[photo-3d] NSA Convention Musings

[Bill C Walton <bill3dbw3d@xxxxxxxx>]

I was fortunate to be able to drive to the NSA Convention this year. 
With a side trip to Arkansas, where I stereographed Grandson#2's wedding
in archival Black and White, we drove a total of 4502 miles and enjoyed
every minute of it.

Did I enjoy the Convention - OH YEAH.  I would think that most everyone
did.  My wife says that if the Convention site city officials knew how
much fun we were having they would charge us an entertainment tax

My thanks and congratulations to Chairman Tom Dory and his committee for
all the good work they did to assure that we could have a good time. 
They raised the "bars" on some parts of the Convention execution.  Duncan
Woods and his Registration committee started passing out packets before 8
am on Thursday and I think that is a new record.  Ernie Rairdin had the
Competitive Stereoview Display ready for judging by 1 pm on Friday and I
think that is the earliest that has ever been accomplished.  The SSA Intl
Stereo Card Exhibition Committee (Dick Twichell and I) would like to
thank Ernie and the NSA for allowing us to display the accepted cards
from the SSA Intl in the Stereoview Display area in front of arguably the
most discriminating, knowledgeable and experienced Stereo Card audience
in the world (NSA Members)

One of the highlights of the Convention was the talk given by Ray (3-D
Anaglyph) Zone at the Awards Banquet.  I would not characterize it as a
speech because his delivery was as if he were talking to a group of his
friends (which he was) Ray does more 3D professionally in a month than
most of we amateurs do in a year.  But, according to what he said and his
comments in the folio notebooks, he still enjoys the SSA print folios and
we are happy to have him participate. A little aside-Ray is one of my
better SSA recruitment efforts.  I started encouraging him to join the
SSA in 1986, during the NSA Riverside Convention.  It took a couple of
years persuasion but he finally found time in his busy schedule to join.
I think that Ray covered every facet of anaglyphic stereography except
ANAGLYPH TATTOOS.  Maybe he will prepare a workshop on Anaglyph Tattoo
Design for Riverside and have a Tattoo Artist standing by so folks will
be able to get their favorite saying, name/whatever as a Anaglyph Tattoo.
 Ray- if you ever get the logistics worked out on the Anaglyphic Sky
Writing, I would like to fly the "Blue Airplane".

After an absence of a year Paul Wing, The Godfather of Stereo, made it to
the Mesa Convention.  He held "court" wherever he went and you could tell
his location by the crowd of people around him.  He brought his famous
LEEP viewer with him and I was able to view several slides using this
viewer.  Talk about a "religious experience"-Surround stereo, over and
under and on both sides.  I told him that if I could get hold of a camera
and viewer like this I might even consider doing some Color work,in
addition to my normal Black and White.  My thanks to Ed Shaw for
accompanying Paul on the trip and getting him safely back home.

Several SSA members brought their SSA Yearbook to the Convention and
sometimes the autograph sessions resembled a high school class.  I
concentrated on getting the autographs of the SSA members who donated
money for this project which allowed it to be accomplished without
costing SSA anything.  I still need a few more, but there is always next
year

It is always nice, I think, to see a NSA Convention through the eyes of 
"First Time Attendees"  Last year I got to experience this through the
eyes of my friends from Germany, Hanni and Walter Dubronner.  This year I
had the pleasure of seeing the convention through the eyes of Mary Ann
and Jim Rhoda, from Wichita.  I think they both enjoyed the Convention.

There was a dearth of contemporary images in the NSA Auction again this
year.  Aside from my 10 stereo cards and a couple of lots of 1950s stereo
slides there were not any other current images in the auction.  I talked
to a couple of stereo card makers and I think they will put something in
next year.  I also talked to a couple of slide makers, but got little
response even after I told them I sold a slide in last year's auction for
$45.  I encourage all contemporary stereographers to consider consigning
their images to the NSA Auction next year.

I was pleasantly surprised to find a dealer that was offering a set of my
military stereo cards for sale. He was asking $130 for a set of 8 cards,
which is about what I sell them for.

The Friday Night SSA Supper was well attended, to say the least.  I think
it was the biggest crowd since we started this event in Riverside NSA, in
1986, with 8 people.  The smallest number to attend was during the King
of Prussia NSA, in 1987, when Jack Cavender, my wife Krys and I made up
the total crowd.  We did have a good time, some fine wine and
conversation.

One more little item, which has nothing to do with 3-D but is Convention
related.  Bill Hahn, a former UH-1H helicopter crewchief, who worked
for/with me in Vietnam during 1967 - 68 lives in Phoenix.  We hadn't seen
each other since Sep 1968 so we had a great mini-reunion in Mesa.  We
shared a very exciting experience during our tour in Vietnam.  His
helicopter had to land at a firebase due to fuel shortage.  It had gotten
dark and the firebase was under attack.  I was elected to take some fuel
in cans to them.  I took off,turned off all my lights to minimize the
"signature" of the helicopter, and flew in the direction of the firebase.
 The guys on the ground told me that I ws "there" and to come on it.  I
replied that if they didn't at least turn on a flashlight I would never
find them.  This was done and I landed, transferred the fuel and both
helicopters departed for home base.  I remember I had a great bottle of
wine that night.  Bill told my wife that there were about 15 guys who
wanted to kiss me that night and I am glad that it worked out
successfully.  Helicopter Maintenance, under combat conditions where the
aircraft are shot at, shot up and abused on a daily basis is the most
intensive team effort I have ever been involved in.  It takes everyone,
from the Maintenance Officer, like me, to the lowest ranking mechanic on
the flight line, to provide safe and reliable helicopters.

I hope I haven't bored anyone with my Musings.

Looking forward to driving to Buffalo, Riverside, Charleston and Portland

BILL C WALTON
"Don't be a Spectator"
Bill3DBW3D@xxxxxxxx 
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