It was a great day with good friends, new and old,as ITB and his wife Teri opened up their home to 19 current or former instructors, and their spouses/significant others, for a cookout and pool party.
In no particular order attendees were, Schulzmaster, Grindstone, Wizard and his wife Darlene , Pookie, ThreadNLead"TL" and her significant other Garrett, Pocket Watch, T.WOLF, Rangerat67, wingwrench, BeeFree, Dread Pirate Bebop, MrZeke, mrsurplus, Superheat and his wife Lori, MadHatter, number6, Hardcase and his wife Angelica , Bogie, and yours truly, MI-copperhead.
The afternoon started out overcast but the rain held off and the sun warmed up the day enough that some of us took advantage of the pool. ITB, as grillmaster, kept us supplied with plenty of protein in the form of burgers, brats, enormous hotdogs, and chicken while Teri provided us with fresh cornbread, her famous potato salad, homemade cookies, watermelon, Texas cake as well as chips.
Much of the afternoon was spent in visiting amongst the instructors, till near the six o'clock hour when the SC presented ITB with a special plaque from the entire Michigan Instructor Cadre as a remembrance of Bill's, hard work, dedication and mentorship to the Project Appleseed Program.
It is unlikely that few of those in the Michigan program would be here had it not been for Bill's leadership.
It is sad that Burbs has stepped away from the program but he has truly taken Fred's advice to "train your replacement " in that he has infused each of us, that have worked with him, to keep the torch of liberty lit.
Thank you Bill from all of us, we look forward to a day when you might decide to return, but even if you don't we will always count you as a great and special friend.
In Liberty
MI-copperhead
Thank you for everything, ITB!
(https://i.imgur.com/RWW40mc.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/uUFmJBW.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/s7CN6fG.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/nnGrFqD.jpeg)
I wish I could have been there! Here are some pics Wingwrench took:
(https://i.imgur.com/DoddP11.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Dfh4vfd.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/5Qa2H5O.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/8q7Kxnh.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/JjuW9T8.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/lcTT07N.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Pgz1j8z.jpeg)
Burbs;
Bless you, thank you for your willingness to invest in all of us. Now it is up to all of us to not squander your investment by investing in others...