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VHPA War Story Contest Announcement for San Antonio, TX 2008Do you remember the joke, “What is the difference between a fairy tale and a war story?” The answer was, “The fairy tale starts out with ‘Once upon a time’ while the war story starts out with ‘This ain’t no sh_t!’” This note announces the second annual VHPA War Story Contest, which we titled; The This Ain’t no Sh_t Ultimate Vietnam War Story Contest! If you enjoy telling war stories about your Vietnam era exploits and experiences that are entertaining, informative, audience appropriate, and hopefully factual, then we invite you to sign up for this event. We will organize the war story event the same way we did last year at the Phoenix reunion. First, sign up for the contest by sending an e-mail (jfulbrook@cox.net) or by calling Dr. Jim Fulbrook at 703.385.2999. Please provide your name, the title of the war story, and your contact information so we can get back to you to coordinate the event. Plan on having about 15 minutes to tell your war story – not longer. We will schedule at least one two-hour session for those who sign up and if time permits, one or two folks from the audience may get to present. Last year, nine people presented a great bunch of war stories and nearly 200 people attended. It’s a super family event. When you register for the reunion, there will be a line item for this event that includes a small fee to cover the meeting room and AV labor support. We have to do it this way because last year we had no idea how many people would attend and the room costs were very high. A
DVD is available of the war story contest and Historic Presentations from
previous reunions. You can order at this link.
They are really well done and interesting. We
hope to videotape your story for our oral history archive at You could get the hook though if you are a rowdy or blowhard and get out-of-hand. This is meant to be a fun time and open to everyone. Let’s face it; all of your family and mini-reunion friends already heard your war story 20 times, so why not share it with other members. Oh yes, there is a condition – some time during your talk you must knit in the words “This ain’t no sh_t!” so we know what you are telling us is true down to the last detail and not some fairy tale! We plan to have the war story contest at every reunion. We know there are lots of great story tellers out there, so sign up and share your favorite war story with us and a great time will be had by all – and “that ain’t no sh_t!” VHPA Historic Presentations Forum (HPF)
Call for Abstracts
Jim E. Fulbrook, PhD
(a.k.a., Snakebite Charlie, 71st AHC, 70-71) VHPA HPF Committee Chair
Last year at the DC reunion, we organized the first ever Historic
Presentation Forum (HPF), which consisted of five separate keynote
presentations. These events were fairly well attended and very well received so
that we plan to have an HPF series at each reunion. Here we are announcing the
second annual HPF Call for Abstracts from persons interested in
participating as HPF presenters. If you are a decent public speaker and would
like to present at the 2008 San Antonio Reunion, then here are the details. If you
are not interested in being a speaker, then this article will let you know what
to look forward to at the San Antonio Reunion. The Historic Presentations Forum is simple in design and execution. A committee will select abstracts to schedule as presentations included in the reunion program of events. We will provide a suitable room at the reunion and audio-video support as required. Presentations will be scheduled for one hour in length (allow 10 minutes for Q&A and discussion). A nominal fee will be charged for a ticket to attend each HPF, which is necessary so we can pay for the meeting room and audio-visual support, and have an idea of how many people are coming so we get a correct-size meeting room.
We have three categories of topics: 1) Aviation Operations during the
Vietnam War, 2) Non-Aviation Operations during the Vietnam War, and 3) 30-minute
book author or video producer presentations on Vietnam War topics. Aviation
(Helicopter) Operations is self explanatory. Non-aviation operations could
include topics such as Special Operations, USAF bombing operations, ground
operations, etc. (topic possibilities are endless). If you have a published book
or multimedia presentation (to include artwork) or a complete manuscript, we
will organize an HPF where each presenter in this category has 30 minutes to
discuss his work. For instance, if we have three presenters, a 1.5-hour session
will be scheduled, followed by a book signing and meet the authors’ session.
Speakers will not receive payment of any type from the VHPA. If we
videotape the event to sell as DVDs or to go into our history archive,
presenters will get a free copy of the HPF series. Each presenter must provide a
set of PowerPoint slides before the reunion so we have them available.
Presenters may claim copyright restrictions on original text and imagery but
they must allow the VHPA to publish the presentation without restriction.
To aid speakers, feedback surveys will be provided for audience comments.
We will also provide a written reference to speakers who wish to market their
presentation to other organizations as a professional speaker. Professional
speakers’ bureaus, organizations (VFW, American Legion, etc.), and education
institutions usually require references if you have aspirations of telling your
story to more than the VHPA. So, this is a great opportunity to polish your
knowledge and experience in a Vietnam War topic that you could market elsewhere.
If you wish to be considered as a speaker, follow the steps provided
here. You need to complete two things (form provided below): 1) A cover page of
information about you and the topic, and 2) an abstract (summary). The cover
page must include the following: name(s) of presenter(s), VHPA affiliation,
address and contact information (include e-mail), title of presentation,
category talk fits into (aviation, non-aviation, published work), time required,
tell us what your media support needs are (a computer projection system is
automatic), provide a short biography of presenter(s) (100 words or less,
single-spaced), provide a statement (or check box) that you understand that, if
scheduled, you will attend reunion and present.
On a separate sheet, please provide a one-page abstract or summary of the
presentation. For this page, use one inch margins all around, use Arial or Times
Font, an 11- or 12-point size, and single or double space text. We’re
flexible, but please do try to comply with these instructions. The presentation
should be informative, factual, and appropriate for a
family audience.
Please do not submit the PowerPoint presentation or more than we request
when you submit. Send your abstract
and cover page as electronic documents attached to an e-mail, to Dr. Jim
Fulbrook at: If we select and schedule you to present at the reunion, you must make every effort to attend and present, so there are no event cancellations (only death and dismemberment will be acceptable excuses!). The HPFs presented at the DC Reunion were very well received by members and their families. A first class DVD of all of the HPFs and the war story contest are available to purchase at this link. The HPF will be offered every year as long as there is interest and reunion attendees participate, so plan to sign up to attend these events. You’ll be glad you did. That’s it – here’s your chance to contribute to our history. Start working on your abstract now! Sample
cover page follows…
Cover page for Abstract Submission Presenter
Name(s): __________________________
_________________________ VHPA
Affiliation (circle):
current member
family member
non-member Contact information: Address ___________________________ City:
________________ E-mail:
____________________________________ Phone
numbers: (Day) ___________________
(Night) _______________________ Address:
3478 Barrister’s
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