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Thread: Lend-Lease 2017, major changes to the program

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    Default Lend-Lease 2017, major changes to the program

    Lend-Lease 2017, major changes to the program

    I apologize in advance for the length of this post, but there is a lot of information I would like to express to all of you.

    For those of you that have been around the forum since its very early days, you might recall that one of the visions I had for the site was to encourage and support local play of the game. Wings of Glory at its best is played across the table from friends and family. Not all of my attempts to organize local play have been successful, but the one aspect of this that has been hugely successful has been the Lend-Lease program.

    Six years ago I took a look around at all the different local groups here in the US and one group really stood out to me in terms of number of players and frequency of play. That group was the Ohio Wing (locally to be known as the Buckeye Gamers In Flight) commanded by CappyTom. They were consistently playing Wings across the state with several Flights operating around the state and coming together for special game days. Another key component that I thought was a big factor in their success was that every year The Cowman organized the group activities for the Origins Game Fair held in Columbus Ohio. After being internet friends with many of the BGIF guys and knowing they had a great thing going in Ohio, I decided that not only did I need to get out to Origins to see firsthand how their operation was ran, but that the Wings of Glory Aerodrome needed an official convention for players from all over the US to rally to.

    That first trip out there showed me not only were the BGIF guys doing it right, but having Origins as the official convention of the site was a good call. But there was still something missing. It was a great setup but it did not reflect the Aerodrome quite a well as it could. It was missing the international presence that we had on the site. It also seemed to my American eyes that while we had many members on the forum from the UK, across Europe and as far away as Australia, there were no major gaming conventions for the players over there like Origins (I would later learn that the UK is full of regional conventions and club events). Thinking that not only would it be great to meet some of our international friends here on the site, but also show them how the US does large gaming conventions and hopefully let them bring home ideas for their local groups, I created the Lend-Lease program.

    For the past 5 years, a selection committee has chosen a Lend-Lease participant from our "old world" users to come to the US and join us for a week of gaming and comradery. The site as a whole has come together in the true spirit of the game to help raise the funds need to make the Lend-Lease program happen each and every year. For that, I'm truly grateful to each and every one of you. During this 5 year span, not only has the game changed and evolved into something more, so too has the players. We have seen the rise of the first convention dedicated to the play of Wings of Glory in Europe, the Prague Summer Con. Every year the Summer Con grows and draws in more members from around the world. The Prague Pilots are a top notch group as I personally learned when they hosted a special game night in my honor when a work trip of mine made it possible for me to visit Prague on a short vacation. We have also seen the rise of a dedicated UK based convention take shape as Doncastor. In true Brit fashion, only the best location would do for their convention and it takes place inside one of the many flying museums found in the UK. As luck would have it, another work trip put me in the position to take a short holiday in the UK as well. And like their Prague counterparts, the Brits not only showed me around London for a day, Flying Officer Kyte and his good lady shared their home with me for several nights. The hospitality from both groups could not have been better.

    Being able to see firsthand how great the pilots of these two groups are and how well they host game days led me to the conclusion that as good as our Lend-Lease program is, it too was missing something just like that first year at Origins. It has been missing the opportunity to allow other North American pilots here on the site to experience the greatness that is the Prague Summer Con and Doncastor events along with their most excellent pilots! No more shall that be the case.

    Starting in 2017 the Lend-Lease participant will alternate between a North American member and an Old World member. That is right, next year we will be sending a member from this side of the Atlantic across the pond to Doncastor! 2018 will see the return of a Lend-Lease member to Origins followed by a member going to Prague Summer Con in 2019 and them back to Origins in 2020. I had wanted to honor the Prague Summer Con with hosting the first "reverse" Lend-Lease participant, but logistically it was just not going to be feasible for 2017. I know the Prague Pilots will use the extra time to plan an even more amazing event for their Lend-Lease guest and I'm sure try and out do the Brits as well

    In the next couple of weeks we will be announcing who was selected to attend Doncastor 2017 and over the next several months I'll be running fundraisers here on the site to cover the costs of this special trip. So, keep an eye out for these important threads in the weeks to come!

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    Oooooh, the Aerodrome's own cultural exchange program.

    I like.

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    Simple, yet perfect concept. As a Commitee member and a former LL beneficiary I must tell you chaps there is a lot of things going on behind the scenes and I am sure Doncaster 2017 will be a great success.
    <img src=http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/image.php?type=sigpic&userid=2554&dateline=1409073309 border=0 alt= />
    "We do not stop playing when we get old, but we get old when we stop playing."

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    Well written, Herr Oberst. Hope the L&L will work for many years. I like the idea of inviting an, American (not necessary just from US) here to the old world

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    Great plan! Wish we could do two or three a year! This is such an important part to keep all our crew united and fighting !?! : )

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    Don't know the financials, but my fave fund raiser was the cool coffee mug with the cool painting on it . . .

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    matt56's Avatar May you forever fly in blue skies.
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    Sounds like a great plan, Keith! I like the 'back and forth' aspect of swapping LL participants...

    I look forward to this coming year's fundraisers - if there's anything special I can do to help out, let me know.

    All the best,
    Matt

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    Quote Originally Posted by Nightbomber View Post
    Simple, yet perfect concept. As a Commitee member and a former LL beneficiary I must tell you chaps there is a lot of things going on behind the scenes and I am sure Doncaster 2017 will be a great success.
    Gulp - no pressure there then... lol

    Can't wait to welcome the lend-lease to my home town and the home of the UK based annual get together. Even though it was only a few weeks ago we already have 26 people confirmed for 2017. I am sure we will make the 2017 the best one yet...

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

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    Your Jagdstaffel is ready to support this great mission, Herr Oberst!
    Voilŕ le soleil d'Austerlitz!

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    wow! big things are afoot!!!!

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    This is a great idea and I support it fully!

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    Glad to hear the new direction for Lend-Lease moving forward.

    Just need a point clarified though..."in true Brit fashion only the best location"...I googled Doncaster and it seems quite a ways from the best locations...near Glasgow, Edinburgh, or Isle of Skye...am I confused or is google maps in need of an update?

    Of course, this has nothing to do with my Scottish heritage...just wanting to ensure the chosen American gets the full flavor of the "best" of Great Britain. By the way, thanks to Dan-Sam for the acknowledgement that being American is includes more than being a citizen of the United States.

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    Thumbs up


    What a fantastic idea Keith.
    I will certainly help contribute to its success.

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    Yes, that is a good idea, Herr Oberst!

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    Quote Originally Posted by redcoon2 View Post
    Just need a point clarified though..."in true Brit fashion only the best location"...I googled Doncaster and it seems quite a ways from the best locations...near Glasgow, Edinburgh, or Isle of Skye...am I confused or is google maps in need of an update?
    How very dare you! Doncaster was nominated European City of Culture for 2017. Then we started turning up and that was the end of that!
    Run for your life - there are stupid people everywhere!

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    I was really taken aback in 2014 (my first trip to Doncaster event) by the fact one of the main routes running through the town (near our hotels) is named "Gliwice Way". It happens Gliwice is one of the major towns of Upper Silesia, the region I live, some 80 km east of my home town and both towns: Doncaster and Gliwice are partnership towns. In Gliwice they have a nice place - town park named "Doncaster Square" you can see below.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    <img src=http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/image.php?type=sigpic&userid=2554&dateline=1409073309 border=0 alt= />
    "We do not stop playing when we get old, but we get old when we stop playing."

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    At least they are on the right side of the wall or the left depending on whch way you hold the map.
    I keep asking myself..."Whatever did the Romans do for us?"

    Quote Originally Posted by redcoon2 View Post
    Just need a point clarified though..."in true Brit fashion only the best location"...I googled Doncaster and it seems quite a ways from the best locations...near Glasgow, Edinburgh, or Isle of Skye...am I confused or is google maps in need of an update?

    Of course, this has nothing to do with my Scottish heritage...just wanting to ensure the chosen American gets the full flavor of the "best" of Great Britain. By the way, thanks to Dan-Sam for the acknowledgement that being American is includes more than being a citizen of the United States.
    See you on the Dark Side......

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    That will make 4 countries (Germany, Poland , France and the USA ) represented at Doncaster 17 to date Plus the UK contingent.

    makes for quite a gathering


    I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings
    Coming down is the hardest thing

  20. #20

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    Quote Originally Posted by Skafloc View Post
    At least they are on the right side of the wall or the left depending on whch way you hold the map.
    I keep asking myself..."Whatever did the Romans do for us?"
    The aqueduct?

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    Sanitation?


    I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings
    Coming down is the hardest thing

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    Oh and the roads!!


    I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings
    Coming down is the hardest thing

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    Quote Originally Posted by redcoon2 View Post
    ...Just need a point clarified though..."in true Brit fashion only the best location"...I googled Doncaster and it seems quite a ways from the best locations...near Glasgow, Edinburgh, or Isle of Skye...am I confused or is google maps in need of an update?
    'Best location' is more to do with the event being located in an air museum rather than its geographical location - which was selected for being, more, or, less, in the middle of the UK, having the requisite venue and a forum member who had a contact there.

    "He is wise who watches"

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    Hey Dave, this oustanding event could be an attraction for our Sussex pilots, too.

    Quote Originally Posted by Skafloc View Post
    ...
    I keep asking myself..."Whatever did the Romans do for us?"
    Pizza and noodles my friend.
    Voilŕ le soleil d'Austerlitz!

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    Outstanding idea and as always I will put my 2 cents in.

    Nice Life of Brian thoughts guys.

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    "All right, but apart from the sanitation, medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh water system and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?"

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    Civilisation?
    See you on the Dark Side......

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  29. #29

    matt56's Avatar May you forever fly in blue skies.
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    I'm just thankful Julius invented Caesar salad dressing! Etu, Doncaster?

    All the best,
    Matt

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    I thought we were not supposed to talk politics? I mean, what of an ancient Roman sees this thread?

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    How about a new "mugging"? Loved this one years ago . . .




  32. #32

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    Quote Originally Posted by csadn View Post
    "All right, but apart from the sanitation, medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh water system and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?"


    Nice one Chris.

    "He is wise who watches"

  33. #33

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    Don't forget about the possibility that a Canadian could be chosen across the pond...

    Quote Originally Posted by tikkifriend View Post
    That will make 4 countries (Germany, Poland , France and the USA ) represented at Doncaster 17 to date Plus the UK contingent.

    makes for quite a gathering
    Ken Head - "The Cowman"
    “You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it.” Robin Williams

  34. #34

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    Quote Originally Posted by clipper1801 View Post
    How about a new "mugging"? Loved this one years ago . . .



    Got to have one of those..looks like a Brisfit to me

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

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    I'm so excited to see one of us to hop over the pond to play with our friends! Cheers to all for making this a coming together of Wings of Glory pilots! Proud of all you guys and gals.


    Thomas

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    That's a great idea Herr Oberst!

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    Sounds like a brilliant idea.

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    Quote Originally Posted by flash View Post
    'Best location' is more to do with the event being located in an air museum rather than its geographical location - which was selected for being, more, or, less, in the middle of the UK, having the requisite venue and a forum member who had a contact there.
    Best location is within walking distance of my house, lol

    BUT it is an air museum and it is quite central and has very good transport links

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

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    Quote Originally Posted by Teaticket View Post
    Great idea Keith.
    Agreed!

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    Bold idea to develop a great concept.

    Good to see the Aerodrome 'spreading its wings' so to speak.

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    I think it's a great idea to spread the Lend-Lease concept around.

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    Love this plan, and according to google maps it's only a 7 hour drive, depending on the roman wall being "open" for north->south traffic

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    Book your room. They're going fast.

    Honestly if your attending can you PM me so I can add you to the list.

    Neil

    Quote Originally Posted by Gaz67 View Post
    Love this plan, and according to google maps it's only a 7 hour drive, depending on the roman wall being "open" for north->south traffic
    See you on the Dark Side......

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    good find Thomas



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