About the Ministers

Following our last meeting, where the MOM handed out questionnaires for each minister to fill out, and Athletics photographed each in attendance, the road to compiling these assets has been long and full of laziness.  But today, it is not yet midnight as I write this, the About I.F.S. page has now yielded this effort in the form of Minister Biographies.  There were photos for many, or pre-existing photos, but only a few completed questionnaires, six to be exact.  I was forced to fill in the blanks...  If you feel like your information is incorrect, or a poor representation of the unique you, then email me and I will replace it.  Good night and good flapjack.

-M+T

Minister Title - Persons

Opinion Polls & Market Research

Last meeting was cut short, the cabs are coming, the cabs are coming, and we were unable to deal with some important matters.  While we need to get new shirts for new ministers, calling you about this soon Wardrobe, most importantly, we have a glorious new minister without a name.  What better way to figure this out then with a poll, they are so hot right now.  Here's how it will work: this poll is active until midnight of next Friday.  I've inputted four options, these can be changed, so either vote or comment with your own idea for a title, and hopefully by the end of next Friday we will have Persons' new minister position.

Big Bear says: "I'M REAL."

Yes, everyone, Big Bear is REAL and less than a month away.  I've discussed these plans with many of you, but for those of you who are not caught up, here's what we've planned:

1) Three nights stay at the Lakeview Mansion in the heart of Big Bear - 1 mile from the slopes and a couple hundred yards off the main road through town.  We have the nights of the 29th, 30th, and 31st booked, with a morning/afternoon departure on the 1st of 2008.  This is the mansion:

2) The Mansion is strong.  It sleeps 16, but has room to sleep many more - the representative said upwards of 26 comfortably.  It is three stories high, with wrap around balconies overlooking the lake and the surrounding nature jam:

The interior features a jacuzzi, a pool table, a Pac Man arcade, an Asteroids arcade, a pinball machine, a big screen, a bar, a couple of fire places, a massive kitchen and a golden eagle:

3) Great location.  We'll be a quick drive or tram ride to the mountain, so picture drunken skiing or, if you want to get SICK, drunken snowboarding (540 McTwist Bra!!  Scratchin'!!!).   Also, we'll be walking distance from town, so a night or two at the local bars will be easy to swing.  There's also plenty of restaurants in town, a couple of which I know are strong from experience (one is a badass haunted prime rib joint).

4) The money.  It is $100 total for the three night stay.  All expenses beyond that are up to you - but figure transportation, food, booze, and rentals, if you are skiing, or snowboarding (Jason!  Sick!!!). 

5) Who's going?  Here's who:

Also, we have 11 more of Team IFS scheduled to go - with a few maybes.  So, this should be very strong - and I'm sure they serve flapjacks somewhere in Big Bear.

With all of that said, the money is due Monday.  So far, MOM, Competition, Interior Design, M+T, Letters, and myself have paid (I'll also be covering Revelry & Spirits).  Also, there are about five of you who have said that you were in, but have not yet paid the $100.  We need to work this out ASAP, otherwise, Amanda will be covering for you, which would be the opposite of strong.  If you haven't yet paid, call me, and we'll figure something out.  If you'd like to mail a check to Amanda, here's the address:

Amanda Farrell
3424 Lambeth St.
Los Angeles, CA 90027

For everyone else who hasn't yet joined in on these plans, call me and let me know if you're interested.  This will make for a very strong New Year's Eve celebration...Spray Jam in the snow.

- Rousing
(805) 453 - 1103   

ANNIVERSARY MEETING

In Santa Barbara, the last weekend in November (Nov. 30-Dec.2) culminates with grand showing of events and I propose we add the anniversary meeting to the list.

First, Friday night, November 30th, Velvet Jones brings us

                                                      

Second, Saturday night, December 1st, our own Bernie Baggarly has helped to bring another favorite to Velvet Jones

                                       

And MOST IMPORTANTLY, the following Wednesday, December 4th, is yours truly's 25th Birthday, and I would love to celebrate it the previous weekend with you all and a little friend of ours, THE HEAT, downtown.

                                                      

As usual, we should try and have the meeting on Saturday morning so travelers don't have to worry about getting crunk and driving.

                                                       

Please comment on your availability. Hopefully this weekend would give people a little advanced notice so we can have a strong showing for the anniversary meeting.

-Athletics

The State of the Many Roles of Kurt Russell Address

In just two days, we will be uniting to form the MANY ROLES OF KURT RUSSELL.  For those of you who missed the first post, we will be uniting to form the MANY ROLES OF KURT RUSSELL at Amanda's house in Los Feliz this Saturday night.  Here's her address:

3424 Lambeth Street
Los Angeles, CA 90027

Here's a "Breakdown" of who's coming and which Kurt Russell they will be portraying:

- Minister of Media and Technology will be Jack Burton from "Big Trouble in Little China." 
- Minister of MOM will be Snake Plissken from "Escape from L.A."
- Minister of Competition will be solar explorer, Col. Jonathan 'Jack' O'Neil from "Stargate."
- Minister of Rousing will be Dean Proffitt from "Overboard."
- Minister of Interior Design will be Coach Herb Brooks from "Miracle."
- Minister of Letters will be Michael Zane from "3,000 Miles to Graceland."
- Minister of Defense will be McCabe from "Vanilla Sky."
- Future Minister and IFS blood relative Ryan Maughan will be Stephen 'Bull' McCaffrey from "Backdraft."
- Longtime Friend of IFS and forever welcome Guest Member Ben Persons will be Captain Ron from "Captain Ron."

That's nine Kurt Russells by my count, just shy of double digit Kurt Russells.  Now, I know that Health/Trade will be attending the party - so if he dresses up as a Kurt Russell, then we'll have ten Kurt Russells total.  Also, Philanthropy is attempting to shift his work schedule around so he can make it as well.  International Affairs, Maritime, Athletics and Shwayne, we haven't heard anything from you four so please comment on this post with your status.  Younger/Taller/Athleticer and Letters will be coming down from SB, and Media will be coming up from the OC, so finding a ride should not be a problem.  Also, here's some last minute costume suggestions that should be easy to throw together:

- As Jeff Taylor in "Breakdown," Kurt wears a Ralph Lauren polo tucked in to khakis, and cool sunglasses:

- Kurt wears a tux in "Executive Decision" and a black suit in Poseidon (granted, you'd have to jump in a shower for this one).
- Wyatt Earp - we still  need one.  Calls for a taller man with a strong mustache and a cowboy outfit, so I'm thinking Esteban.  Whoever takes this role, the all black getup would be the right way to do it.
- "Dark Blue" would be easy.  Black collared shirt, leather jacket, light blue jeans and black sneakers:

Anyways, just some ideas.  Like Competition commented earlier, this seems destined as Kurt Russell made a strong appearance on South Park last night.  I hope everyone can make it.  The more Russells the better. 

- Rousing

A Russell for Every Season

Ministers, it's time.  It's time to transform an exciting idea into a harrowing reality.  On October 27th, we will unite to become the MANY ROLES OF KURT RUSSELL.  Most of you know about this concept, and hopefully you are excited to be a part of it.  For those of you who are out of the Russell-loop (Shwayne), here's a few reasons why we will soon be uniting to become the MANY ROLES OF KURT RUSSELL:

1) Kurt is HANDSOME

2) Kurt is STRONG:

3) Kurt is NICE:

So, now that you know the WHO (KURT RUSSELL) and the WHY (ABOVE), here's the WHEN, the WHAT/WHERE and the HOW:

WHEN: October 27, 2007.  The Saturday evening before Halloween.
WHAT/WHERE: Halloween Party at Amanda's home in Los Feliz.  Call me for directions.
HOW:
1) Choose one of Kurt Russell's roles (some costume suggestions included as well): Stargate (buzz cut, army fatigues), Tombstone (strong mustache), Backdraft, Escape from New York (eye patch), Escape from LA (eye patch, surf board), Soldier, Captain Ron (hawaiin shirt, speedo), Breakdown, Poseidon (tuxedo, step in the shower), Big Trouble in Little China, 3,000 Miles to Graceland (Elvis costume and machine gun), Miracle, Death Proof, and many more - full listing and pictures here: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000621/. 
2) This has to be an organized process, otherwise, we'd have 8 Captain Rons showing up to the party.  So, when you have selected your Kurt Russell role, please comment on this post with your name and your desired role.  This will be a first come, first serve basis; if someone has picked Captain Ron, then you CANNOT be Captain Ron.  Maybe you can be Stargate or Vanilla Sky instead.
3) Create your costume and wear it to the party.   All costumes will require strong hair (some of you have this, some of us will need wigs - modified mullet wigs should work).
4) Take pictures with the other Kurt Russells at the party.  These pictures will be very strong.

The more Kurt Russells, the better, so I hope that all of you can make it.  Please comment with your picks, and with any questions that you may have.  Hope to see you all there.

- Rousing

IFS: Who is Deadlier

I would like to invite our esteemed society to the greater Caruthers area, to enjoy a friday night of competitive high school football as the Caruthers High Blue Raiders take on the Fowler Wildcats at Anderson Field Fri. November 2nd.  This will be the last league game of the schedule, and if all goes well until then for both teams, it should be a matchup deciding the W.S.L. champion. (Although, the Raiders must first get past the unbeaten Strathmore Titans this friday night--our league opener.) After the game, our society can then mingle with the upper echelons of Fresnan society, at any number of local pubs: Jimbo's, Fibber McGee's, Casa de Corona etc.  We can than choose to stay in hotel that shares a parking lot with an IHOP, or the Casanova's would be willing to accomodate. The intention of this post is feedback, I would also be willing to search out the finest hotel in Fresno; we can compare this with the establishment so horrible that some almost jumped off the roof of in Chico.  Saturday there is a Fresno State Football game at 2:00, or if the arrangements are made successfully, we can play with firearms in the countryside.  Now, I know this is also in the same month of our beloved anniversary, but it is very early in the month, and a trip to Santa Barbara a few weeks later to celebrate the anniversary can also be accomplished.  The decision is yours. Post some feedback, as I have only discussed this with the few members who attended my birthday...thanks very much guys, it gave me a semi. Bunch you're off the hook, but not you cutie.

Official Invitation: Peter Dante

For those ministers who were fortunate enough to be at an unnamed West LA watering hole Saturday night you may remember running into a certain Peter Dante.  Mr. Dante was told about the International Flapjack Society and expressed interest in possibly attending a meeting.

Let me be the first to say it would be an honor to have you Mr. Dante, and you are welcome to attend any meeting you wish.

To begin let me outline the International Flapjack Society (IFS) for the benefit of Mr. Dante.  The International Flapjack Society ...we do it every month. A group of twenty ministers gather each month to eat flapjacks and drink adolphi at a predetermined pancake house.  Although as our members have dispersed geographically across Southern California and the world, we all try and stay close by attending meetings which have taken on a quarterly schedule.  This website is our means of staying in contact with each other between meetings.

Our membership includes a diverse range of personalities and talents from aspiring professional Mexican Soccer players, Santa Barbara radio DJ, Law student, Airborne Laser Operator, High School Football Coach, International Wine sales person, to Fish Biologist.  We are all brought together by a common brotherhood and the desire to share each other's company and a good time.  Our meetings have taken place in such places as Las Vegas, Philly PA, Chico CA, and our breakfast staple the Turnpike IHOP in Santa Barbara, California.

The cross section of IFS members you met Saturday night is about half of our membership.  Please consider this an open invitation.  I will contact you about meeting times and locations.  We thank you for you interest in our organization.

Peter Dante's Personal Website
http://www.peterdante.com/

The Next Member Meeting?

Inquiring minds want to know when the next meeting is. I have proposed that we hold it on Labor Day Weekend, September 1-3, but I just wanted to get some feedback from other members. Three day weekends are obvious choices, so does anyone have any conflicts with this weekend? I believe that this one is going to be a Santa Barbara meeting so that we can get back to the old IHOP, it's been a while, especially for Jordan.

However, for the following meeting (two meetings away) I suggest that we take a small trip to an area that I call home, the San Francisco Bay Area. We've covered most parts of Southern California, but somehow we have all yet to converge on the only city in California, if not the US, that is affectionately called "The City". We need to do this meeting. It's not that far away, but the potential once there, is huge and relatively low cost. I would love to host part of the weekend half an hour across the bay at my parents' house, and as for the rest, that can be planned in more detail later. We all know how great traveling together is, so lets make this one happen.

First and foremost, lets here some feedback on the next meeting, is Labor Day Weekend good for y'all?

-Minister or Coordination and Athletics

Selling Leather Pants in the Ozarks

Wow, only a couple more weeks to IFS : Chico the River Wild, and the site is a bit of a ghost town, with the exception of a Booman bashing Phantom, and an Olbermann fan or two.  I like details, so here are my questions for the planning ministers, MOM, MOCS.

1. Has the decision between Van and Winnebago been decided?  How many people can the van / winnie fit?  Are SB people being picked up on the way or meeting in LA as well?  How many people are not coming in the van / winnie?  If we are doing the cheaper option - van at $45, that includes gas?  How will driving legs be decided?  Technological skills?
2. We are staying at Ministers homes, correct?  All this talk of hotels has left me confused.  Do we need to bring sleeping bags or pillows?  Are they smoking rooms?
3. The brewery tour is $10?  How much is the tubing?  Besides the transport, these are our only mandated costs correct?
4. Where are we having our Sat. morning meeting?
5. Is there free play time, or are we on a tight schedule of boozing and toobing?  Anything else planned?  Dinners? Bowling?

I need to know these things now, so that when I'm drunk in Chico I still know the score.  I appreciate all the hard work that is going into this trip, as I know it will be amazing.