So at training yesterday, it was passed that any christmas cards sent must be approved by our CO.

I bet i know why, but has any other unit heard this or is it just our CO being and early scrooge?

I was thinking of maybe the shop in bravos with our heads hung low in shame!

the CO wants to approve you sending Christmas Cards that you buy with your own money?

I would bet that the issue is cards sent by "the swimmer shop at A/S XXXXXXX," which means it is from him (or her), regardless of who buys them and pays for postage. Very reasonable that the CO wants to ensure they are an appropriate representation and in line with basic common courtesy. Recognizing only the most recent meaning of the Holiday Season or only the original meaning of it would both be inappropriate. We should all be wishing our shipmates the best, no matter what their beliefs and assuming that our indivual beliefs are everyone elses is simply disrespectful.

I think it is ridiculous this has been a Swimmer shop tradition for years. This tradition is all in good fun and great for morale.

quote:

Originally posted by SwimPro:
So at training yesterday, it was passed that any christmas cards sent must be approved by our CO.

I bet i know why, but has any other unit heard this or is it just our CO being and early scrooge?

I was thinking of maybe the shop in bravos with our heads hung low in shame!

You're the first unit I heard of doing that....not that others aren't doing it already. I suspect your Skipper is covering his six in light of what you alluded to. I'll speculate he is doing the same thing with the Tweets and Ops cards too. Times are a changing.....

quote:

Originally posted by SwimHard:
I think it is ridiculous this has been a Swimmer shop tradition for years. This tradition is all in good fun and great for morale.

Doesn't sound like he said don't do it, just that that they must be approved. What's ridiculous about that? It should be very easy to produce a card that is acceptable. Now, if he said they must say "Happy Kwanza (sp?), damned all you Christians" then there is a problem. Also, if he says they must say "Celebrate the birth of Christ, or you are doommed to hell" that would be wrong.

Well, it was only a matter of time...
And there have never been any cards that were sent out offending anyones religious preferences. There have been some that have had questionable content, but we really only meant to poke fun, mostly at ourselves. Keep up the tradition, fellas. The CO reffered to should be respectfully invited to make a guest appearance.

John

I could not in good conscience ever advocate a questionable Christmas card.

"I could not in good conscience ever advocate a questionable Christmas card."

OWW, OWWW Stop it my side hurts!!!!

I can't breathe!!!

quote:

I could not in good conscience ever advocate a questionable Christmas card.

any old timers remember the card photo at the local clothing optional performing arts center?

Mario, I don't remember that one.. maybe you can find it and post it for us to see...

While I was OIC of my units I always sent out Christmas cards... usually just to the Group and units attached. I'm sure there were a few special ones sent out to the Districts and HQ. They were nothing too special or religious.. just wishing everyone a happy holiday season. The card came from me and the crew.. Everyones name was on the card.

Wray...

Wray,

I'll see if I can locate it. It's a classic shop pic; ranks up there with AirSta LA's classic "fins only" card...

It's been a tradition to poke fun at our own rating or out-do the outrageousness of last year's "best AST Christmas card" for as long as I can remember. These cards have been purchased with money from the pockets of the shop ASTs; no station $ involved. A huge majority of the cards had little or nothing to do with a religious theme. For example, the card we did one year during my last tour in Kodiak, the swimmers were in their harnesses and rigged to look like Santa's reindeer but instead of pulling a sled we were pulling the C-130 sanitation cart with our Master Chief dressed in a Santa suit and standing atop the cart.

Over the years, AST shops have been pretty creative: one shop had their pic taken on the center ice logo of the Boston Bruins; I remember San Diego's swimmers posing with Shamu in the tank at Sea World. This list goes on and on.

Back in the days, these cards were usually only put on display in the AST shops and it was very common for everyone at the airsta to stop by and check out the latest cards. If I had to guess, since they were being posted in the shops and there might be something that was photographed that could offend a few folks, this skipper is just trying to avoid having his AST shop from being a possible "offender".

Like TVCJohn said, "times are a changing"...but I do hope the AST Christmas card tradition continues.

As for some of the past "classics", I'll see if I can locate a few and post them...

Here's a few Christmas Cards from the old school rescue swimmer days:

Brooklyn ASMs deploying from above the NYC skyline:



San Diego ASMs:



Kodiak ASMs and ASMCM Jensen:



Cape Cod ASMs:



Los Angeles ASMs:



I'll dig up some more cards soon.

mm

Mario, you need to take over as the official CG historian. What/who don't you have info/pics, etc. of/on?

Mario I knew that photo from L.A was going to come up one day, that was a great time at the airstation, shoot me your email address and I will send you the one we did with the cast of Baywatch.bionictuck@ymail.com

Mario I was holding my breath as I scrolled through the cards you displayed as I thought you were going to put up mine from Clearwater 97-98 time frame that we got in trouble for! Whew!!!!!

quote:

Mario I was holding my breath as I scrolled through the cards you displayed as I thought you were going to put up mine from Clearwater 97-98 time frame that we got in trouble for! Whew!!!!!

I have the world famous "Swimmers on Stage at the common man's clothing optional performing arts center" and the Hooters Calendar Girls on Tour photos... You gents set the bar pretty (high?low?) for other future cards...

Hey Russ,

On behalf of David Hasselhoff and the crew of Baywatch, this one's dedicated to you:



by the way, does anyone have a "whereabouts" on shorty bob?

quote:

I have the world famous "Swimmers on Stage at the common man's clothing optional performing arts center"

Wow, I'd of almost bet money that no one would have a copy left of that one as EO's were told by CO's to confiscate them from the ASM shops! I had to answer for that one as I was the senior guy, ringleader, and the one in the center nealed down striking a pose with a cigar in my mouth. We got turned in by someone on the West Coast who was offended. We thought they'd stay in house of our brethern! The following year I had to personaly present our pictures to the XO and CO for approval to be sent out.

Hi Mike,

Our shop thought that was by far the most over the top, hilarious card ever sent out by any ASM shop. You are legend and ASM folklore, my friend...

I guess word never made it to some shops that the card was to be confiscated...

Hope all is well, Mike.