Posts: 379
From: Yadkinville, NC
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 11-22-2015 04:07 PM               

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The "Go Flight!" book signing scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 12 has come together far better than I could possibly have imagined. As of this writing, 21 flight controllers from the Gemini, Apollo and early-Shuttle eras have agreed to participate.

I don't know of another event open to the public for which so many have gathered, and it's quite likely that it'll never happen again. Those scheduled to attend include John Aaron, Arnie Aldrich, Jerry Bostick (tentative), Lee Briscoe, Bob Carlton, Ed Fendell, Jack Garman, Bill Gravett, Charlie Harlan, Milt Heflin, Bob Heselmeyer, Jim Kelly, Rod Loe, Hal Loden, Merlin Merritt, Jerry Mill, Bill Moon, Bill Peters, Gary Scott, Dutch von Ehrenfried, Milt Windler and Ken Young.

To commemorate the event, I'm going to offer signed 16 by 20-inch prints. Cost is $150, payable via PayPal to apollo18cdr@yahoo.com.

Kristi Ray, Jerry Bostick's daughter, has recently battled breast cancer. I lost my mom to the disease when she was just 47 years old, and don't think for a second that I haven't thought long and hard about the fact that I just turned 48.

All proceeds from the sale of this print, minus the cost of the prints and postage, will go to Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation — Kristi Ray's charity of choice.

Deadline for orders is Monday, Dec. 7.

Posts: 2169
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005

Posts: 379
From: Yadkinville, NC
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 11-24-2015 09:52 AM               

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I have payment for ten prints in hand, with three more promised! Thank you so much.

This is likely the last time this many former MOCR and SSR will ever be together for an event open to the public. I'd LOVE to spend all day Tuesday, December 8 (the day after the deadline and the day before I leave for Houston) making prints to be signed!

Posts: 799
From: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Registered: Jan 2003

Posts: 379
From: Yadkinville, NC
Registered: Jun 2000

Posts: 379
From: Yadkinville, NC
Registered: Jun 2000

Posts: 2031
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 11-26-2015 04:34 PM               

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Rick and I go back a few years, beginning with his participation in the book, "Footprints in the Dust." His writing talents truly emerged over his next two books in the Outward Odyssey series, and "Go, Flight" will long be recognised as the definitive story of MOCR. His drive and enthusiasm for the subject is easily evident, and now he has reached new heights in not only organising this truly historic get-together event, but at the same time finding a way to assist a most worthwhile cause close to the heart of the daughter of one of these guys through having everyone voluntarily sign a bunch of MOCR posters.

I haven't personally met Rick yet (that will happen at Spacefest next year) but when I do I want to shake the hand of a truly gifted writer, organiser and humanitarian and let him know that he has been doing an outstanding job in everything he touches.

I do urge you to consider ordering one of these prints, as they are sure to sell out quickly, and will become treasured mementoes of an amazing group of people engaged in one of our greatest ever scientific undertakings.

Posts: 1634
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005

posted 11-26-2015 07:32 PM               

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I agree with Colin; a print signed by these legends is a bargain at $150. Plus it's for a great cause. Mine has been reserved.

Looking forward to seeing both Rick and Colin at Spacefest.

Posts: 379
From: Yadkinville, NC
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 11-27-2015 09:26 AM               

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It was hard to decide how much to charge ... my original thought was $100, and at the number of people we had coming at the time, that would have been fair.

But then the number kept growing ... and growing. I even had one suggestion to just produce ONE print and auction it off. And, to be honest, I didn't want to go that route because I want a print for myself!!!

I've already got the space on my wall picked out. It's going to replace a Shuttle flown patch and crew-autographed presentation!

Posts: 1169
From: Honolulu, HI
Registered: Sep 2010

posted 11-27-2015 03:08 PM               

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Great cause and cool perk! Payment sent already.

Thanks for organizing this, Rick. (Might also contact the giftshop per other thread to get a multi-signed book copy too.)

Posts: 379
From: Yadkinville, NC
Registered: Jun 2000

Posts: 59
From: Augusta, GA
Registered: Sep 2014

Posts: 977
From: Michigan
Registered: Jul 2006

posted 12-02-2015 07:44 PM               

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It's in Rick's first post up above:

Cost is $150, payable via PayPal to apollo18cdr@yahoo.com

Posts: 379
From: Yadkinville, NC
Registered: Jun 2000

Posts: 660
From: Northville MI USA
Registered: Aug 2005

Posts: 379
From: Yadkinville, NC
Registered: Jun 2000

Posts: 5
From: Bridgend, UK
Registered: Dec 2015

Posts: 379
From: Yadkinville, NC
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 12-09-2015 07:40 AM               

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Yesterday was a very tough day. My father-in-law Tom Reavis passed away very unexpectedly in his sleep, and I was the first one on the scene. His funeral will be Friday, so I will be unable to attend the signing at Johnson Space Center.

However, the prints have been shipped to Milt's house, and I will fly out after the funeral in order to be at the Space Center Houston presentation and signing on Saturday. THE PRINTS WILL BE SIGNED AS PLANNED.

Posts: 95
From:
Registered: Feb 2007

Posts: 379
From: Yadkinville, NC
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 12-10-2015 11:12 PM               

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This is the most difficult post I've ever made on collectSPACE, but I will be unable to attend the signing on Saturday at Space Center Houston. It has been a truly difficult last few days for the family, and as much as I'd love to be there, it's best that I stick around to be with my wife and kids.

With so many of the former flight controllers and guests flying in from out of town, it would have been almost impossible to reschedule.

This is the kind of people I dealt with in working on this book. Jerry Bostick, who'd previously said HE would be unable to attend due to an accident involving his wife, has now opted to take part and help out with the prints on my behalf. They were delivered to Milt's house safe and sound today, and will be in the capable hands of my friend Brad MacKinnon and Jerry come Saturday.

Posts: 379
From: Yadkinville, NC
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 12-12-2015 09:25 PM               

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It is my understanding that the signing of the prints went very well today.

However... Glynn Lunney arrived late and did not sign the prints. Gene Kranz also attended the event and did not sign. Everyone else who was there signed.

If you would like a refund, one will be provided ASAP. My apologies.

I will post pictures taken by my friend Brad MacKinnon later.

Posts: 782
From:
Registered: Mar 2009

posted 12-12-2015 11:11 PM               

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Very sorry about your family member's passing and that you couldn't be there for the day.

Look forward to the print no matter who was able, or unable, to sign. A great purpose and notable gathering so kudos to you, Rick.

Posts: 379
From: Yadkinville, NC
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 01-04-2016 07:05 AM               

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Here's an update on the prints. All of the domestic orders -- except for one -- have been shipped. Several went out Thursday, December 31 the balance on Saturday, January 2.

Does anyone know David Carey? He sent payment, but not a shipping address. I've tried e-mailing him twice via the address listed on PayPal, but so far have not received a reply.

The foreign orders will go out this week. I have to fill out customs forms on each one, so that will take a bit of additional time.

I do apologize for the delay, but due to my father-in-law's unexpected passing the day before my family and I were to have left for Houston, I was unable to attend the signings. I had to ship the prints to my co-author, Milt Heflin, that awful day and did not receive them back until Christmas Eve.

THEN ... I had to track down sturdy shipping tubes and sleeves. I figured you could just walk into a Costco or Staples and pick up however many you needed. Not so! Both the tubes and the sleeves had to be ordered online.

Posts: 245
From: Lansdale, PA
Registered: Jul 2001

Posts: 1634
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005

Posts: 49
From: MA, USA
Registered: Aug 2012

posted 01-06-2016 09:26 PM               

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My "Funny Farm" mailman left the mailing tube sticking out of the mailbox. Luckily my wife saved it from getting clipped by oncoming traffic. Came out very nice!

Well done Rick, great cause, and thanks for your efforts during this difficult time with your families loss.

Posts: 1169
From: Honolulu, HI
Registered: Sep 2010

Posts: 379
From: Yadkinville, NC
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 01-07-2016 09:49 AM               

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All the prints are now thankfully out the door. This became quite the project, but it was well worth the effort. All total, approximately $7,400 has been or will be donated to the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation. Thank you.

There are seven prints left. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do with them yet, so if you have any ideas, please feel free to chime in.

They're not mine. They were bought and paid for by donations, so any funds generated will still go to the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation.

Posts: 38
From: Seattle, Washington
Registered: Apr 2015

posted 01-07-2016 01:12 PM               

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Sent an email!

Beautiful prints, thank you so much for creating such an item for a great cause!

Posts: 68
From: South Africa
Registered: Jun 2014