17th Infantry Regiment Association
I've been associated with the 17th Infantry Regiment Association for over 6 years now. First, I joined the Association, then I created and maintained the Association website, now I'm the current Secretary and Membership Chairman. It's been a long struggle, but the past two years have seen a huge increase in 4th and 3rd Battalion veterans. I know that a lot of us have busy lives, young families, etc and joining an Association might be the last thing on our minds right now, but for only $11.50 a year (about two packs of cigarettes or three cups of Starbucks coffee) I can't see why more of you aren't joining? We've got great guys like Doug Bell and Steve Goodwin who have helped the 4-17 Scout presence be larger than any other 4th Battalion group. Last year at Benning, we had about 35 4th Battalion veterans show up and we all had a great time ... it was good seeing guys like Clayton Plumley, Dave Ray, Steve Goodwin, Kevin Ryan, Frank Norton, Doug Bell, Ernest Echoles, Nelson Sanderlain, Robert Collins, etc .... Hopefully we'll have a lot more guys at the 2006 reunion at Colorado Springs (Sept 13th through Sept 16th)
The reason that I'm so adamant about you guys joining is because you stay informed of all current activities of the Association via our Newsletter "The Buffalo Bugle" For an annual membership you get about 3 issues of the Bugle a year ... and have access to all reunion information, etc ... easy for you to stay on top of things.
I usually get about 20-25 extra copies of the Bugle per month and send them out with contact sheets to random guys who served with the 3rd and 4th Battalions .. mostly the 4th Battalion. I usually will only send one copy to a veteran one time, but I've sent out a couple to a couple of you.
I want some feedback to why you guys aren't joining? Doug Bell has gone as far as send applications to guys and offering to pay for their membership and never hears back from them? We were all part of something special and I'm not expecting guys to go crazy for the Association .. I'm a gluten for punishment, so I don't count ... I've got this new web site on the horizon and my main goal is to try and get more of you to join the Association ... Let me know the reasons why you won't join or what the hesitation is.
Shook out ....
7 comments:
why folks balking at joining? simple...
you're asking men to commit...
no really. that's it. commitment.
oh - and though we love and cherish memories of our time amongst the brethren, we aren't always so keen on updating their impression of us, or changing the way we see them by reuniting...
it ain't broke - why fix it sort of thing...
cha-ching. randy's 2 cents...
plus - would help get more people to join the association if there was a bonus. you know, like maybe 3 CD's free with your first Bugle. Never pay for them. Ever! Keep the other ones you like or return them within 10 days with no obligation...
Commitment? Are you really serious, dad?
oh yeah.
1. it's just one more thing where you're gonna have someone having certain expectations of ya - that sort of thing.
2. i don't want to "ruin" my memories of that most excellent time of my life by updating it with fat old tired wrinkled memories
and you have to pay (however small the amount) for the privelege of obtaining points 1 & 2 as detailed above...
psych 101 brother.
not everyone is gonna join and that's it. then there's lame asses like me that are putting off joining until they know they can make it to reunion...
r.
1. I can't believe that you called me FAT .. that hurts.
2. No expectations on anyone .. I know that doesn't sound true because I pound it down everyone's throats. Here's why:
A. Although the Association is doing well at this point (almost the same amount of members as the 7th ID Association) The majority of the members are WWII and Korean War Veterans. Figure the math out ...
B. If we don't get some younger members to join then in a about 10 years, there won't be an association, so when you do decide that it would be a good time to join, you know when you're crusty, old, and FAT .. well you going to have to settle for the local Moose, or VFW because there won't be a 17th Infantry Regiment Association.
C. It's FUCKING $11.50 a year .. WTF?? Much less them most of you pay for the XXX monthly web subscription.
D. Although I respect your comments and I can see what you're trying to say .. seeing your old buddies and even guys that you didn't like (so your safe Sib) LOL Nothing can take away the brotherhood that you felt and the times that you humped together .. no, Randy, not down in Marina .. but at Hungry Lizard, Roberts, JOTC, NTC, etc .. and seeing guys again even if it's every few years is something that I will cherish and look forward to ... Maybe it was because my group was COHORT .. can't see that a if a guy puts on a few pounds that it would diminish the respect or bond that you shared/share with them ...
Still love you and it's just my .02
PS .. Because of the Association and the guys that are in it, maybe you can take your son down to Benning some day when he's old enough and show him the Monument and tell him some fond and sad memories as you look at the pavers strewn around of Medal of Honor recipients, brothers in arms, people like Delaney Gibbs, Scout Robert Carley, General Hal Moore, Theodore Mataxis, POW's and MIA's. I'm not trying to be a smart ass here .. it's just that there are so many benefits to having an Association available for you to at least support by being a member.. you don't have to attend reunions, or become involved as an officer, etc. It's about pride of doing something in you're life that you wouldn't change. My main goal is to network Buffalo, especially Lightfighters and I'll continue to do so ... I just can't understand why a few bucks every year would be such a huge burden on someone?
Buffalo Out ...
dear dad,
my unit was COHORT too. so were the next two batches that came in after my group...and i can't claim any of the theories i've put forth influence me. i'm just a lazy fucker. you asked for feedback re why maybe it's harder than you think it should be to get brothers to join, and i gave it a shot... is this you venting? you're just venting frustration aren;t you? fuck. don, i have to charge you for that shit...invoice will go out tomorrow...
Thanks, Dr Sib ... yes, venting it was. The checks in the mail.
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