BuffettFest Anaconda Times (base paper) story p.30

[Quiet and Shy]

As many of you know and were a part of last year, we pulled together to do some extrordinary things for our troops in the 2005 Baghdad BuffettFest. http://www.buffettnews.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=38616 (photos: http://www.buffettnews.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=43958 )

Well, Crash_Davis7 (John) has recently returned to Iraq to serve our troops (working in MWR, Morale, Welfare, Recreation). This time he is stationed at the large LSA Anaconda (Logistical Support Area), near Balad, Iraq, 25,000 troops -- Marines, Army, Air Force, Navy, National Guard.

This year Crash would very much like our help in bringing Margaritaville to the troops on September 3rd for the "2006 LSA Anaconda BuffettFest" (The big Labor Day Weekend event and they're expecting 3,000-6,000 to attend) Of course, our troops are still there because...it's their job....

Here's the wish list for this year's BuffettFest (including some rough target numbers):

Tropical Shirts 20-30
Pinatas 5-8
Palm Trees 30-50
Leis 3,000
Beads 3,000
T-shirts from various PH clubs (S - XL) 10 per club
Buffett, Corona, etc. t-shirts 30-50
Posters, banners...anything tropical 100
Inflatables of any sort (for pool races, etc.) 20
Hats 50-75
Decorations
Non-melting candy, gum
Club banners with logos, signed/w messages
Table favors 100
Karaoke CDs -- all genres, types
.
.
.
And whatever other fun stuff folks come up with...to make it fun, colorful, tropical, etc.

Here are pics of their pool/venue (#s 1-5):
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/crash_dav ... e2&.src=ph

As always, your creativity, ideas, feedback, enthusiasm and resourcefulness are welcome.

In Process:

100 Beach Balls -- Big Phan (50), gottabendalittle (50) -- sent
500 Notecards -- PalmTreeGal
400 Music CDs -- PHAW (50), BahamaBreeze (50 -- sent, p. 21), LIPH (50 -- sent, p. 21), FourPlay (50), PalmTreeGal (100)
225 music CDs -- Ches4Me
50 music CDs, BF bookmarks -- Mo
Dolphin Landings hospitality cruise, Hilton contributions -- GulfBreeze
"JimmyDOTcom, Evolution of a Phan" 12 books -- Jjaxsong
Post/note cards -- Nutmeg
Corona and Bacardi swag items, 10 inflatable sharks -- gottabendalittle
"Changes in Attitude" (12 copies), box of luau party favors -- Shaputis
100 disposable cameras -- Marnin Grita Guy (50), RagtopW (50) -- sent
Fun stuff -- PHINdy PHC
120 MOTM lanyards, and misc. stuff -- Central Florida PHC
300 postcards w/notes, 120 leis, 192 beads -- A1A PHC
30 ft. banner, 2 signed BN banners -- Cincy PHC
Grass skirts, 200 leis, misc items p 20 -- KC PHC
Water balloon launchers (4+?) and balloons -- Galveston Bay PHC
Club and Corona t-shirts, CDs, beads, inflatables, leis, CDs, other decorations and stuff (p 19) -- Hanover PHC
1 "gross" leis, talking stuffed parrot -- Colorado PHC
Leis, decorations, etc. -- Towns around Biloxi PHC
Bunches o' stuff (p.22) -- Charlotte PHC
Bunches o' stuff -- Finz of the New River PHC
Bunches o' stuff -- Heart of Virginia PHC
500 leis, etc. -- Atlanta PHC
Bunches o' stuff -- Houston PHC
Bunches o' stuff -- Space Coast PHC
Even more stuff, 10 t-shirts, leis -- Ocala PHC
And more stuff -- Central Oklahoma PHC
And more stuff -- Orange County CA PHC
And fun stuff -- Fins of New River, Hillsville, VA PHC
And fun stuff -- Western Mass PHC
And fun stuff -- PHC of CT
10 club shirts, beads, and more stuff -- Virtual PHC
6 Hawaiian shirts, 2 tour t-shirts, Capt Tony's hat -- Tequila Revenge
42 copies of "Caribbean Calling" by Jim Gordon -- Jim Gordon
T-shirts, beads, leis, inflatables -- Phlockers of Flagler County PHC
Fun stuff -- Music City Phins PHC
Fun stuff -- Buckeye PHC
10 Boat Drunks autographed CDs, Corona banner, club shirts, float toys, beads, notes to troops, Juicy Fruit gum, misc p.20 -- Bubba's Lost Phlock PHC (Lafayette, IN)
Tons-o-fun stuff -- FedEx (yay BG) see. p. 15
Magnetic bookmarks -- Mommar
12 koozies, 30 frisbees, 12 water bottles -- brahmafear
8 karaoke CDs, 8 bath sheets, 5 Corona swim trunks -- BahamaBreeze
Fun stuff -- Pittsburgh PHC
party supplies, 75 leis -- gyron
100 beach balls, 3000 leis, 3000 beads, CDs, club shirts -- River City PHC
Club t-shirts, leis, beads -- Ocean State PHC
Fun stuff -- Chesapeake PHC
Fun stuff -- Tampa Bay PHC
Good stuff -- San Antonio PHC
Good stuff -- Tallahassee PHC
4 boxes misc tropical decorations, etc. -- Baton Rouge PHC
Table cloths, limbo set, candle holders, tiki torches, misc. decorations -- Quad City PHC
Pink flamingo head boppers (36) -- ladiv-fruitcake
50 hand decorated koozies -- Emerald Coast (Destin) PHC
Whaleshark and more stuff -- Last Mango PHC (Paris, TN)
Box o' stuff -- ToplessrideFL
Decorations, leis, etc. -- Eggs
US Map marking BF participants, amd other misc. stuff -- Quiet and Shy
T-shirts, hats, video and more (p.22) -- Margaritaville
Fun Stuff -- NW IN PHC
More Fun Stuff -- Omaha PHC
Lots and lots of fun stuff -- PHC of Tidewater
Leis and Leis -- SouthernEZE PHC

Shipping:

Send all items directly to Crash in Iraq via USPS Priority Mail (PM me for address)
Packages cannot exceed 110" max (L+W+D) (the flat rate box $8.50 is a good option)
Write "BF" on BuffettFest Packages
Provide a packing list with each package
Post here what you plan to contribute (and a copy of each final packing list) so items can be matched to the wish list and so John knows what to expect
Ship items between July 24-August 12

[phjrsaunt]

Of COURSE I'll pitch in some goodies!!

[1 CP]

Sounds like a great thing to do

I wasnt around for this last year...what does it involve?

[PalmTreeGal]

I posted yes I will help as much as I can although I didn't help last year because I really wasn't active on BN at the time last year. But please count me in to help any way I can!!

[brahmafear]

I'm posting to keep this thread high on the "Latest Post" list. As this developes I would really like to be a part of it. So when I see what's needed I'll do my part to make sure it happens.

[mommar]

Yes............just let us know what's needed

[z-man]

I contributed some shipping costs, but not much "stuff" last year.
I will certainly be an enthusiastic contributor this year!

[Quiet and Shy]

Sounds like a great thing to do

I wasnt around for this last year...what does it involve?

Looking through the first post from last year's thread (which I updated as things progressed) will give you an idea of how individuals and groups of people participated...reading further through the thread will give you an idea of how it all evolved.

http://www.buffettnews.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=38616

I guess it's just about getting Margaritaville to Iraq for the troops to experience and enjoy.

(And like last year, it will be a no-alcohol event.)

[phjrsaunt]

I'm posting to keep this thread high on the "Latest Post" list. As this developes I would really like to be a part of it. So when I see what's needed I'll do my part to make sure it happens.

Not to worry, brahmafear. We'll keep it "stickied" for a couple of weeks so that it stay near the top of latest posts, then move it to the "Support Our Troops" forum.

[shakerofsalt]

Count me in again!

[Tiki Bar]

crash_davis7 and Quiet and Shy...

You guys !!

[Mr Play]

Count me in, although I probably can't devote as much time as I did last year. I'm happy to help out where I can.

[parrot1]

Love to help, I'll do what I can.

[CandyLMT]

I wasn't around last year, so definitely count me in this year.
The Central FL Parrothead Club was going to collect things for the troops as their project for June, but they weren't sure where to send them. I'll e-mail them today if you can give info as to what is needed.

[SchoolGirlHeart]

Count me in, although I probably can't devote as much time as I did last year. I'm happy to help out where I can.

And why the heck not? Geez, you'd think you had a baby on the way or something.....

Oh, wait.....

[Mr Play]

Here is Q&S's intro/summary post from last year so everyone knows exactly what we're talking about;
http://www.buffettnews.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=38616

Well, one of our local PH club members is working as a civilian in the Baghdad Green Zone providing MWR (morale, welfare and recreation) for our troops. (Yep, I'm in awe.) Anyway, he's planning a Buffettfest for September 17th or 18th and apparently the troops are getting pretty psyched about it. Our club is sending music, decorations, etc. their way, and I've contacted Margaritaville to try and get some memorabilia, over-stock merchandise and/or a recorded greeting from Jimmy to the troops.

What other ideas do you have for helping us get a message through to Jimmy (or someone close to him) so he can have the opportunity to help out? And, do you have any other suggestions for what might be done to make this Buffettfest extra special for our troops?

Thanks for your thoughts on this. If needed, please feel free to send me a PM.

What's been sent and when:

CD of '05 Pittsburgh Show, sent Aug. 4

12 CDs from various artists, 12 phone cards, sent Aug. 8

Two Jimmy Buffett concert recordings: Chicago 9/29/01, Alpine Valley 8/24/02, 80 packs of Juicyfruit gum, 1 pack (12') tropical print Lantern Garland, sent Aug 10

16 bandanas, sent Aug 12

2 pkgs of tropical napkins, 1 jar of TEXAS salsa dip, 1 bottle of TEXAS hot sauce, 1 inflatable palm tree, 5 coloring books, 5 pkgs colored pencils, 1 flamingo ring toss game, 3 pkgs Star Burst candy, 4 Sharpies, 1 tropical print table cloth, 3 tropical print air mattresses, 3 pkgs Butterscotch candy, 1 tropical jigsaw puzzle, 2 JB concerts, 40 bouncy balls, SOASOAPT pics, SOASOAPT history, Assorted size Ziplock bags, 1 thank you note, sent Aug 16

6 paddle / ball thingys, 6 cheerleader pom poms, 12 punchballs, 100+ pieces of bubble gum, 2 CDs of Buffett music, sent Aug 17

2 boxes of beads, sent Aug 17

Hugo Duarte and Full Sail Band CD, sent Aug 16

6ft x 10 ft tailgate pool (holds about 200 gallons), sent Aug 18

252 Drinkie skirts, 2 inflatable flamingos, one mini inflatable palm tree, 6 inflatable pirate parrots, 3 packs of flip flop centerpieces, 1 pack of Hawaiian theme centerpieces, 1 parrot visor and 1 margarita visor, sent Aug 19

Box from Margaritaville Tequila containing t-shirts, cd singles, coconut telegraph, grass skirt for a table and stickers were in one box (quantities unknown), sent Aug 11

5 leis, 5 shot glasses, disposable camera, 2 cans of Virginia's famous Mrs. Fearnow's Brunswick stew, and a thank you card, sent Aug 18

Flip flop rug, sent Aug 19

12 bandanas, 24 folding fans, 24 leis, and 5 sets of the 2004 Columbus show, sent Aug 27

12 inflatables, 100 water balloons, 2 packages streamers, 11 leis, 24 bottles of bubbles, 2 "aloha" banners, 4 sheets tropical stickers, 1 BuffettBear, sent Aug 25

5 boxes: 100 gift bags stuffed with beads, leis, flip flop necklaces/key chains, a tropical printed 16 oz. plastic cup, kazoo, a CD, Tootsie Pops and candies, License to Chill ID, small tropical shirt notepads, assorted toys, stress balls, bottle of bubbles, plastic fishies, and package of Sy's homemade cookies, all tied up with a BN nametag sporting " Hero # 1 thru Hero # 100. Also sent some blow up ukeleles, 100 personalized visors ( BuffettFest, Baghdad), tropical garland, monkeys on a stick, paper drink umbrellas, pinwheels, a tissue paper sun, tropical shirt huggies, small styrofoam gliders, foam footballs, tropical bandanas, golf tees, small battery operated fans, yellow rubber duckies (for the "match a number to a prize" game), sent Aug 25

Heavy duty ziplock bags, key chain, few extra leis, some Buffett tunes, sent Aug 26

5 Hawaiian shirts, DVD, sent Aug 25

From Margaritaville: 100 Margaritaville t-shirts, 50 Salty Piece of Land Tour t-shirts, 50 Salty Piece of Land Tour hats, 25 Margaritaville 20th Anniversary Cups, 100 WWJBD bumper stickers, 25 Songs you know by heart cds, 50 Margaritaville 20th anniversary pins, 50 M'ville caps, 25 "Quit your job and move to Key West" books, temporary tatoos, 500 personalized post cards filled out by guests and staff, Poster with personal message written by Key West (Marty- Coconut Telegraph), sent Aug 26

CD's (125) and some stuffed crustaceans for decorations or to give away, sent Aug 26

120 disposable cams, DVD from our club greeting the troops, 2 banners signed thanking them, Corona parrot signed, beach balls signed, 500 logo stickers, 500 goodie bags, bunches of lei's, Assorted Jimmy concert banners, Toy talking parrots, Trinkets and toys, 500 packs of chewing gum, and some more stuff (still waiting for two more boxes), to be sent Aug 27?

Cincy CD with Baghdad Buffettfest shoutout, sent Aug 27

50 Blow Pops, 1 lb peppermint hard candies, 1 lb butterscotch candies, 3 rubber duck inflatable waist rings, 8 inflatable beach balls, sent Aug 29

Countless beach type games, 2 regulation size Corona Footballs, a dozen hand sized footballs, a couple of CD's with cards attached, 2 disposable cameras, someone brought a box with a couple koozies, some suntan lotion and sunglasses and a "We Pray You Home Soon" scribbled on top...2 awesome beach mats, sent Sept 1

Buffettfest banner, sent Sept 2

Jimmy and Margaritaville Video, sent Sept 3

BN banner and Corona banner, sent Sept 7

50 beach balls, sent Sept 8

1,000 leis and 1,000 CD's, sent Sept 8

[LIPH]

I'm in again.

[PHAW Webmistress]

Well this is a no-brainer

Don't forget to duck Crash - you and the troops are ALWAYS in our thoughts!!

[Quiet and Shy]

I wasn't around last year, so definitely count me in this year.
The Central FL Parrothead Club was going to collect things for the troops as their project for June, but they weren't sure where to send them. I'll e-mail them today if you can give info as to what is needed.

It's great to have anyone on board who wants to participate!:D If it's possible to wait a couple of weeks or so, I'd like to get a big picture idea of who we've got and the scope of what we can accomplish first (and Crash is also learning more from his end, too) before we start organizing specific donations and shipments.

In the meantime, help me brainstorm around what would make this a great event...(I'm trying to get some pics of the site/camp from Crash so we can get a feel for the facilities -- e.g. they have a nice swimming pool, theater, stage...Toby Keith will be performing there soon). And remember we're talking ~3,500 troops where last year's BuffettFest was under 1,000.

Also, here are some things that went over really well last year in no particular order:
- Decorations
- Leis
- Music/CDs
- Postcards w/personalized unique messages
- Games (belly flop contest, ask Jimmy, etc.)
- Other misc. prizes/giveaways/goodies
- Jimmy's greetings and concert footage video
- And other stuff I can't think of right now....

And, it would probably be best to not ship stuff too soon...as I'm sure they don't have a ton of space to store things pre-event. So as time goes on, I'll post better info for you re. shipping timing, instructions, etc. For example, as was done last year, the shipping address will be disclosed via PM.

In the meantime, what are your ideas??

[1 CP]

Don't suppose we ought to send equipment for the vibrator race Jimmy spoke of....