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Got back last night about 7 pm...left a little earlier than some. It was great to be at another meet...'all inspired, once again'. My husband, Torance, came with me this time.
It was very hot all the way (about 300 miles) home...the kind of heat that brings on storms. We had a storm here (Nipawin)in the night...very electrical...heard on TV about big storm warnings at UNITY (that's where it was held - Pat Welter's place). Just called him today (Sun pm)to see how they made out...they got the storm alright...trees were broken...one fell on Curt Nelson & Karl Reeder's camper tent. The big tent that held the meet, Pat said, lifted off the ground, lights popping...Pat said he told them to get out...guess it was flattened. This happened about 11:30 pm to 1:00 am Sun morn.
The ironic thing about this was that the truck that was used to carry the tent was loaned by the Kinsmen, and being painted by the Letterheads... the picture they painted was of a lion standing in the doorway, holding the tent in flying position over him, with the caption below saying, "Hey! Who's driving this flying umbrella, anyway?"
The most important thing to say in this post is that 'everybody was OK...no one was hurt'...I guess damage was minimal...don't know for exactly...Pat will tell you that. One thing for sure is that Pat has more work to do than anticipated.
Well, it's about what had happened, Pat tells me. It'll be a couple of days before he posts about this, so I'm giving you the short version...he'll tell you more.
Steve will be posting the pictures tonight that Torance took.
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JOY TO HORROR AT UNITY MEET Well it was a very violent end to a fabulous weekend, but thank God NO ONE WAS HURT and nothing was damaged beyond repair. Some nerves were just about shot though. The roof was blown off of one of the out buildings. The main tent stayed intact, but nearly lifted people off the ground and scattered everyone to the house when steel poles started to tumble. What a violent few hours just after midnight. It had been a hot humid day in the 30's. There was a bit of rain from a cloud burst in the light of the moon towards 11:00 PM. Although the lightning continued in the West, all seemed to be just fine. Stevo and I were staying in a motel in town, and we headed there after a sweltering hot day of painting. After we had just settled in, a violent rain and hail storm set in. Little did we know what the folks back at the meet site were facing. Power went out for quite some time so no radio or T.V. reports. I had a fitful sleep, since the alarm was not functional and I had to go to Pat's, pick up Mike Meyer at 8AM and get him back to Edmonton (4 hours) to catch his flight. I left the motel and went for breakfast, as I was sitting there, there were some pretty tired looking people filtering in. Overhearing their conversation I was horrified to hear some of them were county workers, who had been up all night moving felled trees and debris and restoring power and services. I asked one fellow if there were any reports from the Welter place 9 miles west of Town. I said they had the huge Kinsmen tent pitched there. He looked at me and said, "Sadly, it's undoubtedly located somewhere else now." Steve's and my hearts sank as we hurried out expecting the worst. Thankfully, though the tent was a little tattered, it was still standing. Folks were just standing around stunned at what they had been through that night. Inside was equipment and paint scattered all over. Thankfully, not only did no one get hurt physically, but the portfolios, panel projects and kits survived despite falling steel and bursting light bulbs. I'm told Pat was a rock When it looked too dangerous to save the tent, he herded everyone into the basement of the house. Some folks got caught in their camp tents. Two occupied tents were flattened, but miraculously no one was injured. I'm sure those who rode out the crazy night will have more to add. Although I came after the fact, people were visibly shaken. God Bless you all and I applaud your courage! Let me publicly thank Pat and Ruth Welter and their wonderful family and friends for hosting a tremendous meet. Others will fill you all in on other "happenings" including the delicious menu which included Buffalo and Wild Boar meat. Now on to the fun stuff... I, as well as others have lots of pictures from the meet. I am only able to post a few right now, more to come! Here's the group, and what a lovely group it is, don't you think? More PICS from Unity Meet CLICK HERE
Just back to home-base after the meet. A pretty wild and wooley end to an awesome evening not long after an informal musical jam featuring Pat, Murray, Pat's daughter Heidi and her friend. Not much I could add except that Kelly Thorson will likely report on the entire meet as seen through the eyes of a 'first-timer'. I look forward to that because she has a real gift for telling stories as well as swinging a brush.
-------------------- Happy Signing...... Marty
M.F. (Marty) Happy Signmaker Since 1974 Happy Ad Sign & Design Regina SK, Canada S4N 5K4 306-789-9567 happyad@sasktel.net www.happyad.ca
Get Happy & Get Noticed! Posts: 773 | From: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada | Registered: Jan 1999
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As promised, we have the beginnings og a page on this meet at Letterheads Paint The Prairie. Special thanks to Bernice Tornquist and Duncan Wilkie for the great photos.
We still need some text to accompany the photos. I'm delighted to hear that Kelly Thorson has voluntered to share her first time experiences with us. Looking forward to hearing from you Kelly. Just type out your experiences in Notepad and save it as a txt file.
Barb and I had an opportunity to join in on this meet via HeadTV over the weekend. Kudos to Del and anyone else that made this connection possible. It's still nowhere near the quality of The Discovery Channel, but it's a start.
We also want to thank meet hosts Pat & Ruth Welter of Masterhand Signs, Unity, Saskatchewan. It's always exciting to see a new Letterhead group develop. Thanks to meets like this Saskatchewan is off to a great start. Keep it going!
[ July 13, 2003, 10:24 PM: Message edited by: Steve Shortreed ]
-------------------- Steve Shortreed 144 Hill St., E. Fergus, Ontario Canada N1M 1G9 519-787-2673
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I knew I'd miss something exciting!!! Great to see the pics, thanks for posting them. I'm so sorry I couldn't make it. Bernice, I love that shot of you standing beside the van. An artist with a wide-open canvas!
Suelynn
-------------------- "It is never too late to be what you might have been." -George Eliot
Suelynn Sedor Sedor Signs Carnduff, SK Canada Posts: 2863 | From: Carnduff, SK Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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Hi Guys! Is that the well renouned coach of the coed-naked graphic arts team, Mike Meyer, leading through example? I see why the chicks can't get enough! We are glad to hear that everyone is ok after that storm.
-------------------- Lauri Goretski Custom Murals N6334 HWY 107 TOMAHAWK WI 54487 CustomMurals1@aol.com Posts: 127 | From: Tomahawk Wi | Registered: Apr 2003
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Actually - the American boys got chicken after I suggested a wet T-shirt contest for the guys. I think they were worried about their nipples showing through, so the chickens took their shirts off!
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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Hey Mike! I just heard on the radio that they had a repeat performance of Saturday Night last night - My website host is down so I can't even email Pat to see how things are. I'm going to give them a call at noon. I guess the "great white combine" paid the Unity-Wilke area a visit. I'll post again if I hear anything >
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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Oh man.... I hate to hear that they had more awful weather. I love Mikes idea of a barn raising! Pat and Ruth and their family are among the best folks you will ever find on this planet and I will help out in any way.
-------------------- Happy Signing...... Marty
M.F. (Marty) Happy Signmaker Since 1974 Happy Ad Sign & Design Regina SK, Canada S4N 5K4 306-789-9567 happyad@sasktel.net www.happyad.ca
Get Happy & Get Noticed! Posts: 773 | From: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada | Registered: Jan 1999
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I guess all is well - Pat says they got some golfball sized hail in the area, but survived another night w/o too much damage.
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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![[Smile]](smile.gif)
When it looked too dangerous to save the tent, he herded everyone into the basement of the house.
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
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