Just a quick note to let you know that I will be travelling to Orlando FL for the 2025 USSVI National Convention.
It’s been ten years since I went to a national and I am really excited about celebrating the Submarine Force’s 125th anniversary.
I am not sure who I will see there but there is a large group from the Charleston Base. We will be participating in most of the major gatherings and taking a few side trips while we are there.
If you are going, stop by and see me at the USSV Charitable Fund Table on Monday, Wednesday or Thursday.
Hope to see you then
Mister Mac
theleansubmariner 
Rik & I will be there from Snug Harbor Base.
Hope to meet you in person
Bob
I attended the 2025 convention. Here are my thoughts about what took place.
1st off as we, my wife and I walked the halls MOST of the subvets looked the other way , like we were not there. Those that did say somthing were the wives of the vets.
We needed a wheel chair because of all of the long distances between events, the hotel could not provide one. They had to be rented. That was a hassel in it self. I did notice that a lot of people rented rides of one sort or another.
The distance from one place to the other was way to much walking. I had to miss several events for that reason.
The food was ÖUT STANDING ALL AROUND”. There was NO way to improve on that. The hotel staff bent over to serve all. A note: one lady complained about the food at the banquet and the host did every thing possible to satisfie her and he did a GREAT job of it.
The 1st gathering that had food, well that was FORCE. The doors were to open at a cirten time. BUT someone decided to start early. We arrived 15 minuets before the door was to open and the room was already full. There was NO food left. Not even water.
The hoast people. We arrived on Sunday afternooon and checked in. I had a problem with one of the tours and asked if I could get my money refunded or to go on a different tour. I was told no on both counts.
Again the hotel people were the GREATEST.
We were there for 6 nights. The parking prices were out of site. 45.00 per night to keep my car parked.
Good afternoon shipmate. Not sure what you mean by looking the other way. Were they people you knew or were you just making a judgement on complete strangers? I am as guilty as the rest of them by default. I have a tendency to say hello or tip my hat to everyone that has a submarine hat on but when I am new to a place, I rarely interact with complete strangers. I do look for people I know and offer my greetings as appropriate.
My wife agrees that there was a lot of walking. We averaged nearly 10,000steps each day. It was sometimes a challenge for me since I am 100% service-connected disabled, but we planned our days around that.
She also agreed that the reception was poorly planned and executed. There were not enough food and beverages. Plus, seating was limited. And it was close quarters. SO close that we both were nearly run over by someone in a motorized wheelchair. We tried to politely get out of the way.
Thanks for the feedback. While I was not part of the organization that put the event on, I do know that they put a lot of effort into the planning and execution. I have done a few smaller events and know how hard it is to make every person completely satisfied.
Mac