I see that this was recently resurrected. Does anyone know what their job was in the past, and the similarities that it will share with new army? And also, what does this mean for the Green Pots, or other women in leadership?

For now, WBC will be separate from Greenpots and will not be involved with their responsibilities. Possibly in the future, these two may merge. We are using the name "Reload Crew" in honor of the past, the goal is NOT to create a separate "crew" that will undermine the efforts of the other "crews" that are already established at Bonfire.

WBC will not be used to take girls away from crews or to find girls who would otherwise be out in the woods working/killing trees/etc. This is a way for women to recruit women for every dorm/crew by offering a perspective about Bonfire that will be attractive to women- a perspective men don't necessarily have. Through WBC, we can get women in contact with the correct yellow pot, butt pot, head crew chief, or chair which can also help get girls out from dorms that might not have crews. In other words, WBC is the umbrella organization for women at Bonfire and a great recruiting tool.

Reload Crew is a great opportunity for those girls that want to participate but haven't yet found a way to do it that fits their interests. For example, some people work late on Fridays and can't make it early mornings. So instead of those girls working on Sunday only, they will have a way to work on Bonfire, despite this restriction. There are girls who want to contribute to Bonfire that cannot commit to every weekend, whether that is due to school, work, or any other reason, and that is where Reload Crew comes in. Also, there are those girls who just don't want to do the physical aspect every weekend and would stay at home because they are tired. Reload Crew will provide an opportunity to continue to work, despite this. This is not to take away from crews who are out there all the time working, but it is aimed to girls who would typically miss days here or there another opportunity to contribute.

Another purpose for bringing back Reload crew is to increase the productivity during cut and stack. Crews loose a few fish when they send them to the front to refill their water coolers. With WBC/RLC that won’t happen because there will be girls who will drive around with a water tank in the back of a truck doing that for the crews. The fact that crews bring their own food and drinks is because there hasn’t been anyone to do it for them since Student Bonfire started. Back when Bonfire was on-campus, students would swipe their cards at Sbisa and it would charge a meal to their meal plan. WBC would pick them up on a day of cut and deliver it to each crew. They would drive around cut, delivering water to all the crews. We are planning on providing more nutritious (and GOOD!) food for everyone, which will also increase productivity because everyone will be well-fed and have plenty of water at all times. Also, crews will not lose members due to driving into town or leaving because they didn’t bring their own lunch. During stack, RLC will have a trailer at site to sell tobacco, water, and food, which will provide food and water to those that would otherwise not have it. It will also prevent people from having to make food runs during a stack shift- the food will be there already. This will maintain participation and increase productivity.

Because of the interest voiced last fall and the fall before, I have decided to start this up again. It is my desire to get as many students as possible involved with maintaining one, if not the oldest, traditions at Texas A&M.

I hope this answers the questions and clears up the concerns. If it didn’t, please direct your questions, comments, and concerns to me personally. You can send me a message via Facebook. I want to hear ideas, questions, and concerns to make this as best as it can be.

Build The Hell!
Shannon Reagan '08

So...they're besically like...the interns of the Student Bonfire world?

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We are planning on providing more nutritious (and GOOD!) food for everyone,

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who is funding this? that's a very very expensive idea.

Back in 02, we (Unity Project) bought food stuffs for sale to people at cut and made a tidy profit each week. I suspect that for a minimal charge, the WBC could feed folks and pay their expenses.

why was this discontinued?

Good to see you Jim. Congrats on the engagement man.

I suppose it was stopped because there was a lack of interest from people willing to do it.

As crews got bigger, they began to bring their own foodstuffs and the need wasn't there to bring food for 200+ people.

With the successes of the few days last year that had someone cook chili or whatnot, and the crowds that flocked around, I bet the WBC will have a strong following.

Thanks for the congrats.

we did it in 03 for a little while too. Those chopped beef samwiches hit the spot back then for sure

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Those chopped beef samwiches hit the spot back then for sure

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They also made me want to take a nap.

Will they be carrying tiny powder sugar donuts to the crews?

Lew: I think we might be able to handle that... the flying powdered donuts make things much more entertaining, in my opinion

[This message has been edited by muffinag08 (edited 6/19/2008 2:42p).]

I guess I am not needed then. Which retroactively is the reason I have been absent the last two years.

so, funding?

Your practicallity and logic has no place on this thread!


Be gone with ye!!!!!!!

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so, funding?

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If you are concerned about who is funding start up costs for lunches, it really isn't all that difficult of a problem to resolve.

Back in the day those who wanted lunches delivered by WBC swiped their cards during the week at one of the dining halls for a meal and you designated which day(s) you were gonna be out there to receive it and which dorm/outfit you were in. WBC picked the meals up at Duncan on the mornings of cut and then delivered them out to the respective woods/load site of each dorm/outfit at lunch time. This re-born WBC/RLC could do something similar, i.e. coordinate with the YPs/Chiefs before the weekend to get people who want one of these meals to pay for their meal in advance, e.g. buy a lunch ticket of some sort by noon the Friday before cut. Then those funds are used to go get the foodstuffs that will be packaged into these box lunches and those who bought their lunch ticket will have their lunch delivered by these volunteers. If things are planned properly, there will likely be sufficient funds to cover a few additional meals for those who showed up without a lunch card and want to buy one on site, i.e. the money they would give to someone making a run to McDonald's could be used to buy one of these meals instead.

What other funding issues are you concerned about, Jayci?

wait...you mean this isn't a get rich quick scheme?!

Why isn't there a 137% markup? Where is the profit?

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What other funding issues are you concerned about, Jayci?

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that was primarily it. it's just that this has come up every year, it seems, and it never is followed through with, albeit money, motivation, success, etc. so far it sounds far more organized than it ever was, so that's a plus, and if it is the sole purpose of WBC/RLC to provide food and water, then I don't see where it could go wrong. the reason i question the funding is because it seems to be the reliable hiccup for good ideas.

I wouldn't say that providing food and water is the SOLE purpose of this re-born WBC/RLC; it is merely an additional way for people to contribute to the project, and can be a valuable addition if properly executed. It sounds like their primary purpose is to get more women involved in Bonfire, whether it be through this additional outlet for contribution or being directed to one of the established "crews," and getting more Aggies involved sounds like something worth pursuing.

It sounds like ASB is doing a heck of a job. It always impresses me that it has done so well. ASB has its problems, but its accomplishments are incredible. It is fantastic that it continues on with new leaders every year. It is a testament to the strength of the organization and the incredible people who make it work.

Good work getting more people involved. There are surely a lot of students who are interested in Bonfire but don't have a niche to occupy. The more participation and student involvement the more passionate the students will be. That is good for Bonfire.

Wait, I thought that the Greens were going away?

I'd always hoped that was a nasty rumor.

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I suppose it was stopped because there was a lack of interest from people willing to do it.

As crews got bigger, they began to bring their own foodstuffs and the need wasn't there to bring food for 200+ people.

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It was done some on '03. We discontinued it in later years because the Greens simply had too much on their hands and did not have time to make sandwhiches for everyone.

IIRC, the change from Buppy's to homemade sammiches had to do with funding and logistics.

how YOu doin' NSG?

Anyone think of going ot Scarmado Produce in town and seeing if they would donate some fruit or veg for this? Or at least give a discout?

I know my father used to send produce down from his company way back when, though we no longer have that option any more?

[This message has been edited by e.aggie11 (edited 7/17/2008 8:43p).]

sounds like it could be a good idea

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Anyone think of going ot Scarmado Produce in town and seeing if they would donate some fruit or veg for this? Or at least give a discout?

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this is a great idea. the larger retailers are a little hard to convince as far as donating, but thr 501c3 status might be a little helping hand! i've generally had good experience with local business owners, ie. Burdett & Sons and Charlie Mancuso with We Rent It!, although neither of those are food sources. just my .02.