Nominate a member for 2009 Member of the Year

I'd like to nominate someone else. It's kind of hard right now seeing as everyone wants Freddy. It's not that I don't really appreciate Freddy, I do. He does have a real interesting way of putting things into perspective It's just that this is a coal burning forum. And that is the biggest consideration in my book. I do admire that Freddy went out on a limb and bought a truckload or two of Superior before he even had a boiler. Yes the man had no doubt that coal was the answer. But,,,,,,,,,, in my eyes,,,,,, someone who has almost 40 years experience burning coal, has put together many 24 ton loads, still services all the boilers he has installed, of many different different brands of boilers, hand fed or stoker, owns more boilers than most and has a real wild humor that just has to get out,,,,,, He would be the coal burner of the year in my book. Whistlenut

Hear Hear

Well said Stokerscot

Now that there is a great nominating ... sentence!

Seriously, and not to say anything against Freddy (whom I don't know) or anybody else, the idea that substance in the coal area should count for something extra here is the kind of thing that ought to go without saying.

stockingfull wrote:Seriously, and not to say anything against Freddy (whom I don't know) or anybody else, the idea that substance in the coal area should count for something extra here is the kind of thing that ought to go without saying.

Well that would certainly be one way to view it. Another is that this is a brotherhood and sisterhood of coal burners, many of whom communicate on a fairly regular basis via this forum. While some of us have met face to face at previous "Coalstocks", many of us also have only communicated via the forum. So my point is, besides all the coal burning which is pretty much a pre-rec to be here , it's nice to have a coal forum friend who has really good people skills. For instance, me, I'd never qualify because I have limited patience for those who disagree with me. It's a charactor flaw but I'm able to live with it. Freddy on the other hand, has conspicuously avoided conflict with other forum members. He seems to always have something positive to say even when others are losing their heads. He has offered his rookie experiences and then his advice on the operation of his boiler, something that has been very valuable to many other forum members. He starts a Saturday morning Coffee thread every week that IMO is one of the most popular regular features of the forum. He has made and supplied to forum members at a very reasonable cost only, coal related bumber stickers. As someone already stated he also made a tractor trailer load commitment to coal burning before he ever saw his coal boiler in person. I'm not taking anything away from any of the other nominees, all of whom are members with distiction. But I'm just trying to mention the characteristics and contribututions that make forum members think of Freddy when "member of the year" is mentioned.

coalkirk wrote:

stockingfull wrote:Seriously, and not to say anything against Freddy (whom I don't know) or anybody else, the idea that substance in the coal area should count for something extra here is the kind of thing that ought to go without saying.

Well that would certainly be one way to view it. Another is that this is a brotherhood and sisterhood of coal burners, many of whom communicate on a fairly regular basis via this forum. While some of us have met face to face at previous "Coalstocks", many of us also have only communicated via the forum. So my point is, besides all the coal burning which is pretty much a pre-rec to be here , it's nice to have a coal forum friend who has really good people skills. For instance, me, I'd never qualify because I have limited patience for those who disagree with me. It's a charactor flaw but I'm able to live with it. Freddy on the other hand, has conspicuously avoided conflict with other forum members. He seems to always have something positive to say even when others are losing their heads. He has offered his rookie experiences and then his advice on the operation of his boiler, something that has been very valuable to many other forum members. He starts a Saturday morning Coffee thread every week that IMO is one of the most popular regular features of the forum. He has made and supplied to forum members at a very reasonable cost only, coal related bumber stickers. As someone already stated he also made a tractor trailer load commitment to coal burning before he ever saw his coal boiler in person. I'm not taking anything away from any of the other nominees, all of whom are members with distiction. But I'm just trying to mention the characteristics and contribututions that make forum members think of Freddy when "member of the year" is mentioned.

Extremely well put Terry! I have a hard time voting on just one member because there's many layers of help & enjoyment I've received from this community. The face to face at the M&G, people like Woodn'coal that reached out to help me get some deep mined coal on a day out with Coalberner and his family. Another local, DVC500 at last, who's got me together with New Hope Engineer not to mention the gifts of caol both large and small . Then there's Freddy who definately deserves the "Coalitzer Prize" for his Saturday column and his n(h)umourous presentations. Trouble is, I can go on and on about the members that make this community as great as it is and all the help they offer.

Time to punt - I vote everyone!

For being an all around great guy-and for bringing me coal for my stoker in his rapidly aging F-150 when my coal hauler was in pieces in the barn-and for his knowledge of Vermont Castings coal burners I nominate VigIIPeaBurner.

DVC500

It's hard to nominate one member over another since each member may have had different experiences with one guy or another. For example, Member #202 may have helped half dozen newer members while member #121 also assisted with six different guys. And member #520 helped another six guys. Of the 18 voting, it'd be a dead heat, wouldn't it? Obviously I could choose 10+ guys here to draw up this scenario.

It's been 5yrs + 1 month since this forum has been in existence. I just say we choose a different guy each year based on what year he/she joined. Example, only a member who joined in 2005 would be eligible this year. And then he gets a cool color of his choose in his avatar. Next year, a 2006 member gets a crack at it.

Something different. And mostly by chance. And no hard feelings left hanging.

Did I kill this tread?

Thread killer Cap

Thinking takes time and I think you have given people food for thought. I like the way you think myself.

coalkirk wrote:For instance, me, I'd never qualify because I have limited patience for those who disagree with me. It's a charactor flaw but I'm able to live with it.

I hate to break this to you coalkirk, but we might be related!




I still nominate Freddy. That doesn't mean I like anyone else less ...... hard to pick ONE person on the forum for Member of the Year.

Aww hell, if I don't do this one of the czars will: I NOMINATE EVERYONE!! EVERYONE WINS!! YAAAY!!

PoconoEagle for helping fellow Pocono Piner, Lola.

Richard S. wrote:
I'll leave this open for nominations for the month of November and half of December at which point we'll have a vote.

its more then half way through December .... LETS VOTE!!

Vote here: Vote for 2009 Most Outstanding Member