S&D Annual meeting is Sept. 18 and 19

70th meeting

Best wishes to all who attend for a fun-filled 70th anniversary weekend.

Bob, I hope you and fellow board members will discuss the Reflector situation. I imagine since we haven't been posting about it, that most of us have given up ever getting it back on schedule, or figure complaining is getting us nowhere. But it does need to be pointed out that today, 9 days into the 9th month of the year 2009, we have received ONE issue of the Reflector for the calendar/membership year 2009. (The issue mailed in March was the Winter 2008, and the one received in June was the Spring 2009). In 2007 and 2008 calendar years we received 3, not 4 issues as stated in the membership benefits, and I strongly doubt we'll get 3 issues in these last 3 months of 2009. I know of several people who dropped their memberships for this year due to the Reflector situation, and I imagine there will be an even greater drop in 2010 if this issue isn't resolved - many of our memberships are libraries and organizations and the Reflector is the only benefit of their membership. In these tight money times, why would they continue to subscribe? Just to make a donation? I doubt it.
Many suggestions and offers of help have been made these past couple of years and naught has come of them. It is a difficult situation, and yes I know the amount of work needed to put an issue together, and I know the various and sundry reasons we have been given for the lateness/lack of issues.
If it is necessary that a paid editor be employed, then it is time - use J.Mack Gamble funds if necessary. That would be promoting river history by a non-profit organization.

Midwest Riverboat Buffs

A good number of MRB-er's don't belong to S&D as I've been told, so unless they see it here on the message board, or MRB's facebook page...they won't know about the S&D meeting until after the fact as the fall meeting of the MRB is the 3rd weekend of October in Keokuk....

Judy Patsch (I think it was her, maybe it was Pat Welsh??)did mention such @ our Spring Meeting back this past May when we all met in Muscatine, IA, however that only reached a small number of people.

The MRB newsletter, River Ripples is being assembled as we speak, and likely not to be received until the S&D meeting is over with, FYI!

Anyways, have a good time!

ILL be there ,on the ANNA MARIE ,...:)

S&D On TV

See:

Hootenanny On The River

Thanks for that Link Sam, Good storey..

You know how sometimes things just fall in to place and come out wonderful,,?? Thats what I think about this video someone shot at the Sternwheel Festival in Marietta, O the weekend before the S & D meet..
If you watch it from the 3:00 minute on point ,, WOW .. Goose Pimples,,Chills,,Echo under the bridge,,..Its me doing my best Doc Hawley imitation on the Muskingum River down bound on the ANNA MARIE with the LAURA J pushing .. What a wonderful weekend,,!! And then getting to see everyone at the S & D Whistle Blow was absolutely Great . I even got Barb Hameister to play the DELTA QUEEN Waltz on the CaLLiope that Saturday..
ENJOY 🙂
Dave,,,...

YouTube - Calliope at 2009 Marietta Sternwheel Festival

Great video views of the Sternwheel Festival and S&D Whistle Blow, but here it is nearly a week after the annual S&D gathering and there's been nary a word reported about the meeting itself -- and this one was touted as a gala affair for the 70th anniversary. The silence is deafening! Who was there? Who wasn't there?! What was the outcome of the election? Details please!

And, on this second day of FALL, I'm wondering about the production status of the SUMMER issue of the S&D REFLECTOR, that has yet to reach our mailboxes.

*RE: S&D 70th Aniversary, 2009.*
Steamboating colleagues:
Keith makes a good point asking for information RE: S&D's '70th Anniversary, 2009. I've tried now twice to post but something happens and nothing appears. No time to fool with this now but will attempt tomorrow. Tried to post under yours, Keith, along with a New Thread. No luck tonight.

*Rest assured the Summer REFLECTOR was delivered to 'Richardson Printing Co.' last week and is being worked on now with the next on the way. Watch those mail slots and boxes--or when the passing packet drops the mail bag off. Also S&D has a U.S, Postal Box No. 352 Marietta, Ohio 45750 for sales of past REFLECTORS, letters to President Jeffery Spear, issues, questions, volunteer opportunities. Why? For years letters arrived in Marietta addressed 'S&D Marietta, Ohio' or Capt. Fred Way, Marietta, Ohio.' Sure, E=Mails arrive to Officers/Board of Governors attention on S&D business.

So, apology for my report being lost. Will try tomorrow. What AM I doing wrong?

Well, what do I know?
R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River.

It was a spectacular weekend, weather was perfect. Attendance at all affairs was up over previous years. Friday night, Dr. Frank Pollack gave a excellent talk on his experience on steam and early diesel towboats, with super photos of these boats. Had over 110 in attendance that night. The picnic lunch, like in the old days, was very good and the whistle blow was out of sight. It seemed like half of Marietta came down to join S & D and enjoy the whistles and calliope concerts. Saturday night, Mark Twain showed up and delighted the large group.

Probably the best S & D weekend in the last ten years.

Capt. Bob Reynolds plans to post a "play by play" narrative on the S & D web site, so tune in.

Incidentily Keith, if you had been in attendance, you would not have to get all the news second hand.

*RE: S&D 70th Anniversary, 2009.*
Steamboating colleagues:
Okay, fiddled with my computer and will post some S&D information. My Treasurer report filed: BEGINNING BALANCE = Sept. 12, 2008 = $20,506.35. ENDING BALANCE: = Sept. 18, 2009 = $24,417.00.

Nelson Jones landed the vintage 1931 J.S. LEWIS below the Lafayette Hotel for tours. What a clean, neat pristine boat. In the cook house a big skillet of gravy and fresh bread rolls on the ready. Nelson, company and crew provided steam for the big whistle blow/calliope concert at the Ohio River Museum. Bob Reynolds served as MC announcing each whistle; Bill Barr did the honors tugging the whistle cord. S&D has made Nelson and crew honorary members of S&D. A few of us remembered the LEWIS blowing black coal smoke and steam here at Coal Haven Landing years ago. Then her being 'arrested' by the local Smoke Abatement Officer.' The 1956 citation and records hang proudly in frames aboard.

Saturday's evening banquet was well attended with food, service back to Lafayette standards. Yes, the aging microphone system will be dealt with next year. President Jeff Spear was MC introducing Bob Anton for his terrific 'Mark Twain' program. Bob had us in his hand later saying S&D audience best with laughs at the right time. Past President/Editor, Woody Rutter, presented '70 Years of S&D, 1939-2008' with great black/white/color slides and incredible mental recall of faces and names--real tour de force. Gasps, laughs, moans from the audience, "Oh, is that me? Can't believe it? That long ago?...Oh, mercy me." The 1947 S&D meeting was hosted by DRAVO with full hospitality and food provided in their company cafeteria. Members toured the DELTA QUEEN, then undergoing renovation for the GREENE LINE. Work stopped for two weeks following the explosion, loss of the ISLAND QUEEN while GL /CONEY ISLAND CO. officials 'discussed' a sale of the DQ as an excursion boat. CONEY and Ed Schott by then had their fill of boat operations and canceled out. Work continued on the DQ.

On Friday evening Jane Greene thanked S&D for the many cards/letters in memory of her sister Mary Greene-Stewart. On Saturday Jane presented Jo Ann Schoen with that fine oval mirror from the GORDON C. GREENE in the hotel lobby as gawkers snapped photos.

Elections went smoothly with Vic Canfield stepping in to replace retiring John Fryant as V.P. All other Officers/Board of Governors consented to run again and were so voted. John has devoted years of service and attention. He'll still be around contributing his 'Small Stacks' column along with many projects he's pursuing at home. All committee reports Saturday morning went well. Tables held ephemera, photos, paintings etc. for viewing. A number of old veterans unable to attend, but many 'newbies' filled in admirably and a number pretty high powered people with the museum and W.P. SNYDER at heart. Bill Judd can tell more about the SNYDER and using walnut shells to clean lead based paint from inside her hull.

We "Rememberd our founders and the golden threads from their loom--though stretched by time--are not broken."

Well, what do I know?
R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River.

The DELTA KING'S Whistle

One of the Highlights of the Whistle Blow was the appearance of the DELTA KING'S Whistle.. Here is a video I shot with Nelson Jones blow it..
Enjoy...

YouTube - The DELTA KING'S Whistle

*RE: DELTA KING's whistle.*
Dear David:
Thanks for the link to the sound video featuring the DELTA KING's whistle blown this past weekend. I had my head buried in box lunch money under the Ohio River Museum, but quickly came to my senses hearing that unmistakable sound...full, powerful...with authority. Sorry I didn't get to meet you in person. Lots of activity going on with people milling around here and there. Capt. Fred Way would have been in his glory.

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

Thank you, Dale, for your polite and newsy report on the S&D meeting. Inasmuch as no fewer than 6 of the S&D officers/board members are registered on this message board and goodness knows how many others "lurk" but never post, I thought surely SOMEBODY would give at least a synopsis of the 70th anniversary meeting. Something usually appears within 24 hours of the meeting's conclusion. As you know, I've been a member of S&D since I was 13 -- and that was 42 years ago! So the fact that I was not in attendance certainly does not mean I'm not interested! It is sad news that Capt. Charles Henry Stone (94) and Helen Hughes Prater (97), probably the oldest river people remaining in S&D, could not be on deck. Capt. Charlie's Saturday morning meeting monologue and Miss Helen's Saturday night "postlude" at the grand piano in the hotel lobby were always great highlights of the weekend. Bill Torner, a longtime S&D member now in his early 90's and a former crew member on the Streckfus steamers J.S. DeLUXE and SENATOR, called me from his home at Caryville, Tennessee last weekend. He has recently been hospitalized with heart issues and is largely confined to home, but asked me to convey his greetings to his friends on the river, lamenting the fact that he can no longer attend the Marietta gathering. As much as we'd like to turn back the clock, time marches on and the ranks are dwindling.

After being a "regular" at the annual meetings since 1974, I ceased attending after 2003 for personal reasons that would not be appropriate to post on this site. However, I'm glad that it was a memorable weekend for those in attendance and I'll look forward to reading a full report, eventually, in the magazine. I rarely visit the S&D website, mainly due to its lack of an interactive forum and the fact that its content seldom changes.

That DELTA KING whistle surely is melodious and sounds, to me, very much like the one on the DELTA QUEEN, which I've always thought to be the prettiest whistle on the river!

Thanks again and keep up steam!

Thanks, Dale. We are still in the midst of settling into our new home and getting to S&D was an impossibility. I hope that there might be some more videos or photos posted in the near future. Nothing fancy, just some little vignettes. Faces of people we haven't seen in a while. That would be nice.

I was once editor of a tourist tabloid published by a historic foundation. I was supposed to have help, but it turned out to be just moi doing everything, from paste-ups to selling ads, issue after issue. When I moved and could no longer do it, the foundation immediately hired the local newspaper office to take over. So your suggestion is not out of line. It is a very demanding and time consuming job. Was this issue discussed at the meeting?

Dave Morecraft;18544 wrote: One of the Highlights of the Whistle Blow was the appearance of the DELTA KING'S Whistle.. Here is a video I shot with Nelson Jones blow it..
Enjoy...

YouTube - The DELTA KING'S Whistle

That is if it really is the DELTA KING's whistle. I tend to believe that her whistle is out in Vancouver.

Like Judy,

I think a paid editor is needed for the Reflector. David is far too busy with his career to be able to devote the necessary time to the magazine.

I am retired and I write the weekly Old Boat Column for the Waterways Journal. Including pictures it involves less than a page of that publication and consists of 3,000 words, or less, per month. I am well-paid for doing this and the job has many side benefits. Even so, it takes an astonishing amount of time to decide what to write, to do the necessary research, find the pictures, and write it. I try to stay 10 issues ahead of publication. When I get busy elsewhere, lose inspiration, forget, or just plain loaf, and drop down to only five issues ahead, a week passes by in fewer than three hours! David has my complete and whole-hearted sympathy.

To turn out a 24 to 40 page issue in 90 days, year in and year out, requires one's major attention and should be paid well the work. The editor should be river-oriented and have some journalistic experience. The only team with those qualifications that comes to my mind is Jack and Sandy Custer, but there may be others who could qualify. Perhaps David Smith could be authorized to engage help. Barbara Huffman could do it, but she cannot do it and keep her present employment. Don Sanders might be able to find time. Judy Patsch is retired, literate and has a fine library and collection. There are others.

But, and this is a huge 'but', it will be a hard row to hoe.

*RE: DELTA KING'S whistle.*
Hi, Frank & steamboating colleagues:
Good point RE: provenance of the DELTA KING whistle heard last weekend and I wouldn't know. From my vantage point I didn't see but could hear tending to lunch money like I did for years teaching school. A great subject for 'Steamboat forenics' and this board has many fantastic memories and keen minds. As we've said, "Takes a village to tell a story." Anyway, that whistle certainly woke me up with chills and thrills.

Those of you unable to attend the '70th Anniversary of S&D, 1939-2009' WERE missed, and I can assure all that with deepest sincerity. S&D is not only 'Sons' but 'DAUGHTERS' as well along with brothers, sisters, children, cousins, aunts, uncles and the village dog catcher unto the '7th generation' and beyond.

Well, what do I know?
R. Dale Flick,
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River.

Alan Bates;18566 wrote: Like Judy,

I think a paid editor is needed for the Reflector. David is far too busy with his career to be able to devote the necessary time to the magazine.

I agree! When I was on the Board of The Steam Ship Historical Society of America (SSHSA) we faced eye to eye with the same dilemma. "Steamboat Bill" was not getting out on time, each issue was of a different quality, due to the use of various volunteer editors, and we were hemorrhaging members. No organization can remain robust when it's faced with what we were faced with at that time. The Board grappled with various options and choose to hire Jack Schaum as the paid editor, and what a wise move. "Steamboat Bill" is now timely and of the highest quality. Also the membership of SSHSA is now growing. S&D would be wise to take note.

*RE: Writing/Editing/Research.*
Seamboating colleagues:
I agree 100% with ALL your views/summations RE: writing/editing/research and all the what-not it entails--a pure labor of love--as we've seen from the hands of Capt. Fred Way, Woody Rutter, Capt. David Smith. I shudder at what they are faced with. Consider also having in-depth knowledge of rivers, boat, people along with a personal library/archive of readily available material for reference. Being on time for printing, timely, interesting, always in the editor's mind along with sensitivity to the audience keeping standards up high. Many also faced with job responsibilities, family, other activities that would put time for such on a mere % basis. Fred did it the old time-tested way double typing over, laying out on story board, photos mounts, graphics. How did he do it? SSHSA pulled out of their dilemma with STEAMBOAT BILL and the end result proof of their new program.

Our Literary Club Secretary faced with using a desk-top publishing DVD program which he says, "Not as easy to use as people realize." These programs expensive and Capt. David Smith paid for his own--not accepting re-payment from S&D when offered. Fred Way shunned computer programs relying on his typewriter. "What if I hit the wrong key and it goes POOF?" he used to say. Once Fred had a glitch and had to quickly piece together a past REFLECTOR relying mainly on photos. People declared it one of his best that year. $1,000,000 worth of professional printing company equipment only as good as what's fed in. No replacement for the human eye, brain and hand.

Yes, paid editorship has long been considered but expensive. The names offered are great talents with remarkable ability. I know I wouldn't want the responsibility. 'And the rough places will be made plain.' Any writing I do is on a totally different interest field not really interesting to most. Heavy on deep sea steamships, military ships, old sailing vessels. Working now on a long one titled 'MUTINY!'

Now I REALLY know what I DON'T know.
R. Dale Flick,
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River.

Frank X. Prudent;18565 wrote: That is if it really is the DELTA KING's whistle. I tend to believe that her whistle is out in Vancouver.

Frank and ALL;; That thought crossed my mind also, but was going on the information provided to me at the time.. "And I'm a StickLer for historic accuracy"..There were hundreds of this style of chime whistle made by Lunkenheimer and all made from the same foundry patterns.. In-fact there are 2 here in Peru,In that sound the same..
But its nice to Dream ...
And the chills sure came over me when my turn at the chain came and blew a Long and Two Shorts ..!!!

Dale; Thanks for your thoughts and we did meet in person at Madison MOR. back in March,, remember,, I crashed the dinner ..LOL

Dave,
The chills came over to me hearing it here at home! Ya done good, nice feathering!
S'
David D.