This is my first post (actually second as I also posted this in the "Other Upcoming Events" section) on this website. I peruse it quite frequently, along with FFCobra (where I have been a member since the beginning). I hope to be able to build an FFR in this decade...finances permitting. But I am posting here today for another reason.
I am an Army Reserve Officer in Waterford, Michigan. We are organizing our annual summer picnic and family day. This year though it is slightly more exciting as we have several soldiers that just returned from being mobilized and many have been away from their families for two or more years. My reserve unit is a training unit, and fortunately for our soldiers, most are simply deployed to Fort Benning, Georgia to train troops, or to Fort McCoy, Wisconsin to prepare and train soldiers heading to Iraq. Those soldiers have it tougher than many, and our unit understands that some sacrifice is greater that others, and so far we have been fortunate to not lose any of our soldiers that have been sent to the sandbox to fight the Global War on Terror. That said, we still believe that being away from friends and family for any great length of time is difficult, and this year I was hoping to call on some of my Cobra fan brethren to make this year's family day a little better.
What I am asking is for some of you local forum member and cobra enthusiasts to bring your cars out and put on a little snake show for us. Unfortunately, as our funds are limited, we wouldn't be able to offer anything more than several auto enthusiast soldiers that I'm sure would thoroughly enjoy trading some of their mission stories for some of your car stories.
Now to the part where it gets a little sticky...
The Army has very strict regulations concerning what we are allowed to ask for regarding donations, volunteers, discounts, etc. So, treading lightly here, I would also like to see if anyone would be interested in volunteering (unsolicited of course) to help out at the event with things like manning the grill, passing out food and beverages, etc. The Army gives us $8.00 per soldier to spend on events like this, and considering most soldiers have families that they bring to family days, all of our alloted funds goes for food, and drink, and leaves very little (if any) for entertainment. That is why I thought a car show would be a great idea. I used to own a restaurant (pizzeria...as some of you may recall), and believe that my account at Gordon Food Service is still active, so I am hoping that I can get better pricing that what has been offered (10% off) so far. Remember, I am not allowed to ask for donations, or a discount in any way. So I believe that food and drink will be covered, but again this leaves to funds for catering, and technically, we aren't supposed to cook our own food. We received a lot of grief last year. That is another reason I am asking for someone to volunteer to man the grill. Ideally, some that is serve-safe certified would be great, but probably not necessary.
Anyway, enough rambling. On to the details.
The picnic is going to be held at:
Groveland Oaks Park
14555 Dixie Hwy. (at Grange Hall Rd. exit #101 off of I-75)
Holly, MI 48442.
248-634-9811
We will have our own pavilion called the Paradise Island Pavilion and it includes our own private parking lot (perfect for a car show).
There is a $7.00 fee to enter for each car (it's a state park).
You could start arriving around 9:00 a.m. The picnic runs from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. for the soldiers, and the park is open until 9:00p.m., and because it's a beach several people stay later. I wouldn't expect you all to stay the entire time...mainly just through lunch around 12 noon. I will be there to greet you all regardless of what time you arrive.
The date is August 2, 2008. Hopefully this doesn't conflict with any other events in the area. I checked the Great Lakes Cobra Club website and didn't find anything else scheduled on this day.
So if you would be willing to offer a little of your time to show off all your awesome cars to some equally awesome people, I would be greatly appreciative (as I'm am sure our soldiers would be), could you please respond with a post to keep this near the top, and also call me at 248-895-2073, or email me at
nikoby@sbcglobal.net.
Thank you all in advance. Hooahh!
Lt. Nicholas Graham
(Nikoby)
p.s.--If you are going to make it, please let me know so we make sure we have enough food as your lunch would be included. I know...it's a small reward, but as I stated our funds are limited. Depending on how many cars there are, I may be able to cover the $7.00 entry fee myself.
Army Family Picnic Cobra Show??
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