Reunion Update

Gentlemen,

I would like to apologize for the lack of status updates and the delay in getting the reunion in Las Vegas finalized. This email and update is long overdue. I would like to personally welcome those who have been added since the last update.

Initially, there were a lot of great ideas and intentions for the weekend of July 24th. Some of the ideas included a cocktail party on Friday night July 24th, golf on Saturday morning, a buffet style dinner on Saturday night in one of the reception halls, and Reunion Shirts printed up for everyone. We priced more than a few hotels and local restaurants so that we could find the best deals. It became clear while pricing out our ideas, that this trip would be pricey. The thought was, “well we haven’t seen each other is awhile…”, unfortunately with the current status of the economy and the money pinch that I am sure everyone is feeling (directly or indirectly) we felt it best to scale down so that more people would be able to afford to come out and just hang out and catch up. Just to rationalize a little I think we can try to do our part to help stimulate the economy with a little vacation that we all so desperately deserve. Vegas has been hit really hard and there are TONS of outstanding deals that we are able to capitalize on.

One of the best deals, we found (online) are rooms at the Plaza Las Vegas. Three nights from Thursday to Sunday, total cost with tax: Standard Room – $77.67, Deluxe – $166.47, and the Petite and Mini Suites – $233.07. Which makes it less than Planet Hollywood –$465.43. The special rates for Planet Hollywood also require us to spend a minimum, each night we stayed. It would have cost us a lot of money in that regards.

To make it more affordable for everyone, we would like to have people book wherever they can find the best deals. As of last week the rates at the Plaza were the most reasonable. Downtown Las Vegas or Old Vegas is a unique atmosphere. It has the Freemont Street Experience, which is the light show over the strip that connects all the old hotels…
“….Walk across Fremont Street and you are in poker heaven at Binion's, with a 99 cent shrimp cocktail waiting for you down the block at the 100 year-old Golden Gate.
Legendary casinos, free entertainment, old-fashioned gambling hospitality…….free entertainment that makes us vintage……famous bands, strolling showgirls, or an amazing saxophone performance…….. A dining experience at Hugo's Cellar inside the Four Queens is unrivaled and renowned. And we can't forget the gambling……some of the loosest slots in town.”

As well as the classic casino were if you are game you can play poker at the large poker room of Binion’s Casino…
“Binion’s Gambling Hall & Hotel, iconic among poker players for its unmatched legacy in the game, today opens a brand-new poker room to build on its tradition and history as the place that made poker famous. Binion’s new poker room features 10 tables in a contemporary setting designed to make players feel right at home while experiencing excellent service and some of the best deals in the game including a max rake of $3 on all live games, $2 comps per hour of live poker play, tableside food service and special room rates.”

Vicki Donovan has several options for booking the trip, show packages, airfare from any location. Please contact her directly to work out anything that might help save in costs to get things taken care of so you don’t worry about anything while on vacation. Her email address is vdonovan@citravel.com or visit her company web page at www.citravel.com. Please let Vicki know you are off the Ingersoll. You might even be able to swap some stories of people you know!
She is also able to assist you in any other travel that you may need. It does not have to be only related to the reunion.

Again, I am sorry that we were not able to get this up and going to be the biggest INGERSOLL BLOWOUT as we would have liked but we are really looking forward to seeing old friends and shipmates and meeting their families.

I am looking forward to going to the poker room and sitting down with some old friends to play some cards. I am sure the pot will not get as high as it did while most of us were on West Pac. I don’t remember how many times we made runs to the ATM on ship…..Wildman, Dreyfuss, or Donovan, do you guys remember? I would also like to go sit at some blackjack tables like we did in Reno when our ship pulled into San Francisco. . . Beltowski and Krall.

If any one has any questions please feel free to call me.
My cell number is 602.723.2758

Brian Hester