The North Coast (Cleveland) Chapter of NARPI convened for its Fall 2010 luncheon meeting on November 6th at Panini’s Bar & Grill in Brunswick OH. John and Roe Campisi hosted the event and it was attended by twenty (20) members and guests. Panini’s got their start in Cleveland on the bank of the Cuyahoga River and features overstuffed sandwiches (meat, fries and coleslaw on the same sandwich). On Saturday, the place was “hopping” and college football games could be viewed in any direction. Among the attendees were the Campisi’s, guest and active Cleveland USPIS employee Linda Price; Fred Maki and guest Amy DeChant; Bob and Audrey Cottrell; Stan Wanek and guest Trudy Laut; Pat Ryan; Rick Ruhland; Dean Morrison; Bruce and Nancy Conner; Dale Kamps and Jan Maslin; Mike and Nancy Corey; and guests Ron Mills and Eileen Ford, retired friends of the Campisi’s.

Chapter President Bill Bengele sent his regrets, but was in Columbus OH for the Ohio High School Cross Country state tournament, where his grandson placed 14th in the race. Linda Price, who came to the USPIS in the 1980’s, was scouting NARPI as she has two more years before retirement eligibility. The Cleveland domicile has downsized about 15 positions from its peak employment as a Division HQ in the late 1990’s. But it still larger than it was in the early 1960’s, when there were six Inspectors and four Investigative Aids. In those days, there were also small USPIS domiciles scattered all over the Northern District of Ohio – in places like Akron, Canton, Youngstown, Coshocton, Steubenville, Marion, Sandusky, Lima, Mansfield, and Toledo, all of which reported to the Cincinnati Division HQ. Current North Coast Chapter members Fred Maki (mail fraud), Bob Cottrell (mail theft) and Bill Bengele (territory inspections) were members of that 1963 work force at the former Post Office on Public Square in Cleveland.

After lunch, John and Roe graciously allowed us to move the meeting portion to their home, also in Brunswick. Everyone enjoyed some real socializing in the relaxed atmosphere of their recreation room; and drinks, cheesecake, cookies and home-made peach cobbler were served. As soon as the exhausting Michigan vs. Illinois game was over, the meeting began. The 2011 reunion locations were announced and the recent Fort Worth reunion was described. Cleveland was being asked to host a NARPI Reunion in 2012, and a minimum show of support was needed before application could be make. There were many pertinent questions asked about hotels, attendance, local attractions and logistics; but at meetings end, there were enough members that volunteered their support to show NARPI what Cleveland has to offer. However, hosting a Spring reunion was ruled out due to the possibility of snow in late April, early May.

As is customary with the North Coast (Cleveland) Chapter, there will be no Winter meeting, and the next meeting will be held in Spring 2011, with hosts and locations to be announced. Keep track of all North Coast Chapter news at our website: NARPI North Coast.