W.O.W. Handbook 1975-76

[Sunesis]

Yup, that was my WOW handbook. I thought it was kind of cute - but unrealistic. That's where I met you Johnny, and HP. You were a great guy (still are). I wonder whatever happened to all of us WOWs from Silver Spring, Bethesda and Wheaton. I made a lot of great friends on the field. The hip sub shop where I worked was owned by older hippies - yes, we sure did party! They had this huge communal house, I felt like I was back in NY in my hippie years, hanging with the cool, older hippies. I met quite a few musicians and did a lot of jamming. Tacoma Park was next door, it was a great area back then.

Financially, at first my family did great because I held the pursestrings. I have always been very good with money. Then, some in my family got upset, because even though I was working the same hours, I was making more money, and had some to burn. We contributed to the family pot for food, expenses, rent, etc., but whatever was left over was yours. They got upset I had more leftover. This was my first lesson in how communism/socialism doesn't work. Some of them were quite jealous/its not fair/attitude. I told them, you don't have to stay working at a gas station, go get another job, they didn't.

One guy, who had wanted to handle the finances in our family since the beginning kept needling the branch leader. Even though I was family coordinator, eventually that spring, the branch coordinator caved because he was a guy, and should have a chance. I knew it was a huge mistake. We went from having all bills paid on time, money for nights out, movies and fun, to bounced checks, bills not paid, electricity turned off, etc. I had to leave early for my in-residence corps work pre-ROA, but I guess it got pretty bad after I left.

I was so glad when that year was over.

[Kevlar2000]

I helped write that handbook :(

((((sogwap)))

[doojable]

Hey! Aren't those little amorphic things ..........

GREASESPOTS!

[tonto]

I helped write that handbook

...(((sogwap))). Here, sit by me...can I get you an Irish coffee?

Our wow family had a lot of fun with that book not just because of the drawings but also because of the personalities represented. Like that little blob that seemed to be laying around every time she/he got a chance. Oh, and the one who seemed a bit difficult...telling everyone all the things he/she doesn't like. For some of us, going wow was the first time we had to live with people we didn't choose and didn't necessasarily like. Some had never lived away from mom and dad, so the whole thing made for an "interesting" mix.

Part of what we found so humorous was the contrast of the ideal portrayed by the booklet and the harsh reality of living in poverty, trying to get along with people who had only PFAL in common, and the danger of trying to witness in Malcom X park without getting mugged.

[doojable]

I helped write that handbook :(

Soggy - helping to write that handbook is a big deal. It shows that at a young age you were excited to be involved with a project you believed in. It has heart - more than can be said for the adults at the top of the foodchain at the time.

I think of this like looking back at my High School yearbook and seeing how I looked then - even when I thought I was cool.

I even look at some of my kids' drawings and laugh - why? - well because no matter how well intentioned and heartfelt they were - well they are cute and their simplicity is funny in a innocent way. Most of us lived through a WOW year and maybe the truth in that hancbook is so funny because its' so close to home.

[GrouchoMarxJr]

I helped write that handbook :(

I had nightmares about those little blob things...you ready for a flogging?

[punkelf]

Tonto, thanks so much for posting that.

I totally remember that booklet... I wonder if Mom still has it stashed away with all her old papers and stuff?

I was 4 that year and vaguely remember going over it with my WOW family, I don't know about them, but it sure helped this kid get some grip on what was ahead...

Well except for the REALLY bad stuff that happened that year, which is another post entirely...

[wrdsandwrks]

Hey K2000, I pm'd you back. I wasn't a wow in Baltimore, but in DC. We weren't allowed to cross the borders of DC without special permission, and this was one of three times that year that I remember we were allowed to leave.

More on that later...gotta get back to work.

Hi Tonto, Sorry to resurrect an old thread but since I'm new to GS cafe I'm doing some "research" in the older threads. This WOW handbook brought back some old memories. I was "WOW" in Richmond, VA that year. Those guys really do look like little Caspers or teeth. Yes, I remember pouring over that handbook looking for wisdom... They were perky little ghosts weren't they?

I remember going to DC during the Joyful Noise concert in DC during the bicenntenial, seeing Ted Ferrell sing "The White House across the Street" or whatever the name of the song was. It was a fun trip and we actually got to do some sightseeing. Were you there?

Edited May 3, 2007 by wrdsandwrks

[tonto]

Hey w&w, thanks for resurrecting this thread...I had forgotten about it.

Yep I was there at the Joyful Noise concert and also at the big meeting by the Lincoln memorial. I can't remember now if those took place during the same weekend or not.

Richmond? It seems like I knew someone who got sent to Richmond that year. Where were you living before going wow?

And punkelf...did your mom ever find her handbook? Where were you guys sent? Gee...I can't imagine what it would have been like to be a little kid and go wow. All those extra people to boss you around...

[wrdsandwrks]

Hey w&w, thanks for resurrecting this thread...I had forgotten about it.

Yep I was there at the Joyful Noise concert and also at the big meeting by the Lincoln memorial. I can't remember now if those took place during the same weekend or not.

Well I think they must've been because as far as I remember we only made one trip to DC. Actually, I thought that Joyful Noise played at the Lincoln Memorial, but it's kind of a hazy memory to me so I could be wrong. What do you remember about it? Was there another big meeting too? Was Wierwille there?

I remember another meeting in Virginia Beach that year with VP. There's some pictures of our WOW branch in the Way Mag. from that meeting (Whew Who, we're famous!)

Richmond? It seems like I knew someone who got sent to Richmond that year. Where were you living before going wow?

Fellowshipper who posts here was in Richmond that year.

I was from New Orleans, well actually a suburb of N.O called Metairie.

[tonto]

Well I think they must've been because as far as I remember we only made one trip to DC. Actually, I thought that Joyful Noise played at the Lincoln Memorial, but it's kind of a hazy memory to me so I could be wrong. What do you remember about it? Was there another big meeting too? Was Wierwille there?

Yep, I think JN played at the Lincoln Memorial but the thing that's throwing me is I know JN played at the "America Awakes" concert too, and that was an inside job...it was held at an auditorium . Maybe those were both in the same weekend. I don't think VP was there. He came in the wintertime to Baltimore, I believe, but I know the Lincoln Memorial thing was in May or June.

I remember another meeting in Virginia Beach that year with VP. There's some pictures of our WOW branch in the Way Mag. from that meeting (Whew Who, we're famous!)

If you still have that Way Mag, you could probably scan and post those pictures. That is, unless there's some kind of copyright thing involved. TWI did a wow brochure that year and used a picture of me and a couple of the other wows in our branch on the cover...I thought it was so cool...my little brush with cult-fame!

Fellowshipper who posts here was in Richmond that year.

I was from New Orleans, well actually a suburb of N.O called Metairie.

Huh...it all gets so fuzzy, but it seems like a couple of people I knew from Colorado were sent to VA. And Metairie...I think there was a woman in our corps named Nelda from there.

It's late and my brain is tired...I'll see if I can remember any more details in the next few days.

[wrdsandwrks]

Huh...it all gets so fuzzy, but it seems like a couple of people I knew from Colorado were sent to VA.

There was a red-headed guy named Gary from CO in our branch. His sister, Karen, wasn't with us but she was in the 9th Corps with me.

Which Corps were you in? I don't remember Nelda, but I didn't live in N.O. after WOW year.