Reunion Dates: Wednesday, August 10, 2005 through Saturday, August 13, 2005, with most folks departing on Sunday August 14, 2005. Please send your Reunion Registration forms in Early.

Hotel: Courtyard by Marriott LaGuardia, Airport/NYC 90-10 Grand Central Parkway, East Elmhurst, NY 11369. Guest Room Rates are $90.00 Double. The quoted rates are quoted exclusive of prevailing local lodging tax, currently 8.63%. Quoted rates will be offered, based on availability, to our attendees three days before August 10 and three days after August 13, 2005. Individual parking is $1.00 per hour or a maximum of $13.00 overnight for overnight guests.

Make Your Own Hotel Reservations: Courtyard by Marriott LaGuardia, Airport/NYC Deadline for reservations is Monday, July 18, 2005. To receive the contacted rates, you must identify yourself as being with the USS Topeka (CLG-8) Reunion Association. All reservations will be guaranteed with individual credit cards.

Phone Number for Registrations: Call 1-800-321-2211 or 1-718-446-4800 and ask for USS Topeka (CLG-8) Reunion Association Rates. Check-in time is 3:00 PM; checkout is 12:00 PM (noon).
The Courtyard by Marriott LaGuardia Airport hotel is more than just 288 spacious hotel rooms and suites. This is a full service hotel located directly across from one of the country’s busiest airports at LaGuardia. Just 8 miles from the epicenter of the world, New York City, it offers views of the Empire State Building and the surrounding city attractions. This hotel is rated AAA 3 Diamonds and Mobile Travel Guide 3 Stars. The Hotel offers a fitness center, swimming pool and a business center.

Airport Shuttle: A convenient complimentary shuttle service is offered every 15 minutes to and from LaGuardia Airport for hassle-free door-to-door service.

Reunion Schedule: We recommend you plan to arrive on Tuesday, because there are plenty of things you will want to do on Wednesday through Saturday. Most will plan a Sunday departure.

Tours: Reservations must be made with your Reunion Registration to guarantee your choices.

August 10, 2005-Wednesday-Tour “A”: New York Orientation Tour–Four-Hour tour. Bus(s) load at Courtyard by Marriott LaGuardia at 7:15AM and depart at 7:30 AM sharp. “A Slice of the Big Apple.” See all the sights that make the City so special. Rockefeller Center, Times Square, Macy’s, Chinatown, SoHo, Greenwich Village, Little Italy and so much more. There will be several photo opportunity stops on this tour. Cost $60 per person. Requires a minimum of 20 persons.

August 11, 2005-Thursday-Tour “B ”: Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island Tour- Day Tour. Bus(s) load at Courtyard by Marriott LaGuardia at 7:45AM and depart at 8:00 AM sharp; with estimated return 2:00PM The Statue of Liberty has been welcoming visitors to our shores for over 110 years. Another short boat tour brings you to Ellis Island Museum, which pays tribute to those brave individuals who fled oppression to find freedom. Visit the Baggage & Registration Hall.  Cost $70 includes transportation, admission, boat ticket, licensed tour guide, tax and gratuities. Requires a minimum of 20 persons.

AUGUST 11, 2005 - THURSDAY-TOUR “C”: CLOUD NINE DINNER CRUISE- 3-½ hour EVENING TOUR. Depart the Courtyard by Marriott LaGuardia at 6:15pm for the Worlds Fair Marina to board the Cloud Nine III for a “Magical Skyline Dinner Cruise”. NYC skyline dinner cruises features a private charter and includes premium bar service and beverages, Hors d’oeuvres selection, a dinner buffet menu, dessert, coffee, tea, music. See views of the Manhattan skyline, the Statue of Liberty and more. Return to hotel is estimated at 11:00 PM. Dinner Cruise cost is $85.00 per person.

August 12, 2005 - Friday-Tour “D”: Intrepid SEA-AIR- SPACE MUSEUM- Morning tour. Bus(s) load at Courtyard by Marriott LaGuardia at 8:00AM and depart at 8:30 AM sharp. Return is estimated at 1:00 PM. Tour Cost is $40 per person. Requires a minimum of 20 persons.

Friday Evening - August 12: 6:00 PM - No Host Cocktail Hour. Poolside Bar-B-Queue Dinner - Dinner following. Snacks include Tortilla Chips and Salsa. Sides include Red Bliss Potato Salad, Grilled vegetable salad, Cole slaw, Garden Greens salad with dressings. Entrees include choices of Grilled Bar-B-Q chicken, Grilled hamburgers, Cheeseburgers, Hot dogs. Assorted Hoagie, Hamburger and Hot Dog Rolls. Corn on the cob, Relish Tray and condiments. Desserts include watermelon and fruit salad. Pitchers of Iced Tea and Lemonade. We will have exclusive use of the pool area during dinner. Hospitality Suite will be closed from 6:00 PM until after the dinner.

Saturday Morning - August 13: 9:00 AM Reunion Association Business Meeting –location to be determined. Ruth and Dudley Cass are the Reunion Coordinators for the 2006 San Diego Reunion. Presenters should be prepared to make good presentations for the Midwest 2007 Reunion. Cal and Joan Ladd offered to present information for a Minnesota Reunion, and Dan Moore offered to present Indianapolis for 2007. Nominations will be open for sites for the 2008 reunion. If the normal rotation were to be resumed, that reunion would be on the West Coast.
Hospitality Room Closed during the business meeting.

Board of Directors Meeting: Held upon completion of the Business meeting or at the discretion of the Chairman of the board to elect the President and Secretary Treasurer and to conduct whatever other business needs to be brought before the Board.

Saturday Morning – Time to be determined: Group Photos. Rest of the day on your own.

Saturday Evening - August 13: No Host Cocktail Hour at 6:00 PM.- Banquet Dinner at 7:00 PM. Appetizer includes Fresh Field Greens with Balsamic Vinaigrette. The dinner menu includes choices of Prime Rib of Beef Au Jus or Key West Salmon. Chef’s choice of vegetables. Roasted Red Bliss or baked potato. Pitchers of assorted sodas. Coffee, Tea, Decaffeinated coffee there is a vegetarian option available as well. Dessert will be New York Cheesecake.The wine service will include choices of Robert Mondavi Coastal Chardonnay, Robert Mondavi Cabernet, Robert Mondavi Merlot, and Meridian Sauvignon Blanc. The Hospitality Suite will be closed from prior to 6:00 PM until after the dinner.
 

Please come to the 2005 New York City, NY Reunion and have a good time with our shipmates and other long-term friends.