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Author
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Topic: Reflections: Astronaut Scholarship Foundation Autograph and Memorabilia Show, Nov. 2008
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MCroft04
Member Posts: 1634
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005
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posted 11-20-2008 05:21 PM
   
I had many great experiences, including sitting with Buzz at dinner Saturday night (which far exceeded my expectations!), but the highlight was probably sitting next to Jim Lovell on the Shuttle Launch Experience. I have to admit that I paid more attention to Jim than the ride. He was quiet with a slight smile throughout most of the ride. But when the payload bay doors opened allowing a view of the earth overhead (for those who have not experienced the ride, we tourists sit in the payload bay) the smile grew full and held until the ride ended. Now I don't know what he was thinking, but I can let my mind wonder and this is what he may have been thinking; I've done this four times, and geeze I'd love to do it again! Prior to getting out of his seat, he finally yelled out "I sure hope we're returning to KSC". Then on the way out the metal grated exit doors were closed and we could not get out. And guess who was there first; yup Tom Jones. Seems he has a problem with doors not opening! |
bruce
Member Posts: 916
From: Fort Mill, SC, USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 11-20-2008 09:43 PM
I had a king suite in the 600 block and it was very nice. Room service was very good. The pink and "sea blue" decor seemed to fit the overall beachin' atmosphere; that, plus the fact that I felt like I was constantly walking around on the set of "Astronaut Fantasy Island". Everywhere you looked there were recognizable faces of those who'd climbed into rockets and lit the candle.What a pleasure it was to see Scott Carpenter, Dee O'Hara and Guenter Wendt again! The Apollo guys were great and I really enjoyed meeting some of the Shuttle astronauts! It was very cool to have Francis French not only helping out Dee O'Hara, but signing his books as well. It's always nice seeing the "eighth Mercury astronaut out of a possible seven" Bill Dana! How funny was his performance with Jim Lovell at the dinner? I sat at Charlie Bolden's table along with my weekend running buddy Rob, Mr. & Ms. Machodoc and a family whose last name I forget (sorry!). The youngest member of the family was a 5 year old boy named Waylon and it was a pleasure chatting with him. This kid is definitely in line for a seat on a future Mars rocket! I certainly hope next year's event will again include as many Skylab guys as possible, plus perhaps Frank Borman, Jim McDivitt and Harrison Schmitt, to name a few. Mike Collins would be nice too. Yes, I know there is one other event that will be featuring these guys (sans Schmitt) in February '09, I'd just like to have the availability of both cakes and eat them too! Linn and the ASF staff did an outstanding job with so many details surrounding this event. They are obviously quite capable and I will definitely be coming back next year. Bruce Moody |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 11-20-2008 10:41 PM
I know I am coming in very late to this thread, but I am only just getting home after an extended stay in Florida (including an outstanding shuttle launch) and some further work in Louisiana on the way home. I had a wonderful time (my fifth year in a row helping the delightful Nurse Dee at events like this, which is always a lot of fun), both at the show and the various surrounding events - tours out to the pad, riding the shuttle experience with the astronauts, the airshow, the evening events, etc. All kinds of interesting people around, such as Shepard and Cooper family members, meaning some wonderful conversations and late-night dinners... A number of you have commented on the ride on the Shuttle Launch Experience with the astronauts - one of the biggest laughs of the weekend came, I think, when the ride was over and a number of people asked Tom Jones how it compared to the real ride. "Well, I don't remember them playing that music," Tom said with a straight face... It was great to meet so many of you, both old friends and others for the first time. I was overwhelmed with how many people brought copies of the books to be signed (I lost count, but it was in the dozens) and I greatly enjoyed seeing who else you'd asked to sign them - many signatures in them that I don't have in my own copy! My favorite, I think, was a gentleman all the way from Norway who had brought a copy of "In the Shadow of the Moon" for Walt Cunningham and Dee O'Hara to sign, had no idea I would be there, and was very pleased to find me and ask me to sign the book as well. The event had a very happy, upbeat feel to it that large events don't always have, and I think a lot of that was due to a huge amount of very hard behind-the-scenes work by the ASF staff, who should be commended on their efforts. Someone already said it very well on this thread; this was so much more than an autograph show... I am looking forward to next year already. |
leslie
Member Posts: 231
From: Surrey, England
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 11-21-2008 03:28 AM
Not at all. This forum allows complaints to be stated, when relevant and you stated yours. Others stated their experience...The ASF worked hard to ensure an appropriate hotel was chosen and, with any experience, there will be good and bad. Based on my stay at the Radisson, credit where it's due! ------------------
Leslie Cantwell |
alanh_7
Member Posts: 1252
From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 11-21-2008 09:08 AM
quote:
Originally posted by FFrench:
I was overwhelmed with how many people brought copies of the books to be signed...
You and Dee O'Hara signed my copy to my five year old daughter Francis. When she is old enough to respect it and inherits it, I know she enjoy reading it as much as I have. It was nice meeting you and I hope to see you there next year. best regards
Alan |
machbusterman
Member Posts: 1778
From: Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Registered: May 2004
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posted 11-21-2008 02:18 PM
I wasn't impressed by our room or by the bar area which looked in need of a lot of TLC. When we checked and arrived at the room we were originally allocated we found it to be dirty and requested another room (which was sorted out in minutes). The replacement room was "okay" though I thought the bathroom was ridiculously small and to be honest, I've seen larger bathrooms in mobile homes. The worst thing with the replacement room however was the wardrobe doors which if you managed to get them closed could not be opened again without a screwdriver!!  The staff overall were very polite and helpful with the exception of the guy who was working the breakfast on the Thursday morning. Despite standing for over 5 minutes he completely ignored my wife and I in order to deal with some other guests who clearly "looked" more appealing to him. I complained to the Radisson hotel and left very poor feedback after getting home and received an apology. In the apology they mentioned "Our goal here at Radisson is 100% Guest Satisfaction, and obviously we fell short of the mark in your case.". Indeed they did. As far as show hotels go the Marriot from Spacefest was of a much higher standard... in fact, the Hampton Inn my wife and I stayed at in Orlando had much nicer accommodations. |
november25
Member Posts: 646
From: Douglas, Isle of Man, UK
Registered: Feb 2004
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posted 11-21-2008 04:09 PM
Just got back 20th Nov. after spending 2 weeks in Florida.The ASF certainly did a very good job of getting this show put together, and was able to chat to the ladies in question, many thanks for everything you have done. Ted and myself attended the Autograph show on both days. Plus the Air Show Saturday, what a great weekend. The collectSPACE get together for 4pm in the rocket garden in KSC - only a few of us turned up. But it was very nice to meet fellow members, Steve Smith, Fred Karst, a good friend - Mel Croft, and Rob Joyner. At the show, met up with Derek from Scotland, Kim Coldwell, and some other friends. Francis French, Al Hallonquist, Ken Havekotte and his wife. Was good meeting them again. Steve Smith was certainly well prepared with lots of things to get signed, I sincerely hope his wife Susanna like the Earthrise over the Moon print that Steve had signed specially for her from Jim Lovell. (Thanks Steve for the time we spent chatting). When Ted and I arrived on Friday morning for the autograph show, no sooner had I walked in that several Astronauts had remembered us from past years, "its that english couple again". I got hugs from many Astros including Gene Cernan, Al Worden, Charlie Duke, Jon McBride - to mention a few. Was speaking to Tom Jones, Fred Gregory, and some others about Story Musgrave, as some had flown on the shuttle with him, met up with John Blaha as well. Since I had known Story for a good many years, and we had plenty to talk about. Plus I made Charlie Bolden laugh - he was quite amused when I told him that I had ridden the Shuttle Launch sim over 25 times, since it was opened in May 2007. Invited him to try this again, with me - wont say what happened, so now - its 30 times (I am ready for a real launch?) into space. It was a great 2 weeks in Florida, the 7-9th Nov. 08 a very memorable weekend, meeting friends old and new and the highlight was those Astronauts remembering the couple from the Isle of Man, was told its your accent, they were so friendly, everyone was. It is nice to have such very good friends. Thanks to you all. Managed to get some great autographs again. My Moonpan is complete - Apollo 11 to 17 signed by Aldrin, Bean, Mitchell, Scott, Duke and Cernan, and Gordon. The Shuttle Art print is now full, with the Astros at the show, Gregory, Bolden, Jones and the rest. Plus some extra from other shows, Blaha, Musgrave, McBride, and now it has 30 to date. Hope to see many of you next year - if poss. see how the monies work out, and Ted and my health. Glad to know you all had a good time, great reading on this forum. Thanks cSers. Regards,and take care from
Brenda and Ted. |
TRS
Member Posts: 721
From: Wellington, New Zealand
Registered: Mar 2003
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posted 11-21-2008 05:51 PM
quote:
Originally posted by machbusterman:
I complained to the Radisson hotel and left very poor feedback after getting home and received an apology. In the apology they mentioned "Our goal here at Radisson is 100% Guest Satisfaction, and obviously we fell short of the mark in your case."
I think a few of us may have had that reply from them. I also had a pretty bad run - had to shift rooms on the first night and then problems in the second room for the remainder of the stay as well. To be fair Radisson were very quick to respond to my concerns and, although everything didn't get attended to, they did follow up after I had left as well.I haven't sorted my show photos yet but I'll post something in the near future - suffice to say, and excellent weekend, fantastic to catch up with people and all credit to ASF for pulling off an excellent event. Cheers Craig |
machbusterman
Member Posts: 1778
From: Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Registered: May 2004
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posted 11-22-2008 09:50 AM
Despite my negative comments regarding the Radisson it goes without saying that I think the ASF put on a fantastic event... it was easily the best show I've ever been to. I had a 16x20 shuttle launch glossy signed by all the shuttle astronauts at the show and just picked it up today from the framers. This is one of my favourite pieces  Signatures from top to bottom (and from left to right): Jack Lousma, Hank Hartsfield, Vance Brand, Paul Weitz, Andy Allen, Tom Jones, Mike Mullane, Fred Gregory, Jon McBride, Bob Springer and Charlie Bolden. $300 for 11 signatures... or $50 less than 1 Buzz... No wonder I'm smiling.  Best regards to all, Derek |
JasonIUP
Member Posts: 282
From: PA
Registered: Apr 2004
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posted 11-22-2008 11:08 AM
Did anyone see Aldrin's fee for a baseball? |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 11-22-2008 11:20 AM
Derek - Your multi-signed shuttle piece turned out really nicely!! Excellent framing job too!Now I just need to get mine framed... |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 11-22-2008 11:20 AM
quote:
Originally posted by JasonIUP:
Did anyone see Aldrin's fee for a baseball?
A real bargain at $650 each. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3120
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 11-22-2008 12:21 PM
I'm really struggling to understand why anyone would want to get a baseball signed by an astronaut. What possible connection is there to the astronaut (whether Buzz Aldrin or anyone else) or to a specific mission, or to space exploration generally? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-22-2008 12:32 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Blackarrow:
What possible connection is there...
In a nutshell, baseballs are considered a symbol of the United States, baseball being the "national pastime". Thus, some collectors use the balls to collect the signatures of anyone associated with the U.S., including presidents and astronauts. |
JasonIUP
Member Posts: 282
From: PA
Registered: Apr 2004
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posted 11-22-2008 12:57 PM
I want Buzz on a baseball because he's one of three moonwalkers I need in order to have all 12 on the same ball. That's a pretty compelling reason. Mjanovec, thanks for your response. |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 11-22-2008 03:00 PM
quote:
Originally posted by alanh_7:
You and Dee O'Hara signed my copy to my five year old daughter Francis. When she is old enough to respect it and inherits it, I know she enjoy reading it as much as I have.
Thanks so much, Alan, for those kind words - and I hope she really enjoys the book too when she is older! |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 11-22-2008 03:54 PM
 As we say in England, "A right couple of Charlies..."  Three people, one shirt - Fred Churchley (Al Shepard's son-in-law), Fred Gregory and me.  "My name is PJ Weitz. Come near my shuttle and I will kill you."  PJ + VAB, KSC, FL, USA |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 11-22-2008 03:56 PM
 Bob Springer at the VAB during the bus tours  Mike Mullane at the air show  Kerwin, Lousma and Weitz catch up  Charlie Duke at the air show |
bruce
Member Posts: 916
From: Fort Mill, SC, USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 11-22-2008 03:58 PM
Francis,Do you and "the Freds" all shop at the same store? Thanks for sharing the great photos! Bruce Moody |
stsmithva
Member Posts: 1933
From: Fairfax, VA, USA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 11-22-2008 04:57 PM
Francis, the "Kerwin, Lousma and Weitz catch up" photo is great, one of the best I've seen from this event of any of the astronauts. Could you e-mail me the original? I'm writing to one of them soon, and I could include a copy.Steve |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 11-22-2008 05:02 PM
Glad you liked the photos! Steve, they already have a copy of the photo, but I am happy to e-mail you a better resolution image for your own personal files, if you wish. |
november25
Member Posts: 646
From: Douglas, Isle of Man, UK
Registered: Feb 2004
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posted 11-22-2008 05:24 PM
Francis, great photos, good looking guys, thanks for showing them.Derek, glad you got some good shuttle guys sigs. The finished product looks good framed, like me, mine hangs on the walls in my house. Friends in the UK and USA - thanks for all your e-mails. Will get back to you soon, still tired (jetlag). Had a great time meeting so many of you. I will be back next year - hopefully. Take care,
from
Brenda and Ted |
Machodoc
Member Posts: 207
From: DE
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 11-22-2008 06:19 PM
Great photos!Buzz charged me $400 to sign my flight helmet.I have a baseball signed by several astronauts, but then I also collect baseball cards and memorabelia, so it was sort of a natural for me. Five years ago I bought a baseball from Walt Cunningham. In 1964, as a newbie, he, along with some of the others in his class, were given the task of chaperoning several old time baseball greats around the newly opened Astrodome, and during the tour, Walt got his baseball signed by, among others, Lefty Grove, Enos Slaughter, Frankie Fritch, Bill Dickey, Johnny Mize, Babe Herman, Ducky Medwick, Carl Hubble, Dizzy and Paul Dean, and Bob Feller. Walt kept it packed away for all those years and after a few rounds of email, I bought it and added it to my collection, albeit in a special place of honor! |
alanh_7
Member Posts: 1252
From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 11-22-2008 07:33 PM
quote:
Originally posted by FFrench:
Thanks so much, Alan, for those kind words -and I hope she really enjoys the book too when she is older!
You are more than welcome Francis. I wish I had had an opportunity to talk with you further. I had questions about how you and Colin gather your research, which is obviously detailed and extensive. I saw you at the hotel bar after the diner with Charlie Duke and Al Warden but did not wish to interrupt. Another time.Thanks again.
Alan
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FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 11-22-2008 07:41 PM
quote:
Originally posted by alanh_7:
I saw you at the hotel bar after the dinner with Charlie Duke and Al Worden but did not wish to interrupt.
The obvious quip would be - if you saw me in the bar with two astronauts, you saw exactly how I do research...  ...but seriously, I'd be more than happy to chat with you about it, and here's hoping for some fun opportunities to do so in the future. |
alanh_7
Member Posts: 1252
From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 11-22-2008 08:08 PM
I know in my work a great deal of business is conducted at bars so I suspect it may be the same in other professions as well...  I look foreword to talking with you in the future. Best regards
Alan
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Machodoc
Member Posts: 207
From: DE
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 11-22-2008 08:58 PM
What Francis said really rings a bell. I thought I knew a little something about the Apollo 11 descent phase to the surface, but after a long discussion with Charlie Duke in the bar at the show at the Cape last June, boy oh boy did I get an education!The devil really is in the details! |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3120
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 11-23-2008 12:25 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
In a nutshell, baseballs are considered a symbol of the United States, baseball being the "national pastime".
Point taken, but even though football ("soccer") and cricket are British national pastimes, I doubt if anyone at Autographica 13 in April 2009 would think of asking Helen Sharman to sign a football or a cricket-ball. The same would apply if the first Briton in space had been male. Would any of the "usual suspects" on this side of the pond disagree? |
Paul23
Member Posts: 836
From: South East, UK
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 11-23-2008 01:24 PM
Not something I'd do myself, I think the costs involved as much as anything would put me off. On the whole are a lot of the moonwalkers big baseball fans anyway?Personally I think I'll just stick to a 10x8 of Helen Sharman at Autographica! |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 11-23-2008 02:56 PM
Interestingly, there appeared to a vintage signed baseball from the Mercury Seven in the Astronaut Hall of Fame. It would appear the astronauts are used to signing baseballs and have been doing so since early in their careers.I don't understand the appeal myself, but I understand the tradition... and suspect the astronauts themselves don't find it all that odd. |
Paul23
Member Posts: 836
From: South East, UK
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 11-23-2008 03:06 PM
I think maybe it's just one of those things that loses a bit in transatlantic translation. Each to their own I suppose. |
stsmithva
Member Posts: 1933
From: Fairfax, VA, USA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 11-23-2008 08:52 PM
Hello Francis, I'm glad to hear that they already saw that photo. I'll just enjoy it on cS!Steve |
Machodoc
Member Posts: 207
From: DE
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 11-23-2008 10:34 PM
Paul,I think you hit the nail on the head when you mentioned that it's something that probably gets lost in translation. Signing baseballs is something that's been going on in the States for over 100 years, and not just by baseball players. It's sort of a natural thing over here, imbedded in the culture. I have baseballs signed not only by players, but by politicians, actors, etc... My favorite is one I have from the basketball player Larry Bird, who inscribed (without being asked) "This ball is too darn small!" You are absolutely right, to each his own, and to each culture, its own! Steve (still, $650 for a baseball is outlandish, unless if its for a crew completion !) |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 11-24-2008 01:09 AM
 Nurse O'Hara, still needling Scott Carpenter after all these years... |
Machodoc
Member Posts: 207
From: DE
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 11-28-2008 07:55 PM
Like a lot of you, I also participated in the photo op before dinner that Saturday night, and was glad it was done as a fundraiser -a great idea.I got my photos recently and am very pleased with it! I'm a little less pleased however with the answer to my question about possibly getting the original digital photo emailed to me (after all for $100 it didn't seem like an unreasonable request): yes, I can have it emailed to me - for $50 extra. At that point I just fired up the ole' scanner, and it came out just fine. |
Linda K
Member Posts: 62
From: Greensboro, NC 27455
Registered: Aug 2008
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posted 11-29-2008 04:01 PM
Just a final note about the fabulous weekend in Florida. For those who've been asking, I've finally gotten my pictures posted on my website. As a quick personal note - Francis, while I really like your "three guys, one shirt" pic, I think I prefer my "bookends" picture on page 7 of my ASF Show photo gallery! Reading through this thread, I guess I got really lucky with my hotel experience. I was in the 100s building. Convenient to everything, quiet when I needed it to be, and overall just a very enjoyable place to turn in at the end of the day. I guess that just proves there's good and bad to be found in anything. Last but not least, thanks to all who made this such a memorable weekend for me. I enjoyed meeting everyone, and the new learning opportunities this show (and this forum!) opened for me. |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 11-29-2008 04:43 PM
Thanks, Linda, for sharing your photos - you certainly got photos of everyone!!I see in one photo that Paul Weitz has a copy of our book in his hand, which is nice to see... thanks for sharing. |
spaceman1953
Member Posts: 953
From: South Bend, IN
Registered: Apr 2002
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posted 12-04-2008 07:26 PM
Thanks to all of you for sharing your rememberances and all the photographs. The stories are just wonderful! Picked up a reading copy of Rocketman, Leap of Faith (?), Light This Candle, First Man and another book on NAA today at the local library booksale. Now I need to start READING! Thanks again! Gene |
BC
Member Posts: 30
From: Springfield, IL, USA
Registered: Nov 2008
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posted 12-10-2008 01:59 PM
I'm late getting to post. However, that doesn't diminish my enthusiasm for what a wonderful event this was. The astronauts were fabulous. Meeting new friends Linda, Mel, and Kim were true highlights of the weekend. I can't wait for next year!Bill |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 09-28-2009 03:08 PM
I debated posting this here, but after talking to another cS member I figured it was important that everyone be made aware of an issue with regards to the Radisson hotel (the host hotel for the ASF show) at Port Canaveral.A week or so ago, I got a letter from the hotel informing me that credit card numbers used at the hotel during a certain window of time (which includes the 2008 ASF autograph show) may have been stolen by individuals who may use them for fraudulent purposes. This morning, I got a call from my credit card company informing me that there were attempts to use my credit card for purchases I had not authorized. Thankfully, the credit card company never approved the purchases. I then e-mailed another show attendee who stayed at the Radisson for the ASF. He quickly checked his balance and noted that money was charged against his card that he had not authorized. Also, since he didn't recieve the warning letter that I received, I figured there may be others here who used their cards at the Radisson that may not have been warned and/or only used their cards at the bar or restaurant (where addresses were not recorded). If you used a credit card at the Radisson at Port Canaveral last November for the ASF show, do yourself a favor and keep a close eye on your account. |
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