Coast Guard Aviation Association

2018 Roost

Great Wolf Lodge | Traverse City

September 6-9, 2018

2018 Photo Albums

Photo Credit: Bob Powers

CGAS Traverse City BBQ

2018 Awards Banquet

Secret Garden Tour

Ptero Business Meeting

Friday Night Walking Tour

2018 Roost Activities

Self Guided Activities

For or more information about activities, facilities, restaurants and etc, in the Traverse City area go to: Traversecity.com

Looking for a fun activity during your visit to the Grand Traverse area? A pleasant balloon ride might be just what the Dr. ordered. For info: abovetraverseballoons.com Be sure and tell them that you are with the Ptero reunion and ask for the Coast Guard rate.
 
For a tour of historic Building 50: thevillagetc.com/tour/ Tour and soak in the history of the former Traverse City State Hospital. This is well worth your time!

September 6, Thursday

Hotel check in, Roost check in.

1200 Hospitality room open. Come meet and greet old friends. Ptero Store will be open. The Hospitality room will be open every day of the roost.

1600 Hotel check in available

September 7, Friday

Event 1: GOLF OUTING ELMBROOK GOLF COURSE

Elmbrook is located 15 minutes from downtown Traverse City. There will be a shotgun start at 0930. An Entry fee of $45 will include golf, a cart, and a box lunch. Rental clubs are available. The event will be a scramble format. Pick your own team or you will be assigned to a team. There will be prizes for closest to pin on the four par three holes, along with other prizes to be determined. Social hour after the golf in the Elmbrook clubhouse.

Event 2: TRAVERSE CITY HISTORIC WALKING TOUR:

A 2-hour, 2-mile tour of historic homes and history of the great lumber era.

Both the 10am and 2pm Historic Walking Tours are Full.

Those making the 10am tour should plan to leave the hotel by 0930 and make their way to the Perry Hannah Plaza at the corner of 6th St and So. Union in Traverse City.

Those doing the 2pm tour should leave the hotel no later then 1:30 pm and make their way to Perry Hannah Plaza.

Plenty of parking is available on the south side of 6th Street just west of So. Union

Event 3: Reception
Time: 1800
Place: Great Wolf Lodge, Conference Lobby and Dining Room.
Attire: Very Casual

Very Heavy, Heavy Hors d’oeuvres. Chef attended Carved Prime Rib and Roasted Turkey. Enough to make a full meal for most anyone.  A cash bar with reduced prices on beer and wine.

September 8 Saturday

Event 4: ANNUAL CGAA/PTERO BUSINESS MEETING

The annual Business Meeting will be held at 0830 in the convention center dining room.This is an important function which is a “must attend” for all Pteros. It isn’t mandatory, nothing is, but this is far more important than one might think. The future of our organization and its’ tax-exempt status is conditional on our compliance with our own bi-laws. Therefore, we need to have votes on a variety of important issues.CG 711 will give us the annual update on Coast Guard Aviation. Coffee will be provided. Please take the time and attend this important event.

SLEEPING BEAR DUNES / RESTORED COAST GUARD LIFE SAVING STATION TOUR
sleepingbeardunes.com

Luxury bus leaves the Great Wolf Lodge at 10:30AM for a scenic tour of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore and the Coast Guard Life Saving Station at Glen Haven. The tour will include stops along Pierce Stocking Drive that overlook the famous 400-foot-high sand dunes bordering the Lake Michigan shoreline. This drive was described as the most scenic in the U.S. by ABC’s Good Morning America. Following will be a tour of the restored U.S. Life Saving Service Lifeboat Station at Glen Haven. The station dates to the turn of the 20th Century and details how our predecessors lived in this remote outpost. This site is one of the best examples of a USLSS facility in existence. The tour will return to the Great Wolf Lodge at approximately 2:30PM.

Event 6: LUNCH AT ELEGANT BRYS ESTATE, GARDEN TOUR AND TALK, RESTORED LIGHTHOUSE VISIT
brysestate.com/secret-garden

Luxury bus departs the Lodge at 11:00AM for a scenic tour of Old Mission Peninsula. The drive north on the Peninsula is very picturesque with a stop at Brys Estate winery including the “Secret Garden” lavender fields. A lecture on the winery and garden tour, gift shop, sampling of Northern Michigan wines (charge per glass), a craft demonstration and lunch in a lovely outdoor setting included. Following, the drive continues to Old Mission Point, a restored Great Lakes lighthouse and homestead. Return to the Great Wolf Lodge at 2:30PM.

Event 7: AWARDS BANQUET

This years Award Winners will be recognized for their superior work on various Coast Guard rescue and recovery missions. With three named storms striking the U. S. last year, there will be many Coast Guard Aviation personnel deserving special recognition. The Great Wolf Lodge has an excellent menu:

  • Chicken Choice: All natural hormone and antibiotic free chicken breaded with parmesan cheese, panko bread crumbs and herbs de provence seasoning.
  • Beef Choice: Grilled New York strip steak with house seasoning basted w/ garlic butter.
  • Vegetarian Choice: Sweet potatoes, Brussel sprouts, broccoli, onions, sautéed with balsamic, olive oil, and seasoned with herb de Provence.

The meal will include the Chef’s choice of potato and vegetable. A bottle of red and a bottle of white wine will be included at each table.

Attire: Suit or Coat and tie; Military: CG Service Dress Blue

September 9 Sunday

Event 8: AIR STATION TRAVERSE CITY PICNIC

Air Station Traverse City will host a BBQ picnic on the hangar deck at the Air Station. This is the final event of the 2018 Roost and will provide an excellent opportunity to meet the Officers and Crew of this fine unit and see all the changes that have recently taken place including the transition to the MH-60T.In addition, this year marks the 75th anniversary of Military Helicopter aviation. The Coast Guard played a major role in establishing a helicopter pilot and maintenance training program for all U.S. as well as British military helicopter operations. The Coast Guard Historians Office will give a short presentation on the History of CG Helicopters and the people who made it all happen.