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Re: State of the Association

I too am guilty of only checking into the message boards once in a blue moon. Primarily because I’m retired and have no ties to anything IUSS related other than to connect every so often with ex-shipmates. I don’t think there are any easy solutions to bringing in younger folks. I think part of the problem is advertising. How are the younger STs in the system today going to find out about the Association? I’ve been out of the system since I lost my gig as a contractor in 2013, but when I was still in the system, I never heard anyone speak about the association, other than during the years when a reunion was scheduled. Bottom line: In my humble opinion we do a poor job of getting the word out. Is that a problem now? I don’t know. Just my 2 cents..

Re: State of the Association

I read the comments posted and have to say many have hit the nail on the head. Having been on the boards of various societies in the past I would say on average between 10 and 15 % will be active and do all the planning/setup/etc for society functions and duties. What is interesting are the comments about all the events happening on the East coast. I don't recall reading or seeing anything that precludes any individual from planning an event anywhere for members on either coast or the midlands. I suggest, if it is possible, a separate message board for social events. That way individuals wanting to put together a gathering for members to attend could do so right here. Possibly the event would draw the interest of members wanting to get together with old friends elsewhere. As to attracting new, younger members these events might serve such a purpose if invites where sent to the NOPF/Other commands in the area inviting the present IUSS personnel to the event.

Re: State of the Association

Hi Nick,

Thanks for starting a most interesting and necessary discussion. The thoughts and feelings which have been posted are great, and they have resulted in a few partially sleepless nights wondering about solutions. Allow me to add to the discussion:

1) The SOSUS and IUSS pages on FaceBook could be thought of as “competition”. I’d rather think of them as a way to reach out to potential new IUSSCAA members. When posting on these FaceBook pages try to steer folks towards the IUSSCAA website as a great treasure trove of history, discussion, photos, and old/new friends.

2) As a USCG “Brat” and a USN Veteran (3 years in the “system”) I have a bit of a multicultural outlook on things. If you haven’t done so already, how about reaching out to the USCG folks down the hall as potential new members of IUSSCAA, or even (“heresy alert”) trying to persuade them to transfer to the USN side of the house for some possibly more interesting work.

3) In large organizations such as the USN and large corporations budget pressures are huge and the “bean counters” are often successful in persuading the organization to “cut costs” by drastically cutting head count. An unintended result of such actions is a loss of “institutional memory”, i.e., the knowledge in the heads of people who walk out the door. Sometimes In the corporate world an enlightened CEO or Board will realize their mistake and call people back, perhaps in a consulting role. I don’t know if the USN could duplicate such an effort, but the USN Chain of Command should be informed that the IUSSCAA is a “treasure trove” of “institutional memory”. Perhaps that memory could be tapped by asking knowledgeable and highly respected IUSSCAA members to be “guest lecturers from the college of hard knocks” at USN educational venues (Command Schools, War College, etc.) where the current/next generation of leaders expand their horizons. I’d be willing to bet that a lot of IUSSCAA members would jump at the chance to impart knowledge in this way, even if they had to pay for their own travel and lodging expenses to do so.

4) With respect to the role of maintaining the system’s “history”, that is a definite role for the IUSSCAA. One of my other “hats” is president of the “USCGC Courier/Voice of America Association”. I am part of that organization due to family ties (my late Dad) and our family’s participation in the mission of that unique ship. I bring this up because our small (and rapidly shrinking) association has recently devoted itself to keeping the memory of the ship and its mission alive. Our membership gladly raised funds and helped to design and implement exhibits (with ship models) memorializing the ship at both the USCG Academy Museum in New London CT and the Voice of America Museum in West Chester OH. I hope and trust that the IUSS will never go away and that there will be no need for a memorial exhibit. However, exhibits of the system’s history with suitable models included might be appropriate at venues such as the Naval Academy Museum in Annapolis MD. Mr. Donald Preul and the many volunteer model makers at that museum would be an excellent resource for such a venture. I would hope that the IUSSCAA membership would be enthusiastic and generous in making such exhibit(s) happen.

Thanks for letting me share some thoughts.

Bob


Re: State of the Association (Response to Bob Hickman)

Bob:

You wrote the following: "...the USN Chain of Command should be informed that the IUSSCAA is a “treasure trove” of “institutional memory”. Perhaps that memory could be tapped by asking knowledgeable and highly respected IUSSCAA members to be “guest lecturers from the college of hard knocks” at USN educational venues (Command Schools, War College, etc.) where the current/next generation of leaders expand their horizons. I’d be willing to bet that a lot of IUSSCAA members would jump at the chance to impart knowledge in this way, even if they had to pay for their own travel and lodging expenses to do so."

Good idea but they will never do it. One of the reasons I have posted so many technical articles was to establish a link with active-duty analysis/watch personnel, especially those at ONI. Aside from valient efforts by Ed Smock, the results appear to have been zero.

Example: the key to the acoustic chacteristics and vulnerabilities of the BOREY Class Russian SSBN is the use of the 5500 hp PG-141M electric motor in that hybrid propulsion system. I doubt this information has ever found its way into ONI or - if it has - was ever used as the basis for new signal processing approaches.

Sadly, I agree that the IUSSCAA Alumni Association website will become little more than an obituary column.

Bruce

Re: State of the Association

Nick and others,
I too check the site regularly to see what is being talked about or who has died. There are a number of things that can be done and many of the ideas are ones that others have all ready posted.

Randy's idea of more frequent "casual" reunions is spot on. This could be on a rotational basis every 2 years on both west and east coast. This brings up the subject people willing to put forth the effort to plan, organize and conduct these events. Every 5 years, Jim and a core group have worked diligently to make these reunions what they are. I personally get more out of the Friday night get together as I do with the banquet except there are those who only go to the banquet. With the group aging as it is, I think more frequent reunions are the way to go.

I would love to have a page of the site to post "Where is so and so and what are they doing". Nick your post about Fred Schwanz what a classic example of people who I think of and wonder how they are doing and what is happening. Uncle Nick is another and there are many more. Just a thought.

Nick, I think with your enthusiasm and background we can bring this effort to positive conclusion. Best of luck and I am willing to help.

Sandy

Re: State of the Association

A stroke of genius Nick. The most stimulating discussion I've seen on here in a long time and many commenters whose names I don't recognize. I agree with your analysis. There are so many of us who are members and so few who routinely comment. I am as guilty as anyone. I do however spend time on Facebook and immediately check this site if I find something important or interesting. I would like to point out though that there are a lot fewer of us maintainers than you analysts. I do however love this site and have been a member since I don't know when.
That may not be significant since my memory is not nearly as sharp as it once was. But I do remember our time together in Antigua. That was a wonderful tour professionally and socially.
I do hope we stay active as an Association.

Re: State of the Association

Nick: just my two cents. We started the Association as a result of having attended Change of Commands and Memorial services. Conversations would center on where people where, who talked to whom, who might have passed, what people were doing. So in 1993 I started sending out requests for membership and publishing the Cable (Ellis Sutter coined the name). By today’s standards we were back in the dark ages as every thing was by and labor intensive. The Association grew due to Jack Holdzkom, Rick Mathews, Ellis, and others from 27 members to over 900 at one point. BUT, then there was no Facebook, Twitter, etc. I think social media is the culprit for any decline in interest; plus other adjunct sites popping up. Just my thoughts. EKD

Re: State of the Association

Ed, You're right. Facebook has revolutionized the way we communicate with one another in ways difficult if not impossible to replicate. Each NAVFAC, Headquarters, SOSUS, IUSS, OTs and OTAs/OTMs etc. have their own discussion boards on FB with hundreds of members.

In one example, the SOSUS Facebook page administered by John Glass and Bob Brown recently eclipsed 1,000 members from all SOSUS/IUSS generations from the 1950s to present. In the last week alone there have been 17 new members and 24 main posts, many with lengthy follow on discussion involving dozens of members. It is refreshing to see current ASW issues and solutions being discussed among current active duty Sonar Techs and seasoned OTs.

Here's a sample of just a few of the 24 discussions on the SOSUS page from last week:

- USS THRESHER Disaster
- UUVs with Bistatic SONAR for US Navy
- International Spy Museum
- Japan launches first lithium-ion battery powered submarine JS Oryu
- Soviet B-59 submarine operating off south east US coast in 1962
- How to build your own hydrophone with SoundFly
- Operation IVY BELLS

Nick, Thank you for taking on this effort. The IUSSCAA database containing our membership information, photographs, messages, articles, newsletters and Memorial listing alone is irreplaceable. That said, the Message Boards have been in decline for several years. That won't change. I still check the Boards on a daily basis as has become my habit over the last 20 plus years. I guess similar to my habit of scanning the obituaries for familiar names every morning in the Virginia Pilot here in Virginia Beach.


In the meantime I'll post a link to the IUSSCAA Website on the two pages I manage (NAVFAC Keflavik and OTs and OTA/OTMs). I'll ask John Glass to do the same on the SOSUS page. Peggy Chadwick at CUS manages the IUSS page.

Good discussions above by all; especially from Dave Williams.

Best of luck, Jim

Re: State of the Association

Jim I have to agree. Actually I've looked at the SOSUS Facebook page and the IUSSCAA message boards as one and the same. I just figured that's where everything is posted now. Two other things I've kind of noticed as well are:

1. Young people are not joiners in traditional organizations as us Boomers. Everything has suffered as a result from bowling leagues to the Fleet Reserve Association.

2. People in the Pacific Northwest and the Norfolk area do seem to hold the advantage in participation simply because of location. Having more frequent togethers unfortunately isn't going to do anything for those of us outside of Virginia and Washington State.

Re: State of the Association

To be frank, I rarely check this site as most of my updates germane to “the system” I get from Facebook. In several IUSS groups. Along those lines, I joined this organization twice now over the last few years and have been removed from the membership list both times. I see folks on that listing who haven’t updated or made any contribution in almost a decade. Not sure how that’s happens but I’d be lying if I said this hasnt soared me in joining or contributing.

Re: State of the Association

Hello Robert,

I checked the database and I found you in the archive members table with a membership expiration of 2010. I do not know why you were moved to archive. It definitely has nothing to do with your activity level on the board.

The only thing I can think of is that the association tried to contact you when your membership expired in order to get you to renew and that contact failed. The attempt would have been made multiple times. There is a note on the record from June 2009 indicating an invalid email address. I do not know if attempts were being made by snail mail still in 2010 or not. I was involved with the association back then but I was not the webmaster or the record keeper.

I do apologize for the association if you were moved to the archives and should not have been.

For the past couple of years, the association has not had a dues requirement. There is no longer an expiration date associated with a member.

I have sent an email request to Mike Kilpatrick, our current database wizard to please move you from the archives to the active rolls. That should happen with this month's update.

Please go to the membership update form at http://www.iusscaa.org/mcuform.htm to update any details that may have changed, such as email or home address.

Again, my apologies on behalf of the association. I hope you continue to use the board and website.

Sincerely,

Russ Lownie
IUSSCAA Webmaster

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