were sworn in at our sit-down dinner on Saturday night. The mean was good, the company was great and our newly elected officers conducted themselves in an appropriate manner. Once again Bennie and Margie McDonald repeated their ceremony for the POW/MIAs. I have to say, if you've never seen this ceremony, you should make a concerted effort to do so. It is very well laid out and Bennie and Margie does a terrific job of putting it on.

You can also view the dinner photos on this page.

And yet another fantastic Chapter 33 meeting came to an end. Sunday, we scattered to the four winds and all vowed to hit the Knoxville scene in January, 2006. The final dates have not been confirmed but as soon as they do, you can get all the particulars by visiting our Chapter website.

We'll see you all in Knoxville in January, 2006.