Re: [MV] MV display this last weeken on McConnell AFB re. security

From: MV Don Low (mvDonLow@hotmail.com)
Date: Tue Sep 17 2002 - 15:42:57 PDT


NO, IT WAS A BLAST, the KIDS (big and small ) had fun it was verrrry well
worth the small inconvience.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jon Shoop" <shoop19@brick.net>
To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
Sent: Monday, September 16, 2002 11:37 PM
Subject: Re: [MV] MV display this last weeken on McConnell AFB re. security

> Staying home sounds like good advice........
>
> Jon
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bruce Beattie" <bruce@eecs.berkeley.edu>
> To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
> Sent: Monday, September 16, 2002 10:47 PM
> Subject: Re: [MV] MV display this last weeken on McConnell AFB re.
security
>
>
> > Hi Dave,
> > That was an excelent write up! Thanks!
> > Bruce MVPA 23824
> >
> > Dave Brubaker wrote:
> >
> > > I just thought I would share some of the experience our club had in
> getting
> > > onto the McConnell Air Force Base for an air show this last weekend.
We
> > > were setting up a vehicle display and the base considered us vendors.
> This
> > > was their way of handling issues of access and checking us out.
> > >
> > > 1. If your display is going to have weapons displayed be sure to
tell
> > > this to the show organizers as often as they will listen to you. Tell
> > > anybody who you communicate with, superiors or subordinates of the
show.
> > > The more people who know the better. In retrospect a conversation
with
> the
> > > head of the security police would have been a real time saver. Do not
> even
> > > think of bringing a live weapon on base!
> > >
> > > 2. For us, we were asked to provide names, drivers license numbers
of
> any
> > > vehicle operators and the vehicle types. Later we were asked to
provide
> the
> > > names of all persons involved regardless of whether they were
operating
> a
> > > motor vehicle. At the last minute we were asked to provide the social
> > > security numbers of any and all club members attending over the age of
> 18,
> > > for us this totaled 48. We went through a vetting process, mostly
> checking
> > > us against list of bad guys on the loose such as Taliban as well as
the
> > > Department of Motor Vehicles. (spare me the argument of how they can
> not
> > > ask for ssn's, it is their rules and their base and you do what they
ask
> or
> > > stay home)
> > >
> > > 3. Prepare in advance a spread sheet with all of the above
> information,
> > > use a single point of contact from the club, this keeps things simple
> and
> > > lessens the possibility of any messages from the base not getting to
the
> > > right person. Be sure the club has someone else in the loop,
> > > informationally speaking, in case the clubs planner gets hit by a
truck
> or
> > > meteor or some such thing. Keep a copy of the spread sheet and take
it
> with
> > > you to the gate. Also take any paperwork or spread sheets that they
> might
> > > give you. Our gate guards were working from an older copy of the
spread
> > > sheet than we had, issued by the same show planners and they did not
> match.
> > > Our vendor badges were numbered and assigned by name and were expected
> to be
> > > returned at the end of the event. Each vehicle had a vendors pass
> placed in
> > > the front windows. Have a cell phone and contact information for show
> > > organizers handy so any questions can be answered quickly.
> > >
> > > 4. We were searched, vehicles that is. All the hoods were raised,
> all
> > > the cans, boxes, packs, trailers, cargo boxes, you name it, was looked
> into.
> > > The security police at the entrance do not like surprises! Take that
> for
> > > what it is worth and spare yourself some time. DO NOT take any
> bayonets,
> > > period. Be prepared to demonstrate that all of your dangerous looking
> > > artifacts are in fact not dangerous. Have your vehicle registration
and
> > > insurance information with you, they might ask for this.
> > >
> > > 5. Be patient and polite. Try to understand the stakes at hand.
The
> > > military establishment who is allowing you to be their guest can't
win.
> > > People will bitch about the additional security measures, but let
> anything
> > > bad happen and they will bitch about the lack of those same security
> > > measures. Try to see it from their point of view.
> > >
> > > Since 9/11 we all know things are tighter, this was no exception.
> Despite
> > > the fact that over a month ago I started working the issue of access,
> this
> > > included the mention of the dewat firearms on vehicles, a few things
> fell
> > > through the cracks, in this case the guns, I feel it was my fault in
> large
> > > part because I only mentioned it at the onset of the arrangements. We
> > > really surprised the gate guards when the inspection started! It
could
> have
> > > been ugly and it could have ended our participation in the show. This
> was
> > > not the fault of the gate guards, it was a simple mistake that was
> quickly
> > > worked out by the show's commanding officer who arrived in a nick of
> time.
> > > (remember that list of phone numbers
> > > I told you to keep handy?)
> > >
> > > Once in we set up and had a prime spot to exhibit from, we were in the
> main
> > > stream of traffic. We had a great many visitors and were able to
> promote
> > > the hobby in a very positive manner. All in all the positives far
> > > outnumbered the negatives. We were treated very well by the base
staff.
> > > One of our members was injured when setting up and they took very good
> care
> > > of him, even stitched him up and returned him to us in working order!
> We
> > > were told that we would be welcome again. I took this as a
compliment.
> > >
> > > DO NOT take this note as a negative comment on the base, the personnel
> or
> > > planners of the air show. There were mistakes made by both parties.
> They
> > > were resolved through communications and cooperation. The fact that
the
> > > show boss and I had established a business rapport helped a great
deal.
> In
> > > the future we will be in-processed a lot smoother due to the lessons
> > > learned.
> > >
> > > Hopefully this note will help some of you avoid any problems with a
> similar
> > > venture.
> > >
> > > David & Donna Brubaker
> > > Member MVPA #18115
> > > M-151A2
> > > http://www.piace.com/~b52d/
> > >
> > > President: Mid-Kansas MVPA
> > > http://www.piace.com/~b52d/MKMVPA
> > >
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> >
> >
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> >
>
>
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>



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