| Original Message |
Paul (no login)
Posted Feb 1, 2011 9:03 PM
Well Commander fans, good news.
You heard about the movie "The French Connection", well this is a different sort of connection north of our US border and it involves boats and 4-color offset book printing.
I am very pleased to announce that I am dealing with some honorable Canadians who not only kicked our asses here in the US on the Olympic Hockey Ice fair and square, they produce a high quality product for what I believe is a very fair price. Well naturally I have to do a lot of slave labor in preparing all of this stuff, lol, but since I am such a good repeat customer I guess they like our overall mission here, and hey I think they like boats too. After review of my entire 240 page manuscript, the word is "go". I will have more to say about these guys once the deed is done, I can assure you.
Any levity being put aside, I am very seriously pleased with these people, and I am also pleased to keep the money in North America when it would have been ohh so easy to go elsewhere to save a buck.
I know I could have found a company in the US, actually inside Nashville because we have some mega printing operations here in this town (one of which recently gave $325 million to Vanderbilt University, and an equal amount to partially fund our new Robert A. M. Stern designed symphony hall) to do this work, but our close neighbors and friends to the north have EARNED my respect, and therefore my repeat business due to the quality of the product, their ability to deliver what they said they would do, and their ability to stay competitive and make me feel like a valued customer (even though I am real small change in their overall operation). Chock it up to a relationship, perhaps, that sort of thing makes the world go around, and it has become quite obvious I am dealing with a reputable group, my contact, Michael, having been with the firm for 27 years. Can you tell, I like the Canadians? Yes.
I am totally ready to pull the trigger on the printing now, but due to respect and protocol I am awaiting the review comments from a friend who is not internet savvy. This will take a few more days and a phone call or two. Once I offer the proper deference he is due, I will pull the trigger and the books will be available a few weeks thereafter. I am not referring to Herb Pocklington, by the way, in case anyone is wondering, as Herb is totally internet savvy and his contributions to this book are already in, greatly appreciated, and I veiw then as priceless. I am anxious about this, but not so anxious to short-cut anyone.
There has been A LOT of work put into this publication. Just a small portiion of it is my work, however. You guys who have contributed your projects to share with everyone are the people who put in the real work, and to that regard you are all heros in my mind. I am facilitating the formatting and printing/distribution of this info, but it is one of the most enjoyable and remarkable collaborations I've ever been associated with.
It is a good thing. True to our motto here on The Forum, "having fun and sharing information". I truely believe this collaboration will rock the classic boat world in the best possible way, by inspiration. Thank you all. Each of the major contributors to the book have an entire chapter dedicated to their restoration project. 
Coming to a theatre near you, soon!
Oh one more thing................ the 14 guys who have contributed their projects to the book, who have taken their time to document their work and give approvals to share it in print through The Forum, get their copy free. Let nobody ever say I am in this for the money. Life is way too short to not be in this for the fun.
Regards,
Paul |
|
|