Are we really back?  YEP!  Are we really better than ever?  Hmmmm.  Well... not yet.  But we are GOING TO BE better than ever!

"Only" 18 days have passed since the first new "Light Brigade" edition of the Free Fire Wire appeared as a special edition put out the night of the Chapter 96 Annual Meeting of Members.  To get back on a schedule that brings the Free Fire Wire out again, as it always was, at least 10 days before the next meeting, the next issue (this one) had to be "put to bed" (that's newspaper slang, folks) by the evening of July 9th... so... it was, and because of all kinds of constraints, mostly constraints of TIME, it is another VERY LIGHT edition.

You editorial staff (me, myself and I) have debated for several days now what to include in this issue.  We have in hand some DYNAMITE copy (get that... "copy"... MORE newspaper slang).  Should "we" publish it NOW for earliest impact, or should "we" wait till all of the lil' duckies out on Lake Ella are in a row?

Well, frankly, Chapter 96's lil' duckies are scattered all over tarnation, half dead from starvation, wandering in circles.  We've done a leader's recon around the Hootch, and what was found wasn't pretty.  I won't bore you with details, but in order to get communications fully operational in almost any respect, more time, more effort, and more money... possibly even more money than we've got handy, is going to be required.  So I chose prudence over valor, and decided to make this another SHORT issue of the Free Fire Wire.

In case you haven't noticed, a brand-spanking new metal roof was put on the Hootch about a month ago, and that knocked a big hole in our finances.  I was thinking more in terms of putting the Free Fire Wire out ONLY in a "web based" edition, at least for awhile, but the president and board told me to work up cost estimates for a "hard copy", U.S. Mail version, and that's been done.  Like all estimates the one I made has built-in assumptions that may never stand the tests of the real world, but let's just say that we might be looking at a price tag of $1,600 or so in the first year.  That's a hefty chunk of change.

In the meantime, the telephone answering system doesn't work right, the scanner/printer/FAX is out of ink and I've recommended that the only economically sensible thing to do with it is make a planter out of it, and buy a new scanner/printer/FAX, etc.  In many ways what has to be done is almost like starting over from "scratch", though I must say that Rambear has been helping out.  He teleported in briefly from the Pennsylvania/New Jersey borderlands and said something about bad things happening to editors who put lavender tassels on his beret... something about St. Peter not recognizing "personnel killed by wildlife."  Things such as that are always useful to know... especially if the editor's first colorized version just happened to come out with a lavender tassel!  Well, O.K., I know that a lavender tassel probably, sort of, doesn't make a lot of sense.  You just had to be there at the time... I mean, did you know that dark blue at 40% saturation comes out lavender?  Of course there's still the minor issue of whatever possessed me to try to make Rambear's tassel BLUE...? But I just don't have time to explain EVERYTHING! <GRIN>

Enyhoo... I hereby promise, sort of... that the next issue of the Free Fire Wire will be filled with many things strange and wonderful, or, well, O.K., at least a lot of "really good stuff".  I can make that rash promise because... tah-DA... I've already got the copy here, ready to go to print.

Richard White, Chief Cook & Bottle Washer

PRESIDENT's MESSAGE

Once again I find myself holding the office of Chapter 96 president.  I do this with pride and commitment to put Chapter 96 back on track to becoming the best chapter in the state.  One must look at the wealth of knowledge and leadership at all of our elected officers and board members.  Each has taken an oath to uphold the constitution of our country, VVA national, VVA state and VVA chapter organizations.  I feel that they took that oath seriously or they would not have run for the positions that they hold.  I cannot make this chapter the best without their help, and the help of all members.  At this time with our nation at war on many fronts around the globe we must be more committed than ever in our efforts to assist veterans being deployed and returning from deployment.

I feel that the rebirth of the Free Fire Wire, the Chapter 96 newsletter, both electronically and mail out, is essential to inform our members and the community of our commitment to one of our founding principles of “Never Again Will One Generation of Veterans Abandon Another”.  We must extend our hands and our knowledge to the returning Iraq and Afghanistan soldiers in any way possible.  I've heard our editor say that he will make the Free Fire Wire "the best damn chapter newsletter in VVA."  The Free Fire Wire was recognized as such at the 1991 National Convention by receiving the Shelby Strother Award for the best VVA chapter newsletter.  That quality can be achieved again, but it cannot be done by one person alone now any more than it could be done then.  The Free Fire Wire, or any diverse and good newsletter, is the product of a combined effort of many folks working together, so if any of you have any time to help with production and mailing, or thoughts or writings to submit, please do so.  All help will be appreciated.

Chapter 96 is also looking at celebrating two anniversaries in November of 2008.  Its been 20 years since we built and dedicated the Hootch, and 25 years since Chapter 96 received its charter.  A celebration event is in the planning stages and it should be one to remember.  Please plan to attend.

In closing, for those who have not noticed, the Hootch is sporting a new metal roof.  This drained our moneys to an all time low.  If anyone has any fund raising ideas contact me.  I'm looking forward to seeing each of you at our next membership meeting on Thursday, July 19th.

Lest we forget.

Rick Clevenger, President

NEXT MEETING ("Be there or be square.")

On July 19th we will have a guest speaker courtesy of the Florida Bar's speaker's bureau.  Carolyn Olive will speak to us about the fiduciary responsibilities of members of boards of directors.

RETURN TO:  VVA Chapter 96 Home Page

Posted 9 July 2007