EBUFU Cavalry Events?

[ButtermilkRanger]

Does anyone know of any upcoming authentic events that may be worth hauling horses to? I personally lean toward immersive-type events.

There is one coming up fairly soon in the Trans-Mississippi that should be quite an adventure and worth the trip. If anyone is interested going a little west of the Mississippi for what promises to be a great event, contact me off board.

[YMikels]

Larry,

Just so you know that you are not the only trooper out there in search of an authentic Cavalry experience. For once I'd like to attend something where I actually had a small unit Cav mission, 4-6 riders, and not some show for a paying public eating fennel cakes. A cross country scout would be dandy, reporting back on enemy movements to a larger Infantry force. If I never busted one cap during the ride nor was forced to file partner with a woman, (no offense ladies) I'd be satisfied as long as it was a quality event.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend the past Hodge March. I heard it was pretty good. 1st Maine looks to be a great Federal Group and not many folks doing Confederate Cavalry on T. Kern's level. Check out the ONV forum. I know Dan Chmelar is putting together an event early next summer in WI where there will be limited Cavalry allowed as it's mostly an Infantry experience. Retreat from Bentonville is the senario. I've ridden the area a few times and it's pristine for Cav as well as Infantry.

Ever wishing,

Brian Y. Mikels

[Tom Craig]

Gents,

You are certainly not the only ones looking for good cavalry events...or ANY good events (in the East at least) for next season.

Stay tuned as some folks from the 1st Maine and the Valley Light Horse are working on putting together a couple of things in the northern Virginia area. There is nothing 100% yet, but it is very likely that there will be some sort of event in the fall in the Loudon County area, and there may be 1 or 2 other small things.

Sorry to be vague, but we have all realized that we are poop out of luck this year in the cavalry, and unless we do something about it we are going to either end up staying home, or will have to resort to 'streamer events.

When/if we get something together for public consumption, we'll post it here. In the mean time, if you'd like to be kept in the loop/want more info send me an email or a PM.

Take care,
Tom Craig
1st Maine Cavalry
tom.craig@ymail.com

[Ken Knopp]

Larry, Brian & Tom, et' all,

There is another super event being massaged around quite a bit at the moment. Contact Patrick McAllister csabugler@bellsouth.net for more information. Can't say much more at the moment but Patrick can fill you in.

PS: Shaping up to be a good'n!

Ken R Knopp

[cavman63]

For clarities sake I would like to point out that csabubler@bellsouth.net is NOT ME.

That is "the other" Patrick in our unit , PATRICK PETERSON. Confusion is
understandable though and happens sometimes both being long time Critters and all. However only one of us has any celtic blood in his veins and guess which one that is:D

I, (and I think I can speak for the rest of my unit here), am always looking for good cavalry opportunities. For me ,personally, I am especially anxious for anthing here, in the Western Theater where my primary impressions and interests lie.

Maybe it is just me ,but I feel like events with opportunities for authentic cavalry in every theater have been dying a slow death for a number of years now. It would seem that either organizers do not care about including cav or for whatever reason cannot have mounted participation. Sometimes there is just not enough room for cav and sometimes it just isn't worth the expense and trouble of hauling long distances. Ken is right however, and so is Larry, but I think the long time off work required and the long distances for many may be prohibitive. Things will surly look up though. Perhaps it is time to try my own hand at organizing something (cue loud laughter here)

In the meantime , for me, I am looking to expand into other mounted impressions, grab hold the horn and hold on as best I can.

[csabugler]

Paddy my lad, you are partly correct in that post!! You are correct that you and I are in fact two seperate persons. However:

You typo'ed "csabubler", but I am actually csabugler@bellsouth.net.
Also, my mother's Maiden name was O'Donald, and her mother's maiden name was McBride, so I have a little Irish in me. It manifests itself mostly in my consumption of whiskey and Ale.


There is an opportunity in 09 for cav in the deep south for those willing to commit to the stringent standards that are being set. E-mail me for info.

I have been involved lately in some planning for a couple events and see that there are 2 issues that contribute to a lack of opportunities for good cav.

#1 The lack of good cavalry. We struggle to get 15-20 good cav together, but the mainstream events can easily pull in 100 Josey Wales cowboys with slickers and 9 pistols and western saddles with big spurs. The public is as ignorant as Josey and they love that cowboy stampede crap, so it sells tickets. Too often the cav commanders are among the worst and feed the beast by promoting goofy behavior.


#2 They don't know how to find/use good cav. Because of the prevelance of #1, most event coordinators are at a lose to find/use us. The 'streamers succumb to the need to sell tickets, and too often at EBUFU events the planners are new to it, and make the same mistakes that their predecessors made in the past. The best we can hope for is a planning group who realize this and try to overcome their lack of knowledge.

Or mission, should we choose to accept it, is to get involved in the earliest planning stages to make our abilities known. We can't contact a coordinator 3-4 months befor an event and try to work out a great opportunity. We have to be there from the infancy, a year or two out, to provide feedback and input in order for us to get our "window". Yes, an event can get put together faster than that, but for us to benefit we have to be involved.

IMHO

[Tom Craig]

I have been involved lately in some planning for a couple events and see that there are 2 issues that contribute to a lack of opportunities for good cav.

#1 The lack of good cavalry. We struggle to get 15-20 good cav together, but the mainstream events can easily pull in 100 Josey Wales cowboys with slickers and 9 pistols and western saddles with big spurs. Too often the cav commanders are among the worst and feed the beast by promoting goofy behavior.

#2 They don't know how to find/use good cav. Because of the prevelance of #1, most event coordinators are at a lose to find/use us. The 'streamers succumb to the need to sell tickets, and too often at EBUFU events the planners are new to it, and make the same mistakes that their predecessors made in the past. The best we can hope for is a planning group who realize this and try to overcome their lack of knowledge.

Or mission, should we choose to accept it, is to get involved in the earliest planning stages to make our abilities known. We can't contact a coordinator 3-4 months befor an event and try to work out a great opportunity. We have to be there from the infancy, a year or two out, to provide feedback and input in order for us to get our "window". Yes, an event can get put together faster than that, but for us to benefit we have to be involved.

IMHO

Some very good points! I will add that in all my years of doing cavalry, I have seen virtually no event organizer/commander who did know how to use cavalry (progressive or mainstream).

The only way that we are going to fix the problem of ignorance about us/how to use us, is to educate the folks that are putting on/running events. That is on our backs to do, and it isn't anyone else's problem but our own.

On the C/P/H side of the hobby, part of the problem is the fact that event organizers are driven to find micro bits of history to recreate because of the overall lack of numbers involved. Folks on this end of the hobby gave up on recreating Pickett's Charge with 200 guys in favor events that depict Company C of the 111th Possum Chasers vs the Skillygally Mess of the 29th GA. While that is much more accurate in terms of the numbers on hand, it often precludes the use of cavalry due to the small scale focus of events. Streamer events still try to do "The Battle of Spottsylvania" and as such, can take the liberty of including a scenario like Yellow Tavern for the cavalry.

That said, there have been several events over the last 5 years that despite being provided fairly detailed historical info regarding cavalry and the scenario done by the event, have still chosen to exclude all cavalry, or at least Federal cavalry. I don't know if that is a logistical issue, a property restriction issue, or a simple desire to avoid having cavalry for whatever reason.

So.....where does that leave us?
1)As has been suggested, we need to work with whatever event hosts we can to get ourselves as much of a role as possible.
1a) We also need to come together a bit amongst ourselves and determine what it is we want EXACTLY so we can communicate that clearly and effectively.

2)We need to educate the folks who run/plan events what we can do, and how we can enhance their event.

3) We need to plan our own stuff, and coordinate with each other. Facts are facts, there are only a handful of units (and maybe a few stray guys here and there) in the country that are doing cavalry correctly. 1st Maine, Valley Light Horse, Crtitters, and Buttermilks. We need to get our acts together, and if no one else will put on events that we can attend, we need to put on our own events.

Take care,
Tom Craig
1st Maine Cavalry

[csabugler]

3) We need to plan our own stuff, and coordinate with each other. Facts are facts, there are only a handful of units (and maybe a few stray guys here and there) in the country that are doing cavalry correctly. 1st Maine, Valley Light Horse, Crtitters, and Buttermilks. We need to get our acts together, and if no one else will put on events that we can attend, we need to put on our own events.

I nominate Jerry Ross to put something together for us. :D He's talked about it anyway, and is probably about the most centrally located of any of us. I'd be glad to work on something in north or central Georgia, but that's a long haul for most of the above mentioned perpetrators.

[cavman63]

Well Sir, I stand corrected. I was going to use your nickname but thought it best not to embarass you any more than simply knowing me and having to claim me probably already does.

I believe you are both rightand to get as much "authentic" cav together as possible in one place it will have to be as centrally located as possible. There are opportunities I personally know of in the Trans Miss. will but there again the problem of long drives for some will undoubtedly keep many from going. But just in case any IS interested email me at cavman63@yahoo.com

I also would be willing to help in any meagre way I can to put something together but I have to say 20 troopers on either side banging away at each other for a few days does not appeal to me much anymore. I would think the best bet , as you all have already suggested , would be to pick a good event EARLY on, with a good historical reason for being there, and stay with it throughout the planning stages. Other than that I am at a loss.

[Ken Knopp]

It appears to me that most folks here are "basically" saying the same thing. They want a "quality" rather than a "quantity" cav event (however it would be nice to see both). Although we have all talked about this before, there is a certain leadership vacume in authentic cavalry right now (among other issues). Maybe worse, there is a lack of organization. I firmly believe that someone(s) (soon I hope) will step into and fill that void but regardless, we must move forward as best we can.
The type cav guys that frequent this board have quality impressions so it seems to me using this board to initiate, organize and "promote" such events as we all relish makes sense. Its also obvious that quality units such as the 1st Maine, the Critters (or whatever name they morph into), the Valley Light Horse, Buttermilks, 7th Tennessee, (unnamed) others units and, "quality" individuals are right now discussing and making decisions for 2009. For example, there is already some talk about several good events.....such as that mentioned by Tom Craig, the Bummers event and I note that the 7th Tennessee has several events on their calender for their upcoming (end of January) meeting.
So for starters, regardless of geography (or despite it) can we ask that "any and all" of you post on this board the events you are considering, discussing or planning? No matter how trivial? It may very well happen that such communication leads to better organization, attendence and thus enjoyment by all and "maybe", even begin to ascend to the levels in reenacting cavalry that we all desire. What do you say?

Ken R Knopp
www.confederatesaddles.com

[Jerry Ross]

Hello all,
Pete, I would be glad to help in fashion I can . But as I see it the central location of units seems to me around Virginia. I think helping the Valley Light Horse and 1st Maine grow their Unison event is a good one to start . The Critters,Buttermilk Rangers and 7th TN and others could bring their numbers to a already established event .

I know Virgina is not graphically central , but I see were the seed has been planted . There seems to be rental horse available to help out the ones who have a long way to go . I had considered it myself, but was able to get people to share the ride with me.

That is just my thoughts .I am willing to help with any thoughts out there.

[Mike Nickerson]

Hey, the price of fuel is down, I'm game for a "Critter Roadtrip"!

Mike Nickerson

[cavman63]

Well, I suppose I could always stop and see my kin folks while I was in Virginia.

When is that event anyway?

[OldKingCrow]

There seems to be rental horse available to help out the ones who have a long way to go

I will PAY TOP DOLLAR to rent a good horse at any event y'all do. I will travel, work and my head / impression are properly in check.

My major downside is I do not represent an accurate body type of a mid-19th cenutry soldier / man.

[Tom Craig]

Happy New Year to All,

I am a bit biased, but I think that Jerry is right, that the critical mass of good cavarly is centered around Virginia. Rob Bruno gently reminded me that we can also add his 1st Maryland to the list of "us" and they are based in central MD. The 1st Maine now has just about half our guys coming from New England, so the units with good cavalry stretch from Maine to Mississippi, which seems to put VA somewhere in the middle.

The seeds for a cavalry event have been planted and have been growing in Loudon County for 3 years now. For the last three years we have marched and fought across the land of Philomont and Unision in a small variety of formats. We have friendly landowners, LOTS of room to use, and its all historic ground. This past year we had 17 Federal troopers and about 10 CS, but we could use plenty more.

The exact date is still up in the air just yet, but it will be in either September or October. The actual fighting at Unison took place in early November, but as we've found out from two of our three events being in that time frame, daylight is WAY too short at that time of year. If we have guys coming from all over creation to do an event, you want to have plenty of daylight to do the event.

As Jerry said, for those that need them, rental horses are readily available in good numbers in the area as well. For "Old King Crow" you need not worry about your body type being authentic, so long as you can get on a horse and stay there under your own power.

Take care,
Tom Craig
1st Maine Cavalry

[ethan harrington]

Sounds to me that we had better start planning somthing now and so it does not interfere with bummers. I agree with tom we chased a reb from fiddlers green to almost welborn plantaion and hardley saw an eye sore or maybe that we were going so fast that I didn't pay attention.

Ethan Harington
Critter.

[Jerry Ross]

Ethan,
That chase was the best! I was not sure that my horse was going to stay up right going around some of those corners .

[Old Reb]

What Larry said.

[csabugler]

Hey Ken, interestingly enough, no one has contacted me about the opportunity you referenced early on in this thread. :(
Maybe they are talking to Tommy...

[moarkcav]

I don't think that I would make it all the way out east. I would meet half way.

Chris Talburt

[Tom Craig]

Hey Ken, interestingly enough, no one has contacted me about the opportunity you referenced early on in this thread. :(
Maybe they are talking to Tommy...

Patrick,

Guilty as charged on not emailing...just haven't got there yet, not that I'm not interested. I will say that the info in previous posts was kinda vague, not super enticing to wet our appetities:tounge_sm

Take care,
Tom Craig
1st Maine Cavalry

[Jerry Ross]

Chris ,
Dan Chelmar goes through your area (I think ) when he come out of Wisconsin. He might like to have some one to share a ride with .He met me in Tennessee and then we finished go to VA and back.Then you might could rent a horse ? Unison was the best event last year for me. It is a long time between now and then.

[Ken Knopp]

Tom,

I believe folks have been intentionally vague because much of the information on Bummers is still "gellin". Still, I suggest you and everyone contact Patrick Peterson csabugler@bellsouth.net. and stay tuned....more information is coming. Best,

Ken R Knopp

[Ronnie Tucker]

why do they not want any cavalry at the piney woods event . i thought cavalry was authentic to use with infantry. the land between the lakes recreation area has nearly unlimited areas to have a real campaign. time in the saddle seeking the enemy is what iprefer doing .i would like to have three full days active action which does not mean you have to be burning powder all the time ronnie tucker 7th tn cav

[moarkcav]

Ronnie:

Check with Larry Morgan of the Butermilks. There will be a mounted unit at IPW.

Chris Talburt

[1st Maine Trooper]

This part of the problem as I see it. Chris you say that there will be cavalry allowed at the event, yet the event web site provides zero information about mounted participation. Why all of the secrecy? Is it an invitation only type deal? With the authentic cav scattered across the country, this cant be. The guys putting on that event dont know me and cant say anything about my impression or knowledge. Likewise, I cant speak for many other folks from other parts of the country either. Does cav participation at high quality events revert back to a ya got to know someone to get in basis?

I dont know how to break the paradigm, Lord knows I've tried.

Dave Myrick

[Old Reb]

Larry Morgan is the cavalry point of contact for Into the Piney Woods. He posted on this thread that anyone interested should contact him. If you are interested, it is simple. Contact Larry.

[Ronnie Tucker]

thanks for piney woods info . i hope my land between the lakes suggestion deserves some thoughts from some more hard riding cavalrymen ronnie tucker 7th tn

[crabby]

Ken,

Just a thought. Has there ever been any thought of still having the Cavalry Congress brought up again? I know there had been much interest and excitement when it was first brought up and much diappointment when it was cancelled. It always looked like a way to get more cohessiveness in this portion of the"hobby".

Crabby

[moarkcav]

Dave

I have nothing to do with the cav at this event. I am still working on the logistics of getting my horse and myself down there. There has been talk of the cavalry on the IPW site board.

Chris

Marmaduke's Raid would have been a good cav event if I was not the only mounted confederate.

[Ronnie Tucker]

what is IPW address for on line. some fellows from another outfit checked the area for marmadukes raid. they said it was not very good for lots of cavalry action. a square mile is not real big when your mounted . iguess it would seem like a lot to a infantryman. ronnie tucker 7th tn

[Old Reb]

Again, the information sought can be supplied by Larry.

[Tom Craig]

Larry Morgan is the cavalry point of contact for Into the Piney Woods. He posted on this thread that anyone interested should contact him. If you are interested, it is simple. Contact Larry.

Tom,

It isn't quite as simple as you say. This thread is the first that I have heard about cavalry being able to participate in IPW. If that was public info prior to this I guess I must have missed it...but I think I am pretty tuned in to the communication that is out there, so if I missed it, then I am betting most folks did too. The problem is that even if folks wanted to go, 2 months is a pretty short window to get the vacation time and make the arrangements to travel cross country.

This brings into focus part of the reason behind this discussion. There aren't that many of "us" out there. If, as Dave M. talked about, cavalry access to events is who you know basis, then we all need to network with each other to point out events/opportunities where they exist. Due to the widespread georgraphy, and inherent clannish nature of cavalry units, we are used to opperating on our own, independent. For our best interest we need to shake that attitude/way of operating, and all get on the same page together.

Take care,
Tom Craig
1st Maine Cavalry

[Jerry Ross]

Ronnie ,
The Critters have done LBL before and it is a great place as you know but they do have restrictions on Horses that can be a pain. I have been talking to Fort Donelson about doing a Living History program April 25th There are trails that lead from Fort Henry to Donelson that are awesome to ride about 12 Miles from Fort to Fort.

[Ronnie Tucker]

for a group of historans like us i think we could get to do almost anything within reason . the lbl people at the wranglers camp have been easy for me to deal with if we could put a tactial together i feel that they would be a help to us ronnie tucker 7th tn where else can you have that much area you could use with little modern distractions

[IowaYank]

Like Brian mentioned earlier in the post, I am hosting an immersion event in Southeast Wisconsin on June 5-7. We are portraying the fighting that happened just at the end of the battle of Bentonville. This will be a scripted "tactical".There is an infantry company for both sides, but there is plent of room for cavalry on both sides as well. My mess is riding as Federal cavalry, but there is room for CS too. There is 800 acres for us to play on. Loaner horses are a possibility as well. If any cavalry on here is interested, get ahold of me on here or at dan.chmelar@wartburg.edu

Dan

[csabugler]

Ok, gentlemen, it seems we are all in agreement on this topic.
We need better communication among the authentic cav.
Now what are we going to do about it?
IMHO:

1. Keep your ear to the ground for local events in your area in the planning stage and then go find out about it. Don't wait for somebody else to do it.
2. Then post info on this forum.
3. Check this forum regularly. When you see a reference to an opportunity ask about it. I am involved in 2 events right now from somebody asking if there is a place for us.
4. GET INVOLVED!!

I think I posted early in this thread about the issues with event planning by those who don't ride. We neeed to be as big a force in the planning stage as we want to be on the field. That's how it works. If you want a great cav experience but don't get involved, don't be dissapointed when a bunch of infantry have a 50 acre site with no water or hay.
There a few suggestions for EBUFU opportunities. Let's talk about them.

Patrick
aka Pete the Bugler

[Ken Knopp]

Well said Patrick!!

Seems were all thinking about 2009 events right now, right? That said, lets get some information posted. For starters, ........

- Tom, can you please explore and provide us some information about the Va. event next fall?

- Larry Morgan, please get us some infor on Piney Woods.

- Patrick, how about posting more on Bummers as soon as possible?

......We need dates, places, scenario/admenity/registration and contact information.

The rest of you guys,........What else is out there?


Lets get the info up and begin talking about it so we can plan and organize. Maybe we can get two or three excellent events promoted and well attended by a lot of "good" cavalry.

What about it? Get involved, get some information and lets get something going!

If not YOU, then WHO?


**** A word to organization.....Gents, for continuity and to avoid confusion......please start a NEW THREAD for "each" event.


Ken R Knopp
www.confederatesaddles.com

[1st Maine Trooper]

Ken and all,
As Tom Craig mentioned earlier in this thread, the Unison event this fall hasn't taken firm shape as of yet regarding the scenario. Most likely the scenario will look to depict the action between Unison and Middleburg in November `62 on the actual nearly pristine ground between Unison and the Goose Creek Bridge area west of Middleburg. So it will be an early war event, with lots of distance to cover and cavalry type things to do. We are still working out the dates. Historically, November is the time to do this but, there are several conflicting things, the Bummers event and Hunt Season being the primaries. We are thinking something like late September at this point. Amenities will be sparse, count of firewood, hay and water though.
For now, those interested can contact me @ dmyrick at mainecav.org More info and details will be coming soon.

Dave Myrick

[ButtermilkRanger]

I didn't start this thread with any intentions of pointing fingers at the IPW event. The trans-mississippi event I was referring to was not the IPW event, but rather an idea I have of a scenario that may lend itself well to cavalry. I'm still working out the details of finding a suitable location, but I have a couple of leads on that as well.

However, I will start a new thread concerning IPW cavalry participation.

As for my original posting, I like some of the ideas being generated. I think Ronnie's idea of a tactical in the LBL area has the most potential of all. It's centrally located and he's in that area and knows the country. I'd like to see an event in that area that would basically be all cavalry with good civilian interaction. Ronnie, is the old Homestead area still open on the Kentucky side of LBL?

Some good ideas are starting to flow, which was my entire point of starting this thread. Sorry if there was any confusion over IPW, though.

[Wild Rover]

Tom,

If the event is looking like it might be a "October 62" style event, let me know...we had a blast at that one....if someone needs some ground pounders to run over.

Pards,

[Tom Craig]

Tom,

If the event is looking like it might be a "October 62" style event, let me know...we had a blast at that one....if someone needs some ground pounders to run over.

Pards,

Chris,

I just posted on your 2nd Manassas event thread...

There might be some room for infantry, but it is up in the air just yet. It is going to be a mobile event running between Unison and Welbourne. I will keep you posted as details develop.

Take care,
Tom Craig

[csabugler]

I have sent some e-mails to individuals. Please share the content accordingly.

[csabugler]

sorry, got out of order somehow...

[csabugler]

Well, for all the talk about finding events, there is not much response to the invitation I sent to a bunch of people. Maybe we don't have many opportunities because guys don't get involved when there is a chance. Just a thought. :confused:
Patrick

[Tom Craig]

Well, for all the talk about finding events, there is not much response to the invitation I sent to a bunch of people. Maybe we don't have many opportunities because guys don't get involved when there is a chance. Just a thought. :confused:
Patrick

Patrick,

I'm not sure that you're right here. I don't know how many folks you sent the invite to, but there aren't that many of "us" out there. You've got the Critters, 1st Maine, Valley Light Horse, Buttermilk Rangers, 1st Maryland, and a few stray fellas out there like Dan Chmelar and the Horse Hair Mess... that's pretty much it, unless there are folks out your way who I don't know about.

Now if you are looking for individuals in those units to step up and speak, then that is a little different story...

Take care,
Tom Craig
1st Maine Cavalry

[csabugler]

I am refering to individuals. I think all the known groups have been contacted, but in order to dispell the myth of "secrecy" and lack of available information thus far, I would like to see more individuals join and offer suggestions or ask questions and such.
I don't want to "drop the ball" on this, maybe I'm pushing too hard...
Patrick

[moarkcav]

Patrick

I would like some info

Thanks,

Chris Talburt

[csabugler]

Chris, shoot me an e-mail at csabugler@bellsouth.net and I'll get you hooked up.
Patrick

[Jerry Ross]

Pete,
This is a lot like fishing . You have to put the bait on the hook and wait. I can't do something on my computer at work so I have to go home and do it and then my computer at home bites the dust so I can't when you sent the invite. Be patient grass hopper. Isn't that what David Caraden said in the ole Karate show.

[csabugler]

Yeah, I guess I just expected more response after so much discussion of getting this event out in the open, and events in general.
I've done all I can, I rehung my bait on a trout line. I'll just go by look at it every now and then for now on.
Pete

[Ken Knopp]

Patrick,

Don't be discouraged. Its very, VERY early. Besides, there is one unit that will have their annual meeting in about two weeks. They have your event on the adgenda and there is alot of interest in these type events with them.
Patrick, let me say thank you for doing the yoeman's work here. As everyone of us who has ever organized events know, it's sometimes a pain, usually thankless and often discouraging but very necessary.
And hey!, as authentic cav reenactors, we are a small, generally close knit group with common interests and goals. Maybe "we" should make an effort to verbally thank people like Patrick, Tom Craig, Todd Kern, Ronnie Fullwood, Mark Choate, Larry Morgan, Coley Adair and countless others unnamed for volunteering their time, effort and money. All too often we don't.
For those of you guys that "make these things happen", while you will often feel "alone", don't weaken. It will be rewarding (particularly by yourself) and appreciated by all in the end even if they dont often verbalize it. PLEASE don't give up. We really NEED you!


Ken R Knopp