Like most communities, Owen Sound has an annual Santa Claus parade. It seems that after 30 years of service, Santa's ride in the parade was showing it's age. The local Kiwanis Club had come to the rescue with a new float, but it needed some paint. Not just any paint job would do, so the Man In Red called Jed and asked if his Letterhead pals could lend a hand.

A few phone calls were made and a band of Santa's Little Letterheads responded to the call. Who could resist with the threat of coal under our trees this Christmas? Armed with paint, brushes and other assorted tools, we all made tracks to the Whispering Pines Campground, located in Hepworth, Ontario, Canada.

What a beautiful spot to work! The Kiwanis own and operate this park, located just 6 miles east of Sauble Beach. We were invited to camp at no charge and, if that that wasn't cool enough in itself, they also provided all the food and drink a hard working Letterhead could handle. What better way to spend a weekend in August?

Jed, and his crew had the design ready and waiting. When Barb and I arrived early Friday morning, Doug Downey and Jed had the basic layout done. By noon, the paint was flying. Pete Payne of Canadian SignCrafters Supply, demonstrated his skill with a glaze and a graining tool. In just over an hour, he worked his way around the float and the result was nothing short of amazing. The plain red box was now a stable suitable for some very special reindeer.

Over the next few hours, windows and doors were added. Bob Darnell and I worked on the "Merry Christmas" script that occupied the rear of the float. We were both a little bit rusty with the brush, but after a couple letters, it all started coming back. Outside, Sandra Menary and her crew, were busy carving a large sign out of HDU that would grace the front of the float. The tunes were blasting, new and old lies were being shared and everyone was having a blast.

As promised, the Kiwanis showed up at noon with a fleet of subs and Friday night, they cooked us up a chicken dinner with all the fixins. Did I mention these guys can cook? The Kiwanis Club exists to do things for children in the community. They host special events throughout the year to raise the funds necessary to carry out their good works. If you have a Kiwanis Club in your area, I urge you to learn more about them.

We worked until midnight Friday. Outside there was a big campfire and guitar music filled the cool night air. One by one, we all retired to our tents to rest up for the following day.

The camp woke early Saturday to the smell of sausage and pancakes. After a healthy feed of both, it was back to work. The Kiwanis Club had a big corn roast planned for Saturday evening and we were all aware they were all coming to see our handiwork. A number of elves were added, along with outlines, shadows, convex effects and even goldleaf. By the time the corn was ready, most of the work was finished.

It was obvious by the admiring looks and comments from the Kiwanis that they were very pleased with our efforts. After a feed of corn and bigass sausage, they surprised us with these really neat plagues. One by one, we were all called up to receive our own award and a handshake while all the Kiwanis applauded. The recognition felt great!

I want to thank Jed, his wife Jane, and the Owen Sound Kiwanis for inviting us to take part in this wonderful weekend. It's always very special to get together with Letterheads and their families. This project was another example of special things we can do together to showcase our craft to the general public. I know our efforts were appreciated.

I've started a report on this meet at www.letterhead.com/meets/santa2001/
As more photos become available, we'll add them. Enjoy!

------------------
Steve Shortreed
144 Hill St., E.
Fergus, Ontario
Canada N1M 1G9
519-787-2673
steve@letterhead.com
ICQ 316338
www.letterhead.com/profiles/shortreed/

[This message has been edited by Steve Shortreed (edited August 26, 2001).]
 

------------------
Sharon Bigler
A Good Sign
Chambersburg, PA
 

------------------
From Katie Wright (aka Kookaburra), 17 year old signie wannabe from Australia

"The world is my garden. A place where magic grows on trees"
 

------------------
Sonny Franks
Sign Creations
Atlanta
 

I can remember a "fight I had with my wife over putting down that I was A SIGN PAINTER on the censes cards sent home by the schools...

One of the questions was what doz your father do for a living....

Was little more then a day when the calls for FREE zzhit started to take over my bizz AND home fone......

It all came to a QUICK stop when I informed them that it was a mistake,, and I was REALLY an "undertaker" and I could get them a GOOD deal on a PLOT...

Free is good to read about,, and talk about but it ain't worth a dime... after all I am posting this FREE,,, and to you Steve I would suspect that ain't worth crap,,LOL

But all this coming from a person who Though FREE WILLY" was a Killer Whale giveaway PROMO""./. I am still waiting for my (FREE) WHALE"".....Twain,TBuk

------------------
Ted Bukovscak
BUKOVSCAK SIGNS
S/California
tbuk@nethere.com

------------------
The SignShop
Mendocino, California
"Where the Redwoods meet the Surf"
 

Thanks for sharing.

Sue

------------------
"It is never too late to be what you might have been." -George Eliot

Suelynn Sedor
Sedor Signs
Carnduff, Sk Canada

 

My painting did improve marginally when I was reminded that I should breathe. heh heh

I loved every minute of it anyway.

------------------
Bob Darnell
London, Ontario, Canada

Portfolio: www.members.home.net/bob.darnell
Where I work: Excellent Signs and Displays Inc.
 

------------------
Victor Georgiou
AnchorBlanks.com
Designer Sign Blanks
Clipart CD's & FONTS