Tee Shirts

Posted on 11/29/2016 by 1985

Email 28 Nov 2016

Class of ’85,

How much fun to have a bonus tailgate with Navy hosting Temple for the AAC Championship game in Annapolis this Saturday. We will have a Class of ’85 tailgate at our usual spot starting at 1000 starting before and going until after the game. Beer and wine provided by our Class and the class tent set up as well. Please bring food to share for appropriate pre and post game tailgate snacking. Tailgate starts at 1000 and hopefully goes strong after the game to celebrate our first AAC Championship and then we set our sites on that “Team from up north” a week later in Baltimore. The post tailgate party is at Chesapeake Brewery on West Street Annapolis.

Speaking of the following week, we are still taking registrations for the USNA ’85 Beat Army Tailgate sponsored by Trident Home Loans (http://tridenthomeloans.com) and Classmate Marty Medve at Pickles Pub in downtown Baltimore starting at 1130 on Dec. 10. The link to register is on the Class of ’85 website: http://1985.usnaclasses.net/2016/10/23/army-navy-2016-tailgate/ The cost is $40 at the door for a great food buffet, drink specials in a private room upstairs at the pub and a GREAT time as we get pumped up for the game against our arch rival. Our classmate Jim Berdeguez has designed some awesome Beat Army Shirts and they are on sale at the class apparel website: http://usna85.deco-apparel.comThe ordering deadline is November 30 to receive them either at the game or your home prior to game day so you wear them to your Beat Army party. For those that order to pick up at the game, they will be available for pick-up at Pickles Pub at the tailgate (say that 3 times fast). PLEASE register soon if you are coming, I need to get a head count to the bar by early next week for their food order. We will be at least 100 strong and may fill the room to its capacity of 125.

In review, HUGE game Saturday against Temple in the AAC Championship game at 1200 with tailgating before and after starting at 1000 at our usual tailgate site; and then we set out sites on Army the following week. Tailgate registration for the Army game is open and the tee shirt ordering deadline is fast approaching. Phew, it’s hard work being part of this class! I will be watching this Saturday from Michigan and will look forward to seeing many of you the following weekend in Baltimore. I will put out news about a Friday night Happy Hour in Baltimore for those in town, it will be near the Inner Harbor. If you are going to be in Baltimore that evening, let me know. Safe Travels and Beat Temple!! Contact me with any questions: robertsmith5@att.net or 502-432-6185.

Go Navy!!!!

Bob Smith ’85

Announcing Special Edition USNA 85 Army-Navy Apparel

Posted on 11/23/2016 by 1985

Classmates,

I want to thank Classmate Jim Berdeguez for coming up with special edition tee shirts (men’s and women’s, short and long sleeve) to commemorate this year’s Army/Navy game. I have attached some photos to this email and you can access pictures and order these shirts on our apparel website: http://usna85.deco-apparel.com

Now, if you choose to order and are attending the Army/Navy game, you can save shipping and pick up your shirts at the indoor tailgate at Pickle’s Pub. If you want to do this, please indicate when ordering. Otherwise, Jim has options for shipping to your home or business. Help us support Jim’s company and our class and get your BEAT ARMY tee shirt today! I will have a limited number on sale the weekend of Army/Navy at Pickles, but order now to make sure you get the shirts you want. Ladies, we have provided you shirts so now is your chance, I heard your voices asking for nice ladies apparel. I want to again thank Jim and his staff for these shirts and for being flexible with our class. He will donate a portion of proceeds to support our Class fund. Go Navy and BEAT ARMY! Get your shirt today whether you are coming to the game or watching with fellow alums or at home with family or friends.

Thanks. Bob Smith ’85

***PLEASE NOTE ORDERING DEADLINE FOR THE GAME***

Weekly Update for Connecticut Home game

Posted on 09/08/2016 by 1985

7 Sep 2016

Classmates,

To be more informational, we will do a weekly update for the fall football season to cover pertinent issues for that weeks’ Navy Football game (home and away) and any other class business. I hope this helps everyone feel connected and assists you in making plans for attending the home game if there is one or watching the away games at the Chesapeake Brewery in Annapolis and enjoy drink specials for our Class. Navy kicked off the season with a victory over Fordham and hopes to continue their winning ways against the UConn Huskies at 1530 at NMCS. As we did last weekend, we will have beer provided by Chesapeake Brewery and then ask everyone to bring some tailgate food for sharing. We will do a major catered event at the Homecoming game against Memphis on 10/22. There will be a special cookout at an upcoming tailgate from our Classmate Eric Bowman and his nuke sub cooker, so stay tuned. The tailgate will kickoff around 1:00 and will go until about 30 minutes post game. As always, we will have our donation box or I am still accepting season donations like some have done via check (THANK YOU!). Those can be sent to me at:

776 South Angola Rd.

Coldwater, MI 49036

Put “Class of ’85 tailgate” in the memo block and these will get put into our class account. In either case, your support is appreciated. I will plug the Navy v. Notre Dame Game again, (our 31st Reunion weekend), from Nov. 3-6 down in Jacksonville, FL. Please check out the class website at: http://1985.usnaclasses.net . Or contact me directly. We still have discounted rooms and plenty of space at our tailgate and other activities. We have over 300 classmates coming to the game and over 100 so far committed to the tailgate.

On a sad note, we lost a member of our Class this week, Chuck Merrit (15th Co) has lost his wife Debbie Merrit to her battle with cancer. We extend our deepest sympathies and prayers to Chuck and his family. Chuck can be reached at:

1630 Meadow Oaks Lane

Huntington, MD 20639

Or: cmerrit@comcast.netor Cell: 410-535-9233

Her obituary is at this link: http://www.ompsfuneralhome.com/obituary/deborah-c-merritt/

On that I will close this week’s update and as always, am here to serve, so if you have any needs or suggestions of anything Navy or Class related please contact me directly. If you any questions about Saturday’s Tailgate, please contact Dave McDonnell at david_555@verizon.net. Our Class Apparel store is offering free shipping for Fall Shipments of Class Apparel. Check out that site at: http://usna85.deco-apparel.comThese clothes are GREAT and wear well as I have now owned some for 1 full year. Support our Classmate Jim Berdeguez and his business while sporting some really nice USNA ’85 Apparel. We have the best Class store of any graduating class by far thanks to Jim. Okay, that is all…. See you at Homecoming as I will be in town with my wife to host that tailgate. Go Navy and Beat the Huskies!! Cheers to all.

Bob Smith ’85 Class President and party planner

Navy vs. Notre Dame Weekend Nov. 4-6, 2016

Posted on 01/07/2016 by 1985

EMAIL Blast 6 Jan 2016

Class of 1985,

I am VERY excited to announce the preliminary plans for our 31st Class Reunion in Jacksonville, FL. on the weekend of November 4-6, 2016. Navy plays Notre Dame in EverBank Stadium on Saturday November 5th and the Class of ’85 (like we did in Dublin 2012 and will again in 2017 in Hawaii) “WIN” the weekend. I only took a few days off in Cancun after the reunion and then back to the grindstone planning this weekend and so far so GREAT! Here is what I have:

1) We have a block of 40 rooms for Nov. 3rd and 100 Rooms for Nov. 4th and 5th at the Marriott Resort Sawgrass (where they play the TPC Golf tournament every May). The block rate is $179.00 per night and there will be more information soon on how to reserve your rooms.

2) On Friday we are planning a golf outing at one of the TPC Sawgrass courses (most likely the Valley course since the Stadium course will be closed for renovating). On Friday there will also be a day trip to beautiful and historic St. Augustine for the non-golfers. That night, we will have an amazing dinner party at the Marriott’s Cabana Club on the beach. (once again, more details to follow, but we are locked into this location for that night).

3) On Saturday (game day), we have secured a private lot just blocks from EverBank Stadium and will be building our Class of ’85 Tailgate (Sponsored in part by Classmate Jim Anderson of 16th Co.) I have a commitment from NAAA for a Class of ’85 ticket block at the price of $85 per ticket. We get access to purchase our block prior to the opening of normal ticket sales. I will have motor coaches from the beach to and from the stadium for the tailgate and game.

So…. here is what I need to get this going. On the Class website Angela Orlando has helped set up a survey for those interested in attending. I need everyone who plans on attending to PLEASE fill this out. You are not obligated by doing this, but I need a rough count for tickets so that I can give NAAA a good number to reserve for our class. I expect this to be a hard ticket to get because of the time of the year and because both fan bases travel so well. I will have a full roll out of final details and sign ups when I have completed all the contracts and setting up of events and web links. For now, I just wanted all of you to “SAVE THE DATE” and prepare yourself for our 31st reunion (no Hurricanes this year!!). Stay tuned and go to this this link for me: http://1985.usnaclasses.net/2015/10/24/notre-dame-2016/. Fill out the brief survey and stay tuned for more to come.

I would also encourage those you who have not taken a look at Classmate Dave Marquis new Chesapeake Brewing Company Brewpub under “construction” on West Street Annapolis to please do so. They have opened their “Plankowner” program to our class and I am proud to say I am an early plankowner in the Beat Army Bar. It will be great to partner with Dave and Carolyn for years to come in Annapolis and to have Chesapeake Brewing Company Beer and Food as a staple at our home tailgates. The link for plankowning is on our class website here.

Happy New Year Class of ’85 and no better way to kick off 2016 by announcing another GREAT Class of ’85 Event. Cheers to all of you and stay tuned for more good news to come.

As always, please feel free to email, text or call me: robertsmith5@att.net, or 502-432-6185 with questions or comments or join our USNA ’85 group on Facebook. Go Navy and Beat EVERYONE!!

Bob Smith ’85

Merry Christmas ’85! Beat Army Bar Plank Holder Program

Posted on 12/15/2015 by 1985

Email Blast 15 DEC 2015

Dear USNA ’85,

Class of 1985, I want to first of all wish you a very wonderful, safe and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year this year. Navy kicked off the season with #14 over Army as I am sure most of you saw and quite a few of you watched it with the class in Philly this past weekend. GREAT memories of a great weekend for sure. We will continue to support a Class of ’85 pre-game event in years ahead. I know many of you asked me about the Military Bowl, there is plenty of ticket information on the Navysports.com website and I suggest you go there for ticket and parking information. The game is December 28th at 1430 at NMCS in Annapolis. Here is the official website for that game: http://militarybowl.org/tailgate/. Our class will not be having their own tailgate and suggest meeting together at the Northrop Grumman Tailgate prior to the game. The Class of ’85 will meet at Fado’s Pub up the street by the Westin after the game to celebrate, so stop by and warm up with your classmates at Fado’s. Details available on the class website at: http://1985.usnaclasses.net.

I have a VERY exciting announcement to make in support of the Chesapeake Brewing Company and Classmate Dave Marquis. As many of you know, we have successfully partnered with Dave and his wife Carolyn both on our 30th Class Reunion and now at our home game tailgates. Dave and Carolyn are proud to announce they are opening the first true Annapolis Brewpub at 114 West Street Annapolis in the old Fire Station that was previously the “Crush” wine bar. As part of the new Brewpub, Dave is naming a bar inside the Brewpub the “Beat Army Bar”. The entire place will be a shrine to all things Naval Academy and obviously Beating Army is the main focus of life at USNA. I have asked Dave to start a “Plankholder” program to allow our Class and other Alums a chance to buy into his concept and give each of us a chance to support Dave and Carolyn and also be a small “owner” or stakeholder in his new bar. I have attached his Plankholder Application form that will allow all of us a place to call “Home” in Annapolis and see our name forever part of the “Beat Army Bar”. This is a pseudo “Fund Me” program and as Dave grows his business, our Class will continue to partner with him and always have a place to congregate when in Annapolis. I am proud to say I own the first plank at his new pub and encourage ALL of you to join me in supporting this venture as we will be the be the only USNA Class to be able to say our classmate owns a Brewpub on West Street in the heart of Annapolis. GREAT GREAT Christmas gifts for that grad out there or that son or daughter who attended USNA or that parent who really really loves coming to back to Annapolis for home games and dining. Here is how you sign up:

Chesapeake Brewing Co. Plank Holders Society Chesapeake Brewing Co. will be opening their new operations in Annapolis at the old Firehouse located at 114 West St. in the next 90 days. They have just announced that they will have a BEAT ARMY BAR for former and current navy personnel. They are offering for a limited time to any USNA CLASS members or friends of USNA Class Members, a ‘PLANK HOLDERS’ membership that includes some really great benefits. ‘IN PORT’ PLANK HOLDERS – Nearby Patrons $950. Commemorative Growler with 1 free refill per month for a YEAR Engraved beer goblet that stays at the bar with $1 off refills all day, every day Plank Holder Membership Certificate framed Friends and Family discount to host your events or fundraisers Special package discounts with any away events (i.e. 2016 Notre Dame vs. Navy Jacksonville being planned) Special notice of all Navy Sport events & specials Plank Holder’s Name engraved on the wall of BEAT ARMY BAR and date Special Chef samples when available while dining T-shirt celebrating the BEAT ARMY GOLDEN LAGER release Advance Notice of all tasting and tap take-overs Participation in Annual Founders Party & Sunset Cruise Voting on new Beer Names (i.e. Fear the Goat Ale or Goat Milk Stout) The growler with refill, T shirt, and Founders Party are only the initial year; all other deals and specials will be ongoing for original Plank Holders.

‘OUT TO SEA’ PLANK HOLDERS – Out of Town Patrons $475. Commemorative Growler Plank Holder Certificate framed Special notice of other Navy Sport events & specials T-shirt celebrating the BEAT ARMY GOLDEN LAGER release Invitations to all tasting and tap take-overs Voting on new Beer Names (ire. Fear the Goat Ale or Goat Milk Stout) These make a great holiday or anniversary gift option. This will greatly help with start up costs associated with doing business in Annapolis by getting it off the ground and in the right direction. We plan to have a BEAT ARMY BAR within the establishment, blue & gold Mid-garita’s, beers from Eastern Shore breweries and fun food options with a Eastern Shore flair, as well as events and musical guests. We will show all Navy sporting events as much as possible and will have a clock counting the days until the next Army Navy game!

The location at the Annapolis Firehouse, right next to the Lowe’s Hotel is a great place to have a NAVY BAR! There are ADDITIONAL BENEFITS that will be available to all Navy customers that sign up for our monthly newsletter/blog: BEAT ARMY! Show your class ring and get your first beer as the price of your graduation year. If you graduated in 75 your first beer is .75 or if your class is 2012 then you pay 2.12 8.5% of all BEAT ARMY Golden Lager sales during televised Navy Sports broadcasts, goes back to NAAA to support all sport teams as they strive for greatness. BEAT ARMY BAR will match whatever is raised! Free give-aways and drawings during Navy Sports commercials Free munchie bar at the BEAT ARMY BAR during Navy Sports televised with College Sports Network Invitations to New Beer ‘Coming Out’ Parties and Tap Take-overs Invitations to Celebrity Chef events and A&E Activities (We are located in the Arts & Entertainment District) Invitation to ‘Navy Trivia’ nights ** If anyone has Naval Academy/Duty Station pictures we could copy or any Navy memorabilia – that would also be appreciated. January is slated for necessary cleaning and renovations. The soft opening time frame is slated for mid February, depending on permits and license schedules. Plank holder form is attached:

PLANK HOLDER FORM

Plank holder Level: Out to Sea _________ In Port __________

Your Name: __________________________________________________

Plank Holder Name: __________________________________________________

Nick Name/Call Sign: __________________________________________________

Date: __________________________________________________

Mailing Address: __________________________________________________

Month/Day Birth: __________________________________________________

Phone: __________________________________________________

Email: __________________________________________________

Web: __________________________________________________

Business Industry: __________________________________________________

Title: __________________________________________________

Desired Engraving: __________________________________________________

If USNA Graduate, Year? ______________

Any Additional Information: (let us know if this is intended as a gift)

Plank Holder form and checks may be sent to: Chesapeake Brewing Company. 2103 Montevideo Dr. Jessup, MD 20794 You can email the form to chesbrewco@yahoo.com and we can send you an invoice for online payment. Carolyn Marquis http://www.chesbrewco.com/ Chesapeake Brewing Co. Regional Sales VP 443 783-5705 GO NAVY! BEAT ARMY!

Class of ’85, I am extremely excited for this opportunity to help get our classmate off the ground here and to ALWAYS have a place and a friend in Annapolis we as a class can call “OUR HOME”. I will continue to partner with Dave and Carolyn in our home tailgates and special Class events as have this past fall. If you have some cool USNA ’85, Navy or Beat Army memorabilia, Dave and Carolyn would love to have it to start their collection. (you are always welcome to come and visit it). I want to thank you all in advance and also wish you a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year in all of 2016. Go Navy and Beat Pitt!!

Regards, Bob Smith ’85 President