Sorry I haven't been more active in all this... but as you know, my working schedule right now is awkward at best, and of course, the whole bit Thursday/Friday ref the IP address screwup was a bit of a challenge. Lord help me, I don't want to go through THAT again!
You know, I really do think this internet thing has changed the whole nature of this hobby... it is a vehicle which has brought people from all over this world together, something which previously only happened vicariously to a very few, usually only those immersed so deeply that they had the benefit of 'inside' contact information, whether through club magazines or word-of-mouth.
This is a whole different animal.
What we have here is unique... as small as this particular community is, it is linked by common interest, mutual friendships and abiding respect for others of the same ilk in every corner of the world. In short, it somehow seems to transcend the sometimes nasty politics of local clubs, yet without the huge costly bureaucracy associated with larger, more general organizations such as the MVPA or MVT. Do I want to emulate them, or for that matter the OMVA or even the MVCSSA (which Bob mentioned below in response to Keefy's first post)? No. I have neither the time nor money to even attempt that, but even if so, would it really buy us anything we don't have now?
Very little, in my humble opinion.
I'm not saying that out of vanity for what MLU has achieved these last five years... far from it. Hell, I only started this,
you fellows and
your response to my stumbling efforts are who and what has made it what it is.
No, what I'm saying is that we seem to have evolved - quite instinctively it seems - a new way of doing things, compared to the "old order" of a traditional military vehicle club. Our membership here, and my daily correspondance, involves a lot more and encompasses a much greater area of interest than "just" vehicles. Sure, these are our first loves, built and maintained at an expense of time and money which is, and should remain, incalculable. But it's what they represent which draws others here, the Karmens of this world for instance, and I can't see my way clear to limiting their interest and influence, because they
also represent the past, present and future of the legacy our boys left after six years of torment and sacrifice so long ago.
What we're doing is right... the whole has become greater than the simple sum of the parts. It's something wonderful I never, ever, envisioned in 1998, but it's happened on its own, and I've never been more proud and simultaneously more humble.
It seems from my experience in all this, and from the discussion in this thread, that the mission is the get the message out, to build and expand on what we have already. Those of us here now are already intangibly and forever linked to each other... but there are yet more out there who would join our own little 'band of brothers' had they the knowledge and the means (the internet, of course is limited to those who have access). So, how do we do this?
Well, as Richard [FV623] Notton mentioned, since 2000 when I went to Beltring with a hand-painted MLU sign, it has remained there, both as a gift to Mr. Ballard and as an absentee representation of all that we stand for. And I know for a fact that it
is indeed displayed prominently at every show they attend - for that I am forever grateful.
You should know that this sign was handpainted after original photos of original examples, by Bruce Parker. He did a hell of a good job, and his fine work has, by now, been viewed, admired and respected by many thousands since then. He deserves the credit, not me.
Bruce has been a friend for almost 30 years, has owned CMPs (and still does), and remains as passionately dedicated to the men this history represents as do I. The difference between us is that he spends his spare time building trucks, armoured cars, carriers and the like, while I spend mine doing this stuff... I think we compliment each other pretty well, although it can get pretty pricey once we hit the beer store together...
Lads (and lassies), what we're going to do is this...
This winter, MLU will be incorporated as a federal, non-profit organization dedicated to the history, sacrifice and remembrance of those who went to war on our behalf in 1939-1945. We
will produce the items we've spoken about before, for sale and general distribution, and we
will endeavour to spread The Word by creating an organizational membership such as, for example, the Friends of the Tank Museum (Bovington, of which I am one). It'll be slow-starting, and I'll need help, but I know this will work - we are indeed already established...
What I will try to arrange is the availability of more signs such as Richard mentioned - if I buy Parker enough beer he'll paint some more - and distribute them at cost to whomever is interested. We'll also get out some flyer-type resources in 8 1/2 x 11 and A4 formats, which you can download and print out yourselves.
MLU will support any individuals or group who wish to put together any gathering which will honour the memory of those whose lives once depended upon this stuff we spend so much time on. Not financially, of course - I work for a living from paycheck to paycheck as do most of us - but morally, we're here for you, wherever you are.
Your comments and suggestions, are, of course, welcome at any time.
And I thank you for your support to-date. It humbles me.
Geoff