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We’re off to the races . . . .
PIIAWV Welcomes You To Our 106th Annual Convention
Enjoy a wonderful meal in the Skyline Terrace Dining Room located at Charles Town Races. They have a wonderful selection of fabulous entrees guaranteed to please. The menu will include Friday’s Prime Rib & Seafood Buffet. Enjoy breathtaking scenery and delight in a feast of culinary pleasures!
While indulging your taste buds, you can experience the thrill of live thoroughbred racing. Home of the famous West Virginia Breeders’ Classic, Charles Town Races offers some of the best live cards to be found anywhere in the country. And the best of simulcast horse and dog racing from all across America.
A race will be named in honor of Professional Independent Insurance Agents of West Virginia. The association will present a trophy to the winning owner of our race. Our group name will be listed in the racing program, on the tote board outside, and announced by the track announcer.
In addition to placing your bets on the beautiful thoroughbreds, Charles Town Races offers over 3,800 slot machines, video poker, blackjack, and keno for your gaming pleasure.
Please note that children are welcome to attend the reception and dinner and enjoy the races in the Skyline Terrace. All gaming participants must be at least 18 years of age and present proper ID.
If you want to understand today,
you have to search yesterday.
~Pearl Buck~
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From Historic Shepherdstown To The Center Of American History,
Washington, DC
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2005 has been an historic year for the insurance industry in West Virginia. Across-the-board insurance and civil justice legislative reform, as well as the privatization of West Virginia’s worker’s compensation system, have lead to remarkable possibilities for West Virginia’s independent agency force and our consumers unlike any others in recent history. Building on this theme of historical events, what better platform to host our 2005 Annual Convention than historic Shepherdstown and Washington, DC.
As a replacement for the traditional golf tournament, convention attendees are encouraged to join us on Saturday, October 8, 2005 as we board our luxury tour bus for a spectacular day trip to Washington, DC! Just 90 short minutes from our convention headquarters at the Clarion, we can’t miss this opportunity for our attendees to travel from historic Shepherdstown to visit the rich history of our nation’s capitol.
PIIAWV TO PAY RESPECTS AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
Wreath Laying Ceremony Begins Convention Day in Washington
The 2005 PIIAWV Annual Convention will witness one of the most unique and moving events in the association’s one hundred six year history. On Saturday, October 8, PIIAWV Annual Convention attendees who sign up for the day trip into Washington will participate in a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
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"Here Rests
In Honored Glory
An American Soldier
Known But To God"
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The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is one of Arlington National Cemetery's most popular tourist sites. The Tomb contains the remains of unknown American soldiers from World Wars I and II, the Korean Conflict and (until 1998) the Vietnam War. Each was presented with the Medal of Honor at the time of interment and the medals, as well as the flags which covered their caskets, are on display inside the Memorial Amphitheater, directly to the rear of the Tomb.
In 2003 as Hurricane Isabelle was approaching Washington, DC, our US Senate/House took 2 days off with anticipation of the storm. On the ABC Evening News, it was reported that because of the dangers from the hurricane, the military members assigned the duty of guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were given permission to suspend the assignment. They respectfully declined the offer, "No way, Sir!" Soaked to the skin, marching in the pelting rain of a tropical storm, they said that guarding the Tomb was not just an assignment, it was the highest honor that can be afforded to a serviceperson. The tomb has been patrolled continuously, 24/7, since 1930.
FAQs
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Question:
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1. How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the
Tomb of the Unknowns, and why? |
| Answer: |
21 steps. It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute, which is the highest
honor given any military or foreign dignitary.
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| Question: |
2. How long does he hesitate after his about face to begin his return
walk and why?
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| Answer: |
21 seconds for the same reason as answer number one. |
| Question: |
3. Why are his gloves wet? |
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His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing his grip on the rifle. |
| Question: |
4. Does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder all the time and if not,
why not? |
| Answer: |
He carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb. After
his march across the path, he executes an about face and moves
the rifle to the outside shoulder. |
| Question: |
5. How often are the guards changed? |
| Answer: |
Guards are changed every thirty minutes, twenty-four hours a day, 365
days a year.
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| Question: |
6. What are the physical traits of the guard limited to? |
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For a person to apply for guard duty at the tomb, he must be between
5' 10" and 6' 2" tall and his waist size cannot exceed 30." |
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Other requirements of the Guard:
They must commit 2 years of life to guard the tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb, and cannot drink any alcohol on or off duty for the rest of their lives. They cannot swear in public for the rest of their lives and cannot disgrace the uniform {fighting} or the tomb in any way. After two years, the guard is given a wreath pin that is worn on their lapel signifying they served as guard of the tomb. There are only 400 presently worn. The guard must obey these rules for the rest of their lives or give up the wreath pin.
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Every guard spends five hours a day getting his uniforms ready for guard duty. There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the uniform. Guards dress for duty in front of a full-length mirror. The shoes are specially made with very thick soles to keep the heat and cold from their feet. There are metal heel plates that extend to the top of the shoe in order to make the loud click as they come to a halt.
The first six months of duty a guard cannot talk to anyone, nor watch TV. All off duty time is spent studying the 175 notable people laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. A guard must memorize who they are and where they are interred. Among the notables are: President Taft, Joe E. Lewis (the boxer) and Medal of Honor winner Audie Murphy, (the most decorated soldier of WWII) of Hollywood fame.
The Sentinels Creed
My dedication to this sacred duty is total and wholehearted.
In the responsibility bestowed on me never will I falter.
And with dignity and perseverance, my standard will remain perfection.
Through the years of diligence and praise and the discomfort of the elements,
I will walk my tour in humble reverence to the best of my ability.
It is he who commands the respect I protect, his bravery that made us so proud.
Surrounded by well meaning crowds by day alone in the thoughtful peace of night,
this soldier will in honored glory rest under my eternal vigilance.
We're Going To A Real Mall . . .
A Real Big Mall!
Following the wreath-laying ceremony, it is back on the bus and on to beautiful down town DC where we will gather at the National Mall. The Mall is a lush green park area that extends approximately two miles from the US Capitol to the Washington Monument and continues on to the Lincoln Memorial. Features include 200-year-old American elm trees and several Smithsonian Institute museums. Exploring on your own, you will be able to discover attractions such as the Smithsonian Museums, the National Archives, Botanic Gardens and the National Gallery of Art which line the strip. You won’t want to miss the Lincoln, Washington, Vietnam Veterans, Korean War Veterans, WWII and other memorials.
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Click the links below for a virtual tour of the sights that you don't want to miss.
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Smithsonian Castle
1000 Jefferson Drive, S.W. Washington, DC 20560
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Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
7th street and Independence Avenue S.W. Washington, DC 20560
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National Air and Space Museum
7th street and Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, DC 20560
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United States Capitol
East Capitol street and 1st street, N.W., Washington, DC 20560
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National Gallery of Art, East Building
6th street and Constitution Avenue N.W., Washington, DC 20565
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Natural History Museum
10th street and Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20560
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The Smithsonian Institute's Arts and Industries Building
1002 Jefferson Drive, S.W. Washington, DC 20560
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Washington Monument
Constitution Avenue and 15th street N.W., Washington, DC 20560
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Lincoln Memorial
Constitution Avenue and 23rd street, N.W., Washington, DC 20560
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The Wall
17th Street and Constitution Avenue N.W. Washington, DC 20560
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For the more adventurous who wish to see sights other than those offered at the National Mall, Metro passes will be provided for you to explore other attractions in the DC area. You may visit the National Zoo, Ford’s Theater, Washington National Cathedral, Old Town Alexandria, Georgetown, and many more. However, if you want to make it back to Shepherdstown, you have to join us for dinner.
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Meet Us At The Grill
After an exhausting day of sightseeing, satisfy your appetite as we enjoy a delicious dinner in The Cabinet Room of the Old Ebbitt Grill. Just steps from The White House and museums in downtown Washington, the Old Ebbitt is a popular meeting spot for political insiders, journalists, celebrities and theatergoers, winning the AOL CityGuide for City's Best 2005 Political Hangouts.
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Following an exquisite dinner it’s back on the bus for our return ride to Shepherdstown. Share your stories of the day with your colleagues or sit back and relax as we prepare for more convention excitement!
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Jazz on the Terrace
PIIAWV is pleased to welcome the Shepherd University Faculty Jazz Trio as our entertainment for the evening. We are very excited to have the participation of local artists enhance the atmosphere of our cocktail reception and awards dinner. The cocktail party will take place on the pool terrace (weather permitting) at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center with our annual awards and installation banquet immediately following in the Rockefeller Grand Ballroom.
The musicians for the evening include:
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THOMAS WILLIAMS - Bass
Thomas Williams' musical experience is vast and varied. He has appeared with jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie, Louie Bellson, Slide Hampton, and such jazz notables as Diane Schurr, Claudio Roditi, Arturo Sanduval, and James Moody. He has performed at many of the world's most prestigious jazz festivals, including the Newport Jazz Festival and the Toronto Jazz Festival. His show experience include performances with Bob Hope, Steve Allen, The Drifters, and Little Anthony and the Imperials. A former member of the prestigious Airmen of Note, Thomas was a featured soloist with the band and many of his compositions and arrangements were performed at major music and jazz festivals, including the Detroit Montreux Cooljazz festival. Thomas' recording career spans over 20 years over 10 albums with the Airmen of Note, 2 CDs with the Fred Hughes Trio, and most recently, with famed Brazillian trumpeter Claudio Roditi in Rio de Janiero. Thomas Williams has enjoyed numerous successes with his writing including a first place award from the Mid-Atlantic Song Writing Contest and the use of his compositions for the nationally broadcasted television program, "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous". Thomas has conducted clinics and seminars for many of the nation's leading high schools, colleges and universities as well as for the 1994 and 1996 International Association of Jazz Educators conferences. He has participated in the Stanford Jazz Workshop for the past two years.
FRANK RUSSO - Drums
Drummer Frank Russo , born and raised in the N.Y.C. area, follows a family tradition of professional musicians. He began his career playing in New York with fusion bands in the late 70's and further developed his skills within his father's jazz band. He then performed in Ft Lauderdale full time with an R&B band and salsa group for a year. Frank completed a distinguished career with the Navy Band where he performed in and led several dynamic ensembles. He was stationed in Annapolis , San Diego , Great Lakes , Monterey and Norfolk during his career and was quickly immersed in each great musical community.
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He is currently a busy freelance musician in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area and has a full schedule as a drum instructor/clinician. Frank is adjunct faculty at both Towson University and Shepherd College . Highlights of his performances include the Detroit Jazz Festival, Ottawa Jazz Festival, Stan Getz Jazz Festival, East Coast Jazz Festival, Kennedy Center and many other national venues. Tours have included trips to Asia , Europe , Canada , Mexico and Bermuda. An incredibly adaptable musician, he is at home in small groups or big ensembles and with styles ranging from contemporary and latin to post bop. Frank has devoted extensive time to recording in the studio in a variety of musical settings as evidenced by his previous recordings released as leader, "All the Way" and "Quiet Now" . His releases on Summit Records with saxophonist Pete BarenBregge, "PF Flyer 2001, Point of Grace 2003", have gained national recognition and praise from Downbeat, Jazztimes and Modern Drummer along with others. He is also a member of the Fred Hughes Trio which tours overseas and has been privileged to record a live DVD concert in Korea . Frank proudly performs on maple drums designed by Keith Larsen (Maryland Drum Company) and on Bosphorus cymbals. Visit: www.dcjazz.com/frankrusso - "Frank's CD is excellent! First class! Everything about it swings its tail off! Really tremendous. Great playing, phrasing, musicality, chops...everything! Huge! Onward and Upward" Dom Famularo - "Frank Russo swings hard throughout ………" Randy Brecker - " Frank Russo burns on the Quartet's new acoustic jazz release, PF Flyer " Modern Drummer , April 2002 " Point of Grace is driven by Frank Russo's powerful, relentless rhythm. The groove is infectious , particularly when the band switches to 4/4." - All About Jazz , August 2003 "Point of Grace gives Russo the opportunity to demonstrate his ability to swing in a wide range of styles and tempi." - Downbeat , January 2004.
MARK ANDREW COOK - Piano
Mark Andrew Cook, Director of Jazz Studies, received a B.M.ed. from the Peabody Conservatory where he studied trumpet with Don Tison. He received his M.A. and Ph.D., both in Music Theory from the Catholic University of America, his dissertation an analysis of the late music of Paul Hindemith. He taught at Montgomery College where his assignments included theory and aural skills courses, history of Jazz, Jazz skills and
applied areas in Jazz piano, composition, and conducting. He directed (at various times) the Large and Small Jazz Ensembles, the Symphonic Band, and the Symphony Orchestra. He then taught theory and aural skills courses at Catholic University and directed the Jazz Ensemble at the same time serving on the adjunct theory faculty at Towson University. While teaching at MC he studied Jazz with Bill Potts and Dr. James V. Badolato. Dr. Cook serves as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the region, was Director of The IAJE-MD Summer Jazz Consortium (1992-2004), and serves on the Executive Board, MD Unit, of IAJE. Dr. Cook performs throughout the region and co-leads his own group, Set Theory, with drummer Marty Knepp. He has performed and recorded with numerous artists, most notably Chris Vadala (Out of the Shadows). He recently released a new recording, Set Theory: Prime Form.
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