2021 Watts Bar Comearound AAR (20211223)
Posted: 12/23/2021
Blessed with crisp and almost perfect fall weather and a beautiful natural setting on Watts Bar Lake near Ten Mile, TN, 48 members of the USNAAARV Chapter gathered for the annual Watts Bar Come Around from October 17-24. This CA could have been called the Covid Contingency Come Around, as events were shuffled in response to Covid impacting several activities (TVT special theatre performance cancellation, and replacement of our hired DJ by our very own John Madaio’77.) But our chapter specializes in being flexible, and the members made the best out of a fun and relaxing week.
Hosted by Firsties Lynne and Jim Connors ’74, the event has become an almost annual highlight of the chapter’s calendar. Besides the usual activities including Happy Hours, pizzas, chili cheese dog dinner, campsite breakfast, campfires, s’mores, and prerequisite jokes and sea stories, members participated in a tour of Watts Bar Lake via pontoon boat. John Madaio led our chapter in a very moving flag retirement ceremony. Our members will never take a brick for granted after enjoying an enlightening tour of the local General Shale Brick factory in nearby Spring City. Our silver tongued chapter President Jack Parry ‘67 filled in as auctioneer and massaged $814 from our wallets during a Watts Bar record setting auction. Rose and Tom Wolfe ‘70 cranked out enough margaritas to make the potluck dinner seem like a 5 star restaurant dinner. We also enjoyed a BBQ dinner followed by dancing with our new chapter DJ. And the come around was concluded with a Grand Finale Fireworks extravaganza choreographed by Jim Connors with supporting cannon fire from Scott Goodson’76.
48 chapter members attended this come around, making it the largest Watts Bar event in chapter history. Check out the USNAAARV Chapter website and FB page for more details, photos, event videos and information on how to join this fun group!
Attendees for Watts Bar 2021
Baldwin 74 Don and Susan
Barrett 69 Frank and Julie
Colman 77 Paul and Linda
Connell 70 Royal and Melinda
Connors 74 Jim and Lynne
Gange 70 Dale and Su
Giffin 67 Hank and Stevie
Goodson 76 Scott and Sandy
Gordon 67 Adrian and Deb
Hallihan 72 Tim and Vanessa
Higgins 66 Walt and Jacqueline
Jones 85 Drew and Talisa
Madaio 77 John and Eileen
McIlwain LSU Jerry and Mari
Metcalf 61 Bob and Maryjane
Miller 76 Pete and Cindy
Parry 67 Jack and Nita
Polanski 69 Gary and Val
Shields 70 Tom and Ellen
Wade 76 Hoot and Janet
Waldrop 64 Keith and Karen
Wehrle 72 Andy and Eva
Williams 67 Jay and Patti
Wolfe 70 Tom and Rose
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