Take Back the CAF

Chunks · **Joined:** Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:02 am **Posts:** 361

Typically I would take a passive approach on this and voice my opinion via personal memberships and donations. Based on some events in the recent history of the CAF that I have been personally party to or have very close friends that I trust and respect fall victim to, I decided to visit and join a new forum. http://takebackthecaf.com Like any other forum, it can be a gathering point for constructive discussion that could strengthen the organization, or deteriorate into something useless. I hope it will be productive. My reason for posting here is prompted by a member called Gen Staff who quips "We have all the votes we need in Oct.". For me anyway, that attitude completely emboddies what the CAF has become to me...

I think in some ways we've lost our way. It's more about the organization and the money with less consideration given to the airplanes. More than anything else it comes down to the arrogance and ego of very few.

Vist the site and contribute to the discussion if you are so inclined.

Chunks

warbird1 · **Joined:** Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:25 pm **Posts:** 2760

I'm not privy to the internal power struggles within the CAF. Can you give a balanced summary of what exactly is going on? I'm assuming the root issue is control? What are both sides advocating, what are the issues?

jet1 · **Posted:** Wed May 19, 2010 11:01 pm

how about applying the same concept to our country at large... :shock:

Chunks · **Joined:** Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:02 am **Posts:** 361

Well Warbird1 I think everyone has had their own experiences, but a common theme seems to be that when someone opposes Mr. Brown they are simply removed from the organization. The major push now is to understand why some of the recent steps have been taken regarding the museum board, museum director, etc. Steve Brown has communicated his synopsis of the events and his reasoning behind the steps taken, but the members that were removed and SUED by the organization they served are bound by a gag order that prevents the opposing view from being presented. The fact that a gag order is in place leads me to believe that there is information available that the current General Staff or director do not want communicated. As a member, I feel like I'm entitled to know, and the organization should be transparent. This isn't meant to be a rant but seems to be turning into that. I'm just tired of seeing and hearing the stories of the individuals doing the hard work at the unit level being crapped on. If someone opposes or comments negatively they are demonized. TORA Lead was unceremoniously removed by Steve Brown, aircraft are being sold off or released, PBYs are pushed into the weeds and seized by the airport authority to be auctioned off to scrap dealers, where does it stop? But if you ask "why are the tramp stamps a requirement?" or "when did we decide to sell that?" I just see a statement from Steve Brown "I have 100% agreement from the general membership". Really?!! I don't remember that issue being discussed with the general membership. I live within 20 miles of where the Sea Bitch was abandoned, and belonged to the wing, but I had to go to the UK to find out that it had been seized. Something needs to change. The organization needs positive, focused leadership that values and appreciates each and every member. There should be no hidden agendas, and honest, honorable ELECTED members should not be removed in secrecy to advance an individuals personal goals....

Chunks

warbird1 · **Joined:** Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:25 pm **Posts:** 2760

Thanks for the explanation, Chunks. I hope you guys get everything worked out and come to a resolution that makes everybody happy.

P51Mstg · **Joined:** Tue Jan 25, 2005 11:36 am **Posts:** 1202

I'm not sure what taking the country back means........ If it means the out comes of the last elections didn't suit your tastes. Then you may wish to participate in the political process this time around. You can go work for a candidate or party of your choice, give them MONEY (and give the limits), and then go out and vote.

Usually that helps.

Mark H

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Thu May 20, 2010 6:44 am

Chunks wrote:

Well Warbird1 I think everyone has had their own experiences, but a common theme seems to be that when someone opposes Mr. Brown they are simply removed from the organization. The major push now is to understand why some of the recent steps have been taken regarding the museum board, museum director, etc. Steve Brown has communicated his synopsis of the events and his reasoning behind the steps taken, but the members that were removed and SUED by the organization they served are bound by a gag order that prevents the opposing view from being presented. The fact that a gag order is in place leads me to believe that there is information available that the current General Staff or director do not want communicated. As a member, I feel like I'm entitled to know, and the organization should be transparent. This isn't meant to be a rant but seems to be turning into that. I'm just tired of seeing and hearing the stories of the individuals doing the hard work at the unit level being crapped on. If someone opposes or comments negatively they are demonized. TORA Lead was unceremoniously removed by Steve Brown, aircraft are being sold off or released, PBYs are pushed into the weeds and seized by the airport authority to be auctioned off to scrap dealers, where does it stop? But if you ask "whay are the tramp stamps a requirement?" or "when did we decide to sell that?" I just see a statement from Steve Brown "I have 100% agreement from the general membership". Really?!! I don't remember that issue being discussed with the general membership. I live within 20 miles of where the Sea Bitch was abandoned, and belonged to the wing, but I had to go to the UK to find out that it had been seized. Something needs to change. The organization needs positive, focused leadership that values and appreciates each and every member. There should be no hidden agendas, and honest, honorable ELECTED members should not be removed in secrecy to advance an individuals personal goals....

Chunks

I hope that they get it all straightened out

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Thu May 20, 2010 7:21 am

I'm not sure what all is going on, but I can tell you this. I've been around airshows and events with the CAF since I was a very little boy. The good 'ole days for me were in the late '80s and early '90s when it still had the Confederate name, then locally it got bad, real bad, after the whole relocation thing, later the membership around here seemed really gruff to a teenager interested in eventually being a part.
The last two years or so, the whole attitude seems to be better in the three wings I'm close to (San Marcos, Burnet, and Hondo). I don't know what's changed, and maybe it's despite what HQ is doing, but I'm really happy with what I'm currently seeing, so maybe rocking the boat right now might have unintended consequences.
My two cents.

Ryan

Chunks · **Joined:** Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:02 am **Posts:** 361

I hear you Ryan. The wings you mentioned and many others around the country are where the real story is. Hard work, sacrifice, love for what they're doing is the the real CAF, and they are all heros in my book. They are all better men than I, because they can continue in spite of the games going on at the staff level. I've just reached a point of saturation.

I'm only communicating that a web site is available, and I hope that something positive comes out of it. There have been a lot of improvements in the organization since the early '70s when I attended my first AIRSHO, and I want to see that trend continue. I just want to make sure that the membership continues to be represented, and I don't see how that can happen if elected members are continually removed and replacements appointed. I won't try to tell anyone how to vote, I just think it's important that more members start participating in the process.

Chunks

Obergrafeter · **Posted:** Thu May 20, 2010 9:00 am

Amen Chunks. And Ryan I'm glad you think some of us old farts aren't so bad. Glad you enjoyed Hondo.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Thu May 20, 2010 9:11 am

The men and women of the CAF have a heritage to be proud of. They are the ones that really started the warbird movement with a single P-51. I hope they get everything worked out. There are some great people the belong to the CAF.

Django · **Posted:** Thu May 20, 2010 12:12 pm

In reading the letters posted over there, I didn't realize that Annelorre had left the museum.

I know the bulk of the CAF members are older than me (at 40 and a non-member but a volunteer at times) and I have a hard time reading that gray text on a light gray background. I would highly suggest that the text color be darkened so it can be read easily. Otherwise, it will be worthless.

Second Air Force · **Posted:** Thu May 20, 2010 12:33 pm

Django wrote:

In reading the letters posted over there, I didn't realize that Annelorre had left the museum.

It's painful to watch, isn't it? I really enjoyed visiting with Annelore and seeing the passion she had for the collections.

Scott

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Thu May 20, 2010 4:28 pm

Me wonders what Gary would think :idea:

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11319

I'm sure this isn't the first or last museum to go through this kind of thing. Some museums get better because of it, some fizzle and go away. You just have to hope that the king has his clothes on!

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