Thread: Suggestion? for our troops Peace making efforts

I agree I did not expect the reaction we are getting. I must admit to feeling ovewhelmed but it all but I know it is a great cause these men are doing a great job and I want to let them know it is appreciated
Toni

Hi one and all
I too am happy to whip up some pens for the cause - am also happy to collect and re direct pens from over here in the West (although there are not many on this particular forum from the best side of the country!!!!).

Like DJ, I'd just as prefer mine didn't get engraved - Amos has enough to do without being inundated!!

Toni, will PM my address to you incase you have misplaced in your moves

JD

I am willing to represent Victoria, and what I was thinking re Engraving was, "Thank you Aussie", but only if the donor so wanted it. Amos

Maybe Shep could find out how many troops are currently serving
overseas, Im guessing it will exceed 1000 combined forces.

cheers Mick

The Government has approved the deployment of approximately 4000 Australian Defence Force personnel to 11 operations overseas and within Australia to protect Australia and its national interests.

About 750 ADF personnel in Timor Leste, 1540 in Iraq, 1025 in Afghanistan, 140 in solomon Islands, 12 in Israel/Lebanon, 25 in Sinai, 15 in the sudan, + a fair few others in various locations with the UN/whatnot.

http://www.defence.gov.au/

Guys, I agree with DJ. Whilst I support the sentiment there are certain practicalities that need to be thought about. There are over 4000 troops deployed at present to:

OP Astute in Timor-Leste - 750,
OP Azure in Sudan - 15,
OP Paladin in Israel/Lebanon - 12,
OP Mazurka in the Sinai (Egypt) - 25,
OP Catalyst in Iraq - 1540,
OP Slipper in Afganistan - 1025,
OP Anode in the Solomon Islands - 140,
plus the crews of ships deployed in the regions.

Since the deployed Defence members (Air Force and Navy too don't forget, not just soldiers) rotate every few months the numbers quickly escalate. I think we would not be able to make pens fast enough, as much as we'd like to.

However, each base will have a recreation area where they will gather and have a beer or soda, it may be possible to provide something for those areas that demonstrate our thanks - a plaque or similar item they can view in the rare moments they relax.

Thanks Clinton, thats way more than I thought, plus there is
continual rotations.

Does anyone have any contacts in areas of corporate sponsorship
to offset cost of kits (Banks might be looking for a bit of good PR,)

I can cut and donate some blanks (I wont specify a number yet until
I see just where this thread is going).

cheers Mick

I know there is a lot of guys involved but the old saying is we can't change the world but we can do a little bit to help might be helpful here we might not reach every man helping us out but the men we do will feel blessed that we thought of them.
One guy at a time.
Toni

Whoa lets slow down a bit here, I don't think Toni was talking about supplying 4000 pens or for that matter a 1000.

As I said in my previous post,

I think there needs to be some more discussion and planning before we all start getting too carried away.

I'll need Toni to jump in here and confirm this, but I think she was just talking about 1 or maybe 2 pens from anyone who wanted to participate, which would then be passed on to a few lucky ones.

I'm certainly not going to start turning out 100 pens even if someone was to donate the blanks and kits.

I think the first thing to do is to get some firm confirmation that these pens will get to where we want them to go and some guidelines on what we want to achieve.

At this stage I am happy to donate 2 pens from my collection.

I agree with DJ I know with all realistic we can't do 4000 pens or something like that and I don't expect youbut we can touch a few lives and make them feel special. You can make 2 or 20 or whatever you feel you want to contribute but this does not have to be anything large this is just something small we can do. or even 1 pen donated whatever you feel like doing is fine.

Or another idea the service man in our forum here. I know there is a few of you amongst us perhaps you can put us in touch with a couple of batallion or group whatever they are called to give there group a pen.

I know we cannot reach all the men in the army, raaf, and navy but we can a few and that all we can do.
Toni

Ok, Toni, I have made contact with one person, who can make sure that they get to one hundred men in one particular company, is it ok with you if I persue that line, and is it ok if some Victorians want to send the pens to me, the person said I could just put the name of the company on the side, and that is no problem with me, I just need your permission to go ahead with that, if I receive more than a hundred, the person has also contact with more companys in Afghanistan and i would then persue that, If you give me permission to go ahead on the Victorian side,
I would also make a list of all pens received and publicly acknowledge them here on the Forum. I will also attempt to have a report from the person in charge when they actually make it to the front line.
Amos

Yes that is fine with me. IT a starting point. GOod on you Amos.
Toni

I am a bit behind but count me in. I have not turned a pen for a while but have some already made that can go.

This is a great idea.

I could send a couple from here too. (if you don't think they'd mind pens from a Yank..)