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Volume 2, Issue 3 FALL 2014Page 11
From the President, Terry MannSummer is almost over and we are
preparing for the first meeting of the new Missile Systems Retirees
Association (MSRA) this fall. The meeting is scheduled on October
15th at the Inn Suites, 475 N. Granada, (just south of St. Mary’s
on Granada). Hopefully we will see everyone there.
The past year we have experienced a few lows and many highs.
Lows of 2015:
• Someone hacked our website, which required MSRA member, Steve
Harvey,
many hours to repair.
• A second problem occurred when the email service truncated our
mailing list and a significant number of members didn’t receive our
email messages. We weren’t aware of this until a few members asked
why they were no longer receiving messages. The problem has been
resolved! A new external email program was implemented.
Positive changes throughout 2015:
• We officially changed our name from Hughes Tucson Retirees
Association (HTRA) to Missile Systems Retirees Association (MSRA).
The name is more inclusive and has helped bring in new members.
Hopefully this will continue to encourage all those who worked at
Raytheon Missile Systems Company to join our organization.
• Our membership is growing again! Members who felt they weren’t
communicated with, because of the email and website problems, are
renewing lapsed memberships. Our current membership is at 150 and
is increasing daily.
• The 2016/2017 membership drive is attracting many new members.
To date, 50 people have signed up and 70% have taken advantage of
the two-year membership option, which includes a 12.5%
discount.
• We met our goal in supporting charitable giving for the second
year! Four organizations with strong ties to the community and a
history of providing to those in need were selected. They were
Volume 3, Issue 3 FALL 2015
Inside This Issue:To go directly to the article below, click on
the title.
Terry Mann
2015 MSRA Board of Directors
and Officers
Board of DirectorsTerry Mann Barry Abrahams
Bob Dreher Anne M. McBride
Martin Lenzini Lisa Ortmann
Bo Miller Robert Van Sice
Armida Waterbury
OfficersPresident Terry MannVice President Barry
AbrahamsTreasurer Martin LenziniSecretary Lisa Ortmann
From the President,Terry Mann
MSRA Board of Directors and Officers, 2015
Editor’s Note
Clog Dancing
Growing Orchids in theDesert
Heat Optimist Club
One On One Mentoring
TROT Upcoming Event
Recipe Corner
Haven Donation
ESM
Treasurer’s Report
How to Reach Us
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Volume 3, Issue 3 FALL 2015Page 2
Therapeutic Riding of Tucson (TROT), R-TEAM Optimists Club, The
Haven and One-on-One Mentoring. Articles on a few of these groups
are included below.
A key goal for the next year is to expand the membership and
build a base going forward that will make us relevant to Tucson
through charitable giving and community service. If each of you
sent a personal invitation to your friends I believe that we could
significantly increase our membership and community presence.
I look forward to seeing you at our October 15 get together at
Inn Suites, downtown on Granada.
Terry
Editor’s Note by Judy Cameron, Editor
I have been the editor for the newsletter for the past year. It
is time for me to ask for feedback. Please let me know if you like
what you have been reading about the activities of your retired
workmates. As usual, I am interested in more input. What are you
doing now that you are retired from the missile systems plantsite?
Please reply to: [email protected]. Thanks again.
What is Clog Dancing? by Edie Hund
Clog dancing is an American folk dance with a rich history of
international fusion. The dance has evolved through the years by
blending its traditional foundations with the latest in modern
dance influences. It is a form of social or folk dance that appeals
to all age level and cultures because of its natural rhythm and
intricate sounds. It has evolved from American eastern settlers of
all nationalities that were westward bound. Many settlers continued
west while others formed communities in the mountainous regions of
the country.
The modern form uses taps that are double and loose attached to
flat-soled or low-heeled shoes. It is danced to all types of music
from country to gospel, bluegrass, to rock and pop. Dance steps are
taught and lead by an instructor.
Come join the fun by learning beginning steps and dances. They
are taught by Edie Hund. She teaches at the Ellie Towne/Flowing
Wells Community Center. Pick up a Pima County Special Interest
Classes booklet that is available at all Pima County libraries or
go on line to
http://webcms.pima.gov/cms/one.aspx?portalId=169&pageId=395 for
schedule and registration information. The next class begins
November 4th, 6:30 to 7:30 PM.
Fall Social, October 15thInn Suites, Downtown
475 N Granada Avenue
annefryTypewritten Text
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Volume 3, Issue 3 FALL 2015Page 3
Growing Orchids in the Desert by Ronald A. Coleman
I’ve been growing orchids for over 40 years. Back in 1993, when
Hughes decided to relocate to Tucson, we were living in Thousand
Oaks where I grew hundreds of orchids outside, and even more in a
greenhouse. When the announcement of the pending move came my first
thought was “I’m going only if I can grow orchids there.” Through
the American Orchid Society, I was able to contact the Tucson
Orchid Society and learned that yes, you can grow orchids in the
desert. Some 21 years later, I’m still growing orchids in the
desert, and enjoying it as much as in Thousand Oaks.
But can you grow orchids in the desert if you don’t have a
greenhouse? When I first got into orchids, it was necessary to seek
out one of the professional orchid companies in Southern
California, or buy plants by mail from those advertising in the
American Orchid Society Bulletin. Local orchid societies supported
those few hardy souls that dared to try growing these rare,
expensive, and believed difficult to grow plants. Much has changed
since we moved to Tucson. Orchids are now the most common potted
plant sold in the United States, outselling even the poinsettia.
They can be seen in grocery stores, hardware stores, and flower
shops. Every seed catalogue arriving in the mail offers plants for
sale. It is hard not to find an orchid for sale. And they are not
hard to grow if you know a few things about them.
Beginners should probably start with plants in the genus
Phalaenopsis. These are known as the moth orchids because the
flowers resemble a moth in flight. They adapt easily to home
culture and are the most common orchids sold locally. Phalaenopsis
come in many colors, but the most common are white and purple. Some
are spotted or striped. See figures 1 and 2 for examples.
Phalaenopsis come from tropical Southeast Asia, where they grow
as epiphytes, or air plants, on the branches of trees. They are
shaded from the full light of the sun by leaves of their host
trees. They are watered by rain. Their roots wrap around the
branches, collecting nutrients washed down by the rain. Throughout
the day it is warm and moist. You just have to recreate that
environment and growing them is easy. All that aside, Phalaenopsis
are fairly tolerant, so we can easily create an environment for
them in our homes.
Phalaenopsis like bright, but not direct light. Our desert light
is much stronger than the light in their native habitat. Protect
the plants from the sun by placement, or screening. An eastern
exposure works well. Southern or western exposures require curtains
to reduce light. Leaves should be light green. Dark green leaves
mean not enough light. Leaves showing red mean too much light.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Arizona Desert
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Volume 3, Issue 3 FALL 2015Page 4
Maintaining correct temperatures is a snap. Phalaenopsis like
pretty much the same temperatures we do. They do best between 60°F
and 85°F. They tolerate warmer or cooler temperatures for short
periods of time. Cooling below 60°F for a few weeks in the fall
encourages blooming, but is not mandatory.
Providing the proper humidity for the plants is a greater
challenge. Phalaenopsis do best in 50% to 75% humidity. We almost
never get that in our homes, so we need to create a micro
environment with higher humidity. Some growers put their plants in
either the kitchen or bathroom where the humidity is higher. Figure
3 shows the technique I used before I got my first greenhouse.
Place some hardware wire across a shallow pan. Put an inch or two
of water in the pan, and put the plant on top of the hardware wire.
Another way is to place pebbles in the pan and put the plant on the
pebbles. Keep the water level in the pan below the pebbles. If the
plant’s pot is kept in water, the roots will rot and the plant is
lost.
Watering is a little more challenging in Tucson than most
places. Orchids like water with a ph of about 6.5, just slightly
acidic. Water out of our taps runs a ph about 8.4. That will kill
some orchids and inhibit growth in many others. In the greenhouse,
I add critic acid to bring the ph to 6.5. I measure ph with every
watering. But I have a 250 gallon reservoir that I mix my
fertilizer in, so it is straightforward to also control the ph. In
the home, use rainwater or bottled water. Of course collecting rain
water in Tucson is not that easy. Some nurseries sell other water
treatments to control ph, but I do not have experience with them.
Phalaenopsis will grow and bloom with our tap water, just not as
vigorously, so if you can’t treat your water, you can still grow
the plants successfully. Never use water that has been through a
water softener. Many water softeners add salt, making the water
deadly to orchids. Orchids must be watered thoroughly each time. I
water with a hose and hold the hose on the pot until water is
running freely out the bottom. I move on to other plants, and then
come back and repeat the process, watering each pot three times
whenever I water.
Knowing when to water is key to keeping the plants alive.
Beginners often kill plants by overwatering, or under watering. I
water by the modified calendar method. If it is Saturday, I water.
If it has been really hot and dry, and it is Saturday, I water. If
it has been cool and damp, and it is Saturday, I water. That works
in my greenhouse. In the home, you may need to water more often
when it is really hot, or less often when it is cool. With some
experience, you can tell by the weight of the pot if the plant
needs water or by moving the potting mix around a little bit to see
if it is dry. Failing that, water on Saturday.
Orchids are light feeders. Just about any plant food will be
fine for them but many nurseries sell fertilizer labeled for
orchids. It’s all the same stuff. Use about one quarter of the
amount suggested on the label for three weeks in a row. Then do not
add fertilizer for the next watering to flush out accumulated salts
in the potting mix.
Figure 3
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Many orchids such as Phalaenopsis do not do well in potting
mixes used for most house plants. Remember, in nature they grow on
tree branches where the roots dry out rapidly. We must mimic that
environment with a potting mix that lets air get to the roots. It
should drain rapidly. For many years, chopped fir bark was the
orchid medium of choice. It supported the plant, let the roots
roam, and drained rapidly. It still is the medium preferred by many
growers and often places that sell orchids offer small bags of bark
for repotting. Over the last decade or so most commercial orchid
growers and many hobbyists have migrated to New Zealand sphagnum
moss as a planting mix for some genera. I use New Zealand sphagnum
moss exclusively on my Phalaenopsis, although I still use fir bark
for my other orchids. Some nurseries around town carry New Zealand
sphagnum moss, or you can find it on line.
Whether you choose bark or moss, repot every two years. Potting
mixes start to fail after two years, and rotted mix will destroy
the roots and the plant will die. Watch your plants after flowering
for signs of new root growth as shown in Figure 4. The roots will
be thick, white, with bright green growing tips. When the new roots
are about 2 inches long, repot. I repot new plants the first year.
I use clay pots for my Phalaenopsis because with the large leaves
and long flower spikes, the plants can become top heavy and tip
over. The mass of the clay pots helps keep them stable. Whatever
type of pot you choose, it must be well drained so it can be
flushed with each watering. Check new plants to be sure the pots
have drainage holes. Some plants are sold in decorative pots that
do not have drainage holes, and the resultant build up of salts
from the standing water will kill the orchid.
Phalaenopsis typically bloom in the spring and remain in bloom
for months. Some plants now are bred to bloom twice a year. The
corner market sells plants in bloom year round. These have been
forced into bloom by controlling light and temperature. It may take
a year or more for your new plant to adjust to its normal bloom
cycle.
A warning about orchids: they are captivating. I started with
one Phalaenopsis and soon had plants at every window. Then I had to
build a greenhouse to contain my collection. I am still buying new
plants even though the greenhouse has about 1000 plants in many
orchid genera. But whether you have one plant or hundreds, it is
fun growing orchids in the desert.
Heat Optimist Club by Anne McBride
The Heat Optimist Club was formed more than 20 years ago. It is
part of an international organization that is made up of local
community members who want to make a difference in a child’s life
by focusing on helping the youth in the Vail and Rita Ranch areas.
The Heat Optimist Club is comprised of full and part time
employees, teachers, professionals and business owners. We meet for
dinner
Volume 3, Issue 3 FALL 2015Page 5
Figure 4
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Volume 3, Issue 3 FALL 2015Page 6
twice per month for socializing, event planning and organization
as well as listen to informative speakers on topics of interest to
the membership.
With local kids in mind, we use the talents and strengths of our
members to bring ideas to life and to serve the local community. We
do homegrown local projects as well as international programs while
having the support of Optimist International. Some of our
activities are Respect for Law, Breakfast with Santa, Family Day in
the Park, Christmas Shopping Spree, Youth Appreciation, Partner in
Education, Oratorical Contest, Essay Contest, and Jr. Golf. This
last summer, the kid we helped sponsor in the golf tournament, tied
for 3rd at the international tournament!
In July, we received $500 from the Missile Systems Retirees
Association to help fund our many activities to support kids. This
donation should allow us to at least maintain the 10 kids we
brought to the shopping spree last year. At the Shopping Spree, we
outfit each child from head to toe including jacket, shoes, socks,
underwear, pajamas, pants and shirts. They also get a visit from
Santa with a few gifts. Most of our members list this as one of the
activities that convinced them to join and/or stay a member of the
club. We can always use volunteers!
Our other December event is Breakfast with Santa. We provide a
pancake breakfast (pancakes, sausage, and hot cocoa, milk, and
coffee) to families. Cost is minimal (about $10 for a family). We
set things up the night before and start cooking early the next
day. Santa is there for pictures. Again, we can always use
volunteers!
If you are interested in helping out with either event
(Breakfast with Santa evening of 12/4 and breakfast on morning of
12/5 or the Shopping Spree the morning of 12/12), contact Anne Mc
Bride ([email protected]).
One On One Mentoringby Terry Mann, President
Dear Terry and all the Missile Systems Retirees Association,
Thanks so much for taking the time to drop by and hear more
about what we are doing to help our youth here in Pima County.
Thanks also for the very generous gift of $500.00 to help us
continue reaching out to our kids.
One On One Mentoring began over 20 years ago. At the time, I was
the head track coach at a local high school and the best kid on the
team took his life in the parking lot after school one day! I knew
that day I would be doing something different soon.
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We applied for a major grant with Pima County and in 1995 we
be-gan mentoring kids all over Pima County. Recently we were asked
to become the mentoring program for the Boys and Girls Clubs of
Tucson.
In Pima County we have over 20,000 kids who have one or both
parents in prison, and all together, over 30,000 kids in single
par-ent homes, group homes, foster homes, living with grandparents,
or homeless!
Our goal is to find quality adult role models who are willing to
be matched up with a boy or girl (men with boys, women with girls)
ages 5-17. The original goal is to get together on a weekly basis
for an aver-age of three hours for one year. If, after the first
year is completed, the mentor and mentee want to continue, they
develop alumni status and need to try and meet at least once a
month for the next year or until the mentee turns 18.
Every month we do a big event such as a hike and ride up the
chair-lift on Mt. Lemmon, U of A football game, fishing trip to
Lake Patago-nia, etc. Volunteers are needed to chaperone those kids
who come and are on the waiting list, but not matched up with a
mentor yet. If any of you are interested in becoming a mentor,
volunteer or have any questions, please call our office at 624-4765
for more in-formation or call my cell at 260-1428. You can also go
to You tube and click on One On One Mentoring video or our web
page: 1on1mentoringtucson.com
Thanks again Terry and the Association for caring and for George
Lord, one of our former board members who submitted the grant
request. You guys are awesome!!!
For Our kids,
Don McNeillExecutive DirectorMentoring Tucson’s Kids
TROTby Terry Mann, President
Since 1974, TROT has been enriching the lives of people with
special needs by using equine assisted activities and therapies to
improve physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. TROT’s
clients include both children and adults with disabilities such as
cerebral palsy, developmental delay, Down syndrome, traumatic brain
injury, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, hearing/vision
impairments and autism. Since 2006, TROT has provided specialized
services for military veterans through its “Heroes on Horses”
program.
Volume 3, Issue 3 FALL 2015Page 7
Rose CanyonMt. Lemmon
U of A Football
Therapeutic Riding of Tucson
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More than 140 volunteers assist in programs weekly. TROT
provides many volunteer opportunities for MSRA members from working
directly with the riders to office tasks, yard work and special
events.
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TO: Sponsors of Joshua
Dear Sponsors, I want to THANK YOU for this experience given to
Joshua, an experience that has helped Joshua open up to others, to
enjoy his life, his surroundings. To enjoy who he is as a person. A
young man who is talented, bright, and caring.
Joshua has built such a strong rapport with the staff of
T.R.O.T. and with his horse, Skittles. Joshua speaks highly of the
staff and how helpful they are to him, and he is eager and willing
to show and tell anyone who will listen all that he has
learned.
He has started to take a genuine interest in horses and in
animals overall. Fears; that were once seen as encompassing all of
him. Limiting his enjoyment of life and his surroundings. Joshua’s
eyes light up when he speaks of T.R.O.T. and of Skittles and how
much he is looking forward to the next riding lesson.
This experience has helped Joshua tremendously to open himself
up to others, to family and to others outside of the home. Joshua
and I, his mother, and the immediate members of Joshua’s’ family
wish to thank you for the light, the happiness, the anticipation
that T.R.O.T. has brought to Joshua.
Thank you ever so much!!
Joshua and Family
The name has been changed to ensure the privacy of this youth
and his family.
Upcoming Event! by MSRA Board
Just a reminder, if you have not already signed up, help us
properly plan for our upcoming social by not waiting until the last
few days before the event.
Our Fall Social will be Thursday, October 15 at the Hotel
Tucson, Inn Suites, 475 N. Granda just South and East of the St.
Mary’s exit on I-10.
The social and no host bar starts at 5:00 p.m. with dinner
buffet available starting at 5:30 p.m. followed by an update what’s
hap-
Volume 3, Issue 3 FALL 2015Page 8
Terry Mann with Laurel Brown, TROT Board President, and
Apple-
jack, a member of TROT’s herd.
Upcoming Event
October 15
Mark Your Calendars!
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Volume 3, Issue 3 FALL 2015Page 9
pening at Missile Systems Retiree Association starting about
6:30 p.m. We plan to have a guest speaker but have not finalized
the arrangement yet.
The buffet includes pulled beef and chicken, potatoes,
southwestern vegetables, garden salad, ranch and italian dressing.
Warm rolls and butter, fresh fruit cobbler, ice tea and coffee.
The charge is $23.00 for members and the same for their guests.
The charge for non-members is $28.00 and includes a $5.00 credit
towards membership dues. You can pay in advance (which we strongly
encourage) at www.MissilesRA.com/Upcoming-Events. You can also send
a check to:
Missile Systems Retirees Associationc/o 59869 E. Arroyo Grande
DriveOracle, AZ 85623
You can pay at the door, but as usual that gives us a hard time
de-termining how to advise the hotel on seating and size of the
buffet, so please order in advance, either on-line or by mail.
Time to share those recipes again. Please send your favorite
recipe to [email protected].
Chili Relleno Casserole
Ingredients:
2 (7 oz) cans whole green chili drained8 oz Shredded Monterey
Jack Cheese 8 oz Shredded Longhorn or Cheddar Cheese2 eggs beaten
1(5oz)Can evaporated milk2 tablespoons all purpose flour 1/2 cup
milk
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9×13 in baking pan/dish with
cooking spray.
Place 1/2 the green chili’s evenly on bottom of dish. Sprinkle
1/2 the Monterey Jack and 1/2 the cheddar cheese. Cover with
remaining chili’s.
In a bowl mix eggs, milk(s), flour, pour over chili’s and bake
for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with remaining
cheeses. Bake an additional 10-15 minutes.
If you want to mix it up I like to put cooked hamburger meat in
the mixture.
Chili Relleno Casserole
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Volume 3, Issue 3 FALL 2015Page 10
Haven Donation by Barry Abrahams
Thank You Letter
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Volume 3, Issue 3 FALL 2015Page 11
http://missilesra.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/ESMDiscountGuide.pdf
ESMby Anne McBride, Board of Directors
The Raytheon-Tucson Employees Association Membership (R-TEAM)
pays dues annually to be a member of the Employee Services
Management (ESM) association. ESM provides numerous discounts and
services na-tionally. R-TEAM members (which includes retirees) can
take advantage of these discounts by showing the red ESM sticker to
the participating businesses. You can get your ESM sticker at the
quarterly MSRA meet-ings. Buyer’s Guides containing the discounts
are published every year. Buyer’s Guides will also be available at
the meetings as well as online on the MSRA website or on the ESM of
Southern Arizona website (ESMTuc-son.org). If you have any
questions regarding ESM or R-TEAM, please contact Anne Mc Bride
([email protected]).
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Volume 3, Issue 3 FALL 2015Page 12
ESM (Continued)by Anne McBride, Board of Directors
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ESM (Continued)by Anne McBride, Board of Directors
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ESM (Continued)by Anne McBride, Board of Directors
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ESM (Continued)by Anne McBride, Board of Directors
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ESM (Continued)by Anne McBride, Board of Directors
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ESM (Continued)by Anne McBride, Board of Directors
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ESM (Continued)by Anne McBride, Board of Directors
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Volume 3, Issue 3 FALL 2015Page 19
by Marty Lenzini, MSRA Treasurer
Hughes Tucson Retirees Association (HTRA) has successfully
changed the association’s name to Missile Systems Retirees
Association (MSRA) to be more inclusive for all legacy companies.
This places the focus on our organization’s events and
accomplishments rather than on our name. Our goal is to make all
retirees feel more comfortable and welcome. In order to enhance
this year’s 2016 membership drive, MSRA has offered a one year
membership, including the rest of this year, for $20.00 and a
membership that runs through 2017 for $35.00. Please take advantage
of these great membership offers. As of Sep-tember, our
organization had 140 members for 2015. This membership total is 60
members less than we had in 2014.
MSRA 2016 Proposed Budget
Election Mailing
......................................................$225.00
Insurance
...................................................................300.00
Corporation Filing fee
................................................10.00 Community
Charity ...............................................2,000.00 Web
Expenses
...........................................................300.00
PayPal fees
................................................................177.00
Publish and Mail Directory
.......................................500.00 Postage
.......................................................................60.00
Miscellaneous
...........................................................150.00
Total Expenses
......................................................$3,722.00
Income from 2016 Membership Drive .................3,000.00
Reserve cash & savings (plus any carry- over from the 2015
budget) ...............................$1,745.00
TOTAL INCOME ...................................................
$4,745.00
HOW TO REACH USWebsite: www.missilesra.comE-mail:
[email protected]: MSRA, c/o 3690 N. River Canyon Road,
Tucson, AZ 85750STAFF Editor Web Master Proofreaders Judy Cameron
Phil Moul Kate Fox Grace Rael Kathy Dixon
Newsletter Design Event Photographer Anne Fry Roy Chamberlin
This newsletter is a publication of the Missile Systems Retirees
Association (MSRA), which includes former and current employees and
families of Raytheon, Hughes, CSC, General Dynamics, HFCU, Texas
Instruments, and E-Systems. Membership $20.00 per year. Articles
must be submitted six weeks before the next scheduled newsletter is
published.
© 2015 MSRA. All rights reserved.
Random Little Tidbit
Night FallOctober 1 - 31
25th Anniversary
http://nightfallaz.com
http://missilesra.com
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