[PPRAANet] 2010 Salvation Army Thanksgiving Dinners a Success!

[Phillip Blanton]

To all,

I'd like to send out my thanks to those of you who volunteered for the
Salvation Army Thanksgiving event. This was the first Mission that I have
ever coordinated, and I have to say I was a bit apprehensive that I had
thought of everything. Fortunately you are all consummate professionals
and I know that I can count on you all to perform at a level that can in
no way be considered, "Amateur."

This year was a bit different than years past, in that the Salvation Army
operated the whole thing out of the 501 Weber Street facility. A facility
that is mostly abandoned the rest of the year. Many issues cropped up,
like the large walk-in refrigerator at Weber, dying on Monday. Having our
big party line up and running helped to mitigate these issues and got
people and materials where they needed... almost in a timely manner. I
really can't imagine trying to run communications for an event like this
over cell-phones.

Henry Russell (KCøNAJ) worked "Main" at the Weber Street location and I
stayed there and watched him during the day. I learned a lot from him and
and am thankful to have had such a professional Ham at that location. You
all did a great job, but I got to watch Henry all day and I had to comment
on how appreciative I am to have had him there. My daughter Daly (KCøPAW)
worked with us and while she didn't get on the radio - despite Henry's
encouragement - I know she learned a lot from him too. She promises to
work the radio some on Christmas Day.

Another thanks goes out to Jim Bishop (KDøKQL) who was a late volunteer
and worked the Spoken Word church with my wife Mary Ann (KDøKGW). She had
never participated in a net before this and I was planning on just
throwing her to the wolves, but, to mix my metaphors, Jim threw her a life
preserver. Presumably, she was somehow able to fend off wolves with a life
preserver.

Another special recognition goes to Bob and Rachel Antion (WL7RV and
KCøCYP respectively). I could hear the tension in Bob's voice when the
food was over an hour late to the Marian house, despite it being only a
few blocks away from the Weber facility. I knew that if I could hear it in
Bob's voice then the pressure on him had to have been extraordinary.

I also wanted to let you all know that Channel 11 news was at Weber,
filming footage for the news tonight, so if you want to experience just a
little bit of the Great Manitou Gravy Saga, be sure to watch the Channel
11 News. Dan Scott (WøRO) will be on the news too; well, at least his
voice talking all about missing gravy will be. That is unless we get left
on the cutting room floor.

And one last thanks to Sid White (K4ARM) for volunteering as Net Control.
He executed yet another stellar performance.

If I didn't mention you by name, rest assured that you did a great job.
I'm sure I heard you on the radio and thought to myself, "Wow. What a
great guy!"

For those of you still reading, you really have nothing better to do eh?
Remember that Christmas is coming and I still haven't filled all of the
slots. Volunteer early and often. It is a very rewarding experience.
Hopefully I'll see you there. We'll get to talk on our radios, have some
laughs, feed LOTS of people, and maybe land our nerdy butts on the news.

--
Phillip H. Blanton (NøTAN)
Phillip at n0tan.com