Yes, I also want to thank Lamar for all of his dedicated work on this committee. Without him, there would be no pin. No one person could possibly do it all, and each of the committee members works in the area of their interests, skills, or talents.
For those of you who are new to the Forums this year, this is the second pin that has been produced, and each edition has/will result in a donation to the lighthouse in an amount all wackos (meaning now anyone who loves lighthouses) can be proud of. It is the committee's goal to increase pin sales and the resultant increase in the final donation to the lighthouse each time a new pin is created. If you haven't participated through a pin purhase so far, there are still some pins available, so take up Lamar's offer and e-mail him for an order form.
The committee this year has been myself, Barbara Hupp, Lamar Bevil, Darlene Cook, and Henry Hupp. Each has honed their participation on the committee down to a sharp edge, and cooperating together, we have come up with a pin to again be proud of, as we can see also by your comments here.
Lamar again handled the research on eligibility/non-profit status of those lights you nominated; contacted the winning lighthouse Board for legal permission to use their name and image for the pin; and has been communicating with the designer on the technical aspects of doing the computer design for the concept we presented to him. He has received your orders and will be shipping the pins out to you this spring when they come back from the manufacturer in China. Yes, Lamar does deserve a LOUD round of e-mail applause for the great amount of hours he alone has put in on this project.
Darlene Cook (aka bugqueen) is our "sales rep". She has assembled the e-mail addresses of all wackos on the Forum who expressed interest in being contacted about the pin. And upon request, she does a mass e-mail notification to all of you from time to time, to let you know about the pin and where and when to contact for ordering it. We wouldn't want anyone to be left out and not know about this striking pin. Please include her in your expressions of appreciation. In my summer's absence from the internet, she also helped Lamar conduct the election that resulted in St George Reef of CA being the winning lighthouse.
Henry Hupp, my hubby, gives suggestions on design elements based on his many years of photographic experience. He is also responsible for locating resource material for me on St. George's Reef.
Me --- well now, let's see. I guess I could say I am the "front man". I put out the first announcements on the Forum to say that it is time again for a new pin project to begin; and to ask you to send in your nominations. Lamar and I work together to set up the year's format and procedures; and to establish criteria/rules for the nominations and elections, trying each time to improve on procedures to cut down the over-all time frame on the project from start to finish, as it ends up being almost an 11 month working schedule, due to all the many steps necessary from nominations to a final design and long production time in China.
And I am the one who tries to tweak your interest and your conscience in buying our pin and ultimately helping the lighthouse of the year, through several postings. What do they say in advertising --- it takes 8 or 10 ads before the public really zones in on a product? So please be tolerant with my multiple and repeatead pleas on the Forum to get you involved and helping us and lights in general.
I also do the final historical write-up on the lighthouse, following Henry's list of resources and other information which comes my way. This appears in written format in the packet along with the pin you receive. It is time now for me to start in on this part of my responsibility, and I would appreciate any help you could give me by e-mailing me info you might have on St. George Reef, CA, and any photos you may have. The light does not have its own website, as did Morris Island last year which gave me legal permission to download and print out their histories and photos. These I used on a big display board about the pin and Morris Island which was on display at the Milwaukee HL Regional signing in July. It will be on display at the Baltimore Reunion, along with a board on St. George. So I can use items that you send me.
I want to give some specific thanks here, first to Paul Brady, for the wonderful photo he sent us again this year, of the HL sculpture of St. G. It is the basis for the actual pin design image.
And thank you to Kim Andrews and HL for allowing the committe to make use of their sculpture's image for the pin, as a fund-raising activity.
A special thank you goes to Professor Ruderman, who teaches computer graphic design skills at several Massachusetts community colleges. He volunteered to do the design for us, because of the charity aspect of our project. Several Forum volunteers were unable to work the design activity into their schedules, but we thank them anyway for trying to help us. I am hoping to use some pen sketches from one of them for my history insert in the package.
Your comments on the look of the pin reflect its being designed by a professional; though I personally feel that those who helped design last year's pin did an equally great job. If you know of those, or have friends, who do this type of designing professionally, we need a list of people willing to volunteer to help us on a rotating basis, as no one person may be willing to do it every year. Please send us any names you can acquire.
Those of you who purchased a pin last year will hopefully remember that we are only about half way through. The design goes to China for a prototype, which then comes back to Lamar and myself for final approval. The prototype goes back to China for final production. Each step takes about 6 to 8 weeks; so hang in there patiently and your prized pin will be mailed to you in late spring when we get them.
Yes, the committee will definitely be thrilled if you all will wear both wacko pins to Baltimore. It will be our reward for all the hours of work to see you trimmed up!!
And speaking of trimming, we on the committee wish all of you a wonderful holiday season and just know you will be getting some HL's under that Christmas tree.
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ladylightkeeper
