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[Dave]

Hey everyone,

The Virginian Pilot, a major daily newspaper covering Norfolk and Virginia Beach, ran a story about OPR as the lead on it's front page today. You can view it at http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=109981&ran=9178&tref=po.

With the anniversary of Katrina tomorrow, this is a time for all of us to kick back into gear to help these people out. Restorations are flowing in and out and printing has begun on many of the images. We will be mailing out a group of completed restorations to their anxious owners sometime this week.

OPR is doing good work and it's all because of you people who selflessly volunteer your time to pitch in and help.

Dave

[glennab]

Hi Dave --

Nice write-up!

It was a blast from the past for me to see the Virginian Pilot again.  I lived in Norfolk many, many, many years ago in my travels as a Navy brat!

I wanted to add something.  You seem somewhat disheartened that the restorations aren't getting to their owners quickly enough.  Part of that may be that some of us work full-time (I'm on a computer all day), and we don't have as much time as we'd like to focus on the restorations.  Also, I'm finding that the work is taking longer than I'd ever have anticipated because the damage is much worse than it appears on the thumbnails we see when we choose our restorations.  There's quite a learning curve to getting these images correct.  I've started each of mine over at least once because I haven't been satisfied with it's appearance.  I know that'll happen less often as I complete each one and am more comfortable with what it takes to make the restorations look natural. 

I'm telling you this, because I don't think many of us realized the magnitude of the task we were taking on. I've done many restorations before I joined OPR, but nothing that rivals the destruction we're facing.  Everyone seems totally dedicated to getting the job done and as quickly as possible  -- but also to return a restoration that will truly make its owner happy.  It's a labor of love, but a complicated one.  I've noticed on the forums that volunteers are going to great pains to be sure that the details on military uniforms are correct -- doing research, posting quests for information.  I'll be doing that on my current project, because I have a man in an army uniform and his ribbons are so obliterated that even my husband, who's a military expert, can't tell what they are.

I guess what I'm trying to tell you is that you have a caring, dedicated group of volunteers in OPR, and we WILL get the job done!

Best wishes!

GG

[Dave]

Glenna,

You can rest assured that I fully appreciate the talented and dedicated group of volunteers who have joined together under the banner of OPR. Disheartened? No. Not satisfied with the speed at which we're delivering on our promises? No.

Trying to find a balance between my fulltime job, my family and this project (just like everyone else)? Yes. Wanting to get the job done? Yes. Looking to find a way to stay motivated and keep the whole membership motivated? Yes.

The Oakland Raiders going 4-0 in preseason? Priceless.

Dave

[glennab]

Dave - thanks for the honest response and the chuckle!  You're a great guy.

'night!

GG