I don't know how many of you are explaining the importance of the frequent updates to the ones you send mail to, but I am trying to remember to impress upon all of "our" contacts how much it means to them to keep up regular updates to the best of their ability with both needs and fulfilled requests noted.  Of course, many of them pass on their excesses, so it's hard to tell if everyone is sending the same items to a contact if they don't mention it or it isn't mentioned on the forum.  I know that I have seen several with posts that they didn't know they had to update until they got their 50-day email from support.  Since the first of the year, most of our contacts (some were emergency or under-requested part-time packages) either have served out their deployment time or dropped for one reason or another, so our list is more manageable now.  After some of our family obligations this month (birthdays, surgery), we hope to reorganize and pick up someone new.

Gran

 Hey Gran

 I see the numbers on the Contact  list are going down. Is that common?  (Was over 2000 army contacts, now 1900)

Since I am a relative newby I don't know if  that count usually swings or not.

 Thanks

 Amy

 Oh Why did I surf into this thread?

 Now I'm crying again....and off shopping!

  I appreciate reading these posts....I have been trying to figure out how to  recognize those that haven't received much.  great idea here.

 Off to shop

 Thanks Ladies

 Amy

 PS I wanted to add that the one contact I have heard from wrote that some of the mail was getting stockpiled and not released until there was a full   warehouse of it.  I forgot where he mentioned it was, but he said  basically they found out  the mail sat there. His guys wrote a Congressman about it. Sad. I think he mentioned Salerno?  Anyway, some of the contacts who haven't received anything may be caught up in this. 

PPS  Can't find Semilla on the list. Just signed up for Zirkle and Conklin.  Thanks for the tips.  How I wish I could help them all

Hello,

My brother Sgt Nick Chirco signed up Oct 1st.. He is home on R&R right now. We are new to site. So trying to navigate it.  He is looking to Chat.. He has tried the Iraq room. But seems quiet.

Thank You

Amy,

Yes, the numbers of contacts can change by large numbers.  It seems to be in some way seasonal.  I kept up with the fluctuation of numbers for about a year, but don't now.  It seems to change by as much as a thousand throughout the year with the Army contacts.  It seems that they get too worn down during the heat of the summer to keep up in some cases.  We hope that the numbers will never be so high as during the "Surge" in Iraq, but will probably go up again with milder weather conditions and replacements deploying.

Hugs,

Gran 

SGT Timothy Green (2M/7F, 10 requests) and SGT Stanford Green (15M/5F, 9 requests) both posted today 06 Oct 2008, that they haven't received anything recently.  Both of them were added 26 June 2008. 

 Oh this list is wonderful! Thank you for your efforts.

I was checking to see if any of my contacts had posted and came upon this young man from New York. The were added September 23, but only have 5 requests. 30 males and 5 females. His name is 1LT Giro Maccheroni.  Doesn't seem like they have been on that long, but 5 is a small number of supporters for 35 people. Just thought I would add his group here.

Heidi

I just ran across this one--I put his name into the Forum search tool and nothing came up.

MSgt Garrett Oshiro, USAF Iraq, requested 6 times since only post on Sept 26.  200 male/75 female, expected to leave 30 Jan 09.

Requesting small easily transported food items, winter weather help (?) for airmen working outside the wire.

Can anyone else send something to WO1 Kevin A. Pfanstiel?  12 M / 2 F, only 10 requests since he was added 22 July 08.  I'm # 10, and I sent him a second package today.  However, I'm about to have surgery and will be limited to sending letters for the rest of the year.  :-(

Thanks, everyone. 

Hi, Dragon -- I'll pick him and his group up. 

And -- don't you worry!  You concentrate on YOU and rest and recover from your surgery!  And remember -- cards and letters are THE most requested items

Warm hugs to you,

--Marilyn

Hi, Ann!

Never heard of 'em either -- I just googled and found some links -- here's one -- http://www.uglowlites.com/Product_Details.asp?ProductID=162

They actually look kind of fun and are surprisingly inexpensive.  I just happen to be off today and planned a run to Walmart (HAH!)  I'll look for them and if I see them I'll get 'em!!!!

--Marilyn

Thanks Marilyn - now that I know what they look like, I;ll take a look at wal-mart today - they look soo cool!  Seeing them I can see where the Crew Chiefs and there guys could really use them in their work!   I guess our local wal-marts will have a run on them today

Ann