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Total Members: 1580
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Smiling Child

Cummings Before & After

Galveston-72.jpg

Old gentlemen

[Dave]

To all the OPR faithful,

According to Angela today is OPR's one year anniversary since we first opened for business in Pass Christian, MS. I thought it was yesterday, but she's better at remembering anniversaries than I am.

It's hard to believe it's been a whole year. It's even harder to believe that what is now a global charity started out as two people working together by the seat of their pants just trying to do a little good in the world.

The year has had it's ups and downs. Many times we found ourselves overwhelmed by the emotional impact of our work and meeting those who have lost nearly everything.

Other times, we have found ourselves overwhelmed by the sheer weight of the task that we have taken on.

Speaking only for myself, I've been feeling that I may have bitten off more than I can chew. Running this organization is short on reward and long on stress and labor.  My morale has been beaten down to the point where my OPR work seems like a 10 page term paper that's due tomorrow. I look for anything to take my mind off of it. Usually, that anything turns out to be whatever is on TV.

I realize that goes against everything that I said about this project when it was started. I said that I was in it for the long haul and I meant it. I didn't want OPR to be one of those aid organizations that springs up in the wake of disaster, but disappears rapidly without fulfilling its promises. I still mean it, but I've been in desparate need of inspiration.

That inspiration has been Angela, my wife and OPR's treasurer. She has been behind the scenes supporting OPR since day 1. Her work on and for OPR has been a tireless guiding force in taking this organization to where it is today.

So while I sit with my butt glued to the couch, Angela can be found packaging up prints and getting them ready to mail out. She actually gets excited when a new shipment of restored prints arrives at our door. Where I see more work, she see's the fruition of our goal. She pours over each print often smiling while thinking about how much it will mean to the image's owner to receive it.

A year after OPR's birth, we have over 1,000 volunteers across the globe working for no other reason than to help a fellow human being. I find myself recommitted to the goals and ideals of this organization because of a single person's effort. So as I thank all of you who have joined OPR in its mission, I especially thank Angela for providing me with the inspiration to keep going.

Happy anniversary everyone. Keep up the good work.

Dave

[kstruve]

Happy anniversary!  Thanks Dave, Angela, Becky, Mike and John!  I'm glad to be a part of OPR.   

Kurt

[Ausimax]

Happy Anniversary OPR, and great thanks to Dave,Angela, Mike, Becky and John, without who's hard work OPR could not exist, that is one of the problems of a Global Organisation, the restoration work can be done anywhere, but it still leaves all the physical work for the few at Head Office.

Have to round up some local volunteers,who can help with the tote and carry, sorry I can't be of more help than I am, it is such a privilege to be part of OPR.

Max

[glennab]

Happy Anniversary indeed!

Dave, Ange, Becky, Mike & John, you are treasured special people without whom so many would be even more bereaved (the Katrina victims) and all of us pixel-pushers wouldn't have had the joy of working on these restorations.

Bless  you, Ange, for keeping Dave - and the rest of us - going.

Dave, you're amazing beyond words.  Obviously OPR has been a rough road for you, and yet you've kept on going… and going… and going!  I've already waxed poetic about my feelings toward all of you in admin on several occasions, but I want to reiterate my admiration of your taking action when it would have been easy to walk away and "let someone else do it."  I hope it  helps to know that you've provided not only a incalculable gift to the people who own the photos but also a rewarding outlet for those of us who feel the need to give to people who've lost so much.

And volunteers -- you're awesome!  I don't want to be smarmy (oops, I've already been there), but I love having all of you to interact with and learn from.  I can't imagine that there's a better group of people anywhere. It's inspiring that folks from around the world have come together for such a worthy purpose.

Again, happy anniversary and love and hugs to all of you.

GG

[kiska]

Congratulations ALL!!!!!!!   

[RosyBijou]

Happy Anniversary!  As one of your newest members, I've spent a fair amount of time just looking around and boy am I impressed!  Working on my first image now--proud to be part of this and thankful that there are folks out there <<< like you>>> who have the organization,  motivation and stamina to pull an outfit like this together and grow it like you have!  Congratulations!

[OPRAng]

If you told me a year ago that I would be working an additional 10-20 hours per week without pay, while working full time as a physical therapist and raising a two-year old (and would love it)--I would think you were on drugs.

I love OPR and I love the work too. I can't do restorations--I understand science, not art. But when Dave and Becky made that first trip to Mississippi, I knew I had to be part of this. We didn't know what it was to become--we still don't. But whatever it is--I love it.

I find myself arranging the photos in the packages with the restoration I imagine the recipient to be the most excited to see. The day they brought their baby home, or a wedding portrait, a restoration of grandma who died  just before Katrina or their prom picture 20 years ago. I don't know these people, but I feel like I know their soles by looking at the restorations you all have done.

I am so proud to be part of OPR. I am amazed by the strength of Dave and Becky for putting their necks out there to get this started. Many of us would just say "someone should do soemthing"--Dave and Becky did something.

When we started we couldn't even concieve the idea that this would grow into a global community. We never thought that big. There is tons of room for growth and improvement, but we are getting there. The first trip, Dave and Becky brought computers and printers because we thought they could do the restorations on site and print them out that day--we had no idea that so many people would bring their photos to us. Then as we started getting volunteers (some of you remember) we would email the photo to them (took a lot of time). Then a volunteer approached us with the idea of this forum--where would we be without John and OPRworkshop. Now we have 1,000 volunteers and hundreds of families that brought us their photos. We have photoshelter donating web gallery space for us and printers printing the photos for us. This is much larger than just Dave and Becky and much larger than our dreams.

Thank you to each of you for all of your hard work. We could never have done this without each of you. You all work so hard for the good of other people you will never meet. You have big hearts and amazing talents. Thank you!

Here's to OPR and another successful year!

[Ziaphra]

To celebrate this I volunteer to build a gallery website of befores and afters for OPR. I am currently building my website (take about a week or so to finish) and I could use the same code to build OPR's. Would this be something OPR would be interested in?

[cmpentecost]

Congrats OPR.  I'm very proud to be a part of this organization, and plan on sticking around for the long haul.

Ziaphra, what a wonderful idea.  I'd love to see a before and after gallery, and I think that would be a great way to promote OPR and all that we do.

Christine

[glennab]

Hi Ziaphra and Chris

I've also thought at times that a "before" and "after" gallery would be a wonderful idea.  But then I consider whether we'd be honoring the privacy of these people who've been through so much.   I wish I could know about each of the people in the photos I've restored.  They feel like part of my family.  But I'm concerned that it might be disrespectful to make the images public.

On the other hand, if we had a way to get permission to display some of the restorations, it would be a great way to promote OPR and what we do.  It might allow someone else to know we're here if they (heaven forbid) need THEIR photos restored after a disaster.

That's a tough call.

GG

[kstruve]

I thought that this "before and after" page already existed here:

http://www.operationphotorescue.com/portfolio.html

However, it would be nice if the images were larger and updated regularly.

Kurt

[marylou]

Happy Anniversary! I have to say you have really accomplished a lot in one year. Not only have you managed to restore memories for the families, but you have also helped us volunteers help others. I'm really happy to be part of all this together with some of the most kind hearted people in the world. A big and loud virtual applause to all of you.

Mary