08/05/2025
OurGreatBigFlag update continues
So how can you help?
What's most valuable is your time, whether volunteering for work, your expertise in a field that might help make the process go smoother, etc, etc. You can donate supplies some are quite pricey like aviation fuel down to writing supplies. If you have the means, maybe you take care of the volunteers with coffee in the morning (pretty sure that once we get things figured out it will be nonstop work). Another way is funding, you can donate via the Giverbutter fund or now there is a address you can send your donations to. I will post all the contact information at the end of this update.
Now on to the meat of the 250th Warts and All campaign. If we are able, the OGBF (flag and banner) along with all supplies and support equipment needed fly OGBF, will be passed from state to state through out the year and flown in as many places as possible with in their states. The order of states would be (if possible) the order they joined the union, ie Delaware would be first and Hawaii finish the campaignyou or your group wants to be an organizer for your state, the simple way is to send an email to [email protected] with a subject of OGBF (your state). In the body, a little about you/group and contact info to include a phone number. The number is just for initial contact so I don't play email tag (I don't use a smartphone). I will call you to make sure your/group is up for a challenge and answer any questions that I can. If more than one person/ group wants to be their states OGBF representative the first one will be the primary point of contact (for me) and I will contact the others via email.
There are a few task each state will need to (I will assist you in as much as possible to make your time with OGBF successful). Finding a secure place to fly OGBF, qualified helicopter pilot and recruit volunteers to help at your location. Coordinate (lots of coordinating) within your state and other states for sending/receiving OGBF and support equipment. Funding, not asking you to raise 10s of thousands. This is what you are raising funds for, aviation fuel (if not donated), admin stuff to restock for the next place, initial cost of merchandise (ie stickers, shirts, patches,etc).
Let's dig a little deeper into the merchandising, it's specifically designed by your volunteers to camerata your states part in the "Warts and All" campaign There are 2 items(others if you wish), and both with the same minimum requirements (somehow depicted your state, OGBF either the acronym or written out, 250th and the campaign logo "Warts and All"). One is a Warts and All sticker and patch which can be used raise funds, given away and so forth. One sticker will be put on the trailer and a patch will be sent back to Ogdensburg to be displayed. The other is a campaign ribbon (size same ratio as OGBF no taller than 2ft, leading edge fit over a 1 1/2in tube) , same requirements as the sticker but also add all the places OGBF was flown, they will be flown with the OGBF banner. There should be a minimum of 2 made, one remains with the state and the other sent back for display. When all is said and done all the states campaign ribbons will be displayed with OGBF and banner, a picture taken then posted for all to see and that's about it.
Here are a few positions to consider and for each one, if possible have a volunteer help ie assistant for the day:
Accountant: fundraising, marketing, etc
Secretary/historian: tracks numbers(volunteers, mission/hours flown), Warts and All letters read, number of names added to the OGBF banner and OGBF flag and anything needed to document your time with OGBF. Finally (should you wish) a no more than one page letter/poem/note, etc hand written or otherwise to the receiving state and what you write is up to you.
IT person(s): this is something I am not. Maybe vloger to help the historian document your OGBF campaign
Disk jockey: they would be the modern-day town crier, putting out announcements, maybe some PR works well. Responsible for playing the Star spangled banner before the day gets started, taps at the end of the day (from the playlist other have sent in or maybe karaoke style). Also songs, poems, letters folks have sent in. Anyone is incouraged to send whatever they would like others to hear [email protected] and be sure to give some info about you/group with what ever you send and it will be added to a playlist for the DJ to play/read. All I ask is that you do not butcher the Star Spangled Banner and America the Beautiful. I don't mean with a bad voice, don't try to make it your own version.
Aviation adviser: insures everyone knows how to work around helicopters, ie safety and limitations of the helicopter. Provide guidance of all drone operations if you or the location you are at allows drone operations. Assist the volunteer LS/PZ controller, be patient this may be a young person.
In closing there is alot to do, a lot of funding, a lot volunteers to find and a lot of time that we have less a less each day.
Thank you again for being a part of the OurGreatBigFlag family
Kenneth Wilson
PS: Why Painted flag/banner? With a printed banner it will continue to fade eventually it will need to be retired. With a painted banner we will have to maintained it, each year or so it will be touched up, sewed/patched as needed. Hopefully never to be retired, just show signs of respect.
Address:
OurGreatBigFlag (OGBF)
22State St,
unit 141
Ogdensburg, NY 13669
Email:
[email protected]
Facebook:
facebook.com/FlyOGBF/
Don't know if it is case sensitive
Givebutter donation:
HELP RAISE OUR GREAT BIG AMERICAN FLAG
