T minus 4 Days and counting....

[US Scout]

General,
I like the way the man thinks! And while you're at it why don't you invite Vice-President Palin.

Well now, the present Secretary of the Navy (who prevented me from attending this year) steps down in January (or thereabouts) so it's the new incoming Secretary, as yet to be selected, I have to worry about.   On the other hand, the results of my upcoming mission to the Gulf may negate the reason I couldn't attend this year. 

As for Vice President Palin - my only concern is that she'll outshoot me - and then she'd think I was favoring her.     

US Scout
Bvt Brig Gen, GAF

[Pitspitr]

 Today I received some pictures from Lt. Col. Dusty Tagalon and they got me to thinking. So, I am reinstating the period camp competition for the 2009 GM even though we'll once again be staying in the barracks at Fort Hartsuff the Criteria will be something like this:

1 Period correct (no modern materials or items visible)Does the display stay PC at all times?
2 Presentation (the way items are displayed)
3 Details in display (are extra items displayed, ie. extra uniforms, extra shoes, personal items ect. )

[Pony Racer]

Sounds like we have numbers for a Caravan General!!

I will have to break out my old Nav kit to get the right rhumb-line trans-state plan in place!!

I do have one of them F-150 super crews with full tow package.

Even my wife thinks it must be so cool to stay in a rehabbed barracks.  I think with a war party of three I can get the permissions needed from CINCHome and USCG COMDT (we use CCG for him now).

Heck maybe even have a wetting down for making O-5 with my fellow GAF members!!

PR

[Bow View Haymaker]

Any new info on the 2009 muster? 
Are the dates set in stone?
Any info you can give me will help so we can start putting together a sponsor request letter.

[Mustang Gregg]

Troopers:

We, here at our remote outpost, plan on attending the Muster in 2009.  That is---unless our Aviation Batalloin is going to visit Afghanistan during then.
Anyway, Wild West Arms would like to donate some prizes.

Respectfully,
Mustang Gregg

[River City John]

Outstanding! I believe (Bvt.) Lt. Col. Montgomery Little, Scruffy Skippy, Bow View Haymaker and myself are all on the prize committee.

GAF Muster 2009 will easily be, by far, the most well attended Muster to date,- I firmly believe it.

Make and set plans early as you can, because the Barracks will fill quickly.

Hopefully there will be a modest period tent camp set up also, but this is still in the works. I am going to assume these camps will be eligible for the period camp competition.

If the period camping is a go, I plan on setting up my wedge tent and accoutrement.

RCJ

[Texas Lawdog]

I will be attending the 2009 Muster and If I have half as much fun next year as I did this year, it will be worth that 1500 round trip.  Living in the Barracks was great and Del's cookin' was the best. I plan on shooting next year, provided I don't get a relaspe of my shingles. Meeting everyone in person was a treat.

[Pitspitr]

Oh, and start reloading now.. There's going to be lots of shooting! 

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Like LAST year, I've started the planning.  I feel it in my bones that THIS year will be the One!

[Pony Racer]

Unless I get re-assigned this summer - I plan on attending.

Looks like I will finish my tour in DC; however, since the USCG is so small and I have made O-5 - they may send me back to a "field" job at the rank/experience level (I am in an O-4 job).

Even if I get re-assigned depending on the job - I still maybe able to make it.

PR

[Pitspitr]

I'd like the input of the past and future GAF Grand Muster shooters.

I was planning on about 40 shooters for the 08 and since we only had about 25 I lost quite a bit of money. I think the biggest thing was that I awarded too many medals. This coming year we won't be able to award any medals for the side matches unless there is an entry fee for the side matches.

So my question to you is: would you like the side matches to be free but not win any medals for them, or would you rather pay an entry fee for the side matches and have a chance at winning a medal?

[Steel Horse Bailey]

No medals needed.

'Course, I've not BEEN to one Muster yet.  But it seems like a nice computer designed certificate would be fine to me.

[Pitspitr]

'Course, I've not BEEN to one Muster yet. 

That would make you a "future muster participant" Thanks for the input.

More opinions?

[RattlesnakeJack]

I have no problem with certificates, either. 

Matter of fact, we at the Rocky Mountain Rangers, No. 4 Troop, have been awarding only prize certificates for several years, without complaint.  Helps immensely with keeping costs down, which we pass along in the form of low entry fees.  I have been the designer of our certificates ..... and here is the one we currently use, utilizing elements from the original the 320 acre land grant certificates awarded those who voluntarily served during Canada's 1885 North-West Rebellion:

(Click thumbnail to enlarge ....)


I'd be more than willing to help design and produce the Muster certificates .....

[Dusty Tagalon]

On Thursday I will be picking up a 98 Krag Carbine.

Dusty

[Bull Schmitt]

Certificates would be fine with me. Hope to attend a muster in the future.

Col Bull

[River City John]

I like the idea of charging $1.00 per shooter per side match, and the shooter can enter and shoot as many as they want at that rate, i.e. a 'pay as you go'- with all monies collected donated to help offset expenses incurred.
I like the idea of certificates, too, rather than medals.

[Dusty Tagalon]

Or maybe a combo, medals for 1st, certificates for 2nd & 3rd.

Dusty

[TEXAS SARGE]

I like Dusty's metal for first place and certificates for second and third, along with one dollar for each side match you want to shoot .

Hey would y'all send just a little cold weather to South Texas so we can wear a little wool, it's currently still 79 outside.

Texas Sarge

[River City John]

I think that what (Bvt.) Col. Pitspitr is trying to say is that due to expense, let's save the medals for the main Muster categories.

(Keep in mind that there will be the WWI match piggy-backed onto the Muster and costs are going to double, especially as it sounds like Major Matt wants to award medals for the WWI match too.)

Nice thing about planning this far ahead we can weigh all the pros and cons, though. I think people would forego medals for side matches if it meant being able to afford them for the major categories in the two big matches.