Wacko 2003 Pin Design Preview

This is a rendition of the final graphic design of the Wacko 2003 pin to benefit Bodie Island lighthouse. The design was made from a photo taken by Wacko Paul without whose help it would not be possible. Paul’s photographic prowess is legendary in these Forums. Further pin information will be forthcoming.

WATCH THIS SPACE!

Nice job Lamar and Paul - great looking design for a worthy lighthouse for 2003.

Profits from the sale of this pin and from the 2003 WACKO Badge will go to help Bodie Island Lighthouse.

Great looking pin! Will watch this space for more information as when they will be ordered.

Bert

Too cool!!! That is one nice looking pin. Thanks again to the Wacko Pin committee for all the work they put into these pins!

Looks like another winner from the commitee that brought you 3 winners so far.

I'll order mine as soon as you offer it.

Dennis

I'm so glad Bodie Island made it. It's my favorite lighthouse on the Outer Banks. Can't wait to place my order and get it.

Joyce

It sure is a great looking pin. Can't wait to put in order for one. Hal

Great looking pin! Bodie Island is one of my favorite lighthouses.

Great looking pin indeed!! It will make a very nice collectible. Thanks Lamar & Paul.
Ruthie

Looks great Lamar!

I'm looking forward to adding this one to the collection!

Lamar & Paul

Great job on the pin. This should be a big seller. Can't wait till it goes on sale so I can add it to my Hat. If I get many more pins I'll need a bigger hat or a neck brace.

Hank

Looking forward to adding this pin to my collection. Thanks for all the work that went into the pin!

shirin

I like the WACKO PIN for 2003. Can't wait to order a few pins. Missed out on the first two pins. Nice choice!
JoanieO

Super!!!
Bodie holds a special place in my heart as the first lighthouse I ever got to go inside. Can't wait til I can order this pin.

MelJB

Pin looks Fantastic, cant wait to place my order

As some of you know I had a major computer crash in October and lost everything. Fortunately I had some hard copies with email addresses for those who have ordered pins in the past. If you want to be on the email list of notices as to when we are ready to order and receive updates on the progress, send me your name and email address and I will add it to the list.

As usual the designer has once again done an outstanding job designing our 2003 Wacko Pin. As soon as we got the prototype back and approved, will let you all know and orders will be taken then.

Thanks for your support of our Wacko Pin Preservation/Restoration projects.

Darlene

This will be my first pin and boy is it a Great one to start with. Fine job! I look forward to purchasing it.

I guess our committee had its share of technological difficulties. I use a webtv rather than a computer; and summer lightning storms fried the modem. I had a hard time finding a new one as some manufacturers have ceased making them. But a new and compact RCA model has now let me come back on line, and just in time to help in promoting our Wacko pin.

I would also like to thank and give much credit to all who have worked so hard on this ongoing committee. You wouldn't think one small pin would require so many hours to produce, but there is much work in the background and everyone's particular talent and donation of time does add up to an impressive amount of hours.

Of course, there would be no pin of this top caliber if it weren't for the photographic skills of Paul Brady who knows how to capture the intricate details of the Harbour Lights models which serve as the basis for each annual pin. We have Kim Andrews to thank for her willingness to let us use the HL products. But a photo alone is not enough.

It takes the skill of a talented graphic designer who volunteers his time to transform a photo into a final design and technological "language" that can be interpreted by the manufacturer and his machines in order to turn out the finished product.

Most wackos are sharp on picking up details on HL lighthouses; but I wonder --- has anyone noticed that so far we have used a different shape for each pin, one which best conforms to the height and shape of the lighthouse grouping itself? And do you know that our "pin signature" is always the cut-out lantern room tower? Don't think we have any seahorses to search for though!

Lamar is our front man, who researches all nominations made by you wackos each spring, to determine their eligibility in meeting our criteria for receiving funds raised by the pin sales. He works with the designer and manufacturer to finalize the product.

Darlene has really been carrying a full load of work for us these past two years, as she handles the email promotion notices to you, takes the pin orders, and does the final shipping of the pins. Many long hours of work there.

Depending on needs, I select other helpers to lighten specific work loads. I would like to thank Mrs. TLC, Ruthie, for helping out Darlene this year when it came time to count nominations and votes for this year's pin.

What's left for me? As originator of the project, I look at the over-all picture and plan the year's schedule for each phase of the project; write and clarify criteria for nominations and voting procedures; produce promos for use on the Forum, mass e-mailings, notices to clubs, convention handouts and displays; work on strategy for increasing exposure of our pin and its goals to more lighthouse enthusiasts in order to increase the amount of funds raised; and play general "mother hen".

Although I thank committee members specifically for their dedicated work, I do need to thank all of you wackos also. If you did not enthusiastically participate in this project, there would be no pin. If you did not buy the pin, the project would not survive. And if it did not survive, the main loser would be the lighthouse you selected. So all of us on the committee thank you for sustaining your interest in the project and your willingness to buy the pins.

Of course, each year our goal is to make a little bit more money than the year before. So far that has happened. We do speculate if this is due to more people hearing of the project, or if it is due to the popularity of specific lighthouses. I personally hope this last factor will not be a major determining cause of the amount of money earned each time, as there are deserving less-well known lighthouses in our country which need to be saved and might even be in worse shape than a well-visited light. Only you wackos can determine the course of this based on your serious contemplation before nominating.

On a lighter side, I would enjoy seeing some photos here on this Forum of how you display or wear your wacko pins. Has anyone pinned them to the name badge lanyard? I will be at Disney for the holidays, where pin trading has become a very popular and serious tourist activity. The lanyards sold there are wider and could easily accept our size pins, creating a colorful"necklace" of collectible wacko and other lighthouse pins. Just a thought for Dave when ordering future name badge lanyards. I have started to buy a LLOM to match each Wacko pin lighthouse selected so far, and display them with the actual pins in a smaller display case. A hint: how to increase wacko pin funds --- buy one to display and one to keep on your lanyard.

So please do bookmark this specific Forum section in your favorites and tune in to keep track of the project's progress throughout the year, especially the critical ordering time frame. Lamar, Darlene, and I will be posting up-dates from time to time. But we would love to see your postings here also to keep this important project "visible".

You can help by telling your friends about this site, and especially members of lighthouse organizations and clubs. No longer being connected directly to the HL webpage, and losing our pin project webmaster, will have an impact on trying to reach new collectors or enthusiasts. So please help us spread the word.

Thank you, wackos, from this year's committee to date: Barbara Hupp, Lamar Bevil, Darlene Cook, Henry Hupp

Great looking pin guys for a great lighthouse in a wonderful lighthouse state. Can't wait till this lighthouse can be climbed again.

Great looking pin you can count on the Andersons for 3 might as will start on my son this year. Great work by all.

Chuck

Great pin. Looking forward to buying two when they are available.

Great pin. Count on me to buy one. I will add it to the previous Wacko pins I purchased.

Hupp, hupp, hurray! Another stunning design! Thanks to everyone involved in the Wacko Pin Project for all that they do.

I'm a gettin in line for 2 when they are ready. Hopefully, I'll be full fledged wacko by then . Course, there are those who say I already qualify , but what the he__, if you can't be crazy might as well give up

FWIW, it's not necessary to be a Wacko to order these pins.