Hello Everyone! 

Here it is a new year; the beginning of April and time to “Save the Date” for this year’s gathering of the clan in San Antonio September 26th-28th where horse drawn carriage rides and great Tex Mex food is in abundance. 

This year our hosts, Pete and Betty Taylor, got a contract with the Menger Hotel, which is right across the street from the Alamo and within stumbling distance of the Riverwalk.  So, you won’t be needing your vehicle unless you’ve got some place else you would like to visit.   

I’ve got 20 rooms blocked at $139 plus tax a night and the cutoff date is 29 August 2025. The bed type is NOT guaranteed and is subject to availability upon check-in; therefore, if you require a handicap room or one with special features, I would suggest you make your reservations sooner rather later.  If you’re calling in to make your reservations inform the front desk person your group name and rate is under “Lone Star NCVA” and you’ll get the negotiated rate.  

Parking Information: Valet parking is available for hotel-registered guests at a fee of $30 and 8.25% tax per day. Day or Event parking is $25 plus tax subject to availability and changes. 

Hotel information: 

Menger Hotel 

204 Alamo Plaza, 

San Antonio, TX 78205 

Reservation booking link: https://res.windsurfercrs.com/ibe/details.aspx?propertyid=16589&nights=3&checkin=9/25/2025&group=092525NCVAREU&lang=en-us 

 

If you’re calling in to make your reservations, Mandy Saldna, Convention Service Manager, will be handling our sleeping arrangements and can be reached at (210) 293-3414. 

Hospitality Room: This year our hospitality room is equipped with two bathrooms and a small kitchen complete with a refrigerator, microwave and small dining table. Instead of our hosts having to tote coolers to put beer and water in, I made the command decision that people can bring their own beer or hard liquor and leave it in the room for when they’re ready for an “adult beverage.”  There’s a bar in the hotel on the 1st floor and this is the bar where Teddy Roosevelt recruited cowboys for his “Rough Riders” to be soldiers in Cuba. There are literally two bullet holes in the woodwork in the bar from Roosevelt accidently discharging his pistol. 

OK, the last item on my agenda is T-shirts.  This year the color is dark purple; the cost remains at $25 and since the company that makes our shirts go all out making football shirts and jerseys on September 1st, everyone will need to have their order in and paid for NLT August 26th.  This will allow our secretary ample time to place our order and ensure that we’ll have everyone’s shirt in time for the gathering.  The T-shirts will be distributed at or close to noon on Saturday the 27th in the hospitality room.