Nation-Wide Turn-A-Thon Hosted by Rockler Corporation

[Keith Outten]

Fantastic News from Rockler Corporation

Rockler Corporation has decided to join the Freedom Pen Project and to sponsor a 34 store Nation-wide Turn-A-Thon on June 26th, 2004. In addition Rockler has their Public Relations Group working to help us promote the Freedom Pen Project and to gain additional media attention.. I have had several phone calls this week with their representative and the entire Rockler Organization is behind their company's effort to promote Freedom Pens and show their support for our sons and daughters who serve in harms way.

I know how much this means to all of you who have worked so hard to make the Freedom Pen Project such a big success in such a short period of time. To all of you who have worked so hard turning pens, collecting donations and contacting the media to gain support for this project I can only say thank you for your dedication and loyalty. The corporations that join us are recognising your dedication and support of this worthy project, this and the emails we have been receiving from our military who serve and protect us every day is your reward for overcoming the odds and making the Freedom Pens Project a reality.

Now I will once again ask for your help!

Anyone who lives in the vicinity of a Rockler Store please contact the Manager and offer to assist them in any way you can to prepare for the June 26th Turn-A-Thon. They will need help contacting Woodworking Guilds and Groups to co-sponsor each of the Rockler Stores Turn-A-Thons. They may ask you to serve as an event coordinator or in some other capacity and I'm sure you will all volunteer to assist. Rockler is in the planing stages right now and is also contacting tool and equipment manufacturers to ask them to donate drawing and door prizes for each stores event. Anyone who has a connection with any supplier and would be willing to contact them and ask for their support for our Nation-Wide Turn-A-Thon please help us out. Obviously we hope that this huge event will help us gain national exposure in the media and attract more woodworkers who would be willing to join the Freedom Pen Project.

Our new interactive web site is within two weeks of being online and will be instrumental in helping us to share information and program statistics more efficiently with those who are not members of SawMill Creek. We also hope that we will be able to promote our events in a more timely manner and to help each of you share your input and communicate with others who need your help. Behind the scenes we are working very hard to find ways that will allow everyone to get involved and to serve in any capacity that you feel comfortable.

Now let's give Rockler Corporation a proper Welcome to the Freedom Pens Project!

[Christopher Pine]

This is Awesome! I know the local rockler here in Denver will be supportive as we have allready had a turnathon there a couple weeks ago... The colorado woodowrkers guild I would guess will be willing to help.
I am speaking without actually confering with any of them yet..
GREAT! Can't wait to get more details...
Chris

[Kenn Osborne]

I contacted the one here in Detroit and they have not heard anything about it or even the Freedom Pens Project. I gave them the info so hopefully they will participate also. I will try to get someone from the Detroit Area Woodturners group to help them with it if they do.

[Daniel Yourdon]

Roaring Applause for Rockler.
and a deeply heartfelt thank you to all the stores, Employees, and others that lend their back in this effort.

[Dave Bonde]

That is another great step forward for the FPP, thanks to Rockler for the support. Dave

[Jerry Stringer]

(Extreme cheering, applause, whistling, etc. in background for several minutes . . . begins to die down . . . Rockler rep gets up and approaches microphone . . . applause swells again but with a standing ovation . . . after several minutes Rockler rep realizes that he won't be able to speak to the crowd because of their jubilation . . . crowd is now chanting, "Way to go Rockler . . . Way to go Rockler . . .". Reb returns to seat and motions for a man off stage to come out and speak . . . Jerry Stringer rushes to the microphone and crowd immediately stops . . . wondering . . . "So who is THIS guy, and why did he interrupt our celebration???" . . .

Stringer says, "So I guess this means I need to contact the manager of the Arilington, Texas Rockler Store, huh?".

Thanks, Rockler!

Jerry

[Ken Salisbury]

I would like to echo Keith's thanks to all the folks who have gotten involved with this project.

It takes time to establish the credibility necessary for projects like ours to become successful. We have come a very long way since January 19th when this project was born. We have over 3,300 completed pens either delivered to the troops or ready to ship this coming week. Many, many more are in the process of being made. We have well over 1000 individuals actually turning pens for this effort.

We set a goal of 20,000 completed pens in 2004 which is beginning to come into sight as reality. Lets keep focused on bringing new people/companies on board and on raising the necessary funds to supply the materials the turners need to reach or exceed our goal.

My thanks go out to Ann Rockler Jackson, CEO and all the fine folks at Rockler

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<img src="http://www.oldrebelworkshop.com/freedom/Rockler.gif"> <img src="http://www.oldrebelworkshop.com/freedom/Rockler2.gif">

[Arvin Brown]

This is fantastic news! Too bad I didn't know about it last night - I was there buying some wood. I will make contact with the one in Atlanta along with my son who was looking for a service project to do for boy scouts. What a perfect opportunity! Thanks for everyone's efforts.

[RL Johnson]

Jerry
I guess that pallet load of wood that would tire a woodpecker can now be put to good use. At least you won't have to ship it very far . Really looking forward to helping out at the Arlington Rockler store. Guess we will have to elect a cooridinator. Lets see, I nominate . . . . Jerry.

[Keith Outten]

Randy,

I second Your nomination of Jerry

[RL Johnson]

Keith
It is offical! I talked Jerry into being cooridator for the Arlington Texas Rockler store only one problem he made me co-cooridinator . We will be posting more information as we get closer to the date.

[Ken Salisbury]

The Rockler Store in Portland Oregon is distributing a flyer from their store announcing Rockler's effort towards the FFP. I expect the other Rockler Stores will soon follow suit. If there is a Rockler store in your area please contact them and volunteer to represent FPP and lend whatever assistance they feel is necessary.

ROCKLER FLYER:

<TT>TURNATHON</TT>
<TT>June 26th </TT><TT>9:00 AM</TT><TT> - </TT><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com[img] /><st1:time Hour=[/img]<st1:time Hour=" /><st1:time Hour="14" Minute="00"><TT>2:00 PM</TT></st1:time><TT> Rockler stores will be sponsoring a </TT><TT>nationwide pen turning extravaganza to turn pens </TT><TT>for our troops </TT><TT>overseas. We need volunteers to bring lathes or alreay finished pens </TT><TT>to the event. Pen kits, blanks, mandrels and bushings will be </TT><TT>provided </TT><st1:stockticker><TT>FREE</TT></st1:stockticker><TT> OF CHARGE. Everyone is welcome to try their hand at </TT><TT>turning a pen. We will also be having a sidewalk sale the same </TT><TT>weekend. Please come down and help us support our troops.</TT>

[John Hammer]

We verified the event with Rich at the Denver store. We are on for it. They are providing pen kits.

[Ken Salisbury]

I have spoken with the manager of the Atlanta Store (Chuck Tamburo) and they are well on the way to organizing the event there. I will be traveling to Atlanta to attend this event and am looking forward to it. Please contact the store if you want to participate and offer what help you can. (404-460-1000). They are planning a BIG day.

[Earl Reid]

I will attend the TAT at the Parma Oh store.
Earl Reid