The 17 people that I need to help me design a new coin....

[Craig]

Dear Nuke Moms….
I need some help understanding the Nuke ratings…. 

A lot of you guys remember me from the boot camp era, I run a website called NavyDEP.com.  That website started in 2007.  To keep that website running and free for the future sailors I sell boot camp challenge coins on www.PIRGifts.com   I know some of you probably bought one for your sailors as a PIR gift. 
 
Many of the sailors I worked with on my website now have gone on and made their way to the fleet.  One item that many sailors in the Nuke rating ask is if I could make a coin for them since there is really not specific rating coin for the MM(n), ET(n), or EM(n) rating.

For some reason they lump all the MM(n), ET(n), and EM(n) nukes with the regular Navy MM, ET, and EM’s together.  Let’s face it, they are totally different.  They deserve their own rating challenge coin that is specific to them.  I know I would.  My old rating is the same way.  We have CTI, CTM, CTN, CTR, CTT all lumped in with the CT rating.  We are totally different.

So, this is where I need your help.
When I design coins I make them special.  I tell a story.  I want the sailors to be proud of having them and carrying them.  However, I don’t know the 1^st thing about the Nuke group. 

To have fun and to keep a flow of ideas going I will reward three (3) of you with a $100 each.  Contest will end in about 4 weeks ~ 13 Sept 2014.

Yes, being a sailor we have all sorts of contests to keep things fun, and let’s face it, I need help understating.  The front of the coin is geared to Goose Creek, or, Ballston Spa.  I know some of your training is at one, and some of your training is at the other.  The back will be for their specific rating.   

So what I need is:
I need 17 people that want to help me.  These people need to give really good info for me to understand the below.   I need honest effort.  Saying something like “Put an anchor” doesn’t really help.  I need specific things that mean something to Nukes.  This will be their coin.   

1.  What is something that is important in Goose Creek? (building? symbol? etc…)
(a picture or web link will help greatly)

2.  What is something that is important in Ballston Spa? (building? symbol? etc…)
(a picture or web link will help greatly)

Depending on your rating:
3.  What is three things that is important to a MM(n) that could be on a coin?
3.  What is three things that is important to a ET(n) that could be on a coin?
3.  What is three things that is important to a EM(n) that could be on a coin?

4.  I need to randomize the number to fairly let three people win the $100 money.  I’ll tell you more how the Colorado Power Ball lottery will chose the random number once I know who the people are…  But in the mean time.  When you sign up, give me two numbers between 1 and 35. Do not use a number that is already taken by the person above up....

Big thing:  You are working together as a team, so just throw ideas out there.  Give me anything you can think of.  Later on, the team will chose what's important and what's not.  The reward will be given to three random people, not to the one who can draw, or came up with the best idea.  All ideas are the best to me.  

So just to get things started.  I need 16 more people (with a total of 17) that want to do this. Once I find out who the 16 people are, then I’ll give you more info….  I will make a post in the discussion are, just reply to it, and the first 16 people (by date/time) order will be the ones I use. 
btw:  Since I pre-discussed this with B'sNukeMom to gather her thought, she is already on the list.

Since everyone has to pick two numbers, please let me know so we can get this part hammered out.  I love having fun, and this is the part we need to get finished 1st.

• B'sNukeMom  Picked 19 & 22
• Wendy & Family Craig picked 14 & 17
• Lynn Picked 12 & 21, 8isenuff had that number so Craig picked one. 
• UBU'sMom Picked 9 & 26
• Cybermom Picked 5 & 16
• CO-TwinSailorMom Picked 6 & 20
• TheBoyWonderMom Picked 15 & 23
• Nuke_ELT Picked 24 & 28
• A's_momma_Erin Picked 4 & 8
• 8isenuff Picked 7 & 21
• MN Mom of MM Picked 3 & 33
• 1proudmama/EM/S8G/1403 Picked 11 & 30
• britefuture Picked 31, but needs to pick another one, 11 is already used. Now 27
• MichianaMom Picked 2, but needs to pick another one, 11 is already used, 25
• MattsMom Picked 32, but needs to pick another one, 16 is already used. 29
• Christy Picked 10 & 29, 29 already used, Craig picked 13
• GRU_took_darsatm  Picked 18 & 34

1. - Lynn #1
2. - MichianaMom #1
3. - MN Mom of MM #1
4. - A's_momma_Erin #1
5. - Cybermom #1
6. - CO-TwinSailorMom #1
7. - 8isenuff #1
8. - A's_momma_Erin #2
9. - UBU'sMom #1
10. - Christy #1
11. - 1proudmama/EM/S8G/1403 #1
12. - Lynn #2
13. - Christy #2  - Edit WINNER of 2nd  (9/10/2014) Power Ball Draw!!!
14. - Wendy & family #1
15. - TheBoyWonderMom #1
16. - Cybermom #2
17. - Wendy & family #2
18. - GRU_took_darsatm  -  Edit - WINNER OF 1st (9/6/2014) Power Ball Draw!!!!
19. - B'sNukeMom #1
20. - CO-TwinSailorMom #2
21. - 8isenuff #2
22. - B'sNukeMom #2
23. - TheBoyWonderMom #2
24. - Nuke_ELT #1
25. - MichianaMom #2
26. - UBU'sMom #2
27. - britefuture #1  - Edit - WINNER of 3rd (9/13/2014) Power Ball Draw!!!
28. - Nuke_ELT #2
29. - MattsMom #1
30. - 1proudmama/EM/S8G/1403 #2
31. - britefuture #2
32. - MattsMom #2
33. - MN Mom of MM #2
34. - GRU_took_darsatm
35. -  DEAD NUMBER (Extra)

[Cybermom]

I love this idea, hope I'm chosen, may I take 5? I'm on an iPad so not sure how to cut and paste.

[Wendy]

Great idea! We (my husband too) would love to help and be involved. Please consider us.

Thank you,

Wendy

[UBU'sMom]

I want to volunteer to help. I don't write much, but I read and learn something everyday! My son is a MM, in prototype now. I'd love to help and give ideas. I have bought several coins and my son has really liked them. Its a great idea!

[CO-TwinSalorsMom]

Got my EM nuke working on it with his buddies, not to be difficult or anything but Prototype is in both Goose Creek and Balston Spa. They split the group.

So wanna put me down?

He will get back to me tonight or tomorrow, he is having some down time in Charleston today.

[CO-TwinSalorsMom]

BTW he says thank you.

[Craig]

Thanks guys... List is updated...
I just need to get my brain around how thing work.  It's hard for me to design something that I haven't got a clue on...

Please remember I can make the coin in any shape, it doesn't have to be round (but most are).
There is not much room on the coin to show great detail.  What looks good at 5 inch looks terrible at 1 ¾ inch.  For example the boot camp USS Reuben James coin I tried to do a portrait of Reuben James, but it looks terrible when reduced.  You don’t know this until it is pressed (minted).  You can the difference between these two pictures. 

How do I decide which 3 people get the reward?  Man, this was the really hard part.  It took me a week to figure out how to randomly choose 3 people that is totally fair.  So here are the game rules:

1.  All the info I need will be in the discussion area.  I do not want to clog up your main forum board.
2.  I need honest effort.

3.  The 1^st 17 people to say they want to have fun doing this, will be the one that can get the reward. 
4.  The, winner could actually win three time.  It's all random numbers.  But what are the odds on that.  


1.  Each of you will choose two numbers from 1 to 35. 
1^st $100 winner:
On September 6^th,  2014 (Saturday),  Colorado is doing it’s normal Power Ball drawing.  The “red” Power Ball number can be anything from 1 to 35.  Whatever number is chosen wins the $100.   

2^nd  $100 winner:
On September 10^th,  2014 (Wednesday),  Colorado is doing it’s normal Power Ball drawing.  The “red” Power Ball number can be anything from 1 to 35.  Whatever number is chosen wins the $100.   

3rd $100 winner:
On September 13^th,  2014 (Saturday),  Colorado is doing it’s normal Power Ball drawing.  The “red” Power Ball number can be anything from 1 to 35.  Whatever number is chosen wins the $100.  

To check which Red Power Ball was drawn, just go to:
https://www.coloradolottery.com/games/powerball/

Lynn - I totally hear you.  I had the chance to buy my challenge coin in boot camp, but never did.  Now for the past 20 years I've been trying to locate one to fill that empty spot in my shadow box.  Sometimes the little things mean a lot later on in life.

http://i59.tinypic.com/smvo0x.jpg

http://i59.tinypic.com/2eqc41g.jpg

[CO-TwinSalorsMom]

My boys LOVE their Challenge coins. My nuke Sam glad to help.

[UBU'sMom]

Thanks for letting me join. I've contacted my son in G.C. And he's thinking of some things. I'd love to see the bridge in Charleston on the GC coin. I'm trying to find a pic to send. I'm using my phone. Need to get to my computer. Also thanks Co twin for your posts, I've enjoyed reading about your twins.

[BoyWonderMom]

I would like to help, love the coins and my sailor son too!

[UBU'sMom]

I choose number 9 and 26. I can't see if anyone had chosen these numbers yet.

[CO-TwinSalorsMom]

A mother nice thing to have on the coin would be For Goose Creek an areal view of the circle quad where Power School Graduation takes place. even to include the buildings with the fun X shaped barracks. and the H shaped Rickover.

[UBU'sMom]

I have found the name of the bridge that i suggested (in charleston), it is the Arthur J Ravenal Bridge. I think that is such an awesome site. I can't seem to cut and paste a photo. i'll keep trying.