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I know I'm really sticking my neck out here. I'll probably get slapped, whoooped, dragged, but what the heck - nothing ventured, nothing gained. I'm ready to take some licks. I've sat here for days wondering if I should even ask. The question? - Would anyone be interested in doing a free sign for my local fire departments new Fire Station #2? OK, ok - Ouch!! But I had to ask. I don't come here that often any more because I don't do signs anymore (bad back, bad knee, etc). I have held a few "mini-Meets" at my home, but that seems to be on hold while my hubby takes paycut after paycut at United Airlines. I ended up putting my energy into our local all-volunteer fire department. Through donations, the dream of a second fire station became a reality this year. The walls are going up, the Open House is planned (even Gov. Schwarzenneger has been invited!), and we will be celebrating 25 years of emergency service, a new Water Tender purchased with a FEMA Grant Award, and, of course, our new Station #2. We just need a few extra items to complete the project - one of them being a sign. Nothing fancy, pretty straighforward. The only thing I can offer is a Certificate of Recognition for your donation, presented at our Open House (mailed to you of course if you can't make it). This probably won't get you any extra business, and probably won't do a thing for you - other than maybe make you feel good. Although your business name will be listed on a permanent board of contibutors to be displayed for all-time in our Station. Hit me, slap me . . . . If anyone is interest, contact me at Jackie Vaughn jackie@volcano.net 19490 Mella Dr. Volcano, CA 95689 209-296-6868
-------------------- Bomba-Dear Jackie Vaughn #5115 Volcano, California www.chocoholic.com Posts: 761 | From: Volcano, California, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Being a volunteer myself (12 years) I know firsthand how little money is available to volunteer organizations. Our department members have raised over $50,000 over the years to help purchase equipment for our department that we would not have gotten otherwise. It's not easy to get things for free, I wish you luck.
-------------------- "Are we having fun yet?" Peter Schuttinga DZines Sign Studio 1617 Millstream rd Victoria BC V9B-6G4 Posts: 521 | From: Victoria BC | Registered: Mar 2002
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One thing you could do is go ahead and lay out the sign you want to scale on paper...including the specs on the typestyle, colour and copy size . . .then go around to some local sign joints and see who would be willing to donate what materials and then you could put the sign together yourself . . .
For example...one shop might donate the main copy, un-masked, another might cut your secondary copy, one shop might give you the last few feet of a roll of tranfermask,
Or someone might draw you an entire pattern . . .then you just transfer and letter it yourself...
Paint store always have wrong mix colours they will sell super cheap or donate to a worthy cause...
one shop might give you a peice of useful substrate....
also for sheet metal or aluminum donation, you might try your local roofing/AC companies who typically keep white aluminum on hand . . .
(Mabey also try to go to businesses of people who live in that VF disrtict)
Hope this helps.
-------------------- Signs Sweet Home Alabama
oneshot on chat
"Look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, work like a dog" Posts: 5758 | From: "Sweet Home" Alabama | Registered: Mar 2003
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Peter & Sheila - thank you both for your support and suggestions. We have but 2 sign makers in the area, and both want money (can't blame them!). As for making the sign myself, I can barely walk let alone put something together. For some reason, since I used to do signs, of course, the LFPD gave this project to me. I have no doubt something will happen from my persistence here and locally. Thank you again, for the good words!!! Jackie
-------------------- Bomba-Dear Jackie Vaughn #5115 Volcano, California www.chocoholic.com Posts: 761 | From: Volcano, California, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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In my village, That is the first thing I did when I started my business, made 2 free signs for the fire dept. This was planed marketing. Most, if not all of the firefighters are business owners and they are the customer base I wanted to pick up. Almost three years later, I still make the signs for the annual fundraiser and other events they put on. 99% of them have become my customers, they appreciated the fact that I was helping a cause they believed in and paid it back 100 fold back what those signs were worth.
Since December they have taking me in as a replacement volunteer firefighter when some of them are out of town.
The two signs Shop that are around that fire hall should wake-up and take this really good marketing opportunity.
I would do it in a flash if it was within 50 km of my shop.
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We have a small business expo coming up next Wednesday. After getting permission from the organizers and the fire chief, we are going to sell t-shirts to help raise money for the Ladies Auxillary. 100% of the proceeds will go help them with some of the various projects they have in the works.
Everyone should get involved with their local fire/ems/rescue/police organizations. Admittedly, I do it to help generate business, but I also do it because if it weren't for some volunteers 25 years ago, my parents would have lost their home.
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Dennis and Glenn - I agree with you Dennis, as it is a great marketing opportunity for a local. But cest la vie. I think people up here have been asked to death by every non-profit under the sun. Althought the local Indian Casino donated a whopping $5,000 so we could put in a septic system!! I just got an offer from Scotland (a newbie on this board) but we will have to see how much shipping is - may be prohibitive. Glenn - awesome design!! Our Auxiliary puts on a big Chili Cook-Off each year and sells T's (but again, we have to buy them). We're a small fire dept. serving only 3,000 residents in a 22 square mile area in a high fuel fire risk area (the mountains). Our volunteers are awesome guys and gals! Less than 5 min. response time (usually less). They all have full-time jobs, but jump at the tone, no matter what they are doing. I was asked a long time ago to become a volunteer firefighter. But, I was a single Mom back then and couldn't leave my child alone. When I got older and married, they asked me to join the Board of Directors. So now I'm V.P. of the Board, Chairperson of the Public Outreach and Grant Committees, and publish their newsletter, the Smoke Signals. At least I can do all this sitting down. I simply can't do enough for these guys and I heartily applaud ALL volunteer fire departments!! If I can ever help another fire department, simply ask. Jackie Vaughn jackie@volcano.net
-------------------- Bomba-Dear Jackie Vaughn #5115 Volcano, California www.chocoholic.com Posts: 761 | From: Volcano, California, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I always do firehouse signs for materials alone. It's amazing the contacts that it brings. Love....Jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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On the firehouse thing---yes---if it is the firehouse in my fire district. New firehouse built around '91--did their sign as a donation. Later did a new rescue/equipment truck as a freebie. Both are still in service---sign beginning to show a few signs of age---but then, so am I.
Other neighboring departments---pretty much the full shot. A little break, maybe.
-------------------- Bill Preston Fly Creek, N.Y. USA Posts: 943 | From: Fly Creek, N.Y. USA | Registered: Jan 2000
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Let me know how I can help out. Send me some more particulars. Need imput, kiddo, to make a decision.
Bill, I have seen that sign you did. It looks really good. Well executed. Boone liked it, too!
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6451 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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Letterheads are STILL awesome! I will take some photo's and measurements of the sign on Station #1 tomorrow and post back here or via e-mail. If anyone takes this on, I'll send you a box of chocolates!!! Jackie jackie@volcano.net
-------------------- Bomba-Dear Jackie Vaughn #5115 Volcano, California www.chocoholic.com Posts: 761 | From: Volcano, California, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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How a bout sponsorship? Instead of getting one lump donation, get businesses to sponsor it for say a $100 each. Then have a little plaque made at a trophy place to put inside, and have a grand unveiling with those sponsors getting a name/photo opp.
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Hey Bruce...let me know what you decide. I'd be happy to come by and lend a hand. Volunteer Fire departments need any help they can find.
(P.S...703 Thurs. night)
-------------------- Terry Baird Baird Signs 3484 West Lake Rd. Canandaigua, NY 14424 Posts: 790 | From: Canandaigua, New York | Registered: Dec 2002
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Bomba-Dear Jackie, I'd be delighted to involve myself in this project were it not for the two shops that would be resentful of my donation. They must have their reasons for not wanting to donate the sign, and I would not want to see someone coming into my town and stirring things up like that. I'd think it more reasonable for us to kick in a few bucks each to hire the local guy and try to build community in a respectful way.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6722 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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We are donating a sign to the city park system. It is just a great way to create goodwill. Another shop in town donated one to another one of the parks. Sometimes things happen when people put aside day to day trivialities, and just be human.
It is nice when we can donate on purpose, and not by accident.
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3487 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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I'd glady do a sign for free if I got a contract to letter the next 10 vehicles at full price. They do letter fire trucks there don't they? The local sign companies can't see the fire for the smoke.
-------------------- Mike Duncan Lettercraft Signs Posts: 1328 | From: Centreville, VA | Registered: Oct 2000
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Thanks everyone !! Acutally, you can't blame the sign shops as they have already donated signs in the past, not only to us, but every other organization, and, after all, they do have to make a buck. Here's the spec on the sign: We need a 6'wide, 4'high sign. If you have some left over material a little smaller, that will work too! It can simply say "Lockwood Fire Station #2" or "Lockwood Fire Protection District Station #2" However you can fit it and make it look good. The sign will be mounted on a metal building, above the walk-in door. Since it's a metal building, we have 18" increments on which to hang it. I have pics, but can't post here. You have free license to make it look any way you want. Jazz it up, leave it plain, make it on any substrate that will withstand weather (just a tad bit of snow, never more than an inch, but some high winds occaisionally) and can be mounted on metal. If someone that can post pics on theis BB, send me an e-mail, I'll send the pics for you to post here. There's plenty of time as we plan our Open House for June 25th. I remember one Letterhead Mini-Meet I held a few years back when all the volunteer firefighters came and joined the Letterheads for the BBQ. These guys will really appreciate anything you come up with. And it won't hurt local sign shops feelings as we will simply extoll the sign as being from Letterheads because I belong to the group. I'll make sure you get some press out of it. And of course, I'll personally send you chocolates. I simply can't believe this is really gonna happen! Above all - I want you to have fun with it. I LOVE you guys!! Jackie aka Bomba-Dear jackie@volcano.net
[ March 20, 2005, 12:37 PM: Message edited by: Jackie B ]
-------------------- Bomba-Dear Jackie Vaughn #5115 Volcano, California www.chocoholic.com Posts: 761 | From: Volcano, California, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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If I lived in your area Jackie I would love to help you out. Come to think of it I would love to live in your area....
-------------------- Mario G. Lafreniere (Fergie) J&N Signs Winter did show up! Posts: 1257 | From: Chapleau, Ontario | Registered: Jun 1999
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Bruce & Terry - did you get my e-mail with the specs? Just curious . . . and thanks for the offer. Fergie - it is nice here, but too many "flatlanders" movin' up here driving the price of homes way up. And our gas is $2.39 a gallon up here. But yeah, it is nice! Your welcome to come visist anytime! Bomba-Dear
-------------------- Bomba-Dear Jackie Vaughn #5115 Volcano, California www.chocoholic.com Posts: 761 | From: Volcano, California, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Bruce. If you decide to take this on, please give me a call. Barb and I will never forget the hospitality Jackie and her family shared with us. I'd like to help out if I could.
-------------------- Steve Shortreed 144 Hill St., E. Fergus, Ontario Canada N1M 1G9 519-787-2673
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Jackie, I was a volunteer back in the late '70's early '80s and did their sign for free as a donation. It looked like h*ll but I was a new painter then too.
What you need to do is recruite one of the sign makers in the area who is willing to serve, then "let them" volunteer some signs when they see the hard work of the other volunteers in the department.
posted
Boyd - thanks for the suggestions. But Bruce Bowers has graciously offered to do the sign for us. Bruce - did you get your chocolates? Basically, in Calif., no one volunteers anymore. In our remote mountain area, there are no signtists in the district. I would love to hear from other fire depts. how they recruit and what has been successful for them. We serve approx. 1200 properties in a 22 square mile area - most of which are retiree's. It's a sad fact, but only 3 people (the same 3) show up at monthly Board meetings, and they are members of the Auxiliary. How do we get people involved? We have 12 volunteer firefighters and two ready to begin at Station #2. We'd love to have more, especially since the one's we've got have full-time jobs. People up here just don't want to get involved. Anyone got any success stories to share? E-mail me at jackie@volcano.net Bomba-Dear
-------------------- Bomba-Dear Jackie Vaughn #5115 Volcano, California www.chocoholic.com Posts: 761 | From: Volcano, California, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6451 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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Jackie, we have a lotta volunteer fire depaertments here . . .just off the top of my head, I can think of about 8 within a 30-35 mile radius, but there are more...all over Dalls county. A lot of the volunteers are also Dallas Cointy Sheriff deputies . . .
I also get work from VFDs'in surrounding counties.
Some of the recruiting and/or fund raisers include having the radio station do 'live remotes' at some good location in town, where the FD will have a display of pics of equipment, location, area map etc . . .the radio station provided free cokes hot dogs and music.
Some guys from one VFD sat at the busy intersection with the blinking light, and only the post office on one corner. Had a 4x6 sign saying "SARDIS VFD equipment Fund Raiser". 2 guys sat there, in 3 shifts for about 6 total hours one day and used their boots to collect over $800.
Our little unfamous back-yard country music band raised $1500 for a VFD one day playing at a little country store in the area for about 5 hours. The store got donations on hotdog stuff and cokes, which were free all day. People just stood around, or danced and ate hotdogs and gave money all day when they came by the store.
I bet there plenty of little 'bands' who sound decent enough and just like playin' anywhere who could raise some money one pretty Saturday.
Just a coupl'a ideas. Good Luck.
-------------------- Signs Sweet Home Alabama
oneshot on chat
"Look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, work like a dog" Posts: 5758 | From: "Sweet Home" Alabama | Registered: Mar 2003
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Hey Bruce - I know some other people have offered to help you with this project. So, if you have a day planned in advance, let me know when it is and I'll send more!! Chocolate makes happy faces. I've got some great chocolate with espresso if you want to work fast! Bomba-Dear
-------------------- Bomba-Dear Jackie Vaughn #5115 Volcano, California www.chocoholic.com Posts: 761 | From: Volcano, California, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Had a practice tonight at the fire hall. The instructor showed me what was published in the national firefighting canada magazine. Has previously posted, this was the best advertising I could have done when I started 3 years ago. Never would have imagined to have the shop logo published in a national magazine read on here is the link
posted
Jackie, getting volunteers is a dificult things at times. Our district has approx 650 properties and around 2000 residents. We are very rural and other that home based businesses this area is purely residential, large properties are the norm. Our department has two halls and around 30 members, and we average 60 calls per year. What has worked well for us is a junior firefighter program, where we take youths aged 17 or older. They tend to be very energetic group and want to learn everything, so we pair them up with the senior firefighters. This helps the senior members stay interested in practicing the 'same old' stuff every week, cause now they are actually teaching it. Unfortunately none of these kids can afford to live in the district when they go out on their own, but they ussually stay until they are in their early twenties, so we have them for 4 or 5 years. At age 19 they can become firefighters, as did my oldest son last weekend. The other thing is to make the practices fun and interesting, and that challenge is all mine, as I'm the training officer/Captain and a 12 year member. We also ran a campaign "what if you dialled 911 and nobody came" which helped last year to get us a few more warm bodies into the department.
Bruce, on behalf of all Volunteer firefighters I would like to thank you for your efforts, it will mean a lot to the recipients.
-------------------- "Are we having fun yet?" Peter Schuttinga DZines Sign Studio 1617 Millstream rd Victoria BC V9B-6G4 Posts: 521 | From: Victoria BC | Registered: Mar 2002
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Letterheads are a truly awesome bunch!! the latest update . . . Bruce will finish up our sign this weekend. And bruce, please post pics. I can't wait to see it! Did anyone else help you on this? Apparently a friend of Empy's is shipping it out to us once it's done. Mike Pulskamp has offered to come over and hang up the sign for us. Now, for the icing on the cake . . . I just got an e-mail this morning from Michael Britton in NC, just seeing this post and offering to do the sign. We do have another sign that looks very poorly, but I only wanted to ask for one sign here on the BB. Michael has offered to do our changeable letter board for us!!!! I just think you guys are all absolutely, incredibly awesome. I was very excited, as was everyone else, at our last Board Meeting when I told them of all the help Letterheads have offered.
YOU GUYS ROCK !!!!!!
(shucks, I got tears in my eyes) Bomba-Dear
-------------------- Bomba-Dear Jackie Vaughn #5115 Volcano, California www.chocoholic.com Posts: 761 | From: Volcano, California, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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PS - still wiping tears out of my eyes, as this project brings a joy to my soul. My husband works for United Airlines, and we've been going thru H-E-double hocky sticks. The fire dept. has always been our "baby", and to see something this good happen while we are personally stressing, is really heartwarming. Again- THANKS!!!! Bomba-Dear
-------------------- Bomba-Dear Jackie Vaughn #5115 Volcano, California www.chocoholic.com Posts: 761 | From: Volcano, California, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Our volunteer FD does so much more than fires. They are the first on scene at an accident. All have EMT training. They are trained and regularly practice and perform water rescues and cliff rescues. They have training on inflatibles and jet skiis and jump out of helecoptors into rough oceans. I am appreciative and grateful that these guys give so much time and effort to help others and occasionally get some cudos. I offer to letter trucks and boats for them for free and they always want to pay for it. I need to be clever to find ways to donate without them catching me. Seems some money comes from grants and needs to be spent on specific things, and I fall into that category.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6722 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Hey, anyone have a spare sheet of red .040? The day from hell from yesterday continued to plaque me when I got to the shop today and realized I forgot to order the sheet... Doh!
Well, here is the design anyways... The vinyl is all cut and ready to apply, the frame is built, the packing box is all set. I will finish this on Monday after business hours...
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6451 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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-------------------- Catharine C. Kennedy CCK Graphics 1511 Route 28 Chatham Center, NY 12184 cck1620@taconic.net "Look at me, Look at me, Look at me now! I't's fun to have fun, But you have to know how!" Posts: 2173 | From: downtown Chatham Center, NY | Registered: Feb 2004
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great to see jackie has her sign and very well done too
-------------------- Nicola Rowlands RGS Signs & Screenprinting Reval Green Finavon By Forfar Angus scotland 01307 850 260
'learn from the mistakes of others..you can't live long enough to make them yourself' Posts: 108 | From: scotland | Registered: Jan 2005
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great to see jackie has her sign and very well done too
-------------------- Nicola Rowlands RGS Signs & Screenprinting Reval Green Finavon By Forfar Angus scotland 01307 850 260
'learn from the mistakes of others..you can't live long enough to make them yourself' Posts: 108 | From: scotland | Registered: Jan 2005
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All I can say is . . . WOW !!!!!!!! That's beautiful!!!! I'm heading out the door to the County's annual EMS dinner tonight and am taking the pic with me!!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
I just can't wait to see it on the building!
Jackie
-------------------- Bomba-Dear Jackie Vaughn #5115 Volcano, California www.chocoholic.com Posts: 761 | From: Volcano, California, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Just wondering if it matters if the sign has "Station #2" on it or not? The specs mentioned that twice. If it needs to be added, BEFORE shipping might be better than after!
-------------------- EmpY Mayo Pardo #138 South Elgin, IL. Posts: 436 | From: South Elgin, IL | Registered: Nov 1998
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DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6451 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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