Offering refuge to stranded SPATs?

Author Message   Danny Hamilton Senior Member Username: Dannyhamilton Post Number: 586 Registered: 03-2004 Posted From: 68.225.115.15 Posted on Friday, April 30, 2010 - 02:10 am:    John, I will stick with only using the "at" instead of the @ symbol. If any other members of this board care to volunteer to assist other SPATS in their local areas, please contact me for placement on the Good Samaritan List (GSL). Danny (My email address is listed on my profile.)   John D. Moderator Username: John_d Post Number: 4370 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 88.53.117.5 Posted on Thursday, April 29, 2010 - 07:21 pm:    Danny, If the GSL is ONLY distributed via email to the members of the list then the "@" symbol shouldn't be an issue (after all, the email already contains the full email addresses of the sender and receivers). If the email addresses were posted on the web then I'd be wary of automated email address collectors. In any event, either the "@" or the "at" will work.   William Dimsdale Member Username: Mebillyd Post Number: 43 Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 74.196.60.127 Posted on Thursday, April 29, 2010 - 02:24 pm:    I think it would be great to be able to help the active duty and their families and I think it would encourage active duty to help retired spats. I hope we can find a way to make the GSL available to the younger military when they need it. I have found that current active duty are usually interested in what it used to be and we are interested in how it is now.   Jim Stephens Intermediate Member Username: Mrjimsfc Post Number: 57 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 76.27.12.29 Posted on Thursday, April 29, 2010 - 04:03 am:    You just know that the SPATs who most desperately need help are not members of this board. It's easy to visulize some poor little 26 year-old mother with two babies stuck in an unfamiliar place with no idea what to do. I'm sure that in that situation we would ALL like to help. The GSL would be the perfect answer for the problem! How do we get it into the hands of those who would use it but keep it out of the hands of those who would abuse it? Base Chaplins? Main desk at SPACEA? USO? Truth is, I'm more concerned with helping others than with needing the help myself.   ed williamson Advanced Member Username: Regnav Post Number: 161 Registered: 07-2009 Posted From: 76.114.109.206 Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 08:56 pm:    Bill: Nor would I! I don't have a solution. Although perhaps, maybe, it might work if instead of a sign the info could be given to the USO and they could screen who it was given to? Just the board address? Nah, it would probably get out fully public anyway. Forget I suggested it.   Bill Terry Senior Member Username: Bill_terry Post Number: 647 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 72.216.27.70 Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 06:52 pm:    Ed, I see your point, but a sign in the USO for instance, may be viewed by 500 folks a day. I certainly don't want 300 folks that don't have or want to pay for transportation calling me all hours of the night. How are you going to differentiate them?   D.B.M UK Senior Member Username: Overlandrover Post Number: 5913 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 86.159.148.6 Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 05:54 pm:    For the younger folks who might be on this board: Don't try that today! (Bet the young folk of today don't know what a Nickel use to be worth. I remember getting a Bottle Coke for a Nickel.)   ed williamson Advanced Member Username: Regnav Post Number: 159 Registered: 07-2009 Posted From: 76.114.109.206 Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 05:47 pm:    Bill, I kinda agree but then not all SPATS may be aware of this board. Signs could also provide a bit of advertising to obtain new members. What do you think?   ed williamson Advanced Member Username: Regnav Post Number: 158 Registered: 07-2009 Posted From: 76.114.109.206 Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 05:45 pm:    Following up on below. I'd be willing to donate to a fund used to print and mail signs. Of course, those living nearby could handle the posting. Otherwise just mail 'em. For those interested, here is a true sea story: Back in the 50's I was hitchhiking from Long Beach, CA to Shreveport, LA. Near Carlsbad, NM night fell and the desert got cold! I wanted out of it so badly that I switched from side to side to side of the road whenever I saw headlights approaching. Didn't care where I went, as long as I got warm. Anyway, ended up back in Carlsbad and was dropped off in front of the police station. Being naive, young, foolish and trusting, I walked in and asked the Desk Sgt. if I could stay the night. I was in uniform and had left Long Beach with $5.10 in my pocket. The Desk Sgt. grinned, put me in an unlocked cell, brought me a sandwich, and the next morning I was given breakfast and a ride to the highway, where I continued my trip. Arrived in Shreveport with a nickel left which I used to call someone to pick me up. I'll take Space A anytime! For the younger folks who might be on this board: Don't try that today!   Bill Terry Senior Member Username: Bill_terry Post Number: 646 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 72.216.27.70 Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 05:37 pm:    IMO the contact list should only be available to Pepperd.com members.   ed williamson Advanced Member Username: Regnav Post Number: 157 Registered: 07-2009 Posted From: 76.114.109.206 Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 05:32 pm:    Danny: How 'bout posting a sign at USOs, and possibly terminals, that provides info on this board? A member, or other SPAT, could then log on to obtain telephone numbers. Personally, I don't object to having my phone number posted. It only takes a second push the "end" button. However, I do understand why others may not wish to do so. To be useful this info must be made widely available. I think.   D.B.M UK Senior Member Username: Overlandrover Post Number: 5912 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 86.159.148.6 Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 05:07 pm:    Danny, I think if anyone wants to give out their phone number, then after the first initial contact they might supply it if required. Don't know about Morel mushrooms, but local Suffolk ones sell for £1 per lb. Yum.   Danny Hamilton Senior Member Username: Dannyhamilton Post Number: 581 Registered: 03-2004 Posted From: 68.225.115.15 Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 04:28 pm:    Don, how much do you charge for a pound of fresh Morel mushrooms?   Danny Hamilton Senior Member Username: Dannyhamilton Post Number: 580 Registered: 03-2004 Posted From: 68.225.115.15 Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 04:27 pm:    Due to a suggestion from Cherry, I have gone through the GSL and changed every email address by removing the @ symbol and replacing that symbol with: at That means that anyone who wishes to email any SPAT on the GSL must remove the word "at" and replace the "@" symbol. This will prevent any automated email address collector from scooping up our email addresses to sell to spammers. Should I or should I NOT display any PHONE numbers for the volunteers on the GSL? If no phone numbers are displayed, and contact from some SPAT in need of assistence can only be initiated via email (after re-writing the email address to include the missing G symbol), there will undoubtedly be a time lag in getting the needy SPAT and the GSL member into contact. At times, a few hours might not be too long to wait for assistence, but at other times, assistence might be needed quickly. What to do? Posting telephone numbers may foster unwanted telephone calls from salesmen. Not posting them will certainly make it more time consuming for the SPATS in need of help. In this computerized world, it takes only a few clicks to get all sorts of anyone's personal information. If email address is known, there are reverse search engines that will call up names, mailing addresses and phone numbers for individuals. It seems that anyone with a little knowledge can get just about any personal information on anyone. I have decided to err on the side of caution and will remove all contact information for all members of the GSL except for their email addresses.....and of course, those email addresses are now stripped of the @ symbol. I will send the GSL to ONLY the members of the list. I will remain as point of contact for any changes or additions to the listing. From time to time, I will post a notice on this Board, asking that anyone wishing to be added to the GSL contact me for placement on it. That way, newcomers to this Board will at least KNOW that there is such a listing and can volunteer their services in their local areas. My thanks to all of you who contacted me with helpful suggestions. I need all the help I can get! Danny Hamilton danny1 at yahoo.com   D.B.M UK Senior Member Username: Overlandrover Post Number: 5911 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 86.159.148.6 Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 11:25 am:    Amen John D. People can e-mail me, but I don't need to get phone calls. I have been getting phone calls for 7 years ever since I moved into this house, people trying to buy mushrooms.   John D. Moderator Username: John_d Post Number: 4366 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 88.53.117.5 Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 03:52 am:    Danny, That's the fundamental decision. If the new (GSL) list is to be shared with anyone (in other words their will be no control over who gets the list) then I think the folks on the original list should verify what info (home phone, cell phone, email) they'd like shared with anyone. If this list is going to be widely publicized outside the members on the list then I for one would just like my email shared (not my home and cell numbers).   Danny Hamilton Senior Member Username: Dannyhamilton Post Number: 579 Registered: 03-2004 Posted From: 68.225.115.15 Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 03:33 am:    John D. This GSL is supposed to be available to help any SPAT in need, right? Are only the SPATS who volunteer to help others the ones who get to SEE this listing? I admit I do not know the best way to make the listing available to those who may need to know who they can turn to if a situation arises in an unfamiliar area, but it seems to me that it would be of limited value if only made available to just the volunteers on the listing. Again, I welcome suggestions and comments designed to help us all use this GSL. GSL, for those who may not know what that stands for is the "Good Samaritan List", a listing of SPATS who have volunteered to give assistence to other SPATS who may require help in unfamiliar territory.   John D. Moderator Username: John_d Post Number: 4365 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 88.53.117.5 Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 03:13 am:    Danny said, "If any member of the Pepperd Space-A Message Board wishes a copy of the GSL, please contact me via email at: dannyhamilton1 "at" yahoo.com " Any member? The original intent of the list when it started several years ago was that the list would be shared among the list members only. Is the intent now to widely share the info on this list with anyone who requests it? I would be very wary of distributing the list to any board member not on the list or posted in the USO etc....   Danny Hamilton Senior Member Username: Dannyhamilton Post Number: 578 Registered: 03-2004 Posted From: 68.225.115.15 Posted on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 - 08:29 pm:    I think JT's suggested name "GSL" for Good Samaritan List is just about right for our listing of SPATS who have volunteered to help other SPATS in need of info, transportation and even a place to crash if no rooms are available locally. Currently, the GSL contains 47 volunteers, but 4 of those people who were on the listing when I received it have not been contacted due to their email addresses still being invalid. If anyone can provide contact information for: Booras, George Lewis, Derrald (Dan)...(Profile email invalid) Rodriguez, Roberto Scipione, Frank please let me know. Still have not decided how to best get this GSL into the hands of SPATS who need it. I do not want to post it on this public board because it contains personal information of the volunteers. If any member of the Pepperd Space-A Message Board wishes a copy of the GSL, please contact me via email at: dannyhamilton1 "at" yahoo.com The GSL in in the MS Excel format (.xls file) so to open it you will need to have the MS Excel program or equivalent program installed on your computer. Thanks to the SPATS who contacted me with contact information on some of the volunteers I could not contact yesterday.   Martin V Smith Advanced Member Username: Mvsusaf Post Number: 268 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 72.76.38.134 Posted on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 - 11:39 am:    Although I live 45 miles from McGuire I go there once in a while. The one thing however I always do is stop at the PAX terminal and go in to see if anybody needs a lift to the BX/Commissary especially looking for moms with kids in tow and people my age.   ed williamson Advanced Member Username: Regnav Post Number: 155 Registered: 07-2009 Posted From: 76.114.109.206 Posted on Monday, April 26, 2010 - 10:30 pm:    John D: "6. If anyone has a suggestion as to how this listing can be made available for needy SPATS while I am away from home, please speak up." Post in USOs? I'm happy to volunteer but as I'm in the Knoxville, Tennessee (McGhee-Tyson) area can't imagine I'll be of much use to anyone, but here if needed.   Danny Hamilton Senior Member Username: Dannyhamilton Post Number: 577 Registered: 03-2004 Posted From: 68.225.115.15 Posted on Monday, April 26, 2010 - 09:08 pm:    I believe I have updated all the information now displayed on the SPATS Helping SPATS listing or the Good Samaritan List (GSL as JT suggested). Out of 51 volunteers listed, 12 of those email addresses were invalid. I have done some detective work and now only need current email addresses for: Bado, Paul Booras, George Lewis, Derrald (Dan)...(Profile email invalid) Mergle, Rob Rodriguez, Roberto Scipione, Frank If anyone has a valid email address for any of those people, please send it to me so I can contact them to get updated information for the listing. Also, if anyone wishes to volunteer to give assistence to any needy SPATS in their local area, please contact me and I will be happy to add you to our listing. Danny dannyhamilton1 "at" yahoo.com   Wanda Seals Senior Member Username: Whstravel Post Number: 719 Registered: 07-2007 Posted From: 69.152.250.36 Posted on Monday, April 26, 2010 - 05:59 pm:    Jt recommended "GSL - Good Samaritan List". Not a bad choice. For sure SPATS HELPING SPATS might make active duty and their families feel they would not be welcome to ask for assistance. I am sure many of us SPATS would be willing to provide some assistance - we WERE once active duty ourselves! I would welcome requests for assistance - although I can not guanantee I would always be at home - but would help as much as I could. Ciao/Wanda (San Antonio - mostly for Kelly/Lackland area since I live in that part of SAT - i.e. I am about 36 miles from Randolph).   Jt Member Username: Jt Post Number: 38 Registered: 07-2008 Posted From: 24.255.112.222 Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2010 - 08:34 pm:    What about the GSL. Stands for Good Samaritan List.   John D. Moderator Username: John_d Post Number: 4360 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 95.208.80.143 Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2010 - 06:51 pm:    Danny asked, 1. How much personal information do I want to put on public display? -- I would think that's up to each list member - if they want to share their bank account loin info then I think we can find a use for it. 2. If we volunteers do not want to post our email addresses or phone numbers, how would any SPAT in need of our contact us? -- Can't answer this one - I would think you'd want at least an email address. 3. I have eliminated all street addresses from the listing as I think that information is unnecessary. -- Agree. 4. I will be contacting (or attempting to contact) all volunteers on the SPATS HELPING SPATS list to verify all information is current. -- Good plan. 5. Can anyone suggest a better NAME for this listing? -- "The List?" 6. If anyone has a suggestion as to how this listing can be made available for needy SPATS while I am away from home, please speak up. -- Once the list is setup I doubt info will change that much and a multi-week gap isn't going to make much difference. The main thing would be to solicit changes and distribute updates on some regular frequency quarterly, twice a year or at least annually. My motorcycle club list is updated annually. 7. Would anyone volunteer to be an "ALTERNATE" list manager? Lemme know. -- Sorry, I'm maxed out.   Doug Skillman Member Username: Dskillman Post Number: 16 Registered: 02-2010 Posted From: 70.33.13.243 Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2010 - 06:17 pm:    Hi Danny, I'm kinda out here in the middle of nowhere in Montana, but if anyone ever needs help while passing through or while visiting Yellowstone Natnl Park (I'm about 70 miles North of there), etc. I'd be certainly glad to help with whatever may be needed!   Danny Hamilton Senior Member Username: Dannyhamilton Post Number: 576 Registered: 03-2004 Posted From: 68.225.115.15 Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2010 - 05:43 pm:    I have made some changes in the way the "SPATS Helping SPATS" listing is displayed. The headings are: "Name", "City", "State" (or country if not USA), "Branch" (of Service), "Status" (Retired or Active Duty), "Email", "Home Phone", "Cell Phone" & "Render Assistence in Areas:" Currently there are 52 SPATS on our listing who have volunteered to help other SPATS in the volunteers' local areas. I have listed all entries in the alphabetical order of the 2-letter ABBREVIATIONS of the United States, rather than by the last names of volunteers, as I think it would be easier to look for volunteers in the AREA in which a SPAT might need assistence. I welcome any and all critiques, suggestions and comments as to how to make this listing as useful as possible. A big question these days is: How much personal information do I want to put on public display? If we volunteers do not want to post our email addresses or phone numbers, how would any SPAT in need of our assistence contact us? I have eliminated all street addresses from the listing as I think that information is unnecessary. I will be contacting (or attempting to contact) all volunteers on the SPATS HELPING SPATS list to verify all information is current. Can anyone suggest a better NAME for this listing? I agree to be the point of contact for anyone in need of assistence to help them connect with a volunteer in the area in which their help is needed. One drawback about this plan is that I, too, am a SPAT and will be away from my computer for about 2 weeks in spring and 2 weeks in fall every year. If anyone has a suggestion as to how this listing can be made available for needy SPATS while I am away from home, please speak up. Would anyone volunteer to be an "ALTERNATE" list manager? Lemme know. Danny dannyhamilton1@yahoo.com   Danny Hamilton Senior Member Username: Dannyhamilton Post Number: 575 Registered: 03-2004 Posted From: 68.225.115.15 Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2010 - 02:57 am:    Mike Winton contacted me via email and sent me a copy of his listing of SPATS willing to help other SPATS. I will endeavor to maintain this listing, but there are some kinks to work out in the meantime. Bear with me and have patience as I try to figure out the best way to manage this listing. I will be contacting (if email addresses are still valid!) all SPATS who have said they are willing to aid other SPATS passing through their areas. More on this later. Danny Hamilton Warner Robins, GA   Bill Terry Senior Member Username: Bill_terry Post Number: 643 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 72.216.27.70 Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2010 - 07:58 pm:    Hurlburt/Eglin/Duke Field Florida. For the newbies I'm listed for these two bases, although little to no Space A for these in or out of here. My contact info on my profile   Danny Hamilton Senior Member Username: Dannyhamilton Post Number: 574 Registered: 03-2004 Posted From: 68.225.115.15 Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2010 - 03:06 pm:    I'd like to hear from Mike Winton regarding a listing of SPATS helping SPATS. I understand Mike was the last person to take over the management of such a list. What say, Mike?   John Civick Advanced Member Username: John6412 Post Number: 257 Registered: 07-2008 Posted From: 166.188.250.129 Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2010 - 01:53 pm:    And the wife and I would welcome those who are stranded at Tinker AFB. Only stipulation is nonsmoking SPATS. The wife is extremely allergic to tobacco smoke. I'll even pick you up and redeliver!   Bill Mc Carthy Intermediate Member Username: Billmacnypd Post Number: 101 Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 96.231.78.7 Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2010 - 12:41 am:    Cherry: More than happy to take up your offer to help either military or stranded members of the board. If you become stranded in the Washington D.C. area we live in Northern Virginia & are near Andrews, Dulles or R.Regan airports. If you are stranded at any of the above locations and do not have a laptop or notebook send me an e-mail from the USO. BILLMAC   shannon whitaker Member Username: Gypsy99 Post Number: 9 Registered: 03-2010 Posted From: 70.67.171.200 Posted on Thursday, April 22, 2010 - 01:32 pm:    Our family is stationed outside of Victoria, BC and would welcome anyone if they are stranded in Washington. I know it would involve a ferry ride over but if you would like to come visit Canada while waiting just email me!   Sheila Dunn Advanced Member Username: Sheila_dunn Post Number: 214 Registered: 08-2008 Posted From: 156.63.84.58 Posted on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 - 06:55 am:    You are so good Cherry! Such a helper. I am near Wright Patterson AFB and will always attempt to assist space a travelers. Ash or no Ash.   Lindsey Bullock Intermediate Member Username: Lindseyb Post Number: 64 Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 195.93.60.104 Posted on Monday, April 19, 2010 - 07:19 pm:    Any are welcome to crash at my house. I'm also in Germany.   Denny Knott Senior Member Username: Degause01 Post Number: 1347 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 98.183.26.167 Posted on Monday, April 19, 2010 - 02:12 pm:    If I can offer any assistance to anyone please don't hesitate to contact me. I live in Pensacola, FL. Fantastic post Cherry....   Danny Hamilton Senior Member Username: Dannyhamilton Post Number: 570 Registered: 03-2004 Posted From: 68.225.115.15 Posted on Monday, April 19, 2010 - 01:20 pm:    Thank you for posting what a lot of us must be thinking, Cherry. I hope that you jog many of us into taking action and offering help to our fellow military members and not just thinking about it. Good for you, Cherry!   John D. Moderator Username: John_d Post Number: 4324 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 95.208.80.143 Posted on Monday, April 19, 2010 - 01:15 pm:    Since my CONUS flight tomorrow is now canceled then anyone stuck in Stuttgart can contact me for assistance if needed!   Ron Glancy Intermediate Member Username: Ron_glancy Post Number: 147 Registered: 09-2007 Posted From: 98.25.205.162 Posted on Monday, April 19, 2010 - 12:32 pm:    Cherry, this is such a great idea. We were stranded in Dover for a few days last week and were so fortunate to have met David and Audrey Haynes who are contributors to this board. We had actually met them in Hawaii at the BFB a year ago and ran into them again at McChord where we were both flying out of into Dover. They rented a car in Dover and were staying there a few days before driving to Long Island. We were waiting for a flight to Charleston which was cancelled. They took us back and forth from lodging to the terminal and waited at the terminal until we found out about whether we were going to get out or not. They then invited us out to dinner and stayed in close contact until we made alternative plans. We ended up renting a car from Hertz and driving home after two days. We were so grateful for their generosity. On our trip out to McChord we were not as lucky. We got in at about 9 pm and could only find lodging at Ft. Lewis. No one on the plane with us offered us a ride and there was no other transportation to Lewis other than a taxi. The fee was $30. We had arranged for a car from Enterprise before we left home thinking that we would be picked up from McChord. The office that we were renting from couldn't come on Ft. Lewis and the Ft. Lewis office did not have a car. We had to pay another $8 for a taxi to take us from lodging to the main gate at Ft. Lewis. When we return to Charleston from a space a flight, we try to make sure everyone on the flight with us has a ride to lodging, or the airport, or try to help them find lodging elsewhere if there is no room on base. It would be great if others did the same. Angie   Bill Ward Senior Member Username: Dualrated2 Post Number: 699 Registered: 08-2003 Posted From: 67.142.130.47 Posted on Monday, April 19, 2010 - 11:45 am:    Great suggestion Cherry.   Cherry C. Senior Member Username: Cherry Post Number: 6239 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 71.163.18.160 Posted on Monday, April 19, 2010 - 11:43 am:    As the volcanic cloud spreads, those of us who are lucky enough to be at home can only guess at the turmoil and distress caused by canceled/indefinitely delayed flights. I wonder if there are any members of this board who are stranded somewhere and in need of help, who might post their locations so that those of us who live nearby could consider offering assistance until things clear up? People traveling with small children must be hit especially hard. I realize it could be a long term problem, and folks might not wish to include overnight 'accommodations' in either their request or their offer, BUT at very least some food and maybe a place to take a quick shower could be awfully welcome... Or just a ride to where the stranded ones might get a train, bus or rental car to a place where they do have friends or family to take them in for the duration? We've prided ourselves on "The [military] takes care of its own" and here is a chance to practice that.