USS Waddell Association Survey- November 08, 2011
[Completed Dec 31, 2011]
1. Are you a dues paying member of the USS Waddell Association?
Yes	61	47%
No	40	31%
I was, but no longer pay dues.	30	23%
Total	131	100%
2. If you have NOT joined the USS Waddell Association, could you tell us the reason?
Just not interested and prefer to be dropped from the mailing list.	6	10%
Haven't gotten around to it yet.	40	65%
The dues are too high for the benefit.	16	26%
Total	62	100%
3. Do you regularly read the Association newsletter, The Waddell Times?
Online	39	30%
Mailed copy	44	34%
And will read online when the mailed copies are halted due to costs.	46	36%
Total	129	100%
4. Do you feel the newsletter informs you of the Association activities?
Yes	126	98%
No	3	2%
Total	129	100%
5. Do you enjoy the sea stories that are printed?
Yes	104	80%
No	5	4%
Can't remember	21	16%
Total	130	100%
6. Are you aware of the plans of the USS Charles Adams Class Veterans Association to bring the Charles Adams (DDG-2) to Jacksonville, Florida to be the Adams Class ship museum?
Yes	94	72%
No	36	28%
Total	130	100%
7. Do you support the dedication of a space on the Adams museum to contain the records of the USS Waddell, its crew, pictures, and memorabilia?
Yes	114	86%
No	2	2%
Not Sure	17	13%
Total	133	100%
8. Have you attended a USS Waddell Reunion?
Yes	69	51%
No	65	49%
Total	134	100%
9. If you have attended a reunion, what were the reasons you attended (check all that apply)
To reconnect with former shipmates?	63	88%
To share memories of our Navy life?	42	58%
To enjoy a mini-vacation?	29	40%
10. If you have NOT attended a reunion please indicate the reasons.  (check all that apply)
Not interested	9	13%
Cost	25	35%
Time of year?	8	11%
Other	50	70%
11. At our San Diego reunion this October, the members decided to schedule reunions bi-annually, rather the annually.  Do you support this decision?
Yes	75	56%
No	10	7%
No opinion	49	37%
Total	134	100%
12. Have you visited the USS Waddell Association Facebook page?
Yes	73	54%
No	56	42%
Not sure	5	4%
Total	134	100%
13. Have you visited www.usswaddell,com?
Yes	114	86%
No	11	8%
Not sure	7	5%
Total	132	100%
14. Have you visited www.assoc-uss waddell.com?
Yes	39	30%
No	56	43%
Not sure	35	27%
Total	130	100%
15. My status is as follows:
I am a dues paying member and prefer to have all communications sent to me at my e-mail address of record.	52	76%
I am a dues-paying member and prefer to receive communications via the US Postal Service.	16	24%
Total	68	100%

16. What suggestions would you like to make to the Board so we can improve the Association?

64 Responses

1. Keep up the good work.

2. Get members involved in something other than surveys.

3. I hope we have a reunion in Jacksonville after the Adams is there -- hopefully soon.

4 . Hold a reunion in Long Beach. That's where we spent most of our time.

5. There is no focus on locating former Shipmates. Secondly the Ships Store in the past was a PROFIT producing element of the Association. Now I get unsolicited email from a vendor(S) I don't know nor care too. The Archive Materials that were collected mainly in the first three years are not brought to the Reunions so Shipmates can view and remember events that occurred on their watch. Most of us don't even know what or even if the Archive Materials are still in the possession of the Association. I will not attend another Reunion without Archive Materials being present for all attendees to view.

6. If you are going to bi-annual reunions make sure they are shared among the regions of the country, West, Central, and East.

7. keep up the good work.

8. Lower some "store" costs where possible. Think about a reunion other than on the coast - we don't all live on the east or west coast.

9. Listen to its members.

10. Keep up the good work!! Many of us served during a time of stressful and long underway periods, which made us appreciate our ship even more. Lest we Forget!!

11. Even though I don't participate, I still in joy reading the story and info. Any way to find out where old shipmates are now?

12. How do I pay my dues?

13. Check out the USS Dehaven site for ideas.

14. None that I can think of, but want to express my thanks to the board and all of the officers for keeping the Waddell memory alive. Bill Howe, BT1, Plank Owner

15. I think the organizers have done a great job. And I appreciate the work that goes into these things. I plan to renew my dues paying status a.s.a.p. Perhaps a questionnaire or poll among members as to when or where the re-unions should be held would be good.

16. I like the way it is now. I wish I could've attended a reunion but business responsibilities prevented it. Hopefully in the future I can.

17. Set some goals as to collection of Waddell memorabilia and the development of the Adams Class museum.

18. I was on The Waddell for only six months, a FA in the after firer room. That was from late 1967 to early 1968. I can picture things but really don't remember anybody. I was the Chiefs mess cook just before being transferred. So please take me off your list. Thank You Don Ebensberger

19. Dues and proceeds from the sale of items in the Waddell Association ships store are major sources of funds to the survival of the Association going forward. At the business meeting in San Diego, there was only one proposal made involving the ships store, and that was to close it. I believe the BOD's should ask for a volunteer to take of the operation of the ships store to keep it open.

20. My feelings concerning annual/bi-annual reunions are as follows. A lot of people on the East Coast will not travel to the West Coast for a reunion and vice versa. I think that you should review the headcount for past reunions to see which coast has drawn the most attendees. The East Coast reunions that I have attended have been relatively well attended. I suspect that the East Coast has drawn the most attendees. I recommend that you consider continuing to schedule reunions annually. Board dollar investments for the reunions could be adjusted to the attendance. I think that bi-annual reunions could result in even lower attendance in the future.

21. Find more ex-shipmates.

22. Cost of attending the reunions is expensive. A lot of shipmates are on fixed incomes and cannot afford to attend the reunions. The attending shipmates should not have to pay for the officers of association expenses to attend the reunion. The officers are volunteers and they should not be able to get a free mini vacation at the expense of others.

23. As I have indicated before if one cannot contact other members from lists which you hold. I have no interest in participating.

24.  I am currently not a dues paying member but would be willing to become one to keep up my membership with the ship newsletter as I hope to attend future ship reunions.

25. As far as I can tell you are all doing a fine job. I am still working and just have not had time to participate. I will be working for two more years, and then I'll have time. Keep up the good work and hang in there. Don’t let the memory of the Warship die.

26. No known reason, unable to communicate a positive comment, due to caregiving that I'm up to my ears in for my Wife, Margo, who is a stroke recovery person...

27. I was USS Waddell for a very short time, weeks in fact. It was in January 1966 in the Gulf Of Tonkin when the ship was rammed by the USS Brinkley Bass and our Comm unit was transferred to another ship to continue operations. Very upsetting period when you see fellow Navy men lose their lives.

28. I was on the Waddell for less than a year before I xferred. Really don’t feel part of the association. Please remove me from the mailing lists (USPS and Email). Wish the association the best of luck. [Named was removed]

29. No suggestions.

30. I would like to see some old ship mates and would probably go if I didn’t have to sign up for a dinner or some other activity. I feel a lot more guys would like to go without the total social affairs.

31. Memorabilia: I have the original Ships plaque and other items for USS Waddell from Long Beach ship yard over hall in '85 and I would be willing to share with museum. MA1Cole@hotmail.com However, I am stationed in Japan and I don't have it with me here, we would have to work out arrangement.

32. I have a lot of varied interest, golf and music keep me occupied and only rarely can I attend reunions at this point in life. I attended when I lived in SD, but now I've retired to Arizona, away from the places where the reunions are held.

33. None.

34. The Waddell web site is one of the finest I've seen. It is apparent that many of the crew members care deeply about their ship, and their shipmates. I don't remember what the dues are? But in these tough times, one might consider reducing dues? If you think about it, most of the commissioning crew are now well into their 60's and 70's. Some may be living on very fixed incomes. Just a thought! Bruce K. Teevan CPO USN RET.

35. Foremost, 1. don't give up, stay with it. 2. Set up a way to contact old shipmates. Might even use the American Legion model; locate shipmates through the VA, American Legion or other vets organizations. I found my brother and sent him a message that way. 3. Make a record of and send pictures of all Waddell articles gathered thus far. I still have the "Battle Flag" (a mascot flag), which I have been trying to duplicate.

36. My memories and interests are with a particular group of people who were the crew of Waddell during a very small slice of time in her total service. For me, it is those I look for in the newsletters or on the web, not the ship really. So, perhaps grouping articles, people, or history in general eras would appeal to some? Also, perhaps an effort to fill in a more complete history? There were a number of "Waddell experiences" from her entry into the fleet as the newest and the best through her being described in 1986 in the Vancouver BC SUN newspaper as an honored relic of the high pressure steam era when she attended Expo 86 there to her going to Greece. If you served aboard at any of those times, that WAS your experience. (And by the way, God bless all the sailors who think a howling gas turbine defines a destroyer. That's their era, but I hope I never forget the experience of ordering "all ahead flank" and feeling that rumbling beneath our feet as the stern settled and we were off to the races on an almost silent magic carpet.)

37           Get rid of the facebook pages, full of junk.

38. Hey Tom, great to hear from you. Ok, I know you're not just talking to me. The reason I'm not more involved with the Waddell assn. is mostly because I just have a lot of activities, but I do enjoy hearing news about former shipmates. I recently did some research about the Adams class destroyers on Wikipedia, and I think I recall there was an Adams class ship that was originally built for a foreign navy that is in fact a museum ship now. Australian I think, but I can't remember for sure. If we could get one in FL, I would probably visit it. Every once in a while I still have a dream about being on the "war ship" and it's just like yesterday. If you're ever traveling to St Louis It would be my pleasure to buy you lunch, so look me up. Levi Starks OE division USS Waddell

39. You guys are doing a great job.

40. Notify members by e-mail when dues are to be paid.

41. I'm not interested as most of the crew that served while I served is not active in the association.

42. Some Shipmates may be older non-computer individuals who are not been financially able to handle the dues, perhaps we could have "support-a-shipmate" at a reduced rate, maybe 15/30 vs 20/40 and/or act as a sponsor who provides a printed copy of the newsletter at our individual expense which frees up the association from having to pay for the printing and mailing of the newsletter

43. You’re doing a great job. Thanks for your time to keep the Waddell out in front of us.

44. You guys are doing a great job -- I am sorry I missed the last one in San Diego -- got back just too late!

45. None keep doing what you are doing.

46. Please keep up the great job. The ship took good care of us & a piece of all of us & the CAN-DO attitude we carry through life will always be associated with/from her.

47. Shipmate, I have been on more than ships & cannot support all therefore I support none. Even though my heart will always be with the Waddell. Retired EMCM kim glantz

48. It was good to have the waddell.com then came facebook. I had my wife set me up on facebook. Must say that the .com is so much better. Resolution is to not to forget to join the Association this year.

49. I think you are doing a great job. I am just not one to join a lot of things. I keep pretty busy with my family and community.

50. Is there any way of tracking down younger shipmates of Waddell? Most of the current members are from much of the earlier years of the ship. I wish more of my shipmates from the last two years of USS Waddell's life would join up. If they did I would be more inclined to come to a reunion. I doubt this is possible but I thought I would ask. I like hearing about everything even though I am not an active participant in it. Thanks.

51. My budget is very limited. A non-catered (BYO) Picnic might fit in on top of the transportation/hotel.

52. I would want to be a dues paying member. How do I go about it?

53. Is it possible to find out how many guys from each State serve on the Waddell? Then maybe have a reunion in those States which has the most guys? Just an idea. I am glad we have an association, I know a lot of former military people who have nothing, you guys do a great job, thank you Herb Bambury III.

54. The best value this site use to have was the ability to find other shipmates that have registered with the site. Now you have to "inquire" with an email - what a waste of time. Set it up to allow shipmates to "opt in" (or "opt out") to allow their contact info to be displayed. I would then have the possibility to contact former shipmates and possibly attend a reunion together.

55. Need to know what people would like for our auction, at the reunions. How can we get more people to go to the reunions, before we all die? The more people that go to the reunions the more things we can line up to do.I am the person who buys for the auctions, any help would be a big help. Thank you, LEWIS.

56. I will be a dues-paying member in January 2012. I guess the "Registered Members" is only for dues-paying folks because I get mail but am not listed there. By-the-way, "HI" to Tom Jones, one "hell of an EW1! James Kennedy, EWC(SW) 81-83 [EWCS(SW)]

57. How about a return to Baltimore (Inner Harbor) or N.Y./N.J for a reunion in the future if possible.

58. I was a dues paying member I have not paid my dues not for any particular reason just have not done it I guess, but I guess I am unclear what the dues are used for. I have gone to the reunions I could two of them and I do enjoy them, the first reunion I went too had more people from a more different times the last reunion I went to was mainly people from one time frame, I wonder if some of the names of former shipmates were lost somewhere along the line. My name was listed on the old website its not the register now, I wonder if we lost some of these contacts.

59. Advertise reunions in the American Legion Magazine, the FRA Today magazine, Navy Times, AMVETS, and VFW magazines.

60. I wasn't aware of the web site until 2009, and an interested in finding the old plank owners who I served with. Not too many (if any) signing up on the Waddell web site. I sent twenty dollars in to help the site - don't know where it went. My thoughts about the reunions are to have them more centrally located: possibly TX, TN, or KA.

61. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, I'VE NOTHING TO ADD. JERRY JOHNSON, MISSED THE SAN DIEGO REUNION DUE TO FAMILY MEMBER BEING SICK. (WANTED TO BE THERE) MAYBE NEXT YEAR IN VEGAS.

62. Hey Tom, Just think it's too expensive to go to California for these reunions. Think about the East Coast Maybe Norfolk or even Jacksonville FL. Thanks, Steve Emmert

63. None

64. Send all newsletters via internet when possible to save money. Since attendance was not well attended in California, hold reunions every 2 years.