Rochester (CA 124) - Naval Cruise Book

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75 KW JAW4!5M W TH E UOSOSC, ROCHESTER 11956 REZRSD NAVY DEPARTMENT LIBRNU

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WELFARE A D RECREATIO ACTI ITIE 0 BOARD THE .S.S. ROCHE TER Welfare and Recreation means many things to those of us who have service experience either afioat or ashore. First in coming to our attention are things such as movies, sporting events, and so forth, that somebody always seems to sponser. On the Rochester, ithese 'activities are the result of the work and attention 'of many people from the captain on down. Two organized groups of representatives Qf all departments and divisions on thegshipipresent their views arid Each agreement on programs to beffollowed: 'The jdirect representatives of the crew are the Enlisteil Welfare andfiRecreation Corrrinittee, where the desires of the crew are first made known afier discussion. This group prepares 'its recommendations to bQforwarded to the Welfare and Recreation Council by the ships Special Services officer who sits in on Welfareff and Recreation Committee meetings as an ex-officio member. The Welfare and Recreation Council is composed of ship's ofiicers, and here too representation is on a departmental basis and includes the Chaplain. In the Council the suggestions of the enlisted Committee are given careful consideration and comparison is made with the projected plans for the year and the available funds. Funds for Welfare and Recreation activities come from our ship's store and soda fountain and this is the only regular source. The success of our ship's store as a business then determines how much money will be available for crew's recreation expense. The money we expect to earn, based on past experiences, is allocated into general categories such as athletics, movies, magazines, religious expense, and so forth, at the beginning of each year It is within these financial limits that plans are laid for the coming year. On board the Rochester this year there have been more Welfare and Recreation sponsored activities than many realize. A brief resume of some of the things that have been done will help to tell the Welfare and Recreation story. In the Naval Ship- yard at San Francisco the most successful project was a bowling league with as much divisional basketball being played as facilities would allow. Spring sports ran into our Underway Training period and the preparations for the coming cruise. As a result they were pretty much limited to individual sports and a few challenge softball games with the ship's team playing the teams of the other cruisers in the division. Our team played well and came in second in this series of games. During this period our ship's Hobby Shop came into being with the guidance of Mr. Citron, the ship's radio electrician. This activity has proven to be popular on the cruise and has furnished a lot of recreation for members of the crew. The big events immediately prior to our departure were all of the entertainment that the Padre managed to secure for us in the form of fantail shows, a movie premiere, and last but best- our fine ship's party. The ship's party was the first of its kind the Rochester has had in some time and was well received by all hands and all of the effort put into it was appreciated. Photographs of these events will be found in this volume. A full seasonal athletic program has been carried on in the Far East with the usual problems with weather and facilities. The biggest sporting event was two league divisional softball league with Ensign Fitpatrick as manager. Plans are underway to continue this program in the future. This brief account of only a few of the many activities does not present a full picture of Welfare and Recreation but it does point out some of the significant features of our organization and some of the things that have been accomplished by it this past year. Another activity of the Welirre and Recreation council is this cruise book. In publishing this book it is hoped to provide a permenant souvenir of the 1956 Cruise as another XVelEare and Recreation service. fliope that you enjoy it.-Edd