Most of this year’s retiree’s Roundup participants sheltered at Don Laughlin’s Riverside Resort and Casino, the event headquarters. This year’s program format was different than previous Roundups. The traditional Wednesday evening banquet was replaced with three separate evening social gatherings. The Starview Room managed to handle a Dessert Night, a Pizza Night and a Hors D’oeuvres and Dessert affair on Wednesday, the last night. This arrangement allowed for significantly easier table-hopping conversations and, for the detectives among us, better access to the bar and the cocktail waitresses.
The Roundups are getting bigger and better with each passing year. Seventy-two people attended the 1st Roundup in 2000 in Prescott, Arizona. The 8th Annual Roundup in Laughlin, Nevada, saw almost 800 retirees, spouses, friends and family. These days, retirees are healthier and living longer. There were at least 18 retirees who were 80 or older chasing around the premises. Hiram Martin at 87 was at the top of the pile in Laughlin. Frank Waldron just slid over the line at 80, but was the longest retired 80+ at 32 years. Lillian Faralla was the oldest retired female deputy present at 82. Take that LACERA!
Paul Sylvia, Scott Carter and Michael Handley were the “youngest” retirees at the Roundup, having just left active service at the end of March in 2007. As a matter of fact, even one or two just-about to-retire folks reconnoitered the premises. Good to see them.
Global warming might be one of the more popular eco-topics these days, but it seems that Laughlin was left out of that equation for this year’s Round-up. The weather was absolutely great! Cool and somewhat windy. There were a few thunderstorms scattered about the Southwestern desert, but they failed to make one of their spectacular nighttime appearances over the Cerbat and Black Mountains.
Have you heard of Prosopo-affective agnosia (PAA), a condition wherein some people are unable to recognize a person by their facial characteristics? It can be a social hazard at times, but at the Roundup, nobody seemed to care. Nametags and an extended happy hour easily solved that problem.
The beauty of the Roundup’s activities format is that it offers something for everyone. Socializing was maximized and people still had time for a Golf Tournament, a Texas Hold-em Poker Tournament, a Slots Tournament, and an HR 218 CCW Qualification Course. A number of units undertook their own get-togethers like luncheons and breakfasts. The Riverside adds to the mix with first run movies, bowling, numerous restaurants, some cozy watering holes, an unparalleled view of the Colorado River and, if one is so inclined, an opportunity to test your skills in some games of chance.
This year’s Roundup had all sorts of winners. The 50/50 Raffle is an event designed to provide seed money for the following year’s expenses. Half of it goes into the bank and the other half into the raffle pot. A custom-made .45 cal autoloader was donated to the raffle by the one and only, Pappy Benton, Rangemaster Extraordinaire. There was also a Sheriff’s ring and a 7-day Hawaii vacation tossed in for good measure. Oh, and there were cash incentives too. There was an $800 grand prize, another for $400 and another for $300. Several fistfuls of $100 prizes were also up for grabs. The big 50/50 winners were Dave Dietrich, Ollie Taylor, Drew Rusnak, Ed Walsh, Dick Kelley and Don Copeland.
Everyone registering for the Roundup was eligible for some great door prizes. Each one of the numerous wine bottle prizes was also attached to a $30.00 gift card from Costco, Chili’s or the Olive Garden. There was more. Corky and Chuck Jackson donated a custom handmade quilt. 10-8 Designs also donated a custom Sheriff’s quilt. List member Mark Thompson, of Surefire Flashlights, donated 8 Surefire Flashlights. List member Chris Ramsay donated a Maine Lobster gift basket which also included “6” Maine Lobsters shipped to the winner in memory of her father who was a Sergeant on the Department. Those freebie Door Prize tickets are really worth taking care of and routinely checking the prize board.
Walt Allsop and Oliver “Goose” Granni were co-winners at the Texas Hold-em Poker Tournament and split a $1600 prize. Over at the Slots Tournament, Willa Glover thumped Ron Sanner and grabbed $800, while Ron managed to squeeze by Cin Hollins and haul in a nifty $500. Cin had to be content with 3rd place and $300.
Besides a room full of good friends and old colleagues, ALADS, POPOA, POPAFCU, SRA, RELAC were represented and available to answer questions. Their support is always welcome and most appreciated. Additionally, several vendors were there with Roundup and retiree-specific goods and services.
There are at least two retirees living in Thailand. They failed to show, so the distinction of traveling the longest distance went to Marv and Mary Love (Parker) who dropped in from Keauhou, Hawaii, some 3,000 miles distant. Buck and Bonnie Custer did not drive the furthest. They did, however, swing by the Roundup from Orlando, FL en-route to Alaska and a long drive back to the Sunshine State’ 12,000-miles! Phew!
HR 218 has become code for the ability of duly qualified retired peace officers to travel CCW throughout the United States. This long-needed federal legislation has had to struggle through some diverse and sometime obstreperous resistance of the several states of this nation. LASD has been on top of it from the beginning. The Department has reached out to its retirees and assisted them with becoming HR 218-qualified. For the last several years Sheriff Baca has sent Sgt. Dave Nell and Deputy Ed Corrette to administer a Department-sanctioned qualification process at the Roundup. Thanks Sheriff. It is greatly appreciated and all of us are thankful for the good job that Dave and Ed do for us.
The Roundups just don’t happen. Lots of folks are at work out front and behind the scenes. Trail Bosses Moon and Robyn Mullen wear many hats. They are the strategic and tactical planners, the event executives and the heart of the Roundup. They’ve developed quite a “staff”. Ollie Taylor puts together the very successful HR 218 program. Walt Bouman ramrods the many donations. Charlie and Linda Englebart organize and coordinate the volunteers. Norm Copping rides herd on the Golf Tournament. Tony Hollins took charge of the Slots Tournament. Robyn Mullen added the Poker Tournament to her already considerable load. Space doesn’t allow for a complete listing of all the folks who assisted with their money and time. Things change but somehow stay the same. The people of LASD can come together and do the job when it counts. It’s something they’ve always done.
Next year’s LASD Roundup has been set for Sunday, April 6th through Wednesday, the 9th. Each Roundup has been a fun-filled endeavor than and well worth the trip. Be sure to set the time aside on your 2008 calendar.