Color Guard at SASS convention is in the works

[Mustang Gregg]

Anyone happen to be going out to LAS for the convention?
It's still a might too early for us to call it, but we'd sure like to again.
It was well-received last year.  The guests loved it!

MG

[Cowtown Scout]

Count Me In.  Last years presentation is what got me to sign up with GAF.
Scout

[Dusty Tagalon]

Got my airline tickets, & room booked. Just need to register for the convention.

Dusty

[Advertising]

[Pitspitr]

Hi MG

Are you back from Cali yet? Sure missed you at CSG.

I probably won't be able to attend, but y'all are welcome to use my flag again. Sure wish I could be there especially with the wedding and all.

[Mustang Gregg]

Yes, I am home from CA fires.  I've gotten very far behind wiith ranch work & don't think I will be able to make even our own ENGCowboys SASS shoot this coming weekend.  And the NG has changed our Oct drill onto the SAME weekend as the GAF match too. DAMN!!! 

MG

[Pitspitr]

As I was leaving the Star City yesterday an OD colored jet flew over I-80 and it made me wonder if you'd made it back yet.

I sure hate it when making a living gets in the way of having a life.  Maybe they'lll change it again.

[Mustang Gregg]

Col Pitspitr:

Yup, work is in the way of life!
I still gotta find the names of the troops who did the GAF Color Guard at the SASS Convention in 2007. 
Then we can put them in for the award.  I only have some of the names.   

MG

PS  We may try to go in Dec 2008.  Still not decided.

[US Scout]

I still gotta find the names of the troops who did the GAF Color Guard at the SASS Convention in 2007. 
Then we can put them in for the award.  I only have some of the names.   
MG

MG-

You had them all but Colonel Scratch listed correctly on the Awards thread. 

Not too early to begin planning who will do the color guard this year.  I'm on hold for the moment - too much going on over the next few months (I've the same problem Bvt Col Pitspitr described- work getting in the way of fun).

Of course, SASS has to ask us to do it, first.  So far the new banquet coordinator has not contacted me (or anyone else that I know of) to provide another color guard for this year's SASS Convention. 

Maybe they heard we also did the NCOWS Convention and got jealous...

US Scout
GAF, Commanding

[MUD MARINE]

My reservations for the covention have been made!   :-)

[Mustang Gregg]

US Scout:

Did they contact you ahead of time in 2007?
Can we make the suggestion?

MG

[Steel Horse Bailey]

US Scout:

Did they contact you ahead of time in 2007?
Can we make the suggestion?

MG

Howdy,

While I'm not Gen. US Scout, I'll say this.  I was the one who got the ball rolling for this year's NCOWS National Shoot this past June.  I'll wager that they'd be happy and welcome your suggestion, as organizers don't always know what additional "services" may be available.

'Specially since we come at the right price.

 

[US Scout]

US Scout:

Did they contact you ahead of time in 2007?
Can we make the suggestion?

MG

We were contacted almost a full year in advance.  We have offered our services every year since the GAF was formed, but until last year our offer was never accepted - primarily because some in SASS believe the GAF is a competitive organization to SASS.  Instead the organizers always relied on the local reservists to do the job.  They do a fine job, but I believe most of the banquet/ball attendees much preferred our "period" uniformed color guard to a modern unifomed guard.

Ellsworth Kincaid ran last year's banquet/ball.  We're good friends (and he likes what we do) so that is how we finally got an invitation to provide a color guard.  We talked about doing this year's but then he was "fired" and he turned over all his plans to SASS HQ.  I believe Coyote Calhoun may be in charge this time around.  Quite frankly, I haven't contacted them as I'm tired of SASS's attitude (don't call us, we'll call you) when we have previously offered to do the color guard.  They know who we are are and how to contact us (and we certainly got some excellent writeups in the Chronicle), but so far I haven't been contacted. 

US Scout
GAF, Commanding

[Dusty Tagalon]

I will be going to the convention. If I buy a ticket to the ball, that is another question. If they should not choose us for the color guard, I will pass on the ball.

Dusty

[US Scout]

I will find out who is running the banquet/ball.

At this time, I'm not sure if I'll be going either (family issues), though I've attended all but the ones while I was in Iraq.

US Scout
GAF, Commanding

[Dusty Tagalon]

For SASS not to ask us to provide color guard again would surpurise me, there were at least two TGs in the color gaurd at the 2007 SASS convention. The attendees at the banquet perfered us to the prior color guards. I did it with pride, & look forward to doing it again. It would be sad for SASS not to ask us.

GAF isn't competion for SASS, the number of "GAF"matches a year can be counted on one hand. Throw in the 2 guns & we are not even close. To me, GAF enhances SASS, there were more then cowboys out west.

Dusty

[US Scout]

Dusty -

No argument from me.  As noted at the time on the SASS Wire, here at CAS City, on the Frontier Spot, and eventually in the Cowboy Chronicle, our color guard was one of the highlights of the evening.

However, in talking to the coordinator of last year's banquet/ball, he plans these things as far out as possible, while other coordinators have waited until the last minute to arrange the color guard, etc. 

While I don't know for sure that SASS wants us back, I would assume they would based on how well we were received last year.  However, they (whoever they is) has not made any attempt to contact us and may not do so for a couple more months.  We can put together a color guard rather quickly, especially since we know who we can count on to be at the Convention, but I would like a little more advanced notice then the week before.

We in the GAF know that we are not in competition to SASS, but some of the powers that be at SASS are less sure of that - viewing any other organization as a potential threat.  I've worked at dissuading them of that perception (and you'll note that we have received several nice articles in the CC), but there are still those who think that way, regardless of what we say or do (call it paranoia).  We had at least 3 TG on the GAF color guard (out of six participating).  That would seem to be a good indicator that we support SASS.

US Scout
GAF, Commanding

[Dusty Tagalon]

Just in case it is a throw togather at the last minute, I will bring a flag harness, & my drill rifle.

Dusty

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Be prepared!  As Gen. Scout said, we can come up with a group rather quickly, if needed.

As far as SASS goes, yep - they have a tendency to feel that anything that isn't SASS is competition.  The GAF isn't competing for SASS or NCOWS members - it's where we came from.  Heck - you wouldn't believe how many SASS folks think that NCOWS is "out to beat up SASS with their Stitch Nazis!"  I'm a proud Life Member of SASS and a proud member for Life of NCOWS - they aren't in competition!  NOR is the GAF!  Shoot - many think that SASS started GAF, but that's not true, either - it was a group effort!  A group of Military minded folks is what it truly was.  No specific organization.

[Charlie Foxtrot]

.
I'll be in Vegas for the Convention -- The Riv rooms are already paid for! -- Arriving midday Thursday.

New to SASS and the GAF, but I'd be honored to participate or help anyway I can.  Outfitted as a 1880 - 90s mounted light artillery sergeant.   

Dan
Uno Mas
SASS #80082

[Mustang Gregg]

Our duty roster has changed.  And I now have that weekend FREE!  So we are planning on going to LAS for the SASS convention. 
I am volunteering myself & my Win M-1895, if they want us.

MG