The Official Voice of Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. ®
An organization chartered by the U.S. Congress
September/October 2002
LEADERSHIP CONFERENCEOrganized Chaos: Press Time in Tucson
BY DENNIS H. TRACEY
To illustrate the title, I present the following sorry example: I got credit for two articles in our first newsletter, and wrote only one. I finally figured out that the author was Dennis St. Germaine. I guess my name was easier to spell. Give him a hand, folks (No, no, don’t lynch him).The article I did write concerning the Board of Directors meeting doomed me to a reprise. Mokie Pratt Porter nearly dislocated her arm when making sure that I would write about the VVA Press Club. Have you ever seen a bird dog quiver when finding a bird? Well, it looks like I am the dead duck in this story.
Ray Truelove, along with Mokie (I have got to find out how she got that name) and Jim Doyle (Where does this guy get his energy-a solid diet of candy bars?) bravely initiated a workshop that lasted four days, along with all the other minor activities (such as seminars, breakfasts, dinner, dances, plenary sessions, SLEEP, etc.) I immediately had the notion firmly implanted in my head that Ray thought every free waking moment of our lives belonged solely to him. I thought slavery had been outlawed, but he didn’t give me time to look it up.
Actually Ray busted his behind (this a family newspaper, right?) to make this project work. He stayed up until 3 a.m. the first day (night?). He coordinated a vast range of experiences in the ranks of the indentured servants (don’t call us volunteers: Once your butt comes in the Press Club door, kiss it goodbye). Ray broke us up into three teams. Following military tradition, there are Alpha, Bravo, and Si’ Teams.
Some participants had never written anything longer that a check register. And there was Jim W. Boyd, who had just won the VVA State Newspaper of the Year award for the Texas Vietnam Veterans News for the second time. Appearances range from an apparent high-school girl (Yea, AVVA) to fat, balding old farts (I fit this one) to those who can dash from one end of the resort to the other in under five seconds (it ain’t me, folks). Steve Sawchuek Jr., (Si’ team leader) took on the job of keeping up with Wes Guidry, a man with a mission. Black tire rubber from Steve’s turbopowered scooter streaked the El Conquistador carpets. I thought Steve was going to burst through closed glass doors in wild pursuit of Wes.
I have never seen such energy as exhibited by the members of the Press Club. (The last time I saw this level of enthusiasm was when a miniature (male) French Poodle drank my unattended cup of cappuccino). It’s easy to step on toes (Ever notice how long toes gets when you have had no sleep?).
Bloodshed was limited to paper cuts and hoarse throats. Stop screaming, there are band-aids available at the VA table in the Vendor Area. There has to be a medic at a VVA function, right? Oh Nurse, over here, please!
Well here comes a deadline, and Ray doesn’t fool around. Gotta get this in or my wife will get that life insurance. 73's or @30 or whatever these press guys use to say the end. (Ray I’m only five minutes late, 60 pushups will kill me!)
|
Visit The VVA Veteran
archives |
E-mail us at TheVeteran@vva.org