IT'S OFFICIAL!!!!

The USS ORLECK Naval Museum, Inc., assumed stewardship of the USS ORLECK DD886 with the signing of the act of donation of the ship from the Southeast Texas War Memorial and Heritage Foundation, Inc. to the USS ORLECK Naval Museum, Inc.  Steve "Sretch" Phillips (left), President of SETWMHF, and Mark Boudreaux (right), President of USSONM sign the act of donation in Lake Charles on 22 June 2010.

UPCOMING EVENTS

General Membership Meeting, 14 August 2010:

In accordance with Article III, Section 2, of the By-Laws of the USS Orleck Naval Museum, Inc, the Chairman of the Board of Directors has called an annul meeting of the members for:

Saturday, 14 August 2010, at 12 Noon, 604 North Enterprise Blvd, Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601.

The purpose of the meeting is to elect Directors and transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting, to include review and possible update of the organization's by-laws.  The current slate of Directors have agreed to continue to serve, if so agreed by the membership.  They are: James Allison, Patrick Bernier, Steve Davis, Ken Nabours, and Ron Williams.  The officers appointed by the Board include: Mark Bourdreaux serving as President; Steve (Stretch) Phillips as Vice President (Special Operations); Sherwood Buckalew as Vice President (Curator); Dan Jackson as Vice President;  Debbie Reed as Secretary/Treasurer (Debbie may need to step aside because of the demands of her current job); and Connie Buckalew as Director of Educational Programs.  To place your name in nomination to serve on the Board of Directors, please forward your name, address, e-mail address, phone number and a short paragraph on your background to Ron Williams at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Field Days, Second Weekend of September 2010

Thursday, 9 September through Wednesday 15 September

The USSONM's first official field "week" will take place 9-15 September 2010.  It was scheduled this way to take advantage of attendees' availability during that weekend, plus we plan to have a ceremony on 15 September to recognize the 65th anniversary of the christening of the ship.  (15 September falls on a Wednesday.) The week's schedule of events and work tasks will be established during the general membership meeting on 14 August 2010. Please notify Sherwood Buckalew, our volunteer coordinator, if you plan to attend. (E-Mail:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Phone:  (409) 779-1314.)

EVERY SATURDAY IS A GENERAL WORKDAY

But Every Day Is A Work Day

Volunteers are working most every day on cleaning and repairing the ship; however, we have established Saturday as a General Work Day because that is when many people are available.  We start work in the morning at about 8 AM.  Work continues as long as possible; often we have to quit early due to the summer heat.  Volunteers who are available continue work into Sunday.  Please join us for our General Work Days on Saturdays.  If you are available during the week we will be able to put you to work then, also.  Join the excitement!  Contact Sherwood Buckalew,  our volunteer coordinator at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Phone:  (409) 779-1314.  You can also contact Willie Montgomery, our Chief Engineer, at (337) 794-9866.

Photo 1:  Patrick Bernier (center) and Willie Montgomery survey items brought up from various parts of the ship that need to be sorted, stored, repaired, etc.  Saturday and Sunday, 10-11 July 2010. Volunteers cleaned out No. 1 and No. 2 Fire Rooms; lined up stanchions on the ASROC Deck adjusted and tighten up life lines on ASROC Deck; cleaned the Ward Room and nearby areas, just to name a few projects.   It was a very productive weekend with over 15 volunteers on hand.

Photo 1                                          Photo 2

Photo 2:  Volunteer Mike George's sons Terry and Michael hard at work scrubbing the deck!

USS ORLECK LADIES' AUXILIARY

Ladies' Auxiliary Established

Connie Buckalew, our Education Director, has reestablished the USS ORLECK LADIES' AUXILIARY as part of the new USSONM organization.  Please contact Connie to join.  If you are already a member of the USSONM, it is free to join.  Also, if your spouse is a member, you can automatically be a member of the Auxiliary. We are starting anew in Lake Charles with the purpose of supporting the ship through combined efforts & activities with other departments of the ship. This includes fund raising, helping on USS ORLECK Field Days, Special Events, and much, much more. Let's get organized! Don't miss the fun and excitement!  E-Mail:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Phone: (409) 883-6837)

Garage Sale Fundraiser - Bring Us Your Stuff!!!!

The newly formed LADIES' AUXILIARY announces its very first fundraiser for the USS ORLECK.  Donations for a GARAGE SALE/WAREHOUSE SALE are now being accepted.  Bring your new or used items and old collectibles to the USS Orleck NAVAL MUSEUM office at 604 North Enterprise Blvd, Lake Charles LA.  All proceeds benefit the restoration, maintenance and educational programs of the USS ORLECK DD886.  An actual date for the sale will be established later.  Call Connie Buckalew (409) 883-6837 or Ron Williams (337) 526-2699 to coordinate your delivery of items to the Museum office.

... --- ... CALL FOR DONATIONS

Thanks for your on-going support

The Board of Directors, Officers, and Volunteer thank everyone who has donated funds, services, and in-kind items.  We have accomplished a great deal with very little funds.  After paying for the tow from Orange TX to Lake Charles LA and paying our insurance premiums, the ship survey, and other necessary items, our checking account was extremely low.  Thankfully, many members and other individuals have continued to make donations and renew their memberships.  We are also very appreciate of the many individuals who have generously made donations in memory of SK3 Arthur Easley, crew member 1950-1952. In-kind donations have included a ramp to access the ship, over 400 feet of 2-inch PVC installed to bring water to the end of the pier for the ship, and many, many other items and services, such as Allied Waste Services providing trash service for us.  This very tangible support from both the local community and ORLECK supporters across the country has been fantastic.

Serious Fund raising Now Needed

Now that the ship is docked in Lake Charles and volunteers continue to clean, paint, chip, and complete some important work on the ship's many systems, we are in need of money and lots of it.  Let's be frank.  Maintaining and displaying a 65 year-old WWII era historic ship is expensive.  Until we open the ship to the public in about three or four months, we do not have a stream of operating income; at this point we must rely on donations.  Although the country is in difficult economic times, it is important that we do what we can to maintain and promote the legacy that the USS ORLECK represents.  We, of this generation, honor the sacrifice and dedication of the veterans who served in days past.  Our most important mission at this point is to preserve and promote that legacy to future generations to help them appreciate and understand that our liberties require continued viligence.  We welcome your generous donations, as well as any ideas you may have for raising funds.

Donations can also be made by credit card, debit care, or e-check on our web site:  www.orleck.org; however, be aware that credit card processing fees reduce the amount we receive from each transaction.  This is only mentioned as a heads up in case you weren't aware how it works.

HELP WANTED

NEWSLETTER EDITOR

We need a newsletter editor to help us get the word out to our members and the public.  Please contact Ron Williams at (337) 526-2699, e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you are interested.  Things are happening pretty fast and furious and we need help getting the word out.

Planning a trip to Lake Charles to visit the USS Orleck?

Visit the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau web site at (http://www.visitlakecharles.org/.

 Dear Friends & Members:We are making tremendous progress toward restoring the USS ORLECK, but are critically short of funds. While donations for construction and installation of the deadmen have been secured, the USS Orleck Naval Museum will bear some of the cost.In addition, the Museum has not been open to the public since Hurricane Rita blew in and we need supplies to continue the restoration process.