The VOMBO Salute

The VOMBO salute was born as part of the general brainstorming that went on as team VOMBO
began to work towards a solution to the long term problem. The following message was the first to
refer to the VOMBO salute:

From: "Lynn Macey"
To: "vombo"
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 1996 08:56:22
Subject: RE: Team update

Here are a couple of thoughts.

Silly string. There has got to be a use for silly string in this. Instant webs.

The next one is visual so bear with me. Hold your hands out, palms away from
you fingers spread, like you are stopping traffic. No one is looking, just do it.
Now, overlap your thumbs. Looks kinda like a bird, right? Look closely. This is
the sign of the web. 3 W's, or as we prefer, WWW.

lynn

Lynn Macey
lynnm@netcom.com

* Software schedules: Where the rubber meets the sky! *

The concept of a "secret handshake" was very popular with the team. Several people went off to create images
on web sites that were later transferred to buttons that many many people wore at World Finals. When some questions arose on the proper use of the VOMBO salute, the rules were posted:

From: "Lynn Macey"
To: "vombo"
Date: Sat, 20 Apr 1996 00:39:31
Subject: Re: Arkansas OM Pins

Jimmie wrote
>
> Last year Arkansas had a right hand for the state OM pin. This year they
> have a left hand. With one of each, guess what you can make. And it is
> not ice cream.
>

VOMBO! Am I the 10th caller?

Kidding aside, we now take a moment from our important VOMBO duties to
discuss a matter of extreme importance. No votes are required.

It is time to fully introduce the VOMBO salute. The salute is the hands
gesture soon to be famous in pins and the rage of the 1996 OM
World Finals. The goal is for each and every participant to know VOMBO
and VOMBO's esteemed candidates by Friday of WF week.

Here are the rules for the salute:

1. The salute can be presented by anyone, to anyone. Face the person to
receive the salute, put your arms out, crossing your thumbs and say "VOMBO".
Group salutes are perfectly OK. In this form, the entire group
presents the salute simultaneously. Group salutes to groups are
returned as group salutes. In case you meet an international team,
the correct spelling and pronunciation is listed below for languages that
you may encounter at World Finals:

Spanish: VOMBO
Russian: VOMBO
German: VOMBO
Polish: VOMBO
Japanese: VOMBO
Chinese: VOMBO
Valley: Like VOMBO, ok?

2. All VOMBO salutes must be returned. The salute is returned in
the same manner as it is presented. Anyone who is presented with a
VOMBO salute who fails to return it is either new to this whole thing
or is hopelessly adult. The saluter is responsible to see why the
salutee failed to return it and set them on the straight an narrow.
You can tell anyone who falls into the second category that they have
been selected to read the entire Crunch! clarification list out loud
at the closing ceremonies. You will have them saluting properly in no
time.

Exceptions: Saluting during team performances is not permitted. This is
only because the judges cannot hold their clipboards and salute at
the same time.

Extra credit: We are looking for the first photo of Dr. Sam giving
the VOMBO salute. In order to be legal, you are going to have to be
real fast because you have to either get him to salute by saluting
him or he may quick draw you. What ever, you have to return that
salute in a timely fashion. Early studies have failed to turn up any
individuals who have been able to form a correct salute and hold
anything at the same time. Good luck!

lynn

Lynn Macey
lynnm@netcom.com

* Software Schedule: Where the rubber meets the sky! *

Has there ever been a case where something presented in an CPS context has not generated questions?

From: "Lynn Macey"
To: "vombo"
Date: Sun, 21 Apr 1996 11:15:54

Subject: Re: VOMBO, 4/20/96

Doug asks:

> Do the arms need to be fully extended, or is this a free
> choice of the saluter? Are other greetings appropriate/permissible? How about
> "May the VOMBO be with you", or "VOMBO long and prosper"?

The formal, and proper salute is arms fully extended. As less formal
salute that is used primarily among fellow members of VOMBO may be
given with relaxed arms, i.e. relaxed elbows. Jill, this is your
queue to pay attention. The proper VOMBO salute in front of a large
crowd is given above your head so that all can see and properly
respond.

"May the VOMBO be with you" is perfectly correct and can be used in
all settings. The correct form of the other phrase is "Live long and
VOMBO." It too can be used when greeting one another. Like the
Hawaiian Aloha, VOMBO can be used in place of ,"hello", "good bye",
"howzit hangin"', "got any good pins" and, of course, "did you know
that there is a raccoon sitting on your head?"

> I see that my assignment to sales is a blessing in disguise ... I will be
> able to campaign all week! (Now watch, I'll get assigned to judge and will
> have to be "good" and "behave", as my mother used to say.) (Now that I've
> been married for almost 20 years, she doesn't say that to me very often.)

True but, that doesn't mean that she wouldn't if she knew what you do.
Does she know about Remo?

lynn

Lynn Macey
lynnm@netcom.com

* Software Schedule: Where the rubber meets the sky! *

There were some people who were claiming credit for having a picture of Dr. Sam doing the salute. These were
disallowed for several reasons but most of all so that we could have Dee sing the **er Sam song in a Handicap parking space in Ames.

The salute caught on at World Finals much to the amusement of the VOMBO participants. It even made it to the
1996 World Finals video tape.

Return to the VOMBO home page.

Lynn Macey
lynnm@vombo.org