The Big Nickel Site Updates
for 2018
for 2018
29 December, 2018
- In an attempt to make the newsletter more adaptable to the Non-US/British MMD shipmates, I have translated (I hope) the latest newsletter into German, Greek, Italian, The Netherlands, and Turkish. Let me know if you are a Non-US/British shipmate if there errors in your particular translation. I used MS Word translator so not sure how well things translated.
- Updated the Bad Email List based off of the emailing of the latest newsletter. Please take time to see if you're on the "naughty" list and notifiy me ASAP of your new email address.
- Modified The Big Nickel donation form to indicate you can just email the form to me if you're paying by credit card. No snail mail required.
- Sadly added Ltjg. Laurence (Larry) Paddack, Missile Officer, 7/63 - 7/64 to the Taps Page.
- Finally released the (way, WAY late) post reunion newsletter. You can find it here.
- I've modified the Reunion countdown clock on the 2020 Reunion page to reflect that the reunin will be held in Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Virgina. However, this is subject to approval by the Executive Council and may change.
- Updated the Save The Charlie Deuce page with information that the U.S. Navy has reversed course on handing over the ex-USS Charles F. Adams DDG-2 to the JHNSA.
- Sadly added GMM3 Michael Q. Schmidt (1965 - 1967) to the Taps Page.
- Sadly added Lt. Thomas W. Maher (1st Lieutenant, 1965 - 1967) to the Taps Page.
- Added the order form for the U.S. Navy Memorial Ship's Plaque (dedicated during the 2014 Reunion in Washington, D.C.) to the External Items Purchase page for those of you who are interested in getting a replica at $150 (US).
- Also added a link to Bad Ship Models for those of you interested in purchasing a model of the USS Charles F. Adams DDG-2 which can be modified for our ship. This model sells for $375 (US).
- Sadly added BM3 Colin Marsh, Royal Navy and BT2 Edward Truchanowicz to the Taps Page.
- I've added a link for the purchase of the C. G. Evers painting of the Claude V. Ricketts. You can find the link on the External Purchase page off the Ship's Store page. It will open an external link where you can purchase the picture. Size is 27" x 18" and is suitable for framing.
- I've updated the Ship's Store order form to allow you select if you want Crew Members Assoc embroidered on the back of the hat. I've also added a field for CVV numbers if you use credit for your purchase, which is required when I enter the charge card information into Square.
- I've also added a Crew Members Association pen to the order form. More information about the pen is on the Ship's Store page.
- I sent out a test email last week to check my "good email list" and unfortunately got quite a few bounced (aka, bad email) back to me. I'm working on updating the Bad Email List, so if you didn't see my test email, best check if you're on the list.
- Added Lt. Elmo R. Zumwalt III to the Taps Page. If you have more information about his time on board, please contact me.
- Some of you may have heard of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) implemented by the EU (European Union) on May 25, 2018. I don't really know how it might affect TheBigNickel.Navy website (and thus me), but I've added a GDPR consent to the Forums. So the next time you go to the Forums, you should be asked to consent to things that relate to your personal information you entered when you registered.
- I have added a page with ship photographs in a slide show presentation. You can reach the page by hovering over the Ship History nav button and selecting Ship Photos. You can download and save these pictures if you want.
- If you have any other pictures of the ship, underway, anchored or docked that aren't in the slide show, get them to me and I'll include them.
- The following information on shipping increases will not effect you if you placed an order at the 2018 Reunion or I received your order request before today (5/18/2018).
- Unfortunately I have had to increase shipping costs for items purchased through the Ship's Store. I have been eating most of the USPS shipping costs the past couple of years and can no longer afford to do that. Shipping costs will now be $10 for orders under $50 and $15 for orders $50 and over. The Ship's Store (and thus I) don't make a profit on sales and I try to run it on mostly a break even model. Item costs are based on what my embroider charges me for hats and shirts and what I get charged for patches, cups and other items.
- Additionally, when you use PayPal or a credit card to make your payment, both take a certain percentage of what you pay. I've put in place a PayPal calculator for you to use to determine what you should pay to ensure I get your correct amount. However I don't do this automatically and depend on your actually using the calculator. I don't do this for credit card purchases and current just eat what they charge for processing.
- At some point in the future I may just include all these costs in the item price and do away with the PayPal calculator and shipping costs (free shipping? Ha!). That will obviously mean an increase in item cost.
- Sadly added MS Steve Kerby (81 - 84) to the Taps Page.
- I've added a new page for the 2020 Reunion. Nothing much is there yet, but I'm just getting prepared.
- Someone left a clutch purse they won at the 2018 Reunion Dinner Raffle. It's a small Navy blue purse with anchors, stars and other emblems. If you forgot to take your raffle winnings, please contact me with your address and I'll get it sent to you.
- Some of the links to other Adams class ships on the Links page no longer work. I've remove the links themselves so you don't go someplace you don't expect, though I've left the ship names there.
- The March 2018 Newsletter is now available. You can open it here. This is a PDF file and you will need a PDF reader. I will be emailing the newsletter to those shipmates with valid email addresses. If you don't get an emailed copy of the newsletter and are registered on the site, please check the Bad Email Addresses.
- Something is amiss with the 2016 Reunion pictures. I'm investigating and hope to have a solution soon.
- If you filled out the 2018 Reunion Survey and are in the "probably" or "not-sure-yet" categories and have changed your decision, please let me know your decision and I'll update the database.
- Made some changes to the 2018 Reunion Survey. Removed references to a possible Mayport tour and made it for a general tour. Also added some processing changes to keep people from filling out the survey doing it multiple times. As always, let me know if you have any issues when filling out the survey. If you have filled it out and would like to make changes, contact me with those changes and I'll make the updates.
- Decided to add a comment section to the Reunion Survey form for those who might have special information to pass on when filling out the survey. Things like having guests attend only certain functions and not the entire reunion, thus making the guest (potentially) not have to pay the reunion guest fee. Or any other information you'd like to pass on. It's still a little rough, but useable. If you have already filled out the survey and have any comments you'd like added, please contact me with them and I'll put them into the database.
- Updated family taps information for Betty Jones, wife of GMG1 Mike Jones (65 - 68), adding a link to her obituary. Thanks to RD2 Danny Timm (65 - 68) for the update information.
- Updated the site copyright to 2018 on the HomePort page.
- Please let me know if you see something missing from the site (pictures, links not working, test that might be missing/screwy). I've been having issues with my desktop and now my laptop and have had to resort to site backups and it's possible something has gone missing.
- Have a safe and prospersous New Year and I hope to see a lot of new (and old) faces at the 2018 Reunion in Jacksonville, Florida. If you are planning on attending the reunion and haven't yet done so, please take some time to fill out the 2018 Reunion Survey.
