Warbird Information Exchange

There is a message on the other Make A Wish topic, that is not signed other than from Make a Wish, Colorado.

It gives the impression, which is totally false, that I in some way was prying into the privacy or did not respect the privacy of a sick child. That is false, and it is an insult to someone who was only trying to help a sick child have fun, maybe for an hour or a day take their mind off their illness.

First of all, my response of calling their office, was only after seeing the post which is supposed to contain the email request from Lu Ann of Make A Wish.
It said in two places that the chlld was interested in WWII history and planes and tanks. By the way, I know someone who might be able to give a tank ride, but at this point I am not going to stick my neck out on that one.
IT SAID IN PLAIN LANGUAGE THAT IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THE CHILD COULD HAVE "A FLIGHT IN AN OLD AIRPLANE."
I phoned a friend and asked if he would do the ride. Neither he nor I was doing this for any financial gain or any other reason than to help a child.

I did not get Lu Ann, I left a message, and I spoke to a man, then to a lady named Loren.
NEVER, AT NO TIME, NEVER, NOT ONCE, DID I ASK ANYTHING TO VIOLATE THE PRIVACY OF THE CHILD OR HIS FAMILY.
NEVER, NOT ONCE, AT NO TIME, DID I ASK THE CHILD'S NAME OR FAMILY NAME.
I really only asked 3 questions, first two were how old is the child, and are there any physical limits. This is important as the WW II plane I had in mind, just like mine or many others are two seat tandem, so that the rider is in their own cockpit, and needs some maturity. I would not take a really young child, say 6 years old, and would have no problem with a young teenager. Age 9 falls somewhat in between, and might depend on some other factors which I won't go into here, but may be obvious. My last question was where the family lived, just so we knew which airport is closer. I think I could get rides at several different airports, from APA to BJC to Boulder or Longmont.

I don't know if it would have been different if I had been able to speak to Lu Ann, perhaps so.
But this organization, which as far as I know does great things, is located about 3 miles from APA airport where I believe I did or could arrange a flight. The child's family is perhaps within 10 miles of this airport or maybe not to far to BJC. If the flight is not done in a tandem warbird, we might be able to find another type. I myself would have provided it in my Bonanza if that would be acceptable and the parents or parent could ride along also. I have done dozens of rides for Young Eagle kids and some for their parents. All seemed to like them, and I have done a few in the Spitfire.

I don't know why the letter from the foundation is unsigned or why it's tone is so negative. It's about the same attitude I got last time I volunteered for Make A Wish. If the child really does want an airplane ride, and isn't allowed to go, it will be a sad thing that we lost the chance to help.

I might mention that I served as a volunteer to take some kids from big cities skiing in Aspen. Many of these kids came from families that had big problems, often had been in trouble, some in gangs or jail. It sounds like a joke, but more than once they told us they had trouble sleeping at first in Aspen without the sounds of sirens or even gunfire. I was a very small piece of the organization, but no one ever claimed I was invading their privacy.We knew the kids first names and where they were from, many of them wanted and did talk about their situation and seemed to thrive on what help we could give, some came back the next year.

There is also the great work done by the Morgan Adams Foundation, that has raised about $ 1.5 MILLION for research in children's cancer. They used the kids names, and often photos,and some parents and kids have even been there in person. I got a lot of thanks for what little I have done to help and I sure never had anyone claim that I was invading their privacy.

Morgan Adams doesn't think it is the fault or blame or shame on a child if they get sick. Any shame is on us as adults if we can and don't try to help.

I don't know where or why Make A Wish has that attitude, hope they don't convey that burden to the child.

_________________
Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

Ever hear the saying..."No good deed goes unpunished"?

The well meaning (but bureaucratic) HIPAA laws will get you every time...and someone probably assume you're guilty until proven innocent.

Thanks for trying to help. Well done!

_________________
Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.

I was really put off by the response from the Make a Wish foundation as well.
Nowhere did the email say internal use only... To imply that we (everyone) were prying into private business is ludicriss.(sp) The MaW posting here was, in my opinion, a thanks but don't contact us unless we contact you. I think that is really rather rude, especially to the folks that were offering their time and money basically to help out a kid in need.

My girlfriend works for the local chapter of Make a Wish. I told her I was going to post the email and see if I could find anyone that could help, knowing you guys are pretty big hearted. I had her proof read the posting before I posted it and she thought it looked perfect.

She was pretty excited about the responses it generated as well. Unfortunately she isn't the wish coordinator for that area so she can't act on it. I can't wait to hear her response when she reads that reply...

I know she was only trying to help by bringing it to my attention knowing I'm into Warbirds and WW2 history in general. I only hope she doesn't get into trouble for putting the feelers out.

Guys and Bill especially, I am terribly sorry to have brought this to your attention in the first place. Last thing I wanted to do was create an uproar. You guys's response was awesome and I knew you would step up to the plate in both ideas and actions.
A big thumbs up to all you!!

My biggest dissappointment was in the MaW foundations response and lack of graciousness. Even if they weren't "ready" yet it could of been worded with a thankyou and not a how dare you...

Thanks,
Randy

Bill,

Good effort on your part, but I think you may be over-reacting to the post from Make a Wish. I took it as "Thanks for the interest, but we're not quite ready to proceed. Because of that, we can't give any more details about the situation."

Not "You're probably a child molester anyway, so don't call back."

Randy,

I may be reading it wrong, but I got the impression that they were giving a "thank you". In fact, I read that exact phrase ("Thank you") several times in their post.

Rule #1 of internet forums and posts - don't assume tone. If it ain't in the writing, it ain't there. You and Bill are both reading tone into a post instead of reading the words in front of you. If you stop inferring and start reading, you'll have a much better time on the internet.

I re read it several times with that in mind. I believe you are right, point well taken! Thats the bad thing about written words or texts. Still why couldn't that of just been explained to Bill over the phone in the first place?

Oh well, we tried... hopefully it will all work out in the end. Its all about the kid thats the important part!

Actually the more I think about it........yes, I do believe you are 100% correct.
Think about it this way, this is info that I put out there without that particular division being aware that I had.
Then they start getting calls refering to this not knowing how the info got out there or that it was made public.
I can see why they would be suspicious and hesitant.

They posted their response because I told my girlfriend about the response and she asked them too. So they are now indeed aware of the gracious folks willing to help if the wish indeed comes to fruition.
The posting was indeed a thank-you and a please standby.

Again, I have to apologize to everyone here. I guess I may have jumped the gun in my zeal to help!

Sorry again,
Randy

I generally dont comment on these type of conversations , but i feel reading this that i too believe it was taken out of context.
Bill you did an admiral job of your offer, but i do belive they were simply saying they havent formalized the wish.
I do hope this all works out for all involved, especially the individual wanting the wish! A warbird ride is a wish that many people have wanted ill or not and to have the group on here that that has the access to the aircraft is fantastic!
Good luck to the MAWF, and Bill keep up with your offers to those that need assistance. This one is simply not ready yet!

_________________
Mike

Ah yes, There we were, left engine on fire, right engine feathered...ahh yes,...there we were, ..Screwed! No Kissing!

Randy, I hope I didn't offend you or your girlfriend and glad to know that the brush off post didn't come from her.

Yes, they did say thank you, in the first sentence. Then they spent the next paragraph explaining why and how they were protecting the kids from people like us. It is the same attitude I got years ago when I offered to help. If Young Eagles was like that, we'd have never gotten flights for 2 million kids. Next they gave several good reasons why they were not ready yet. It's not hard to think up reasons of why not do something. I was thinking of the child.
Maybe these kids are pretty much ok and don't need some experience like this to brighten their day, like I was assuming. After all. I am not privy to such info and not likely to be.

Well, I'm out of it, and sorry I got off on the wrong foot. They probably are good people who just don't see a flight in an award winning T-6 in the same way as we do or all those Young Eagle kids and parents do.

P S for Cap flyer, I didn' t just read the email, I read both of them, the first one from Lu Ann which nicely asked for help and then the "stay out of our busisness one'', and I also spoke to them on the phone several times. I didn' t make any mistake about their hesitancy over the phone, and that was before their last email.

_________________
Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

Bill,

I'm sorry but I think you are mis-reading that letter, I read as it very polite, apologising for an idea being issued out by one of the staff without it being finalised internally, and thanking everyone for their support.

The privacy issue clearly states the child has not finalised their choice of wish, nor have the parents been involved and hence no further details can be provided on the child concerned.

Quite a reasonable position in the stated situation, and no apparant slight meant against those who had made offers of help.

regards

Mark Pilkington

_________________
20th Century - The Age of Manned Flight
"from Wrights to Armstrong in 66 years -WOW!"

NEVER EVER STOPPING DOING GOOD! NEVER!

Because some bureaucrat slaps you down or insults you never ever stop doing good.

Good for you Bill for trying to help and make a wish happen. I truly wish it did not end this way, if in fact it did end at this point in the story. I have to hope logic and the best for that child will come around yet.

Tim

_________________
www.tailhookstudio.com