Things taken for granted

Author Message   Tom DeMicke Senior Member Username: Typhoontom Post Number: 1032 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 211.121.74.184 Posted on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 07:10 am:    Hi Pat! Hey, I think I was part of that "fun little group" in the 90's. I volunteered at the terminal as a Passenger Service Agent from December 1998 to June 1999 and then continued working in the terminal as a contractor performing airport security. They really did have a great group there! I talk to the JN's everytime I call for flight info, I don't like to rely on the recording. As for everyone here...thanks for the positive posts...you're restored my faith!!   Pat Horner New member Username: Gbnt1133 Post Number: 5 Registered: 05-2007 Posted From: 184.77.110.144 Posted on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 04:24 am:    Tom, Thank you for posting. Your work is appreciated. As an old "Pax Rep" have you talked to any of the JN's at the terminal? There used to be a fun little group in Pax (mid 90's). Posting the info would not only be helpful to others, but would benefit them as in making new friends over here(USA). Maybe See if the base paper could pick you up as a story and what you do in helping others and in that article say that you are looking for back up help. And state what benefits a volunteer would be learning about the "Space A" system. Watch out for the fruit bats and that downhill taxi way behind the terminal, those little fighters can sneak up on you. Pat   Leland Senior Member Username: Leland Post Number: 6284 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 98.218.147.237 Posted on Saturday, May 29, 2010 - 09:20 pm:    Actually, spelling of bases can be important. It lets folks do searches to see which bases fly into a place they want to go to. The curse of the computer is that it requires accurate spellings for searches. Spellings of other words don't bother me. But I do try to check on the base names to make sure I've got it right. And, yes, I know I put down Corpus Cristi in Texas a few days ago.   Lindsey Bullock Intermediate Member Username: Lindseyb Post Number: 106 Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 195.93.60.104 Posted on Saturday, May 29, 2010 - 08:29 pm:    I feel you Tom. I get e-mails for misspelling things. Because the recording spells everywhere they are going for me, don't you know. ;)   John B Senior Member Username: Jbrunslik Post Number: 1248 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 207.200.116.12 Posted on Saturday, May 29, 2010 - 04:18 pm:    To add to the mix as a long time poster for Hickam, I often get private e-mails asking for my "inside information". I don't live in Hawaii, and only post because I often transit SUU-HIK, and it's my way of giving back to other SPATS. When traveling I always rely on speaking with a Pax Rep, the schedules on this board are best for planning and seeing patterns. Folks must remember the following chain of reliability of information From most reliable to least. 1. Speaking to a Pax Rep at the location in question. 2. looking at the monitor at that location. 3. Telephone recording. 4. Schedules on this board. (often outdated shortly after posting)   Hale Lait Senior Member Username: Norwich50 Post Number: 872 Registered: 07-2006 Posted From: 70.232.167.209 Posted on Saturday, May 29, 2010 - 02:20 pm:    Use the word "please" and most misinterpratations will be avoided.   Tom DeMicke Senior Member Username: Typhoontom Post Number: 1031 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 211.121.74.184 Posted on Saturday, May 29, 2010 - 05:44 am:    Thanks for all the kind words. It's appreciated!   Joe Lippo Advanced Member Username: Momojoe Post Number: 399 Registered: 06-2006 Posted From: 24.143.80.95 Posted on Saturday, May 29, 2010 - 04:29 am:    Amen, brother...I know what THAT'S like...   Jim Hunt Intermediate Member Username: Jhunt66 Post Number: 67 Registered: 12-2009 Posted From: 75.52.160.6 Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 07:26 pm:    Tom, you are a prince! Volunteer service can be frustrating at times and you appear to have a good handle on the subject. Keep up the good work. And remember, the phone number at Kadena is not a state secret -- anyone can call for updates. And if they're too cheap to make an overseas phonec all, they probably shouldn't be travelling space-a in the first place. So take your vacation with a clear conscience and go with our blessing!   Cindy Gardner Intermediate Member Username: Cindy_gardner Post Number: 62 Registered: 07-2003 Posted From: 99.35.228.101 Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 02:29 pm:    Thank you Tom for this valuable reminder. We all need hints on how to favorably present ourselves from time to time. After all, we live life forward, but understand it only after-the-fact. Thank you, and all posters, for your priceless dedication & assistance. Take care, & be safe! ~Cindy   John D. Moderator Username: John_d Post Number: 4528 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 95.208.80.143 Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 08:40 am:    Sometimes it's hard to judge the intended tone of written text/emails so I suspect the intent was a friendly inquiry versus a poke in the chest demanding an update! Nevertheless, among the thousands of fellow Space-A travelers there are a few who lose sight of the voluntary nature of this message board. I've received my fair share of repetitive (to the point of harassing) emails inquiring why I haven't gotten around to making an update to spacea.net (not to mention some downright rude emails regarding the volunteer "board police"). This is a good reminder for some folks and perhaps those folks that have the time to complain should try contributing some of their spare time to contribute to the Space-A community.   steve fontaine Member Username: Sfontain Post Number: 17 Registered: 12-2008 Posted From: 162.90.192.45 Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 07:44 am:    Typhoon Tom -- Many thanks for all your efforts in keeping us updated on the Kadena comings and going. The information you post is valuable and very helpful. You're absolutely correct too about what to do if one needs immediate information. Thanks and Cheers   Tom DeMicke Senior Member Username: Typhoontom Post Number: 1030 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 211.121.74.169 Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 07:32 am:    Folks, I am the primary (and only) poster for Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan (DNA) and just feel I should get something off my chest. The other day, I received a private e-mail from a Space "A" traveler that started in these words: "How 'bout an update for Kadena?" Okay, I know, it's not the end of the world and I'm almost sure he didn't mean to come across a bit aggressive, but I would like to remind everyone here that all of us posters, and other folks who post good information on this board, are volunteers, and volunteers only. Services provided here are not paid positions. I'm sure this individual needed information on Kadena departures in order to make a good decision on whether got get off here or not, but was frustrated because there had been no post for Kadena. I usually post 3 to 4 times a week, however I was one extra day late and the reason for that was that Okinawa was rattled by a 6.1 magnitude earthquake which knocked my internet service out for 24 hours. I'm sure you can imagine that by this time, I was a bit more concerned for my safety (and my wife's safety) vice posting updates for Kadena. Of course, this individual didn't know that, but my advice to everyone is that, if you are traveling and need urgent information on flights, please rely more on making phone calls and receiving live information rather than posts made here. These posts here are helpful in getting a "feel" of what's going out, but in my humble opinion, when you are actively traveling, you should call instead of relying on these posts. Many of the flight information posted here changes by the time we hit the "enter" key. I've been trying to no end to find an alternate poster for Kadena and no one has ever come forward, not even when I travel to Europe or mainland Japan with what little time I have to myself. So...folks, please understand, we posters do our best, so when you see a little gap in posts, please call for more reliable information and realize then posters do have jobs, family, and a need for other things. Thanks for understanding... "Typhoon" Tom DeMicke Kadena AB, Okinawa