Where is Everyone??

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

As a member of the Yorktown Chapter I find the low participation both here, and on their own web site very disturbing.... Are peoples lives really that busy? Do they have NO interest in their own organization?

Here is their web site: http://cpoa.coastguard.org/index.php

Personally, I would have expected more from them... :(

Wray...

[SKC Ronald Brumble]

Well, I don't know about them but it could be that their forums are not as active because they post on this site. What are their Monthly meetings like? I know that when I first started attending meetings here at the Baltimore Chapter there were very few folks, 6 or so. Since then, about 18 months now, we have an average of 22 at our meetings. We had 30 show up for our Christmas Lunch Meeting. We even have a few retired folks that work at the yard that take some time to come to meetings once an a while.

I don't know exactly what it was that turned things around here but I know that some of us are very active at "Shaking the Bushes" and stirring up members. I know that I did. Here in Baltimore we have had some major changes in the last year with folks transferring and moving. Maybe it was that fresh blood that got the ball rolling for us.

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

"Well, I don't know about them but it could be that their forums are not as active because they post on this site"

Lets remember I am a new member.. If they post on this site, it only takes a second to post something here... Personally, I don't see any excuse for it....

I was pretty active with the RTC chapter, just as I was with most I belonged to..

Sorry, in my opinion they have dropped the ball....

I'd still like to hear from any members out there...

Wray... :cool:

[ETC John D Zidek]

I am a new member of the Yorktown CPOA. We have just finished revamping the Chapter website. If you get a chance check it out. The address is the same as it has been. If you find any issues Please let me know. We removed the interactive section from the old site because we were getting hit with too much spam and porn postings. Now if you have something you wanted published on the site you will need to go through a committee chair, ITCS King, or Myself.

As far as our meetings go...If I had to guess I would say we had 20-30 people at the last 3 Meetings. (The only 3 I have been too) My membership was Offical at the End of January.

The Minutes from our meetings are and will be posted on the website, feel free to read through thru them. As soon as I get the Feb Minutes from our Secretary I will get them up there too.

As always Yell if you need anything

ETC "Z"
John

[SKC Ronald Brumble]

And that is a perfect example as to why this site is so much better than others. That is another reason I like this forum so much more than others.

[ETC John D Zidek]

Master Chief G,

Could you explain what it is you believe we dropped the ball on?

v/r

ETC "Z"
John

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

John, I said that after going back to the RTC web page several times over the past few years and didn't see anything new.. I believe the pictures on the site go from 2001, 2002, to 2006. Maybe I was looking between 2002 -2005 & gave up, don't really remember.

Wray...

[PACS Steve Carleton]

Interestingly enough the National CPOA website has a link to this forum.

[ETC John D Zidek]

Master Chief if you (or anyone else) have any Photos from RTC Yorktowns Chapter events (Preferably with dates and / or Titles) I would be more then happy to upload them to the site. just zip them and email them to me at work or home doesnt matter.
jzidek@cox.net
You can figure out my work addy

v/r

ETC "Z"
John

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

John,
I certainly don't have any.. I retired in 1999, and haven't been back to VA since, despite the fact that my inlaws live right next to Langley AFB. (I just send the wife up to see 'em) I was just hoping to see more people posting that were there & active when I was there so I could correspond with them.

If you see Nick Ferro please tell him I said "hi".. I see his wife Carole is the Pres. of the Aux .... I have also chatted a bit with Kay Griffin, & Vic Tufts.

Do you have a membership list on the RTC page? I think the last time I looked for it I couldnt find it. Probably my error.

Any idea what happend to Lou Mahar or Paul Keller? You probably don't know them, but I would have thought they would have stayed in touch with the chapter.... How about BMCM Mark Schweiger.. he was at AtoN school..(now retired) .. A former XPO of mine.

Thanks,
Wray....

[ETC John D Zidek]

I will talk to Randy (Chapter President) about posting the membership list.
Gotta run the family is waiting for Dad to start the Movie.
"Z"

[ETC John D Zidek]

http://cpoa.coastguard.org/cms/

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

John, Not sure what I am doing wrong, but I am unable to open up things like the last General membership meeting etc... I can open up the pictures...

Either I am doing something wrong, or it is not a "user friendly" site.

Was the above link supposed to get me to a membership listing? If so, it did work, for me.

Wray... :cool:

[ETC John D Zidek]

No, I posted the link for others to get to the site. We are still working on the membership listing. The main thing holding it up is finding out if there are Personal Privacy issues before we upload it. If / when we do, it will just be a listing of names. No Addresses, Phone numbers, or email.
John

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

John,
Maybe you could get some advise from those here.. They have a membership listing and it seems to work ok....

Wray... :cool:

[ETC John D Zidek]

The Yorktown Chapter Membership List is posted. It is in the downloadable documents section. It is in HTML format so just click open and it will open in Internet explorer.

ETC "Z"

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

John,
Thanks for the list..... is there any plans on putting up one that has current (active) members on it with their e-mail addresses? A few I would like to e-mail are Lou Maher, Larry Conley, Nick Ferro (if he is using a computer), and possibly a few others...

Thanks again....
Wray...

[ETC John D Zidek]

No, we will not be putting contact info up for anyone except the committee members. Not everyone wants their contact info out there on the web and without the person's specific permission we wont do it.
Alot of them are still in the global and you would be surprized how many people come up in the white page searches on yahoo, google, dogpile...etc


We are working on an "update my status" Button for the site. When you click it it will send and email to one of us. You will just fill in your new or updated CPOA contact info and hit send. We will forward it up to National for you.

John

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

An update button would be great.... although having a way to contact the person would be even better.

Wray... :cool:

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

John,
I got my RTC Winter newsletter today.... It looks great.. Please pass that along to all there at RTC.

I understand the increasing postal costs.. I have no plroblem getting my newsletter e-mailed on the computer.. I would suggest BMCS Krahn look into sending out the remaining newsletters at the "Bulk Rate"... I believe we used to do that when I was there.. As a "non-profit" organization I believe you would qualify for a cheap "bulk rate"rate.

Once again, nice newsletter~!


Wray... :cool:

[ETC John D Zidek]

The news letter is also in PDF on the site under downloads.

"Z"

[BMC Wayne Williams]

Master Chief,
I was stationed at the NATON School in Yorktown from 2003-06 with BMCM Mark Schweiger. He is an AWESOME shipmate and mentor. He retired for the second time in 2005. I believe he moved to Maryland. I had his cell number at one time. However, if I speak to him I will get his email address and copy you.

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

Wayne,
Mark was my XPO years ago on CAPSTAN.. I did get in touch with him.. He is in PA... if you need or want his number let me know... Tony Farr isn't still up there is he?

Wray... :cool:

[BMCS Burt Ford]

Wray,
Tony is in DC. He bacame the first CWO force manager. They just shopped the job since I heard he decided to retire after less than 12 months in that arena. I could be worng though.........

Burt

[BMC Wayne Williams]

Wray,
I would like Mark's number. I just remembered after seeing your post that he did go to PA and was selling cars. I would like to hear how his family is doing.


Burt,
I felt shortly after Tony went to DC that he would retire. At least, when he was at Yorktown he was able to travel on the NASCAR circuit and I am not sure if he was able to do that with the DC job but being away from Linda probably helped most with his decision to retire.

Those are TWO of the Finest BM's to be associated with!! The best of luck to whatever they are doing.

Wayne

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

Wray,
Tony is in DC. He bacame the first CWO force manager. They just shopped the job since I heard he decided to retire after less than 12 months in that arena. I could be worng though.........

Burt

I'm not surprized.. I wouldn't have gone to DC or Miami for anything.. When I was in ALexandria , that was close enough...

Wray... :cool: