AWON Help Page

AWON is here to help. The contacts shown on this page are willing to do
anything they can to help you maximize the value of your AWON Membership.

AWON ANSWERS

You've come to the right place. The MOST imporant AWON HELP (including the names and E-Mail addresses of the providers) is LINKed on this page. If you have a general question about AWON that is NOT covered here . . . please contact our "Front Door:" Click Here.

BOOKSTORE

Walt Linne runs the AWON Bookstore (& Logostore) -- where you can find Member-authored books ~ like "Touchstones" & other goods as well ~ including AWON shirts, mugs, Hats, Pins, videos, and other assorted celebrations of orphan pride.

For Web-based Bookstore offerings, pictures, prices, and ordering information on all manner of things AWON . . . Click Here for Books and other Resources; and Click Here for the AWON Logostore.

For E-Mail contact with Bookstore/Logostore Manager Walt Linne, Click Here.

BULLETIN BOARDS

Sharon Crowley Connor minds the AWON Bulletin Boards.

The AWON BB is actually a whole SERIES of BBs -- on eight subjects -- whose main purpose is to attract response from our Father's possible Buddies, and whose seconary purpose is to provide a beneficial information exchange on a whole range of subjects that may be interesting, if not useful to us all.

The eight MAIN Subjects are these . . . 1) ARMY Connections; 2) NAVY Connections; 3) AIR CORPS Connections; 4) MARINES connections; 5) Researching MIAs and KIAs of WWII; 6) Domestic and Overseas Cemeteries and Memorials; 7) The Orphan Experience; and 8) The Lighter Side of WWII.

Each main subject has several "sub" categories. For instance, each "Service" has a place where you can post information on your Father, on his Unit(s), on his Training, on his Assignments, Missions & Battles, & on any other "Story" you feel might be interesting to people who were in (or who had Fathers in) that branch of the service.

We suggest that in order to inspire posts from the public -- that most of us (onliners of AWON) should post at least a simple "Profile" on our Father -- hoping that just the right person out there might recognize the name. Beyond the "Profile" posting, as time allows, also post information in some of the other (Units, Training, or Missions) categories.

More recently, it's been suggested that many of us may have sound advice for the families broken in the 911 attacks in New York. Just go to "The Orphan Experience" Section, and leave your advice in the "Advice and Perspectives about Loss" folder you'll find there.

CONFERENCES

Walt Linne, Barbara Kelly and Penny Sue LeGrande pulled off the twice-postponed 30th Conference in New Orleans, LA ~ Tuesday, May 4 through Saturday, May 8, at the Higgins Hotel and Museum complex.

Billie Myers Meeks and Diane Hardy Pollard chaired the 2018 GALA Conference in Wasahington, DC, Thursday, September 24 through Sunday, Septembr 30, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington.

Sam and Rachel Tannenbaum and Paul Bremer chaired the 2016 Cruise Conference in Port Canaveral, Florida Sunday, Oct. 30 through Friday Nov. 4 on the Freedom of the Seas.

Judi Hollis Kramer and Barry Barr-Finch chaired the 2014 conference in Seattle, WA, Thursday, September 4 through Sunday, Septembr 7, at the Renaissance Seattle Hotel.

Walt Linne and Barb Kelly chaired the 2012 conference in Indianapolis, IN, Friday, October 19 through Sunday, October 21, 2012 at the Embassy Suites Downtown.

Bob Meek and Millie McConnell Cavanaugh chaired the 2010 conference in Annapolis, MD, Friday, November 12 through Sunday, November 14, 2010 at the DoubleTree Annapolis.

Sharon Crowley Connor and Penny Sue LeGrand chaired the 2008 conference in Tucson, AZ. Friday, November 7 through Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at the Westward Look Hotel, in Tucson.

Patty Temte and Judy Hoffman (both of San Antonio) chaired the San Antonio Conference, and Walt Linne and Penny LeGrand chaired the DC Conference. Walt and a dedicated crew successfully engineered the Branson Conference (Nov. 2002) and the San Diego Conference (Nov. 2000).

Currently ~ you can see the Tucson and more recent conference pages. Please be patient as we bring in the others from another server.

For Web-based Information, pictures, etc. on San Diego, ~ 2000 ~ Click Here.
For Web-based Information, pictures, etc. on Branson, ~ 2002 ~ Click Here.
For Web-based Information, pictures, etc. on Washington, D.C., ~ 2004 ~ Click Here.
For Web-based Information, pictures, etc. on San Antonio, TX, ~ 2006 ~ Click Here.
For Web-based Information, pictures, etc. on Tucson, AZ, ~ 2008 ~ Click Here.
For Web-based Information, pictures, etc. on Annapolis, MD, ~ 2010 ~ Click Here.
For Web-based Information, pictures, etc. on Indianapolis, IN, ~ 2012 ~ Click Here.
For Web-based Information, pictures, etc. on Seattle, WA, ~ 2014 ~ Click Here.
For Web-based Information, pictures, etc. on Port Canaveral, FL, ~ 2016 ~ Click Here.
For Web-based Information, pictures, etc. on the GALA, Washington DC, ~ 2018 ~ Click Here.
For Web-based Information on the 30th Year Conference in New Orleans, LA, ~ 2022 ~ Click Here.

DATABASE

AWON Board Secretary Lorin McCleary handles the AWON Database, so if you have any questions about your official AWON status, listings or membership, Click Here.

D.C. LIAISON

Lee Mathis is our D.C. Liaison, representing AWON's interests at the ABMC (American Battle Monuments Commission), at the NCPC (National Capital Planning Commission) and other key places.

For E-Mail information on Memorial Day ceremonies and other activities in the D.C. area, Click Here.

WHITE HOUSE LIAISON

Marilynn Lieurance is our White House Liaison. If you have questions, Click Here.

DUES & DONATIONS

Board Member Bob Meek is now the AWON Treasurer. To pay your dues, make a donation, or to ask AWON accounting questions, Click Here.

GUEST BOOK

We've just changed servers, so please be patient as we retool our Guest Book.

LIST SERVER

Judy Hathaway and Judy Hoffman deserve a huge round of virtual applause, as they've deftly managed the AWON ListServ for the many years since 2006. As of March 1, 2021, we're switching to MeWe, a popular, feature-rich platform that represents a real advance for AWON.
Research, Development, and initial management of the MeWe platform are with thanks to Board Secretery Lorin McCleary.

The purpose of the List Server is to provide a 24/7 communication avenue among our online sibs for the exchange of directly orphan-related resources, and for encouragement of their use. We also use the list to remember and honor our Fathers, and for supporting each other, as long as it's done in non-commercial, non-religious, non-political ways.

New Members who want to join the AWON MeWe group, please Click Here.

MEMBERSHIP

For Web-based Information on AWON Membership, including a description of the available Membership categories, and a web-based Member Application, Click Here.
Current members of the Membership Committee include Judi Kramer, Roberta Nolan, Ken Underwood, and Rik Peirson.

REGIONAL COORDINATION

Board Member Barry Barr-Finch heads AWON's Regional Coordination. His group of Local Regional Coordinators encourage, facilitate, and often host periodic local gatherings for luncheons, museum visits, local services, etc. To learn more about it, Click Here.

To contact Barry, Click Here.

THE STAR

Kristin Holmes is Editor of The Star.

To go to the main Website page for The Star, Click Here. For E-Mail contact with Kristin to submit story ideas, copy, or photographs, or to be listed as a contact person in your area, Click Here.

WEBSITES

Rik Peirson maintains the AWON Websites (both public and private), with the help of several stagers: Nancy Sue Johnson (Father Tributes); Sharon Crowley Connor (AWONliner's List); Pat Morrison (LINKS on the LINKS Page); and Anne Mix (Domestic Cemeteries).

The AWON "Public" site Main Menu is found at: http://www.awon.org. Click Here.

The AWON "Members-Only" series of pages is found at: https://www.awon.org/private-members-menu. Click Here.

Nancy Sue Johnson is in charge of staging and coordinating Father Tributes. If you have one you'd like to add or amend ~ or if you have questions about how to do a tribute, contact Nancy Sue about necessary standards of photo formatting and text. Just Click Here.

We're looking for an AWON Volunteer stager to coordinate the EVENTS, MEDIA, and MEMORIAL DAY sections of the website. If you have an interest in staging ~ or if you have an event or story you feel would be of interest to the group, contact the Webguy ~ Rik Peirson. Just Click Here.

If you have questions, contributions, or suggestions for our Website, contact Rik. Click Here. If you want to volunteer to help implement your suggestions, or volunteer to help on any aspect of the AWON Websites, remember that you don't need to be a techie to do it. If you're a good organizer, an editor, or a good correspondent ~ we NEED YOU! Click Here.

WREATH AND BANNER PROGRAM

This program is run by Board Members Rik Peirson and Jeanne Rhinehart. To reach Rik, Click Here. To reach Jeanne, Click Here.
Banners for each of 16 cemeteries are produced, packaged, and shipped by Rik and Dianna Peirson; followed by web pages produced by Rik Peirson. Click Here.

If your Father or loved one is remembered at one of the overseas cemeteries below, and you'd like to have his rank and name added to an overseas American cemetery banner, please contact the Stateside Coordinator for your cemetery:

Ardenne American . . . Stateside Coordinator Regine Achten. Click Here.
Brittany American . . . Stateside Coordinator Brian Hope. Click Here.
Cambridge American . . . Stateside Coordinator Jeanne Rhinehart. Click Here.
Epinal American . . . Stateside Coordinator (Temp) Jocelyne Papelard Click Here.
Florence American . . . Stateside Coordinator Mary Alice Renner Click Here.
Henri-Chapelle American . . . Stateside Coordinator Rik Peirson. Click Here.
Lorraine . . . We need a Coordinator for Lorraine American!
Luxembourg American . . . Stateside Coordinator Sandy MacDuffee. Click Here.
Manila American . . . Stateside Coordinator Ruthie Joyce. Click Here.
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific . . . Stateside Coordinator Susan Chadd. Click Here.
Netherlands American . . . Stateside Coordinator Gloria Zuccarella Layne. Click Here.
Normandy American . . . Stateside Coordinator Rondy Elliott. Click Here.
North Africa American . . . Stateside Coordinator Bonnie Hellums. Click Here.
Rhone American . . . Stateside Coordinator (Temp) Rik Peirson. Click Here.
Sicily-Rome American . . . Stateside Coordinator Bob Meek. Click Here.
Suresnes American . . . The whole team together remembers our 24 unidentified WWII men ~ known but to God.

Additions & Corrections to this page are always invited. Click Here. If you'd like to help in staging & updating this page: Click Here.