| Millercop16 | 22 Mar 2015 9:47 p.m. PST |
It was nice to see the cadets from their gaming club at Cold Wars. Perfect gentleman this is what makes our little hobby all worth while. We should make sure the club attends all of our cons and also make sure they are comped for everything. What a better way to spend our surplus. I also hope they will host some games that would be great. |
| redbanner4145 | 23 Mar 2015 4:51 a.m. PST |
Loved seeing them at the con, not sure why they should get comped though. |
| SFC Retired | 23 Mar 2015 5:13 a.m. PST |
One of the cadets played in a game my son GM'd…from what I saw our future is in safe hands! A real gentelman. Side note; the cadet told me they were a sanctioned club at West Point and as so the school paid for the trip to the con. Money well spent I say SFC Retired |
Garryowen  | 23 Mar 2015 6:57 a.m. PST |
Yes, it was nice seeing them there. They may have been there only because two civilian military history professors from the Academy were running a game. We have to make sure the club at West Point knows about the conventions by some direct means. Tom |
| Millercop16 | 23 Mar 2015 7:19 a.m. PST |
Redbanner,why not we spend all kinds of money on everything else and besides they DESERVE IT. It would be our way to give back. |
| WarWizard | 23 Mar 2015 7:34 a.m. PST |
Gald to see them there also. I hope they enjoyed themselves. I would have been happy to contributing to them getting a free lunch or dinner if there were such a way of donating towards that. |
| capncarp | 23 Mar 2015 7:34 a.m. PST |
I spoke with the sergeant, and he said his cadets were having a blast. Very polite, but not distant, they were; friendly, in fact.
I suggested that if they lobby it properly they might get both Fall-In and Gettysburg Remembrance Day together in November as a big field trip. |
| surdu2005 | 23 Mar 2015 8:57 a.m. PST |
They played in several games in the HAWKs room and seemed to have a good time. In fact, they talked one of our guys into putting on a and hoc Saga game for six of them Sunday morning. One even came down a week later to a club night game in Maryland on his way to DC for academic business. I helped with the club when I was up there. Fall In and Cold Wars are possibilities. Historical is out, because they are busy with military training in the Summers. Rather than comping them, if you want to help their club, watch for announcements about PointCon, their small gaming convention. More people attending puts some cash into their coffers and allows them to buy figures for the club and attend events like Cold Wars. They haven't been able to host PointCon for a couple of years, but if you look here, you will see the contact for the faculty mentor: pointcon.org/index.html. Send him a note and tell him you want to help / attend next Spring. Buck Surdu |
| FusilierDan | 23 Mar 2015 5:37 p.m. PST |
Buck I had trouble with that link. Try this one. pointcon.org/index.html I've been to a few PointCons and it's really a great time. |
| custosarmorum | 23 Mar 2015 6:26 p.m. PST |
"We have to make sure the club at West Point knows about the conventions by some direct means." John S and Steve W, the two professors from USMA who ran a game(s), are regular attendees at the HMGS conventions as well as being stalwarts at the USMA gaming club so I am sure the cadets are informed. I think as long as John and Steve can get the history department funding they will try to make this happen. As to comping lunch, fees, etc, given government regulations on the acceptance of gifts (often as little as $10 USD) generates a lot of paper work so it is probably easier to send them TDY which probably covers travel, lodging, and per diem. In any event, it was great to see the cadets wandering the show and I hope John and Steve can keep this going! |
| zoneofcontrol | 23 Mar 2015 7:12 p.m. PST |
From FusilierDan's link to Point Con "The Wargames Club does not receive any funding from West Point and supports itself with the proceeds from POINTCON each year. The admission price for the day is $15 USD with all proceeds going to the club. The club uses the money raised to buy games, miniatures, terrain and to help with expenses when we take cadets to FALL-IN, the HMGS convention in Lancaster, PA each fall. We thank everyone for supporting the club and hope to have your continued support in the future." A couple of things come to mind: #1 – HMGS, Inc. has an outreach program for gaming & education support. I know there is a love/hate relationship between them and some members here on TMP. I wonder if it is possible to set ups something like donating money to HMGS, Inc. specifying that it is for West Point game club via the outreach program. Sort of a scholarship to pay admissions and a meal or two. #2 – Can a kickstarter/fundraiser site be set up specifically to fund their game club? #3 – Is it possible to donate money directly to either the game club or to West Point specifying that it be spent on the game club? |
| zoneofcontrol | 23 Mar 2015 7:18 p.m. PST |
Carrying on my daydreaming from above: I do not know the ins and outs of "donating" to a club or school such as West Point. Military regulations? IRS regulations? Govt. regulations? Someone mentioned the acceptance of "gifts" as being a problem. Does anyone know how one would proceed with such a venture without running afoul themselves or causing problems for the cadets? |
| custosarmorum | 23 Mar 2015 7:33 p.m. PST |
ZOC, My guess is that if either HMGS or individuals (including via Kickstarter, want to give to the Wargaming Club at the Academy, gifts would need to be made via the Association of Graduates which seems to be the private foundation that supports the academy. As a government organization, it is difficult for the Academy to accept private gifts. Most of the DoD institutions of higher education (academies, staff and war colleges, have foundations to accept gifts. The gift would likely need to be "restricted," i.e., earmarked for the gaming club. |
