Bird of the Week Special

[mbulriss]

Pappy,

Thanks for your research. Rose Mary will be very pleased to learn this when she
gets a chance to check the forum in her travels. If anyone else had come up
with the name "Kalamazoo Pony Cruiser", it would have been very much suspect!
In your case, it is taken as fact. I did Google it looking for pictures and
found that the company is still going today as Unifab making animal cages and
feeding systems. I didn't find any pictures of the Pony Cruiser in my casual
search.

Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
San Antonio, TX - at Buckhorn Lake Resort

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "whistles_n_bells"
wrote:
>
>
> Mike, Rose Mary:
>
> The mystery bus appears to be a Kalamazoo Pony Cruiser circa 1937-1940,
> manufactured in Kalamazoo, MI. It was similar to the FitzJohn model of
> the same size (13-16 passenger capacity). The Pony Cruiser was built on
> a Ford truck chassis and featured a V-8 engine somewhere in the 90-95HP
> range. I am still researching this item with the assistance of a few bus
> historians that I have been associated with since the '50's. I'll
> continue to follow-up on this and update any info I come across.
> Interestingly, Kalamazoo, MI. was also the home of Checker Car Co., the
> famous Checker taxi cab.
>
> Joe (Pappy) Hagan
>
> St. George, UT
>
> (Wannabe)
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "whistles_n_bells"
> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Mike, Rose Mary:
> >
> > I'm starting to receive responses on the bus I.D. I'll be back on
> > tomorrow evening with additional (hopefully) results.
> >
> > Joe (Pappy) Hagan
> >
> > St. George, UT
> >
> > (Wannabe)
> >
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "whistles_n_bells"
> > whistles_n_bells@ wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > Mike, Rose Mary:
> > >
> > > I believe the bus is a circa 1935-37 Fitzjohn, possibly on a Reo
> > > chassis. I'll try to research this further with my old bus driver
> > > buddies that are as old as I am. The car appears to be a 1947 Kaiser
> > of
> > > Fraser.
> > >
> > > Joe (Pappy) Hagan
> > >
> > > St. George, UT
> > >
> > > (Wannabe)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "mbulriss" mbulriss@
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > I love this week's photo! I believe our long term members, Rose
> Mary
> > > Smith and her mom, Clara, get the longevity in RV'ing award for this
> > > week. I had to lighten the picture up some to see Clara a little
> > better.
> > > Anybody have any pictures to verify that they have been RV'ing or
> > > camping longer? What a wonderful childhood summer vacation Rose Mary
> > > had!
> > > >
> > > > Please read the attached email that Rose Mary submitted as
> > background
> > > on the picture. She is looking for someone to identify the car and
> the
> > > bus. Who knows what makes they are?
> > > >
> > > > Happy Easter everyone!
> > > >
> > > > Mike Bulriss
> > > > 1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
> > > > San Antonio, TX - heading out soon for somewhere!
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Hi Mike
> > > > Thought you might get a kick out of this old photo.
> > > > Me hanging out the door, mom's head just showing at top.
> > > >
> > > > When I was a kid we would go up to the Sawtooth Mtns. near
> Stanley,
> > > Idaho. We lived like hillbillys I reckon, check out the wash board
> and
> > > ICE frig., wood stove inside the bus. There were 5 of us kids. We
> had
> > a
> > > tent for the girls and a tent for the boys, while mom and dad slept
> in
> > > the bus. That was real boondocking! Ice cold water from a creek.
> We'd
> > > spend the whole summer up there. Dad harvesting poles.
> > > >
> > > > Trying to find out what that ole bus was? Think the car was a
> Kaiser
> > > >
> > > > Amazing the roads/climb that bus had to maneuver to get up to
> camp,
> > > not to mention crossing Hell Roaring Creek.
> > > >
> > > > Don't know how they got the old milk cow Bessie up there.
> > > > Horse was a necessity to pull down the logs to the landing.
> > > > This was in the 50's (mid?) I'm sure the bus was an oldster before
> > dad
> > > bought it to convert for our summer use.
> > > >
> > > > Regards
> > > > Rose Mary & Mom (Clara young at 88)
> > > > JP'S White Bird
> > > > making our was north (noooo) from Arizona desert
> > > >
> > >
> >
>

[Rose Mary]

Pappy,
thanks for taking the time to find the info...wow what a name for a company.
Remember many fond times in the Sawtooths with that bus as our home hub. When we
get back home will check photo albums to see if there are any more pics. It was
painted silver and blue.
Mom and I boondocked for nearly 3 months around Arizona this winter.

In Willits, Ca now for a couple weeks working a job. (Work for SE Pub doing RV
Park site maps), before heading toward home.
JP'S White Bird has been trouble free and great fun. Got a xantrex inverter so
mom could use her sewing machine while we boondocked. Next year hope to get some
solar panels!

Thanks all and Happy Easter!
Rose Mary & Clara
JP'S White Bird
82 FC 35

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "mbulriss" <mbulriss@...> wrote:
>
> Pappy,
>
> Thanks for your research. Rose Mary will be very pleased to learn this when
she gets a chance to check the forum in her travels. If anyone else had come up
with the name "Kalamazoo Pony Cruiser", it would have been very much suspect!
In your case, it is taken as fact. I did Google it looking for pictures and
found that the company is still going today as Unifab making animal cages and
feeding systems. I didn't find any pictures of the Pony Cruiser in my casual
search.
>
> Mike Bulriss
> 1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
> San Antonio, TX - at Buckhorn Lake Resort
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "whistles_n_bells"
wrote:
> >
> >
> > Mike, Rose Mary:
> >
> > The mystery bus appears to be a Kalamazoo Pony Cruiser circa 1937-1940,
> > manufactured in Kalamazoo, MI. It was similar to the FitzJohn model of
> > the same size (13-16 passenger capacity). The Pony Cruiser was built on
> > a Ford truck chassis and featured a V-8 engine somewhere in the 90-95HP
> > range. I am still researching this item with the assistance of a few bus
> > historians that I have been associated with since the '50's. I'll
> > continue to follow-up on this and update any info I come across.
> > Interestingly, Kalamazoo, MI. was also the home of Checker Car Co., the
> > famous Checker taxi cab.
> >
> > Joe (Pappy) Hagan
> >
> > St. George, UT
> >
> > (Wannabe)
> >
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "whistles_n_bells"
> > wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > Mike, Rose Mary:
> > >
> > > I'm starting to receive responses on the bus I.D. I'll be back on
> > > tomorrow evening with additional (hopefully) results.
> > >
> > > Joe (Pappy) Hagan
> > >
> > > St. George, UT
> > >
> > > (Wannabe)
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "whistles_n_bells"
> > > whistles_n_bells@ wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Mike, Rose Mary:
> > > >
> > > > I believe the bus is a circa 1935-37 Fitzjohn, possibly on a Reo
> > > > chassis. I'll try to research this further with my old bus driver
> > > > buddies that are as old as I am. The car appears to be a 1947 Kaiser
> > > of
> > > > Fraser.
> > > >
> > > > Joe (Pappy) Hagan
> > > >
> > > > St. George, UT
> > > >
> > > > (Wannabe)
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "mbulriss" mbulriss@
> > > > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > I love this week's photo! I believe our long term members, Rose
> > Mary
> > > > Smith and her mom, Clara, get the longevity in RV'ing award for this
> > > > week. I had to lighten the picture up some to see Clara a little
> > > better.
> > > > Anybody have any pictures to verify that they have been RV'ing or
> > > > camping longer? What a wonderful childhood summer vacation Rose Mary
> > > > had!
> > > > >
> > > > > Please read the attached email that Rose Mary submitted as
> > > background
> > > > on the picture. She is looking for someone to identify the car and
> > the
> > > > bus. Who knows what makes they are?
> > > > >
> > > > > Happy Easter everyone!
> > > > >
> > > > > Mike Bulriss
> > > > > 1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
> > > > > San Antonio, TX - heading out soon for somewhere!
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Hi Mike
> > > > > Thought you might get a kick out of this old photo.
> > > > > Me hanging out the door, mom's head just showing at top.
> > > > >
> > > > > When I was a kid we would go up to the Sawtooth Mtns. near
> > Stanley,
> > > > Idaho. We lived like hillbillys I reckon, check out the wash board
> > and
> > > > ICE frig., wood stove inside the bus. There were 5 of us kids. We
> > had
> > > a
> > > > tent for the girls and a tent for the boys, while mom and dad slept
> > in
> > > > the bus. That was real boondocking! Ice cold water from a creek.
> > We'd
> > > > spend the whole summer up there. Dad harvesting poles.
> > > > >
> > > > > Trying to find out what that ole bus was? Think the car was a
> > Kaiser
> > > > >
> > > > > Amazing the roads/climb that bus had to maneuver to get up to
> > camp,
> > > > not to mention crossing Hell Roaring Creek.
> > > > >
> > > > > Don't know how they got the old milk cow Bessie up there.
> > > > > Horse was a necessity to pull down the logs to the landing.
> > > > > This was in the 50's (mid?) I'm sure the bus was an oldster before
> > > dad
> > > > bought it to convert for our summer use.
> > > > >
> > > > > Regards
> > > > > Rose Mary & Mom (Clara young at 88)
> > > > > JP'S White Bird
> > > > > making our was north (noooo) from Arizona desert
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>

[Ernest Ekberg]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Fred Bellows" wrote:
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Pete Masterson wrote:
> > .....If the BOTW would have a URL for a related set of photos or the
> > owner's travel blog (or whatever) -- that would be nice.
>
> Yes, a URL to another place that has space for more and better pictures (with
captions) would be great! The thing about the forum(s), is that, while we mainly
attend for help and support on repairs/upgrades/etc., the biggest, definable
content category that is missing is seeing and hearing about the
coaches/lifestyle when they're not being repaired/under-construction/etc. When
the coaches are all polished up, being used, having their uniqueness shown off,
and, once in while, getting their 15 minutes of fame!
>
> In other words, a place where people can see and read about lots of coaches in
their prime, shining a positive light and helping glorify our special hobby, and
even increasing the value of our coaches! We've known our coaches are special,
vintage treasures, but now with the BB factory closed (and many others), they
are now officially collectible, unique, rare, and de-facto, more valuable. And
will be in-demand over the next several years as the economy recovers, people
want to buy high end RV's again, and yet hardly any new ones will be available!
>
> So, an enhanced Bird of the Week feature (with full archive) would be a great
place for a potential coach buyer (weighing BB vs SOB), to see just what it is
that we are so fanatical about!
>
> But mostly it would be a wonderful place we can go, to see what the other
members of our BB Family have done, get ideas on what we can do, and to live
vicariously when we're unable to get out and play with our coaches!
>
> Fred & Wendy Bellows
> 90SP Queen Creek, AZ (basically Phx)
> "Maunder Maximum"
> http://picasaweb.google.com/geefred/MaunderMaximum#




WOW, thats a tall order. It would be nice to be able to have that feature, but
this 4 letter word that I'm going to type get's in the way of all our voluntary
efforts to keep this forum running--- that is WORK. The 4 of us that do this
forum are very busy doing other things- like make a living. If we had someone
who is "retired" or has way too much time on their hands, and would be willing
to chase down this information, that would be grteat-- any takers?? I also want
to point out that nearly 33% of all photos that come into Mikes mailbox have NO
information in regards to what yerar, location, who is actually in the photo-
etc. You guys get the idea?? Lets add some info when you submit your photos.
Again, thanks to all that have helped in this endeavor.
Ernie Ekberg-83PT40- currently home in Weatherford, Tex- we had some rain!!
>

[Jon]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "mbulriss" <mbulriss@...> wrote:
>
> I love this week's photo! I believe our long term members, Rose Mary Smith
and her mom, Clara, get the longevity in RV'ing award for this week. I had to
lighten the picture up some to see Clara a little better. Anybody have any
pictures to verify that they have been RV'ing or camping longer? What a
wonderful childhood summer vacation Rose Mary had!
>
> Please read the attached email that Rose Mary submitted as background on the
picture. She is looking for someone to identify the car and the bus. Who knows
what makes they are?
>
> Happy Easter everyone!
>
> Mike Bulriss
> 1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
> San Antonio, TX - heading out soon for somewhere!
>
>
> Hi Mike
> Thought you might get a kick out of this old photo.
> Me hanging out the door, mom's head just showing at top.
>
> When I was a kid we would go up to the Sawtooth Mtns. near Stanley, Idaho. We
lived like hillbillys I reckon, check out the wash board and ICE frig., wood
stove inside the bus. There were 5 of us kids. We had a tent for the girls and a
tent for the boys, while mom and dad slept in the bus. That was real
boondocking! Ice cold water from a creek. We'd spend the whole summer up there.
Dad harvesting poles.
>
> Trying to find out what that ole bus was? Think the car was a Kaiser
>
> Amazing the roads/climb that bus had to maneuver to get up to camp, not to
mention crossing Hell Roaring Creek.
>
> Don't know how they got the old milk cow Bessie up there.
> Horse was a necessity to pull down the logs to the landing.
> This was in the 50's (mid?) I'm sure the bus was an oldster before dad bought
it to convert for our summer use.
>
> Regards
> Rose Mary & Mom (Clara young at 88)
> JP'S White Bird
> making our was north (noooo) from Arizona desert



I believe that someone here questioned what kind of car that was in the photo
and its a Kaiser. Here is a photo of a convertible one that can be found at the
Lamay Museum in Tacoma Washington.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/1942...sercar.jpg

JIPJOB
1978 WANDERLODGE
BREMERTON WASHINGTON
>

[mbulriss]

Ernie answered part of the questions raised on the Bird of the Week picture. Let
me try to answer the other questions (with some serious tongue in cheek, so have
a sense of humor).

The BOTW feature was originally suggested by Jo-Ski (haven't heard from her in a
while), but she was smart enough not to agree to keep it up each week!

For the new folks that have not participated, but have submitted ideas on what
we should do - ahem, cough, hint! Well FYI, we get *one* .jpeg picture on the
front page of the forum, that we format in Photoshop and use for the Bird of the
Week (BOTW) feature. One picture, not an open-ended series of photos.

The BOTW was, therefore, intended as a single picture of an interesting Bird
shot, not a curriculum vitae, or a visual tour of the Bird, unfortunately. I
have sometimes formatted insert (or PIP-type) shots when warranted (and
submitted). Some weeks are quick and clean shots. Some weeks they take much
time editing the picture in Photoshop to focus on the Bird rather than the other
vehicles, camping gear, or telephone poles around them.

A URL or link to a blog for more details? Bwaahahahaha. Sorry, couldn't
resist. As Ernie stated, about a third of the picture submissions come in with
*no* details whatsoever. Then I have to hunt some details down just to get a
tag line. The last two weeks have been very unusual in the amount of detail
that was submitted and they were thereby each worthy of inclusion as a post on
the forum for further detail. I would not get used to this as a standard. I
love this week's submission! Heck, I don't do re-runs much, but I may re-run a
photo of "JP'S Bird" next week so newbies can see Rose Mary and Clara's new
'camper'.

Someone wanted a series of high-res pictures. Usually, we get only one picture
submitted. Most of the pictures in this age of digital cameras are high-res.
If you download the BOTW to your machine and use Photoshop or some other photo
editing program, I suspect that you can blow them up fairly large to see more
detail.

Someone said they only go to the front page when they see a note that it was
updated? (Was that really you Pete? C'mon man, I've met you in person. You're
way quicker than that!) It is after all called Bird of the *Week*, so it is in
fact updated *weekly* - usually on Friday (sometimes on Saturday morning if I
was out of town on business on Friday - speaking of that, my business travel tip
from this week is DO NOT eat the Talapia at Mitchell's Fish Market in Lansing,
MI or it makes a looong plane ride home!).

Someone said we should have a BOTW Archive? Uh, would that be in the Photos
section of the forum in a photo albumn titled (get ready for it!....) "Bird of
the Week Archive"? Seriously, you will find 150+ BOTW pictures there today, and
I admit I am seriously behind on updating the recent ones.

I think that answers most of the questions that were raised. I am always open
to be replaced. As Ernie said, this too could be your opportunity for fame and
fortune (BWAHAHAHAHA) if you want to volunteer.

In any event, keep those pictures of Birds coming!!! (With some details
please!)

LOL!!

Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan" - running *great* this weekend!
San Antonio, TX - wishing I was still at Buckhorn Lake





--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ernest Ekberg" wrote:
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Fred Bellows" wrote:
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Pete Masterson wrote:
> > > .....If the BOTW would have a URL for a related set of photos or the
> > > owner's travel blog (or whatever) -- that would be nice.
> >
> > Yes, a URL to another place that has space for more and better pictures
(with captions) would be great! The thing about the forum(s), is that, while we
mainly attend for help and support on repairs/upgrades/etc., the biggest,
definable content category that is missing is seeing and hearing about the
coaches/lifestyle when they're not being repaired/under-construction/etc. When
the coaches are all polished up, being used, having their uniqueness shown off,
and, once in while, getting their 15 minutes of fame!
> >
> > In other words, a place where people can see and read about lots of coaches
in their prime, shining a positive light and helping glorify our special hobby,
and even increasing the value of our coaches! We've known our coaches are
special, vintage treasures, but now with the BB factory closed (and many
others), they are now officially collectible, unique, rare, and de-facto, more
valuable. And will be in-demand over the next several years as the economy
recovers, people want to buy high end RV's again, and yet hardly any new ones
will be available!
> >
> > So, an enhanced Bird of the Week feature (with full archive) would be a
great place for a potential coach buyer (weighing BB vs SOB), to see just what
it is that we are so fanatical about!
> >
> > But mostly it would be a wonderful place we can go, to see what the other
members of our BB Family have done, get ideas on what we can do, and to live
vicariously when we're unable to get out and play with our coaches!
> >
> > Fred & Wendy Bellows
> > 90SP Queen Creek, AZ (basically Phx)
> > "Maunder Maximum"
> > http://picasaweb.google.com/geefred/MaunderMaximum#
>
>
>
>
> WOW, thats a tall order. It would be nice to be able to have that feature, but
this 4 letter word that I'm going to type get's in the way of all our voluntary
efforts to keep this forum running--- that is WORK. The 4 of us that do this
forum are very busy doing other things- like make a living. If we had someone
who is "retired" or has way too much time on their hands, and would be willing
to chase down this information, that would be grteat-- any takers?? I also want
to point out that nearly 33% of all photos that come into Mikes mailbox have NO
information in regards to what yerar, location, who is actually in the photo-
etc. You guys get the idea?? Lets add some info when you submit your photos.
Again, thanks to all that have helped in this endeavor.
> Ernie Ekberg-83PT40- currently home in Weatherford, Tex- we had some rain!!
> >
>

[Rick Davis]

Thanks for all you do Mike, as well as Ernie et al.Seems I hardly have time to check messages so I can't imagine the timeit takes you guys. Appreciate your efforts.

Rick and Marilyn Davis

1993 WBSA

in Houston

---

From: mbulriss <mbulriss@...>
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, April 12, 2009 8:48:14 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Bird of the Week Special

Ernie answered part of the questions raised on the Bird of the Week picture. Let me try to answer the other questions (with some serious tongue in cheek, so have a sense of humor).

The BOTW feature was originally suggested by Jo-Ski (haven't heard from her in a while), but she was smart enough not to agree to keep it up each week!

For the new folks that have not participated, but have submitted ideas on what we should do - ahem, cough, hint! Well FYI, we get *one* .jpeg picture on the front page of the forum, that we format in Photoshop and use for the Bird of the Week (BOTW) feature. One picture, not an open-ended series of photos.

The BOTW was, therefore, intended as a single picture of an interesting Bird shot, not a curriculum vitae, or a visual tour of the Bird, unfortunately. I have sometimes formatted insert (or PIP-type) shots when warranted (and submitted). Some weeks are quick and clean shots. Some weeks they take much
time editing the picture in Photoshop to focus on the Bird rather than the other vehicles, camping gear, or telephone poles around them.

A URL or link to a blog for more details? Bwaahahahaha. Sorry, couldn't resist. As Ernie stated, about a third of the picture submissions come in with *no* details whatsoever. Then I have to hunt some details down just to get a tag line. The last two weeks have been very unusual in the amount of detail that was submitted and they were thereby each worthy of inclusion as a post on the forum for further detail. I would not get used to this as a standard. I love this week's submission! Heck, I don't do re-runs much, but I may re-run a photo of "JP'S Bird" next week so newbies can see Rose Mary and Clara's new 'camper'.

Someone wanted a series of high-res pictures. Usually, we get only one picture submitted. Most of the pictures in this age of digital cameras are high-res. If you download the BOTW to your
machine and use Photoshop or some other photo editing program, I suspect that you can blow them up fairly large to see more detail.

Someone said they only go to the front page when they see a note that it was updated? (Was that really you Pete? C'mon man, I've met you in person. You're way quicker than that!) It is after all called Bird of the *Week*, so it is in fact updated *weekly* - usually on Friday (sometimes on Saturday morning if I was out of town on business on Friday - speaking of that, my business travel tip from this week is DO NOT eat the Talapia at Mitchell's Fish Market in Lansing, MI or it makes a looong plane ride home!).

Someone said we should have a BOTW Archive? Uh, would that be in the Photos section of the forum in a photo albumn titled (get ready for it!....) "Bird of the Week Archive"? Seriously, you will find 150+ BOTW pictures there today, and I admit I am seriously behind on updating the recent ones.

I
think that answers most of the questions that were raised. I am always open to be replaced. As Ernie said, this too could be your opportunity for fame and fortune (BWAHAHAHAHA) if you want to volunteer.

In any event, keep those pictures of Birds coming!!! (With some details please!)

LOL!!

Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan" - running *great* this weekend!
San Antonio, TX - wishing I was still at Buckhorn Lake

--- In "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com", "Ernest Ekberg" wrote:
>
> --- In "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com", "Fred Bellows" wrote:
> >
> > --- In "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com", Pete Masterson wrote:
> > > .....If the BOTW would have a URL for a related set of photos or the
> > > owner's travel blog (or whatever) -- that would be nice.
> >
> > Yes, a URL to another place that has space for more and better pictures (with captions) would be great! The thing about the forum(s), is that, while we mainly attend for help and support on repairs/upgrades/ etc., the biggest, definable content category that is missing is seeing and hearing about the coaches/lifestyle when they're not being repaired/under- construction/ etc. When the coaches are all polished up, being used, having their uniqueness shown off, and, once in while, getting their 15 minutes of fame!
> >
> > In other words, a place
where people can see and read about lots of coaches in their prime, shining a positive light and helping glorify our special hobby, and even increasing the value of our coaches! We've known our coaches are special, vintage treasures, but now with the BB factory closed (and many others), they are now officially collectible, unique, rare, and de-facto, more valuable. And will be in-demand over the next several years as the economy recovers, people want to buy high end RV's again, and yet hardly any new ones will be available!
> >
> > So, an enhanced Bird of the Week feature (with full archive) would be a great place for a potential coach buyer (weighing BB vs SOB), to see just what it is that we are so fanatical about!
> >
> > But mostly it would be a wonderful place we can go, to see what the other members of our BB Family have done, get ideas on what we can do, and to live vicariously when we're unable to get out
and play with our coaches!
> >
> > Fred & Wendy Bellows
> > 90SP Queen Creek, AZ (basically Phx)
> > "Maunder Maximum"
> > http://picasaweb. google.com/ geefred/MaunderM aximum#
>
>
>
>
> WOW, thats a tall order. It would be nice to be able to have that feature, but this 4 letter word that I'm going to type get's in the way of all our voluntary efforts to keep this forum running--- that is WORK. The 4 of us that do this forum are very busy doing other things- like make a living. If we had someone who is "retired" or has way too much time on their hands, and would be willing to chase down this information, that would be grteat-- any takers?? I also want to point out that nearly 33% of all photos that come into Mikes mailbox have NO information in regards to what yerar, location,
who is actually in the photo- etc. You guys get the idea?? Lets add some info when you submit your photos. Again, thanks to all that have helped in this endeavor.
> Ernie Ekberg-83PT40- currently home in Weatherford, Tex- we had some rain!!
> >
>

[Fred Bellows]

Oh, I totally agree that shouldn't be a bunch of work for anyone. It's clear the
moderators have their work cut out themselves just refereeing :-). And from what
it sounds like, the current feature is quite an accomplishment, since I hear
that hardly anyone bothers to submit even their single photos and minimum info
as candidates for the BotW, and apparently, constant prodding is required. So,
this whole idea might be silly, but I think a lot of people really enjoy BotW.
And I certainly do understand what you're talking about on the volunteerism
thing. I've been involved in enough organizations in my life (eg: scouting) to
know that when you volunteer up a suggestion, be prepared to be nominated to
help run it. However, I feel that any membership in any group like this should
include giving back enough to compensate for what we get out of it. And,
arguably, we all get a tremendous benefit from this forum and it's knowledge
base. So I'm not asking the current moderators to do more work, and I, like all
of us, totally appreciate all the work that is done by you Mike, and all the
moderators. I'm asking the membership if they think it would be fun to add to
the forum, and I mean, individually. And, I guess, maybe I've got my answer,
since only two have responded so far (although, I should make it a thread of
it's own, I guess, for exposure). Rick Davis said he thought it could be fun to
see more photos and comments, and mentioned the idea of "B o t MONTH". Pete
said he thought it was ok as it is (and, btw, it wasn't him, but me, who said I
didn't think there was an announcement post each week, only a chance comment on
the BotW that reminded me to go look at it.-my bad.)

Let me be clear, I'm not criticizing the current feature. I think it's great. I
found the archive album and looked back through every single one. They're
terrific! (I'm a little new to the forum, and hadn't really figured out the
photo section yet - there's no search function but it finally donned on me you
just click thru all the alphabetized titles for stuff of interest). I just
wondered if there was any interest in possibly enhancing an already fun,
favorite feature. But not if it's going to be more work. In fact, the other part
of this query is "can we get more people involved in submitting and even
formatting"?, so that it's less work for you, Mike, or whoever else may help you
with them.

So I'll ask again here, and start another new thread on it and see if we get any
signs of life on it out there

"Hey group: Would you like to consider enhancing the BotW feature, by including
more photos, with captions, and a little more description of some aspects of our
bird/lifestyle/etc. to share with the rest of the membership? Ideas include,
enhancing slightly (`little more description, or a few more picts), enhancing
greatly (several more picts, with captions and a full write-up of a few
paragraphs, etc.), changing it to, or adding on an additional "Bird of the
Month", or other ideas that you may have (like just keeping it as is!). Now,
when responding, keep in mind that it would mean that we all would have to work
at trying to submit all this extra content, and nag our friends to do the same,
in order to have enough stuff to keep the feature going. And we will be asking
for volunteers to help edit and format the submissions and present them to Mike
for selection and posting. A way to work it, or start it, might be to batch-send
out simple, sample form/questionnaire thingys that would help prompt members to
make the submissions, in an easy to format set of 5 or 10 photos, with captions,
and a general text section of a paragraph or two about their experiences with
their bird . Or three, sometimes. It wouldn't have to be the same amount of info
all the time from everyone. Just an encouragement to try to think of a few
concepts to share. We could have suggested topics such as: how long have you had
it, what's the longest/funnest/worst weather/worst breakdown/best
destination/whatever trip you've taken, what's your favorite upgrade project
you've done, etc. As far as getting people to contribute at all, well, that's
hard. People don't like to show off. It's basic human nature. But since we're
all family in a way, and have a definite, specific shared interest, we should
look at it as our duty to step up and let other owners know of ways to enjoy
their Birds more. Which is what the forum does so well.

Thanks everyone, and please be honest, if you can't imagine yourself submitting
several photos and a small write-up of things you like about your coach, then
don't suggest we try this, because it will take everyone's contributions to do
it.

Fred

Fred & Bellows
90SP Queen Creek, AZ (basically Phx)
"Maunder Maximum"
http://picasaweb.google.com/geefred/MaunderMaximum#