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AACS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Comprised of over 2,200 members (Communications, Information/Cyber, Air Traffic Controllers, Air Field Managers, Maintenance & other Related Support personnel ) who have served or are serving in any communications or air traffic control unit. Or hold or held a communications, information/cyber, air traffic control. maintenance or related support skill set. The term "Communications" or "Communicators" is all inclusive and it includes ALL operational, maintenance and administrative skills. "Fellowship in the Company of Equals" |
LEGACY COMMANDS/AGENCIES
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The AACS Alumni Association is a Tax Exempt IRS Certified 501 (c) (19) Veterans Organization
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| Association Links Links to News, Events, and Membership Information 2008 Convention - Branson, Missouri Sept 24-28th, 2008 INFORMATION & FORMS Membership Application (printed copy or On-Line) Click here for the June 08 New Members report.
A snap shot of Grand Island,NY
POLICIES: Hall of Fame Policy
(page of honor) Position Descriptions
For the Board Sign
the Guestbook NOTE 1: When viewing the guestbook click on a person's name if it is underlined and you will receive their email address automatically. NOTE 2: IF YOU CLICK ON "PRIVATE" ONLY THE WEB MASTER CAN READ YOUR ENTRY !!!!!!!!! Other Links
Air Force Communications Agency--Current News Links to Other Military
Associations-Courtesy of wiredawg.net
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Questions,
comments, suggestions should be directed to Hank Sauer, DirAACS@comcast.net *************************************************************************** PURPOSE OF THE AACS WEB SITE, is to provide past and current Air Force Communicators, Air Traffic Controllers, Maintenance, Information/Cyber and other support skills with information to learn about the Alumni Association and who and what we are. It also provides other useful information for our members concerning our annual conventions and other important news and announcements about the Association. Over 65% of our members have Internet access. Most important, is the fact that we "do not sell insurance", "barter for discounts" or "advertise any products". We exist on annual dues ($10 per-year) and donations and we are in a great financial position. We sell shirts, hats, patches, pins, etc at cost plus mailing and not at a profit and we run our annual convention on a break-even basis, not as a fund raiser.
WHO TO CONTACT FOR AACS ALUMNI INFORMATION Walt McLain: For Information about the Association, conventions, membership and reporting members and spouses for the"Missed Roll Call" Listing.. aacsmbrship@comcast.net or call TOLL FREE 1-866-299-1045 Ray Sharpless: For Information about Donations, PX/BX Orders and Alumni Financial status. rayshrplss@kc.rr.com Hank Sauer: For Information about the WEB Site and "The AACS Communicator", DirAACS@comcast.net ******************************************************************************* HOME PAGE WAS LAST UPDATED: August 6, 2008: The AF announced that Maj Gen Randal D. Fullhart will become the Vice Commander of the Cyberspace Command on Oct 1, 2008. He will also become Commander of th 24th Air Force (AFCA will be absorded by the 24th AF). Gen Fullhart is coming from the Central Security Service for NSA in Maryland. The new Command Chief is Carol A.M. Dockery who has been announed earlier. The Cyberspace Command commanders billet calls for a 3 star and until further announcements are made by the AF, Maj Gen Bill Lord will continue as the Commander. July 25, 2007: New Snow-Bird policy for mailing Communicators. See "General Information below or CLICK HERE June 13, 2008: If you need to email GENE SHERIDAN, 2008 Convention Host and the AACS Historian, use "afvetretired@comcast.net" or JOHN WATSON, 2008, Chair of the Nominating Committee, use "jdcfwat@comcast.net. ***************************************************************************** INDEX of Home Page Information **Features** **Convention News** **Honors/Awards** **Active Duty News & Leadership Changes ** **Membership Roster** if a member Click here (we now have a WORD Version, where you can easily use the Edit/Find fuctions to find names, units, etc.) **Alphabetic Listings of Locations/Comm Units**CLICK HERE **Missed Roll Call** **How to Join** **General Information/News** **Alumni History/Information** ******************************************************* FEATURES Test for the Communicators, Big file, takes time to appear and you need Adobe Reader. (Cover Only) If we put up the entire issue of the communicators, they will be password protected, same as the membership roster. We are working on getting the 72 pages into one file to make it easy for members to scroll from page to page (keep your fingers crossed) Click Here: The Communicator June 2008 ********************************************************************** See "Berlin Airlift GCA" under "other Links" below on the left hand side of this page. See the GCA Approach to Templehof almost 60 years ago. or click here: Berlin Airlift GCA , Please be patient, it may take a few seconds to load and requires a movie viewer, such as Windows Media Player in order to play the movie ********************************************************************************** AF 2008 Hall of Fame Program Andrews AFB, MD, April 30, 2008 Please be patient, this is an extremely large file (84 Mb) and will require a movie viewer, such as Windows Media Player in order to play the movie. In many cases, depending on the speed of your internet connection, it may be easiest to download the movie (right click on the link to the movie, click Save As and save it to your hard drive and then play the movie from your hard drive). +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ See a Great old Air Force Tribute to the "Boy's in Blue" Click here USANewSongSalutesAFBlueL.wmv Please be patient, it may take a few seconds to load and requires a movie viewer such as Windows Media Player in order to play the movie. The movie is old, but worth watching. ************************************************************ AF Communications Command - Reins of Command Song ************************************************************ Proposed Name Change: IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT TO ALL MEMBERS. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ARE PROPOSING A NEW NAME FOR THE ASSOCIATION. IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THE RATIONALE FOR THIS CHANGE AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO REMAINING A VIABLE ORGANIZATION, PLEASE CLICK HERE PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ONLY THING THAT WILL CHANGE IS THE NAME OF THE ASSOCIATION AND THE WEB SITE ADDRESS. OUR HISTORY STAYS IN TACK. Members attending the 2008 Convention in Branson, MO and absentee voters will vote on the changes to our Constitution and By-Laws. NOTE: After reading the " Name Change Rationale" file, if you want to email the Executive Director at the email listed at the bottom of the file, and if you left click and it does not open your email screen, RIGHT CLICK ON THE EMAIL ADDRESS AND THEN CHOSE "OPEN HYPER-LINK" TO OPEN YOUR EMAIL MESSAGE SCREEN. *************************************************************************** CONVENTION NEWS The Convention Committee ANNOUNCED BRANSON, MISSOURI AS THE SITE FOR THE 2008 ANNUAL CONVENTION, SEPT 24-28, 2008 AT THE SETTLE INN. Please note that the Settle Inn may change their name in 2008 to the "STONE CASTLE HOTEL". The phone numbers will remain the same if the name changes. Information and forms for this convention are now posted on the Convention Link. Click here for the Convention - Branson Missouri The Convention Committe ANNOUNCED GRAND ISLAND, NY (near Niagara Falls) AS THE SITE FOR THE 2009 ANNUAL CONVENTION, September 23-27, 2009 at the Holiday Inn. A snap shot of Grand Island,NY IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE HOTELS AND LOCATIONS OF PAST AND PLANNED CONVENTIONS CLICK HERE ****************************************************************** HONORS/AWARDS The following individals have been selected for induction into the Air Force Communications/Information Hall of Fame, Class of 2008. All three of these outstanding leaders were inducted into the Hall of Fame at Andrews AFB, MD on April 30, 2008. Maj General Alvin L. Pachynski (deceased) Maj General Van C. Doubleday (AACS Life Member) CMSgt Walter D. McLain (AACS Life Member) Click here AF Hall of Fame to see the Founders listing and all those inducted from 1999 to date. To see an individual's career summary, click on the year of induction. Since the Hall of fame was created in 1999, 20 of the 32 Inductees have been or are Association Members. Some incumbents passed away before 1977 when the Association was formed. Association members wishing to nominate other members for this high honor (AF Comm/Info Hall of Fame) should click on the Hall of Fame Policy link on the left hand side of this home page. The criteria for selection is Air Force Policy. The AACS Alumni Association policy is how we review and approve any nominations to forward to the Air Force. This is an Air Force Program that we have been invited to participate in. The Association can nominate no more than one person each year. See the inside front cover of the Communicator for the name and addresss of the Hall of Fame Committee chairman. ALSO SEE THE POLICIES FOR NOMINATING MEMBERS FOR THE AACS HALL OF HONOR AND FOR THE AACS LIFE ACHIVEMENT AWARD. "IF YOU DON'T DO IT !! IT WON'T HAPPEN !! The Board of Directors do not have the authoriy to approve any award that is NOT submitted by a member. ******************************************************** The AACS Alumni Association 2009 Nominee for the Air Force Communications/Information Hall of Fame is CMSgt Willian Mosley (USAF-Ret). In addition to Chief Mosley, we have several AACS Alumni Association nominees that remain on the Candidates list but not yet selected. The AACS nominees still on the list are: MSgt Joseph Duffy (USAF--Ret), Col Garland Hilton (USAF-Ret) and Maj. General Gerald Prather (USAF-Ret). There are two other AACS Members that are on the list, they were nominated thru other USAF channels; Maj General John T. Stihl (USAF-Ret) and Mr. Robert Feik (Deceased). ******************************************************************************* ACTIVE DUTY HONORS PROGRAM The AACS Alumni Association has instituted an honors program for our young active duty air traffic controllers and our communications/information professionals. The Air Force Flight Standards Agency (AFFSA) and the Air Force Communications Agency (AFCA), will select from the major air commands and joint commands, an outstanding airman from the grades of E-1 thru E-5, to be honored by the Alumni Association. The two selected airman will be presented with a trophy (an engraved Eagle), a $100 check and made AACS Alumni Life Members. Presentations are normally at our annual banquet each year. This program is keeping with our mission statement and core values to honor those outstanding young airman serving in today's Air Force. 2006 2007 2008 SrA Joshua A. Matias (ATC) SrA Sara O'Brian (ATC) SSgt Kevin M. Killoren SSgt Jacob Flores (Comm/Info) SSgt Jaclyn Rutan (Comm/Info) SrA James R. Pettet (Comm/Info) ******************************************************************************* Lt. General Mike Peterson, Chief, Warfighting Integration & Chief Information Officer, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Pentagon has announced his retirement around Christmas 2008. General Peterson will be replaced by Lt General William L. Shelton, currently Commander, 14th AF (Air Forces Strategic-Space). You can find General Shelton's bio on AF Bios or click here for the www.afc4a.org web site. The AACS Alumni community is losing a long-time friend and we wish him all the best in his new endeavors. We welcome General Shelton to our Communicators/Information community just as we did General Hobbins. General Hobbins is now "one of us" Welcome General Shelton. ********************************************************************** MEMBERSHIP ROSTER YOU MUST BE A MEMBER TO
ACCESS OUR MEMBERSHIP ROSTER. THE
ROSTER WAS UPDATED On Aug 6, 2008 Some Computers can read The Roster in the PDF
format or it can be downloaded to your computer. If you can view the roster, use
View to enlarge the text to 100% - 150% to read the listings better. If you do NOT have Adobe Reader loaded on your
computer, there is a FREE link to download Adobe Reader from our download page. We
have also put up a WORD version where using the Edit/Find functions you can
find names, units, etc a little easier than using the PDF functions. The Roster will usually be updated AT LEAST
quarterly. Click here to go to the
roster selection page. YOU NEED A USER NAME AND PASSWORD TO GAIN ACCESS TO
THE ROSTER (See a copy of a past AACS
COMMUNICATOR for the correct user name and password). If you
have any problems contact Hank Sauer at DirAACS@comcast.net.
We have been informed that WebTV users can now access the site and download the
roster. Membership
Report Current Active Members: 2178 Dues renewals since 1 Nov 07 - 381 New Members since 1 Nov 07 - 119 New Life Members since 1 April 08 -34 Members with just 08 in front of your first name on the June 2008 Communicator address label, your dues will expire on Dec 31, 2008. New members and renewing members will have dates like 0310 in front of their first name, which in this case indicates that dues expire on March 31, 2010. We have changed the system to help prevent all dues expiring on December 31 of each year. It also insures a full year of credit for each $10 paid for each new/renewing member. ******************************************************************************* ALPHABETIC LISTINGS OF LOCATIONS/COMM UNITS Updated February 26, 2008 Alphabetic listings of LOCATIONS where Communication Unit designators were assigned has been posted. Members are requested to review this listing and submit to Hank Sauer at DirAACS@comcast.net any additions or changes. This is an imperfect listing and your HELP is solicited. As an example, many Vietnam and Thailand locations and units (Groups, Squadrons, Detachment and/or Operating Locations) are missing. Locations are listed under categories: Africa, Alaska, Canada, Caribbean, CBI, Europe, Mexico, No. Atlantic, Pacific, So. America, UK and US. Many of the locations MAYBE listed in the wrong category. It was very hard to tell what country or area a lot of the WWII locations were in. Your HELP is again needed to make this an accurate listing. "CLICK HERE" for accessing the microsoft word listing. IF YOU RECEIVE A MENU SCREEN ASKING FOR A USER NAME AND PASSWORD, CLICK ON CANCEL. ******************************************************************************* MISSED ROLL CALL The following members/spouses have Missed Roll Call since the November 2007 AACS Communicator. Notify Walt McLain at aacsmbrship@comcast.net of those who have missed roll call. NOTE: All names that are in red and have an ++ in front of their name, were not listed in the June 2008 AACS Communicator
HOW TO JOIN If you hold or held an Air Force Specialty code as a communicator, information (networks, programmer, systems, visual, multimedia, combat camera, etc), cyber, air traffic controller or assigned to a communications and/or air traffic control unit in any skill (commander, administrative, crypto, teletype, radio, radar, nav-aids electronic maintenance, etc), you are eligible to become a member of this great Association. We would love to hear from you. You can click on MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION on the upper left hand side of this home page for an application, either to download or to join On-Line. Membership dues are currently $10 per-year, payable in two year increments. Dues are planned to remain stable for the next few years. If you need more information, you can contact Walt McLain, our Director for Membership at aacsmbrship@comcast.net or if you want to talk to Walt, call 1-866-299-1045 Toll Free The AACS Alumni Association publishes two issues of its official Publication, the "AACS Communicator" a year, one in June (which includes convention information, forms, etc) and one in November (with photos of the convention). "The AACS Communicators" contain Association reports, news and lots of personal stories and photos from our members. Other than the PX/BX items we sell at cost plus shipping, we do not advertise, barter for discounts or endorse any products. The "AACS Communicator's" have become the "glue" that holds our Association together. Each issue runs around 72 pages, with 24 pages in color. When you join, and our Director for Membership receives your dues payment, we will mail you a copy of the Membership Roster and a copy of the latest AACS Communicator. More often than not, you will receive two copies of the AACS Communicator if we still have copies on hand from the previous issue. REMEMBER ONCE YOU JOIN ------"YOU ARE THE AACS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION" "TYPICAL COMMUNICATOR COVERS"
GENERAL INFORMATION/NEWS New Snow-Bird Policy for mailing Communicators. If you are a SNOW-BIRD, PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE NEW POLICY. NOTICE: IMPORTANT: When using the "CLICK ON" to go to an INTERNAL web site page from this Home page, you may receive a menu screen asking for a "User Name and/or Password"... if so, just click on CANCEL.......(Except for the membership roster, where you do need a user name and a password. See our old newsletters or the new AACS Communicator for the current user name and password). John Watson, Chair of the BOD Nominating Committee has a new email address: jdcfwat@comcast.net. Nominations for the Board should be sent to John. ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS: We want your stories and photo's FOR THE AACS COMMUNICATORS. Try to keep stories to one page. Send to Hank Sauer, at 111 Carson Lane, Oak Ridge, TN 37830-7626 or email stories with JPEG attachments to DirAACS@comcast.net Submit early as first in first published is the process due to the many stories and photos we receive. INPUTS FOR THE NOVEMBER 2008 COMMUNICATOR ARE ALMOST CLOSED. WE ARE GETTING CLOSE TO THE 72 PAGE LIMIT. STORIES AND PHOTOS NOT INCLUDED IN NOVEMBER ISSUE WILL BE HELF FOR THE JUNE 2009 ISSUE. View The AACS Online Scrapbook to see pictures from past events and activities. The scrapbook also contains information on how to submit pictures for display. From the Air Force Communications Community Archives you can view the outstanding leadership that we have had over the years for AACS, AFCS, AFCC, AFC4A, AFCA & AFFSA. Visit the Leadership List page now! ALUMNI ASSOCIATION HISTORY/INFO The AACS Alumni Association was formed on September 30, 1977. Larry and Doris Camp were visiting Dux and Pearl LeDoux in Eunice, LA in the fall of 1976 when the subject of old WWII friends came up. Larry and Dux were assigned to the 5th AACS Wing in Europe . What began as an invite to a "Poker Weekend" in Columbus, Ohio, (Larry and Dux were part of a London, England Poker group for AACS Det Commanders) to be hosted by Larry and Doris Camp, resulted in what turned out to be the "first AACS Annual Reunion". The Camp’s and the LeDoux’s contacted as many old friends as they could, who in turn contacted others, who in turn made more contacts. A large number of ex "AACS Troops" and their spouses made their way to Columbus and the result was the formation of what is now one of the strongest Air Force Alumni Associations going. The name "AACS Alumni Association" was adopted as the official title and was of course derived from the Army Airways Communications System (AACS) and the Airways and Air Communications Service (AACS) organizational titles. Individuals who were part of the first "Convention/Reunion" had been assigned to AACS units before, during and after WWII, the Korean War and up to 1961 when AACS became a Major Air Command and was renamed the "Air Force Communications Service (AFCS). Over the years, because the missions were basically the same, the AACS Alumni Association, expanded membership to include AFCS, AFCC, AFC4A, AFCA, AFFSA, other Major Commands up to and including today's Air Force Organizational structure. Over the years, the Association was incorported in the state of Michigan and obtained 501 (c) (19) IRS approved status. There is an annual convention held in different cities each year. Our conventions usually begin on the last Thursday of September (taking into consideration the Jewish High Holidays) and end on the following Sunday after a Get-Away-Breakfast and short briefing on the next years convention. We do not advertise, barter for discounts or endorse any products. We manage the Association on membership dues and member donations. What "AACS" stands for: In 1938 the Army Airways Communications System (AACS) was formed. During WWII, for a short time it was renamed as the Army Airways Communications Wing and then the Air Communications Service, but that only lasted 9 months, when the clamor reached the halls of the Pentagon to retain the AACS designation and it was renamed as the Airways and Air Communications Service (AACS) in 1946. This new designation was also a better fit due to the high volume of airplanes now flying thru US and US controlled airspace and the need to control "airways". In 1961 AACS was elevated to Major Air Command status and it was renamed the Air Force Communications Service (AFCS). This designation remained until 1979 when it was again renamed as the Air Force Communications Command (AFCC). AACS basically stands for both the Army Airways Communications System and the Airways and Air Communications Service. The old blue original AACS Logo is our official Association logo. The Mission of the AACS Alumni Association is to foster continued awareness of the Air Force Communications & Air Traffic Control missions previously accomplished by AACS, ACS, AFCS, AFCC, AFC4A, AFCA, AFFSA , other Major Air Commands and todays Air Force organizational structure. To provide a forum for educational and humanitarian services, to renew & make new friendships and to exchange ideas of common interest concerning people and activities associated with Communications and Air Traffic Control. To fully support the goals and missions of the United States Air Force and to honor each year at our annual banquet, the Air Traffic Controller of the Year and the Communications/Information Professional of the year (selected by the Air Force in grades of E-1 - E-5). Of significant importance is to ensure that a viable Alumni Association is in place for those serving today. The AACS Alumni Association is an IRS approved 501 (c) (19) Tax-Exempt Organization. We DO NOT sell insurance or barter for discounts. The PX/BX items (hats, shirts, jackets, patches, etc) we stock are sold to members at cost plus shipping and our volunteer host manages the annual convention on a "break even" basis. Our Dues are minimal, currently $10 per-year, payable in two year increments. The membership dues are planned to remain as is for at least the next 4 to 5 years. From the Air Force Communications Community Archives you can view the outstanding leadership that we have had over the years for AACS, AFCS, AFCC, AFC4A, AFCA & AFFSA. Visit the Leadership List page now! HOW WE BEGAN Eligibility to be a member was for an individual to have served in any capacity in an AACS or ACS organization. In 1995 and again in 2002, eligibility was expanded to include any service as a communicator, air traffic controller, maintenance or other support skills in the Air Force Communications Service (AFCS), Air Force Communications Command (AFCC), Air Force Command, Control, Communications & Computer Agency (AFC4A), Air Force Communications Agency (AFCA), the Air Force Flight Standards Agency (AFFSA) and any Major Air Command, past or current. In addition to the Camp’s and LeDoux’s, some other notables who were key players in the formation of the Alumni Association were: Eugene "Flash" Gordon, Haskell "Hack" Neal, Ken Klise, Paul Haas, Dick Dickerson, John Hoff, Glenn Turner, Don Donnell,Ted Carlson and George Yunker. This group, along with many others not mentioned here, set the standards that are sill in place today. Each member wishes to thank each and every individual who took part in the early days of our Alumni Association and helped to make it what it is today. The first Board of Directors were: Executive Director: Haskell "Hack" Neal Executive Secretary: Mary Louise Gordon Treasurer: Paul Haas Publicity: Jean Winbigler Newsletter Editor: Ted Carlson Ham Radio Coordinator: George Walborn Nominating Chairman: Larry Camp In addition to the first Board of Directors, Regional Representatives were also created to coordinate and recruit ex-AACS members in the different parts of the country (Regional Representative positions have been eliminated): Initial Regional Representatives: Ken Klise and Glen Turner (Northwest) John Hoff (Rocky Mountains) Gene and M.L. Gordon (So. California) John Stevenson (Southwest) Larry Camp (Midwest) Dick Dickerson (Greater Washington D.C. area) Max Mankofsky (New York Over the years, the composition of the Board has changed and the following individuals have served on the Board of Directors: Current Incumbents are listed in RED Executive Directors: 1977-1978 Haskell "Hack" Neal 1979-1980 Bob "Dick" Dickerson 1981-1982 Joe Beler 1983-1984 Don Donnell 1985-1986 Wally Bailey 1987-1991 Bob Brewer 1992-1993 Cal Venable 1994-1997 Jasper Vaughn 1998-2001 Richard "Hank" Sauer 2002 - 2005 Dick Frye 2006 - 2007 Richard "Hank" Sauer 2008 - Stan Phillips Vice Directors: Randy Randall, Bob Leske, Maurice Schuman, Gil Kania, Stan Phillips & Bill Bethea Treasurer: Paul Haas, Bob Brewer, Barney Glettler and Ray Sharpless Executive Secretary: Jean Beler, E.O. Wogstad, B. Clair Lofchie, Ed Evans, Mary Lou Fitzpatrick and Bob Akard Publicity: Maxine Porter, Nancy Donnell, Shorty Bailey, Vietta "Offie" Dowd, Chester Hankins, Ed Hooker, Wilbur McCracken, Rich Kao and Dan Morabito (no longer a position) Newsletter Editor: Betty Doyle, Wally Bailey, Vietta "Offie" Dowd, "Smitty" McClellan, Mary Venable, Dewey McClellan, Ted Carlson and Hank Sauer Communicator Editor/Publisher: Ted Carlson and Hank Sauer NOTE: Editor/Publisher is now one Position. Historian: E.O. Wogstad, Dewey McClellan, Hank Sauer, and Gene Sheridan Ham Coordinator: George Walborn, Dewey McClellan, Ed Evans and George Reeves Membership (was initially performed as an extra duty in the Executive Secretary position): Ted Carlson, C.B. "Mac" Maginnis and Walt McLain Air Force Liason: Gerald Prather (no longer a position) Sgt-At-Arms: Hank Sauer, Bob Rimmer, Bill Bethea, & Gerald Prather Judge Advocate: John Milano Chaplain: P. C. Brown, Jim Burch Director at Large (no longer a Board position): Vic Doyle (deceased) NOTE: The AACS Web Site Manager is Hank Sauer. This is not a Board of Director's Position. It is a appointed position by the Executive Director For more information about the Association, please Click on More AACS Association Info
You are person number If you have any comments or suggestions please Email: DirAACS@comcast.net
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