December Reflector

NO sign of the December S&D Reflector in the Howard Museum's mailbox yet. The river is at 19 feet today (pool stage is 12) so perhaps the Marietta-Louisville packet has been delayed by the high water and making all those landings.

Just had a phone chat with a delightful lady, calling from New Roads, Louisiana (across the Mississippi from St. Francisville) whose grandfather had served on the towboat SPRAGUE.

Vol. 48, No. 4 arrived in STP today. I'll be getting the expanded content uploaded to the new website in a couple days.

Most of the passes closed, so no sign of a Reflector, yet, or that AQ brochure that I hope finds its way up here. Or do you have to order it? I'm on somebody's mailing list, just not sure whose.

The afternoon mail packet whistled for the Jeffersonville landing a bit ago and the mud clerk handed me a bundle which contained the museum's copy of the December S&D REFLECTOR. Yvonne and I, plus several docents, are immersed in decorating and preparing for Sunday's Christmas Open House, so I'll have to wait until later to enjoy the treasures which are certain to abound in the magazine. SIGH!!!!!!

UMR 480

There's no ice on the river yet, and the locks are still open, but no sign of the mail packet yet...

*RE: December REFLECTOR*

Steamboating colleagues:
The P&C LINE 'QUEEN CITY' inched under the bridges here bearing the Dec. REFLECTOR. Cap 'n Bill Judd received his yesterday. Ole' Commodore Fred Laidley sprung for his own subscription and is 'cited like never before. My copies arrived just now. Like Keith, I've been busy delivering nursing home cookie packages, decorating retirement center Christmas trees and just in. Cincinnati streets cold today when I went up the hill from the wharfboat. I'll open here in a bit and digest "kivver to kivver" as Capt. Fred Way used to say. Cold, dark with some furtive snow flurries outside now. Nice evening to hunker in with David Tschiggfrie's no doubt great creation. We'll see...yes, we'll see. Cheers!

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati.

After returning from a trip to the Tropics on the CELEBRITY MILLENNIUM today, my REFLECTOR was roosting in an overstuffed mailbox. All unpacking has been delayed so the much awaited December issue can be perused.

Much of the magazine has now been read, but the full suitcases are still where they were left. First things first!

Southward

Maybe that's the trick: head south and the Reflector will be waiting for you - I am going south to Peoria today with the basketball team, so maybe when I get back...

Sigh: US Mule limped by yester and lightened his load by dropping off our Reflector. Not much time to read the whole thing but did do the one about the MQ and ADMIRAL...VERY interesting but very very sad: Annie, Ellie, Tom, Cap'ns Jim and Gabe's commentary provided eloquent testimony to our loss. The photos by Denny Schwartz and Miss Judy Patch got me! Been busy here writing about the history of the 1937 Flood in Boone County, Kentucky. I wondered how anyone could find much since the Cincinnati papers apparently did not know Boone County existed, but it is over 12,000 words already. Cap'n Walnut

The postman schussed into Leadville with a Reflector on Friday. Surprise, surprise!

Still a no no

Another day, still no Reflector. The USPS distribution system amazes me. I can understand Cincinnati members receiving their copy fairly early, considering their proximity to Marietta, but how can St. Paul and Leadville Colorado be served faster than Rock Island? And just wait until next year, when the post office promises worse service! I have suggested several times, to no avail, that the Reflector be sent 1st class. I suggested that those who wanted the 1st class delivery could pay the difference in the dues - it wouldn't be hard to figure out the extra cost to upgrade - but to no avail. It is a shame that editor Dave and Richardsons do their part in providing a prompt product, only to have the USPS screw it up. Is there anyone else who would be interested in paying the 1st class surcharge, or am I alone in my drifting boat?

Bad luck

You really are having bad luck with the USPS. I live in Italy and I got my copy of the December 2011 issue about a week ago. However, the issue before this one was about six weeks late. Doesn't make sense that it should be this way, but there it is... In answer to your question: Yes, I'd be willing to pay extra for first class mailing. It couldn't be all that much.

Bulk mail

Ahh the joys of non-profit third class mail. Judy you are at the mercy of your local carrier and folks upstream from there. Non-profit bulk mail is not a priority and can be set aside at peak times. I had such trouble with receiving the weekly church newsletter that I kept the church secretary supplied with stamps to send mine first class.

Wesley

And now that Christmas is fast approaching, the chances of getting a sidelined bulk mailing are pretty close to nil, until maybe New Years. Happy New Year! Could there be an on line version for those of us who can't wait for the Pony Express?

So what does that mean, exactly, as I don't know how to interpret "expanded content"?

Hi Lexie, Judy, et al,

I can't speak to the (in)efficiency of the US Mail's third-class service, or whether there is going to be an option for first-class in the future. I can tell you that we've discussed the possibility of having the REFLECTOR available online for registered members only, but at the moment we're not ready to make that transition, as it was perceived that this was not a common request. We've also set up several ways to contact S&D leadership at the website: Contact | Sons and Daughters of Pioneer Rivermen. If more people request that an online version is offered, I think we'll probably look at it as a more pressing need.

I don't want an online version - I want the old fashioned paper and ink kind I can hold in my hands and read, without having to look at a lighted screen. And to whom do the online questions go?

More on online: I just tried to get onto the S&D website. I am registered but I can't access it. "Have you forgotten your password?" NO I HAVEN'T. So now what, Jon? If I ever get the December issue of the Reflector, I won't have to do anything but open it up to read its content. Not everything 21st century is better than older methods just because it is current. I think this new exclusivity about the S&D website is counterproductive - the organization needs new members and needs to retain its current members. When you set something up which excludes members due to technical issues, you aren't creating any good will. What was wrong with the old website?

Online version would just be for your info until the real thing comes in. We all want the hard copy, I think. Good question about who gets the online questions and/or answers them.

Lex and all, the Board of Governors has batted around the idea of an online edition, but the feeling is that most do not really want it. There are/were also concerns among board members that the content would be seen, copied, redistributed, etc. by non-members. Some of us feel this is not a valid concern, but majority rules. S&D moves very slowly into new technology, and while we do make changes, the leadership is very conservative. No one has ever seriously suggested we go to a strictly online version, and I really can't think of anyone who would want that to the exclusion of the printed magazine.

As far as who questions, comments, etc. from the website go to, it is divided among those who we feel can best answer the question put forth, such as the President, Chairman of Board of Governors, REFLECTOR editor, webmaster Jon Tschiggfrie or board members Taylor Abbott or myself.

Lexie Palmore;28396 wrote: Most of the passes closed, so no sign of a Reflector, yet, or that AQ brochure that I hope finds its way up here. Or do you have to order it? I'm on somebody's mailing list, just not sure whose.

Hi Lexie: I hope you've got your Reflector by now. We got our about on the 9th. I'm excited to dream about an AQ cruise too. You don't have to wait for a paper brochure. You can get a PDF download of one from their web site if you want to. Mississippi River Cruises | American Queen river cruise on the Mississippi River I got one!

Merry Christmas to you and Jim!

Lexie Palmore;28396 wrote: Most of the passes closed, so no sign of a Reflector, yet, or that AQ brochure that I hope finds its way up here. Or do you have to order it? I'm on somebody's mailing list, just not sure whose.

Hi Lexie: I hope you've got your Reflector by now. We got ours about on the 9th. I'm excited to dream about an AQ cruise too. You don't have to wait for a paper brochure. You can get a PDF download of one from their web site if you want to. Mississippi River Cruises | American Queen river cruise on the Mississippi River I got one!

Merry Christmas to you and Jim!

Reflector in Colorado but not in Illinois

According to Lexie's posting, her Reflector arrived in Colorado last week, on the 11th. I still don't have mine here in Illinois, a thousand miles closer to Ohio. And it isn't sitting in my local PO, I checked today. I'm emailing you Bob, since I can't access the new S&D website to contact someone, even though I registered months ago. Progress, phooey!

I got mine the 9th. Must've been on a nonstop flight from wherever. Must've gotten in the first class pile by accident. Another miracle on 34th Street. We've had extraordinarily good weather here, no worries about road conditions, although the ski areas aren't liking it much.