**MINUTES OF EAA BOARD/GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING**

**October 14, 2008**

The EAA General Assembly meeting convened at 2:30 and ended at 4:00 p.m.

In attendance: Ginger Gibson, President

Dianne Milner, Secretary/Treasurer

Mavis Ilkenhans, Vice President, Publicity

**President, Ginger Gibson** opened the meeting at 2:30 p.m.

**[Chris Fowler]{.underline}** (absent) - **Gilruth Center Update --**
Chris**, Facility** Manager of the Gilruth Center reported via e-mail:
The basketball gym is temporarily open; however, it will be closed for
repair in a couple of weeks for 2-3 weeks because the new basketball
floor had water damage and has to be resurfaced. The Gilruth Center came
out quite well, damage-wise. There were missing panels to the porte
cache at the front entrance and, that entrance is closed temporarily for
repair. There was also some damaged fencing and many trees fell on the
Gilruth grounds causing temporary closing of the jogging trail.

FYI: Employees' membership fee for the Gilruth Center is covered by
sponsoring members and spouses may join for \$240/a year.

**[Jennifer Blok]{.underline} -- Wellness Center** -- Watch for new
fitness program "maintain -- no gain." Link to Wellness Center:
[www.explorationwellness.com](http://www.explorationwellness.com/)

**[Lisa Rasco]{.underline}** -- **Starport -- The 50^th^ Anniversary
Gala** has been rescheduled to Saturday, November 22, at the Galveston
Convention Center. Tickets are on sale now if you would still like to
purchase---ticket sell goes through October 31. If a refund for the gala
is needed, refund requests must be mailed to Peter Noto by October 24.

**Miscellaneous Scheduled Employees Activities/Tickets:**

**November 20 -- The International Space Station is celebrating its 10
Year Anniversary** at Space Center Houston, 5-10 p.m. Fajita buffet and
refreshments will be served, special program at 6 p.m., Max Q Band,
astronaut autographs. Tickets are on sale through Starport: adults/\$10
and children 5-12/\$8 and children 4 yrs and younger/free. All NASA,
Contractors, International Partners and family are invited.

Wrestle Mania tickets will be available for the event scheduled April 5,
2009. Save \$5 off your ticket.

Starport 50^th^ Anniversary Cross Country -- October 17

NASA Day with the Texans -- November 9

Discovery Toy Fair in the B3 Café -- November 12-14

Astronaut Tom Jones Book signing -- B-3 Café -- November 18

Book Fair Dates are:

November 3-7

Ellington Field: December 3

Holiday Bazaar -- November 15, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Gilruth Ballroom

Jewelry Fair date: November 19-20

Bath & Body Fair is scheduled for December 3-5, building 3 café

College Basketball UT vs. Michigan and A&M vs. LSU -- December 20

Playhouse Disney -- December 21

Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockets January 2, 3 or 4,
2009, at the Toyota Center

Miscellaneous merchandise will be sold in the Starport gift shops in
commemoration of the NASA 50^th^ Anniversary. Many local and national
community events are planned. Please go to the Starport website for
additional detailed information. http://starport.jsc.nasa.gov/

**[Vice-President, Ann Patterson]{.underline}** (absent) -- discussion
of a Christmas tree vendor continued. A JSC employee owns a Christmas
tree farm in Angleton. Ginger will check into the possibility of a
discount for those that would travel to Angleton to the Christmas tree
farm.

[**Vice President for Children's Socials (Elaine
Stephens**)]{.underline} - The fall party date **has been re-scheduled
for Wednesday/October 29.** The theme will be a Sherlock Holmes theme---
clues are planned to hunt for the candy at Space Center Houston. The
cost is \$7/children and \$5/adults. Bring your own camera for pictures
of your children. Flyers are due out soon and tickets on sale now.
<http://starport.jsc.nasa.gov/EmployeeActivities/images/FallPartyFlyer08.PNG>

The children's holiday party has been scheduled for Saturday, December
6^th^ from 1pm-4pm at the Gilruth Center. The theme is "an old fashioned
holiday" or "holidays past." Tickets will be on sale mid November.

**[Vice President for Publicity (Mavis Ilkenhans]{.underline})** --

Tickets are on sale for Disney on Ice - scheduled for: Saturday,
November 15, 11:30 a.m. and Sunday, November 16, 1:30 p.m. Pre-purchase
tickets Tuesday, October 14 thru Tuesday, October 28.
<http://starport.jsc.nasa.gov/EmployeeActivities/documents/DisneylandAdventure1108_000.pdf>

An \$800 renewal check has been issued to the Houston Livestock Show and
Rodeo and 1,040 tickets have been purchased. Price range is \$19-\$21.

**[Vice President for Socials Rose Gardner (Ginger Gibson
reported)]{.underline}** -- The Holiday Dinner Dance is scheduled for
Saturday, December 13. 225 Big Band will be the band for the event. The
New Year's Eve Dinner Dance will be December 31. Flyers will be posted
approximately a month prior to the event(s) and ticket will go on sale
about 3 weeks out. Tickets will be \$50-\$60/person.

**[Vice President for Travel (Ginger Gibson)]{.underline}** -- reported
that the Classical Greek EAA sponsored trip is scheduled to depart
November 9, has had some changes in the itinerary due to the cruise line
canceling the last 4 7-night cruises of season. The trip will include
12-night accommodations, including: four nights on the Aquamarine cruise
ship for a cruise of the Greek Isles, two nights at Hotel Acropol,
Athens; one night in Nauplia, one night in Olympia, one night Amalia
Hotel, Delphi & one night Hotel Kalambaka; ending with two night at the
Hotel Acropol, Athens. Two cities were added to the tour, as well as a
\$100 per person refund, and the tour company is picking up the expense
of the side trip Ephesus in Kusadasi. Tour highlights include: Athens
city tour; The Acroplis; Syntagma Square; Ancient Olympic Stadium;
Temple of Zeus & Hadrian's Arch; Meteora Monasteries; Thermopylae;
Ancient Delphi; Greek Islands Cruise; Athens by Night; Greek Taverna
farewell dinner. To date 37 people are going on the trip. She is
checking on trips for 2009 and tentatively looking at South America,
Peru & Machu Picchu Explorer, Legendary Danube River Cruise, or Eastern
Europe (featuring Warsaw, Krakow, Budapest, Vienna & Prague.), Canadian
Rockies, Costa Rica.

**[Concluding Remarks]{.underline}**: Ginger reported the JSC picnic was
held April 20 at Splashtown and was a huge success. Splashtown's package
for JSC included: exclusive use of the park, free parking; excellent
food (all the food and drink you could consume); bingo for adults;
balloon clowns; face painting; organized games/activities for little
kids; DJ and music; lots of shade and trees; free return ticket; and a
great water park with lots of great rides. Total ticket sales were 1840.
Splashtown will most likely be chosen for the JSC 2009 picnic, but
Ginger stated she will also be checking with a couple local venues.

Ginger also relayed the appreciation of many employees for opportunity
to have the Gilruth as an R&R refuge from Hurricane Ike.

A drawing for door prizes concluded the meeting with lots of winners.
Check out the Starport website for more information on EAA activities,
Sports/Athletics, Fitness, Nutrition, Catering, and all things Starport.
<http://starport.jsc.nasa.gov/>

Meeting adjourned at 4 p.m.

Respectfully submitted:

Dianne Milner

EAA Secretary/Treasurer

281-483-1206

dianne.milner-1@ nasa.gov