From the President, Terry Mann - Missile Systems Retirees ...missilesra.com › ... ›...

Volume 2, Issue 3 FALL 2014Page 11

From the President, Terry MannSummer is almost over and we are preparing for the first meeting of the new Missile Systems Retirees Association (MSRA) this fall. The meeting is scheduled on October 15th at the Inn Suites, 475 N. Granada, (just south of St. Mary’s on Granada). Hopefully we will see everyone there.

The past year we have experienced a few lows and many highs.

Lows of 2015:

• Someone hacked our website, which required MSRA member, Steve Harvey,

many hours to repair.

• A second problem occurred when the email service truncated our mailing list and a significant number of members didn’t receive our email messages. We weren’t aware of this until a few members asked why they were no longer receiving messages. The problem has been resolved! A new external email program was implemented.

Positive changes throughout 2015:

• We officially changed our name from Hughes Tucson Retirees Association (HTRA) to Missile Systems Retirees Association (MSRA). The name is more inclusive and has helped bring in new members. Hopefully this will continue to encourage all those who worked at Raytheon Missile Systems Company to join our organization.

• Our membership is growing again! Members who felt they weren’t communicated with, because of the email and website problems, are renewing lapsed memberships. Our current membership is at 150 and is increasing daily.

• The 2016/2017 membership drive is attracting many new members. To date, 50 people have signed up and 70% have taken advantage of the two-year membership option, which includes a 12.5% discount.

• We met our goal in supporting charitable giving for the second year! Four organizations with strong ties to the community and a history of providing to those in need were selected. They were

Volume 3, Issue 3 FALL 2015

Inside This Issue:To go directly to the article below, click on the title.

Terry Mann

2015 MSRA Board of Directors

and Officers

Board of DirectorsTerry Mann Barry Abrahams

Bob Dreher Anne M. McBride

Martin Lenzini Lisa Ortmann

Bo Miller Robert Van Sice

Armida Waterbury

OfficersPresident Terry MannVice President Barry AbrahamsTreasurer Martin LenziniSecretary Lisa Ortmann

From the President,Terry Mann

MSRA Board of Directors and Officers, 2015

Editor’s Note

Clog Dancing

Growing Orchids in theDesert

Heat Optimist Club

One On One Mentoring

TROT Upcoming Event

Recipe Corner

Haven Donation

ESM

Treasurer’s Report

How to Reach Us


Therapeutic Riding of Tucson (TROT), R-TEAM Optimists Club, The Haven and One-on-One Mentoring. Articles on a few of these groups are included below.

A key goal for the next year is to expand the membership and build a base going forward that will make us relevant to Tucson through charitable giving and community service. If each of you sent a personal invitation to your friends I believe that we could significantly increase our membership and community presence.

I look forward to seeing you at our October 15 get together at Inn Suites, downtown on Granada.

Terry

Editor’s Note by Judy Cameron, Editor

I have been the editor for the newsletter for the past year. It is time for me to ask for feedback. Please let me know if you like what you have been reading about the activities of your retired workmates. As usual, I am interested in more input. What are you doing now that you are retired from the missile systems plantsite? Please reply to: [email protected]. Thanks again.

What is Clog Dancing? by Edie Hund

Clog dancing is an American folk dance with a rich history of international fusion. The dance has evolved through the years by blending its traditional foundations with the latest in modern dance influences. It is a form of social or folk dance that appeals to all age level and cultures because of its natural rhythm and intricate sounds. It has evolved from American eastern settlers of all nationalities that were westward bound. Many settlers continued west while others formed communities in the mountainous regions of the country.

The modern form uses taps that are double and loose attached to flat-soled or low-heeled shoes. It is danced to all types of music from country to gospel, bluegrass, to rock and pop. Dance steps are taught and lead by an instructor.

Come join the fun by learning beginning steps and dances. They are taught by Edie Hund. She teaches at the Ellie Towne/Flowing Wells Community Center. Pick up a Pima County Special Interest Classes booklet that is available at all Pima County libraries or go on line to http://webcms.pima.gov/cms/one.aspx?portalId=169&pageId=395 for schedule and registration information. The next class begins November 4th, 6:30 to 7:30 PM.

Fall Social, October 15thInn Suites, Downtown

475 N Granada Avenue

annefryTypewritten Text


Growing Orchids in the Desert by Ronald A. Coleman

I’ve been growing orchids for over 40 years. Back in 1993, when Hughes decided to relocate to Tucson, we were living in Thousand Oaks where I grew hundreds of orchids outside, and even more in a greenhouse. When the announcement of the pending move came my first thought was “I’m going only if I can grow orchids there.” Through the American Orchid Society, I was able to contact the Tucson Orchid Society and learned that yes, you can grow orchids in the desert. Some 21 years later, I’m still growing orchids in the desert, and enjoying it as much as in Thousand Oaks.

But can you grow orchids in the desert if you don’t have a greenhouse? When I first got into orchids, it was necessary to seek out one of the professional orchid companies in Southern California, or buy plants by mail from those advertising in the American Orchid Society Bulletin. Local orchid societies supported those few hardy souls that dared to try growing these rare, expensive, and believed difficult to grow plants. Much has changed since we moved to Tucson. Orchids are now the most common potted plant sold in the United States, outselling even the poinsettia. They can be seen in grocery stores, hardware stores, and flower shops. Every seed catalogue arriving in the mail offers plants for sale. It is hard not to find an orchid for sale. And they are not hard to grow if you know a few things about them.

Beginners should probably start with plants in the genus Phalaenopsis. These are known as the moth orchids because the flowers resemble a moth in flight. They adapt easily to home culture and are the most common orchids sold locally. Phalaenopsis come in many colors, but the most common are white and purple. Some are spotted or striped. See figures 1 and 2 for examples.

Phalaenopsis come from tropical Southeast Asia, where they grow as epiphytes, or air plants, on the branches of trees. They are shaded from the full light of the sun by leaves of their host trees. They are watered by rain. Their roots wrap around the branches, collecting nutrients washed down by the rain. Throughout the day it is warm and moist. You just have to recreate that environment and growing them is easy. All that aside, Phalaenopsis are fairly tolerant, so we can easily create an environment for them in our homes.

Phalaenopsis like bright, but not direct light. Our desert light is much stronger than the light in their native habitat. Protect the plants from the sun by placement, or screening. An eastern exposure works well. Southern or western exposures require curtains to reduce light. Leaves should be light green. Dark green leaves mean not enough light. Leaves showing red mean too much light.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Arizona Desert


Maintaining correct temperatures is a snap. Phalaenopsis like pretty much the same temperatures we do. They do best between 60°F and 85°F. They tolerate warmer or cooler temperatures for short periods of time. Cooling below 60°F for a few weeks in the fall encourages blooming, but is not mandatory.

Providing the proper humidity for the plants is a greater challenge. Phalaenopsis do best in 50% to 75% humidity. We almost never get that in our homes, so we need to create a micro environment with higher humidity. Some growers put their plants in either the kitchen or bathroom where the humidity is higher. Figure 3 shows the technique I used before I got my first greenhouse. Place some hardware wire across a shallow pan. Put an inch or two of water in the pan, and put the plant on top of the hardware wire. Another way is to place pebbles in the pan and put the plant on the pebbles. Keep the water level in the pan below the pebbles. If the plant’s pot is kept in water, the roots will rot and the plant is lost.

Watering is a little more challenging in Tucson than most places. Orchids like water with a ph of about 6.5, just slightly acidic. Water out of our taps runs a ph about 8.4. That will kill some orchids and inhibit growth in many others. In the greenhouse, I add critic acid to bring the ph to 6.5. I measure ph with every watering. But I have a 250 gallon reservoir that I mix my fertilizer in, so it is straightforward to also control the ph. In the home, use rainwater or bottled water. Of course collecting rain water in Tucson is not that easy. Some nurseries sell other water treatments to control ph, but I do not have experience with them. Phalaenopsis will grow and bloom with our tap water, just not as vigorously, so if you can’t treat your water, you can still grow the plants successfully. Never use water that has been through a water softener. Many water softeners add salt, making the water deadly to orchids. Orchids must be watered thoroughly each time. I water with a hose and hold the hose on the pot until water is running freely out the bottom. I move on to other plants, and then come back and repeat the process, watering each pot three times whenever I water.

Knowing when to water is key to keeping the plants alive. Beginners often kill plants by overwatering, or under watering. I water by the modified calendar method. If it is Saturday, I water. If it has been really hot and dry, and it is Saturday, I water. If it has been cool and damp, and it is Saturday, I water. That works in my greenhouse. In the home, you may need to water more often when it is really hot, or less often when it is cool. With some experience, you can tell by the weight of the pot if the plant needs water or by moving the potting mix around a little bit to see if it is dry. Failing that, water on Saturday.

Orchids are light feeders. Just about any plant food will be fine for them but many nurseries sell fertilizer labeled for orchids. It’s all the same stuff. Use about one quarter of the amount suggested on the label for three weeks in a row. Then do not add fertilizer for the next watering to flush out accumulated salts in the potting mix.

Figure 3

Many orchids such as Phalaenopsis do not do well in potting mixes used for most house plants. Remember, in nature they grow on tree branches where the roots dry out rapidly. We must mimic that environment with a potting mix that lets air get to the roots. It should drain rapidly. For many years, chopped fir bark was the orchid medium of choice. It supported the plant, let the roots roam, and drained rapidly. It still is the medium preferred by many growers and often places that sell orchids offer small bags of bark for repotting. Over the last decade or so most commercial orchid growers and many hobbyists have migrated to New Zealand sphagnum moss as a planting mix for some genera. I use New Zealand sphagnum moss exclusively on my Phalaenopsis, although I still use fir bark for my other orchids. Some nurseries around town carry New Zealand sphagnum moss, or you can find it on line.

Whether you choose bark or moss, repot every two years. Potting mixes start to fail after two years, and rotted mix will destroy the roots and the plant will die. Watch your plants after flowering for signs of new root growth as shown in Figure 4. The roots will be thick, white, with bright green growing tips. When the new roots are about 2 inches long, repot. I repot new plants the first year. I use clay pots for my Phalaenopsis because with the large leaves and long flower spikes, the plants can become top heavy and tip over. The mass of the clay pots helps keep them stable. Whatever type of pot you choose, it must be well drained so it can be flushed with each watering. Check new plants to be sure the pots have drainage holes. Some plants are sold in decorative pots that do not have drainage holes, and the resultant build up of salts from the standing water will kill the orchid.

Phalaenopsis typically bloom in the spring and remain in bloom for months. Some plants now are bred to bloom twice a year. The corner market sells plants in bloom year round. These have been forced into bloom by controlling light and temperature. It may take a year or more for your new plant to adjust to its normal bloom cycle.

A warning about orchids: they are captivating. I started with one Phalaenopsis and soon had plants at every window. Then I had to build a greenhouse to contain my collection. I am still buying new plants even though the greenhouse has about 1000 plants in many orchid genera. But whether you have one plant or hundreds, it is fun growing orchids in the desert.

Heat Optimist Club by Anne McBride

The Heat Optimist Club was formed more than 20 years ago. It is part of an international organization that is made up of local community members who want to make a difference in a child’s life by focusing on helping the youth in the Vail and Rita Ranch areas. The Heat Optimist Club is comprised of full and part time employees, teachers, professionals and business owners. We meet for dinner


Figure 4


twice per month for socializing, event planning and organization as well as listen to informative speakers on topics of interest to the membership.

With local kids in mind, we use the talents and strengths of our members to bring ideas to life and to serve the local community. We do homegrown local projects as well as international programs while having the support of Optimist International. Some of our activities are Respect for Law, Breakfast with Santa, Family Day in the Park, Christmas Shopping Spree, Youth Appreciation, Partner in Education, Oratorical Contest, Essay Contest, and Jr. Golf. This last summer, the kid we helped sponsor in the golf tournament, tied for 3rd at the international tournament!

In July, we received $500 from the Missile Systems Retirees Association to help fund our many activities to support kids. This donation should allow us to at least maintain the 10 kids we brought to the shopping spree last year. At the Shopping Spree, we outfit each child from head to toe including jacket, shoes, socks, underwear, pajamas, pants and shirts. They also get a visit from Santa with a few gifts. Most of our members list this as one of the activities that convinced them to join and/or stay a member of the club. We can always use volunteers!

Our other December event is Breakfast with Santa. We provide a pancake breakfast (pancakes, sausage, and hot cocoa, milk, and coffee) to families. Cost is minimal (about $10 for a family). We set things up the night before and start cooking early the next day. Santa is there for pictures. Again, we can always use volunteers!

If you are interested in helping out with either event (Breakfast with Santa evening of 12/4 and breakfast on morning of 12/5 or the Shopping Spree the morning of 12/12), contact Anne Mc Bride ([email protected]).

One On One Mentoringby Terry Mann, President

Dear Terry and all the Missile Systems Retirees Association,

Thanks so much for taking the time to drop by and hear more about what we are doing to help our youth here in Pima County. Thanks also for the very generous gift of $500.00 to help us continue reaching out to our kids.

One On One Mentoring began over 20 years ago. At the time, I was the head track coach at a local high school and the best kid on the team took his life in the parking lot after school one day! I knew that day I would be doing something different soon.

We applied for a major grant with Pima County and in 1995 we be-gan mentoring kids all over Pima County. Recently we were asked to become the mentoring program for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Tucson.

In Pima County we have over 20,000 kids who have one or both parents in prison, and all together, over 30,000 kids in single par-ent homes, group homes, foster homes, living with grandparents, or homeless!

Our goal is to find quality adult role models who are willing to be matched up with a boy or girl (men with boys, women with girls) ages 5-17. The original goal is to get together on a weekly basis for an aver-age of three hours for one year. If, after the first year is completed, the mentor and mentee want to continue, they develop alumni status and need to try and meet at least once a month for the next year or until the mentee turns 18.

Every month we do a big event such as a hike and ride up the chair-lift on Mt. Lemmon, U of A football game, fishing trip to Lake Patago-nia, etc. Volunteers are needed to chaperone those kids who come and are on the waiting list, but not matched up with a mentor yet. If any of you are interested in becoming a mentor, volunteer or have any questions, please call our office at 624-4765 for more in-formation or call my cell at 260-1428. You can also go to You tube and click on One On One Mentoring video or our web page: 1on1mentoringtucson.com

Thanks again Terry and the Association for caring and for George Lord, one of our former board members who submitted the grant request. You guys are awesome!!!

For Our kids,

Don McNeillExecutive DirectorMentoring Tucson’s Kids

TROTby Terry Mann, President

Since 1974, TROT has been enriching the lives of people with special needs by using equine assisted activities and therapies to improve physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. TROT’s clients include both children and adults with disabilities such as cerebral palsy, developmental delay, Down syndrome, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, hearing/vision impairments and autism. Since 2006, TROT has provided specialized services for military veterans through its “Heroes on Horses” program.


Rose CanyonMt. Lemmon

U of A Football

Therapeutic Riding of Tucson

More than 140 volunteers assist in programs weekly. TROT provides many volunteer opportunities for MSRA members from working directly with the riders to office tasks, yard work and special events.

--------------------------------------

TO: Sponsors of Joshua

Dear Sponsors, I want to THANK YOU for this experience given to Joshua, an experience that has helped Joshua open up to others, to enjoy his life, his surroundings. To enjoy who he is as a person. A young man who is talented, bright, and caring.

Joshua has built such a strong rapport with the staff of T.R.O.T. and with his horse, Skittles. Joshua speaks highly of the staff and how helpful they are to him, and he is eager and willing to show and tell anyone who will listen all that he has learned.

He has started to take a genuine interest in horses and in animals overall. Fears; that were once seen as encompassing all of him. Limiting his enjoyment of life and his surroundings. Joshua’s eyes light up when he speaks of T.R.O.T. and of Skittles and how much he is looking forward to the next riding lesson.

This experience has helped Joshua tremendously to open himself up to others, to family and to others outside of the home. Joshua and I, his mother, and the immediate members of Joshua’s’ family wish to thank you for the light, the happiness, the anticipation that T.R.O.T. has brought to Joshua.

Thank you ever so much!!

Joshua and Family

The name has been changed to ensure the privacy of this youth and his family.

Upcoming Event! by MSRA Board

Just a reminder, if you have not already signed up, help us properly plan for our upcoming social by not waiting until the last few days before the event.

Our Fall Social will be Thursday, October 15 at the Hotel Tucson, Inn Suites, 475 N. Granda just South and East of the St. Mary’s exit on I-10.

The social and no host bar starts at 5:00 p.m. with dinner buffet available starting at 5:30 p.m. followed by an update what’s hap-


Terry Mann with Laurel Brown, TROT Board President, and Apple-

jack, a member of TROT’s herd.

Upcoming Event

October 15

Mark Your Calendars!


pening at Missile Systems Retiree Association starting about 6:30 p.m. We plan to have a guest speaker but have not finalized the arrangement yet.

The buffet includes pulled beef and chicken, potatoes, southwestern vegetables, garden salad, ranch and italian dressing. Warm rolls and butter, fresh fruit cobbler, ice tea and coffee.

The charge is $23.00 for members and the same for their guests. The charge for non-members is $28.00 and includes a $5.00 credit towards membership dues. You can pay in advance (which we strongly encourage) at www.MissilesRA.com/Upcoming-Events. You can also send a check to:

Missile Systems Retirees Associationc/o 59869 E. Arroyo Grande DriveOracle, AZ 85623

You can pay at the door, but as usual that gives us a hard time de-termining how to advise the hotel on seating and size of the buffet, so please order in advance, either on-line or by mail.

Time to share those recipes again. Please send your favorite recipe to [email protected].

Chili Relleno Casserole

Ingredients:

2 (7 oz) cans whole green chili drained8 oz Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese 8 oz Shredded Longhorn or Cheddar Cheese2 eggs beaten 1(5oz)Can evaporated milk2 tablespoons all purpose flour 1/2 cup milk

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9×13 in baking pan/dish with cooking spray.

Place 1/2 the green chili’s evenly on bottom of dish. Sprinkle 1/2 the Monterey Jack and 1/2 the cheddar cheese. Cover with remaining chili’s.

In a bowl mix eggs, milk(s), flour, pour over chili’s and bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with remaining cheeses. Bake an additional 10-15 minutes.

If you want to mix it up I like to put cooked hamburger meat in the mixture.

Chili Relleno Casserole


Haven Donation by Barry Abrahams

Thank You Letter


http://missilesra.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/ESMDiscountGuide.pdf

ESMby Anne McBride, Board of Directors

The Raytheon-Tucson Employees Association Membership (R-TEAM) pays dues annually to be a member of the Employee Services Management (ESM) association. ESM provides numerous discounts and services na-tionally. R-TEAM members (which includes retirees) can take advantage of these discounts by showing the red ESM sticker to the participating businesses. You can get your ESM sticker at the quarterly MSRA meet-ings. Buyer’s Guides containing the discounts are published every year. Buyer’s Guides will also be available at the meetings as well as online on the MSRA website or on the ESM of Southern Arizona website (ESMTuc-son.org). If you have any questions regarding ESM or R-TEAM, please contact Anne Mc Bride ([email protected]).


ESM (Continued)by Anne McBride, Board of Directors


by Marty Lenzini, MSRA Treasurer

Hughes Tucson Retirees Association (HTRA) has successfully changed the association’s name to Missile Systems Retirees Association (MSRA) to be more inclusive for all legacy companies. This places the focus on our organization’s events and accomplishments rather than on our name. Our goal is to make all retirees feel more comfortable and welcome. In order to enhance this year’s 2016 membership drive, MSRA has offered a one year membership, including the rest of this year, for $20.00 and a membership that runs through 2017 for $35.00. Please take advantage of these great membership offers. As of Sep-tember, our organization had 140 members for 2015. This membership total is 60 members less than we had in 2014.

MSRA 2016 Proposed Budget

Election Mailing ......................................................$225.00 Insurance ...................................................................300.00 Corporation Filing fee ................................................10.00 Community Charity ...............................................2,000.00 Web Expenses ...........................................................300.00 PayPal fees ................................................................177.00 Publish and Mail Directory .......................................500.00 Postage .......................................................................60.00 Miscellaneous ...........................................................150.00

Total Expenses ......................................................$3,722.00

Income from 2016 Membership Drive .................3,000.00 Reserve cash & savings (plus any carry- over from the 2015 budget) ...............................$1,745.00

TOTAL INCOME ................................................... $4,745.00

HOW TO REACH USWebsite: www.missilesra.comE-mail: [email protected]: MSRA, c/o 3690 N. River Canyon Road, Tucson, AZ 85750STAFF Editor Web Master Proofreaders Judy Cameron Phil Moul Kate Fox Grace Rael Kathy Dixon

Newsletter Design Event Photographer Anne Fry Roy Chamberlin

This newsletter is a publication of the Missile Systems Retirees Association (MSRA), which includes former and current employees and families of Raytheon, Hughes, CSC, General Dynamics, HFCU, Texas Instruments, and E-Systems. Membership $20.00 per year. Articles must be submitted six weeks before the next scheduled newsletter is published.

© 2015 MSRA. All rights reserved.

Random Little Tidbit

Night FallOctober 1 - 31

25th Anniversary

http://nightfallaz.com

http://missilesra.com

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