From: bam@bang.uucp (Bret A. Marquis)
Newsgroups: rec.aviation,sci.aeronautics
Subject: The Patches:  An Epilog
Date: 7 Apr 92 02:11:32 GMT
Article-I.D.: bang.1992Apr7.021132.18677
Reply-To: bam@Berkeley.edu
Organization: Marquis Property Development Co., San Diego
Followups-To: rec.aviation


Hello Folks,


By now most of you who have ordered Air Usenet patches have recieved
them.  Thanks for all the fan mail.  Its been a blast!

The best part of the deal for me, are the letters and correspondence
from all the lurkers out there.

If the regulars ever wonder if their postings are actually being read,
let me reassure you.  The net is a very big place.  The population of
the net and especially those that read rec.aviation is almost beyond
belief.  Besides the usual crowd of hi tech flyers and computer people,
there are famous TV and movie actors, actresses and producers.  There
are politicians and government folks (and not just US politicians
either, I include members of the royal families of two different european
countries!)  There are well known book and magazine authors,
representatives of many of the known aircraft manufacturers, test
pilots, an astronaut, an astronaut in training.  Our military is well
represented as well as folks from several of the major aviation
organizations and magazines.  Lets not forget our friends at the FAA,
FCC and other three letter organizations starting with F! 

As far as problems go, so far they been minor.  I've learned that
Canadian checks can be dealt with by the (US) bank with ease. (currency
conversion occurs on the day the item is deposited).  Other currencies
are not so easy.  An Austrian 'eurocheque', while widely accepted in
other countries requires being sent out for 'collection'.  The fee for
which is $55.00.  A bit steep on a check for $17!  A postal money order
in US dollars seems the cheapest way.  If I end up doing this again, I
may rent/borrow a credit card machine for a couple of months and folks
could FAX their requests to me.

In some cases where currency exchanging is a real problem, I've traded
Air Usenet patches for aviation items of other sorts (pins and
buttons).  I just hope mail delivery works to/from those countries that
were quite recently known mainly for the their Soviet associations.

The post office has been generally pleasant to deal with, but I'm at a
loss why items accepted over the counter at a local branch, weighed and
paid over the counter have occasionally arrived postage due.  My
apologies to those that had to pay a bit extra to recieve theirs.

Also my apologies to those that wanted hats or t-shirts.  I did my best
with the patch compromise.. They can be ironed or sewn onto anything
you have.  I found a local sewed one on for me at a cost of $2.00.  I
just ironed on the one I used on my baseball cap.

No regrets I only wish that some of the lurkers would post publicly now
and then.  We really are a friendly bunch.  Senators are allowed
opinions here too!

When I first started this I said I would do this for cost.  Donating my
time.  That was also when I was expecting to order around 200
patches..   Well the actual order is well over a 1000 so the costs per
patch has come down.  On the other hand I underestimated postage and
envelopes in some cases.  All this notwithstanding, if all or most
actually ship there will be money left over.  It is my intent to
provide a small fee to Margaret for her time and fuel to design the
patch.  The remainder will be donated to an aviation oriented non
profit national organization..  I'm not asking for suggestions, but if
you know of organisations that you really don't like, let me know.

Happy flying to all of you, and you'd better all be wearing your patch
at the gatherings!


Bret Marquis
Newsgroups: rec.aviation