Mission Accomplished. Well done gentlemen. It was a very enjoyable weekend and I thank everyone who made the journey for the first ‘new’ LA meeting. To those Ministers and Jew who could not be with us, you were missed.
IFS Meeting, check. New CB trophy, check. ‘New and Improved’ Anthem, check. Beer and Whiskey consumed, double check. Super Bowl Party, check.
**Member of the Month: The Minister of Letters**
Notable Accomplishments: New CB Trophy, “In the face of adversity you suck, fuck you.” Complete with top hat/wand emblem, and drama dancer guy. But perhaps the strongest addition from Letters was the newest edit of the IFS Anthem, a copy of which should live in your email inbox. Amazing, simply amazing. Well played Baggs, you deserve it.
**Continental Breakfast Award: The Minister of Art and Design**
Notables: Totally spaced on planning the meeting place. Managed however to come through in hospitality points, and was rewarded with the appropriate CB award love. Honestly, the CB trophy is awesome, and its been unofficially decided that it must be awarded to a member present at the meeting. It’s simply much more fun to award to someone who’s there.
Worthy of Note: Jimmy made a strong appearance in the middle of the MOM acceptance speech, stuck around for a few cold ones, and a little pin killing. GCross made a strong appearance for the weekend, proudly proclaiming as a guess, “The ‘Minister of Defense’, maybe?”. Difficult to argue there’s a strong case for that one. Something to ponder… If you’ve yet to meet ‘G’, he’s a friend from home (Chico, CA) and is a ‘Real American Hero’, a US Marine. A welcomed guest at any future IFS meeting.
Full Blood Ed, managed to drunkenly yell Anchor Man quotes across the bar. Lexicon was kindly removed from the bar for refusing to bribe a bouncer. Athletics was kindly asked to leave the bar because of inappropriate head gear, and a ‘snippy tude’. MOM had a few too many early, and tried to keep it together for the remainder of the night, nice. Glory spaced, and Nova spent.
The following are a few gems from the weekend. I’m thinking of making a run as the new MoPhoto, I got a little extra time on my hands, and no life, why not?
Beloved Ministers,
I have a proposal for you…. I propose we hold our annual Super Bowl Sunday party in sunny Los Angeles, CA this year. The reasons for this change in tradition are two-fold. One, the Santa Barbara chapter has graciously allowed the flappies to descend upon the quaint seaside town every year and it is time the favor is repaid. Two, We have a nice place, with a rooftop deck and a HD TV, perfect for such an event.
We can discuss the specifics through this post. However I propose an official flapjack meeting either the Sunday of the game or the previous Saturday. There’s a nearby IHOP and I will look into whether or not they serve beer, we may need to explore the space on that one.
We have the capability to BBQ on our spacious rooftop deck, and we have a solid kitchen for the preparation of serious game time munchies.
As far as accommodations are concerned, we will NOT be running a Monkey Motel at Beethoven St. I feel as we are getting a little older, crashing on couches becomes a little ‘IV’, and I’d prefer to keep our house as the game time venue, not as lodging for broke ministers. You stay classy ‘Beethoven Street’. There are numerous economic and luxurious Motels/Hotels ranging from ([spend like Finance](http://www.super8.com/Super8/control/Booking/property_info?propertyId=14189)) ‘Super 8′ options, to ([spend like Nova](http://jdvhotels.com/hotels/venicebeach/erwin/)) beachside accommodations. There are also a few local Ministers who may open their homes to rambling travelers. It might be nice to do a little of both, get a nice beachside party room, and a couple economy ‘barracks’ to house the troops. There are numerous bars and restaurants nearby where the flapjacks lads and friends can go to ‘make party’.
This brings up a few issues which I would appreciate a little assistance in organizing.
1. The Meeting. Will we make an official IFS meeting out of this event? There are numerous local pancake houses, and I think we need to have a meeting. Maybe a local minister could help me do a little research into a good venue.
2. The Food. With the Rebbi on the East coast, we are left to fend for ourselves. Photo/Wine, your lovely lady friend is an expert in game time eats. Could we try and coordinate an attack that would combine some external side dishes with some in-house BBQ?
3. The Help. True to tradition, we need some help serving drinks. Ideas? Glory? Should we do some reconnaissance work in the local establishments?
Please post comments to provide feedback and input on this event. I look forward to seeing you all again, very soon. Good Flapjack!
Halloween is approaching and it is shaping up to be our strongest one yet. You all remember how fun our last group Halloween costume event was…this one will be even better, or should I say, HYOUUUGER.
Who: The International Flapjack Society, friends of IFS, and assorted gunt
What: IFS: WWF: Wrestlemania Costume Party…and Competition; best costume gets a HYOUUUGCHE Belt and pride and glory.
When: Halloween, Saturday, October 31st, nighttime
Where: Newport/Costa Mesa border, at the house of two IFS allies – Nephi and Sam (absolute praaahans), address soon to come – the house is perfect with a HYOUUUGCHE backyard.
Why: Because we can.
Participation in this event is already going strong. To keep those who don’t respond to IFS emails because they are the opposite of strong, here is a list of ‘who’s who’ for our upcoming WWF costume jam:
The Minister of R&S: The Ultimate Warrior
The Minister of Letters: Million Dollar Man Ted Dibiase
The Minister of M&T: Rowdy Roddy Piper
The Minister of MOM: The Rock
The Minister of History: Razor Ramon
The Minister of Rousing: John Cena
The Minister of ID: Ric “Nature Boy” Flair
The Minister of Comp: **Hulk Hogan**
The Minister of AP: Pending
The Minister of AD: Pending…The Undertaker?
The Minister of Health: Pending…Mankind? Sgt. Slaughter?
The Minister of Wardrobe: A wrestler…and not fucking Teen Wolf
Guest Member – Chuck: Andre the Giant
Guest Member – Ed: Irwin R. Schyster, I.R.S.
Guest Member – Sam: Jake the Snake
Guest Member – Nephi: One of the Island Boyz (tentative)
Guest Member – Mikey: Pending
Ok, that’s what I have so far. If I made a mistake or missed someone, then please amend this post with a comment.
Next Steps:
1) Comment on this post or respond to the massive email chain with who you are going to be.
2) **Invite girls to the event** – this is key, because a group of guys dressed up as wrestlers and getting drunk together **without **a bunch of gunt around would be about as gay as a Teen Wolf costume. Girls and friends of IFS don’t have to follow the Wrestlemania theme, though it is encouraged. If any of your girlfriends want to dress up as characters from Teen Wolf, that’s ok.
3) Be ready to respond to a Paypal email that R&S will be sending out shortly – each Minister will be donating $20 to our Wrestlemania cause. This will cover booze and decorations (see step 4). The Paypal account will also ensure that someone (R&S) doesn’t get fucked over with the bill.
4) We need decoration ideas – banners, posters, strobe lights…anything that will reinforce the WWF theme. Interior Design, this is your department, any ideas?
Ok, let’s remember, the more the merrier, so let’s brung heat.
That brings us to our next item, that is also fucking YOUUUUGCHE…
**IFS: The Quinquennium Anniversary**
5 Years. 19 Members. Dozens of M.O.M.s, dozens of C.B.s and handful of M.O.Y.s. Hershey, The River, Spring Training, Lake Tahoe. And now, back to where it all began.
This November, IFS turns 5. I’ve spoken with Letters about this, and we’re of the opinion that for such a grand occasion, less might be more.
For now, we’re thinking we start off with our typical Friday night invasion of State Street. Saturday morning, we feast. After breakfast we head over to the Hillside House with Letters, where he says that our presence (for an hour or two) will be greatly appreciated.
Next, we head back to the Mesa house where we setup for a late afternoon BBQ that slowly bleeds into a massive house party, to be accompanied by a surprise band…
Nice and simple. One thing that we need to discuss is a date. We can do this the weekend before Thanksgiving (Friday the 20th – Sunday the 22nd) or the weekend directly after Thanksgiving (Friday the 27th – Sunday the 29th).
Comment on this post with questions or suggestions. Let’s make this first Quinquennium a strong one.
- Rousing
To those minister and rabbi who were present, well done. The 4th of July Tahoe weekend was a roaring success. Although we did have some last minute cancellations and membership was a little skinnier than it should have been, these weekends ultimately make IFS stronger. The commitment shown by Revelry and Spirits to organize and plan the weekend is much appreciated. The cabin was great and the company was better. Some serious business was discussed and it was agreed that the minimum voting requirement needs to be lowered so that decisions can actually be made at such a meeting when very strong active members are present, and weaker, less active members are chronically absent. A simple majority was suggested as opposed to a 2/3 vote. Our inability to follow our own rules and still make important decisions was a point of friction and needs to be addressed. I encourage email communication on these matters to keep things private.
In other news, The Rabbi took home top honors and a brand new ‘Slap Chop’ for his outstanding “Taco Post”. Well done Rebbi.
All in all, a wonderful weekend. The strength of the members present made for great party. I know I speak for the group when i say every side was sore at the end of it all. Although many ministers were absent for this great weekend, the excuses need to be respected when appropriate. Contracting swine flu and studying for the BAR exam are acceptable excuses. If you are going to bail out on a meeting, there is a proper way to do it.
Alright Ministers, Rabbi and friends. MOM’s got that tingly feeling in his left foot again, which can only mean one thing, IFS South Lake Tahoe meeting!
So far we have a sizable crew going and I encourage any minister who is on the fence to sack up and make the drive, you won’t regret it. Your brothers want you there. The address of the Cabin is:
2551 Del Norte
South lake Tahoe, CA 96150
The address of the Restaurant is:
Blue Angel Cafe Address:
1132 Ski Run Blvd South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 9am-11am
So far we have a number of guests and more are welcome if there are any last minute add-ons. The more the merrier. Many ministers, especially those of the North-State persuasion will be arriving earlier in the day Thursday. I will be heading up the Glory-Train which will leave LA after work Thursday and arrive in Tahoe in the wee hours.
Tentative schedule: Thursday Arrival – Those who are there early can open up the ‘Hurt Locker’ and see what’s inside. Hopefully there are a few soldiers left standing when the Glory Train pulls into the station around 2am. If all goes well, I expect to see Letters playing the air-drums and dancing by himself amongst drunken sleeping bodies.
Friday – IFS Summer Meeting (9-11am at the Blue Angel Cafe) After the meeting there is a possible field trip to North Lake Tahoe where my brother and his younger hooligan friends are living in a cabin on the Lake for the summer. (Y&T 2) The owners are family friends and have offered to allow us to some and hang out at the Lake for the afternoon. They have a boat or two as well as other water-based entertainment. They graciously offered to feed us and allow us to enjoy their Lakeside jam for the afternoon. This should allow us to see the other side of Tahoe and relax for the afternoon before returning to the South Lake area for the evening. Naturally this is not a mandatory trip, and if some ministers want to hit the casinos straight away, no problem. Just an option.
In the evening we will return to South Lake and enjoy an evening on the Town, Casinos, Buffets, Cabin, you know, Make Party. Saturday (Independence Day) We have all day to enjoy our Nation’s Independence Day in South Lake Tahoe, no concrete plans. If we can commandeer a boat to be on the water for a fire works show, that’d be great, but I’m sure being drunk at the casinos/cabin will also be fun. Perhaps Cutie Pie can lead a break dance battle party in honor of MJ. We’ll play this one by ear. If anyone has any ideas or thoughts on particular activities, please post a comment. Sunday The Lows are always lower than the Highs are high. We make an attempt to clean up our mess, and limp home to resume our boring lives whilst dreaming of the next IFS gathering.
I can explain to you why your post shows up after the Contra Band post, but that would mean publicly humiliating you. Instead I will just post this video. An IFS : Zona post is coming today as we need to book the hotel rooms in the next day or so, and I need some help to coordinate hotel purchasing as well as ticket purchasing.
At the close of a great weekend, I’d like to make a post
about the Member of the Year.Saturday
morning our Minister of Letters was awarded the member of the Year for
2008.The list of reasons Letters was
awarded MOY is long, but at the end of a great IFS weekend after all the
hungover Ministers and Rabbi limped home, Baggs shows us the way.
I realize most came from further away than LA,
and some didn’t come at all.(PAT?) I
actually wasn’t there when IFS saved Christmas. So I owed one.There’s a lot of ‘take’
in an IFS weekend, sometimes it feels great to ‘give’ a little something back.The Ministers of Letters, MOM and Art and
Design all managed to make it down to the ‘Hillside House’ to spend a little
time with developmentally disabled men and women.The experience was moving to say the
least.
Letters recently picked up a new
job at Hillside House and helps these folks as a second job.The levels of functioning varied greatly
between residents and some people could hardly interact.Others are relatively lucid and many have
well developed senses of humor and fun.The
following video is a resident named Chris painting with us.Chris has many girlfriends and likes to talk ‘smack’
to Bernie or anyone else in his path.While
A&D and myself were largely bystanders, Letters introduced us to many
residents, helped with watercolor painting, fruit punch, football watching,
email, and just ‘clowning’.
Part of the reason i wanted to post these photos is to highlight what Letters might not mention himself in casual conversation. He has a very positive impact on a number of these people and is recognized throughout. Although our visit was brief, we got a great glimpse into a very special part of his daily life. Parts of our visit were relatively humbling and the condition of many residents require constant care and supervision, some things are a little tough to see.
I really respect these selfless people who
work at the Hillside House an
d other similar establishments.
Maybe I’ll go help some underprivileged Los Angeles youth who don’t
have fathers to play catch with, honestly I was that inspired. Good Work
Baggs.
IFS gives.
We are so close to 4 I can taste it, but being the luddite that I am, I don’t know how to properly taste it, and so I have enlisted Steven Seagal to teach us all. This brings back so many memories of being 2 years old, all I can think about is IFS and how glorious this meeting will be. Any set plans for the weekend? I don’t even care, as I’m sure it will be good no matter what.
Sorry this post will be a bit convoluted, but I have a few things to bring up. Here are the things I would like to discuss:
I tried to deliver password protected posts yesterday, but they aren’t going to work in our current system. There are two options moving forward to achieve this goal:
keep us on MovableType but move over to dynamic content (php). This would have the least effect on everyone, but as I have found from using MT, it is not as widely supported as WordPress, so there are less cool plugins.
move us onto WordPress. This would be a new system, but it is really similar to MT so everyone should be able to figure it out. I know we just moved so I am weighing that in my decision. The last move took several days time so I will not be making this move for a while.
The I.F.S. Game is moving along nicely. I have added a link to the top of the left column for easy access in the future. Everything is set for another level, but it would be nice to get the scoreboard completed as well. Which would you rather see first?
The I.F.S. Constitution – Our beloved Minister of Philanthropy has drafted a more formal constitution that needs to be melded with our napkins so that we have super sacred documents. Philanthropy has some great ideas for formalizing some elements of our society in an effort to preserve it’s original intent, while providing groups of ministers the freedom to conduct meetings and business.
The Next I.F.S. Meeting – We have a real need for some business to be taken care of, and the next meeting is a great opportunity for this to happen. I don’t want to sink ships, but from what I have heard Chicago is not going to happen, as there are many unknowns in people’s lives right now. The latest I heard from Team Germany was that they will not be able to make it. I personally am sitting on my rebate money, but could really use it to cover the past month’s credit bills as I apparently got a little crazey.
It Doesn’t Happen At IHOP – I got the call and our story was a runner-up.
Health on Sitting, Waiting, Wishing Everyone's been talking about the old man's balls.... intentionally or not
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RT9FPYt7na0
Health on Sitting, Waiting, Wishing It's hit the 2000 milestone.. I keep posting the link all over ESPN.com articles. This thing has to take off eventually. I just can't wait till Letters gets on Tosh.0
letters on Sitting, Waiting, Wishing most of it made its way onto the airwaves in one minute chunks... glad you guys like it. its almost at 1,400 views... if you have a facebook, share it, and we'll see what happens. in flapjack related news:
http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-35558454
mandrew on Sitting, Waiting, Wishing Nice work!! Was that piece made for the SB airwaves, or just for fun?
M+T on Sitting, Waiting, Wishing Awesome. You sound really good, but now I can't shake the image of Favre's balls.
Rousing on Sitting, Waiting, Wishing You sound fucking great Baggs. Strong lyric jam and nice Big Ben reference slam. Great work!
