V O L U M E 3 0 I S S U E 3 P A G E 3
Greetings from the Land of Sky Blue Waters,
How’ s everyone doing out there now that we finally seem to have gotten Summer, completely missing the Spring season at least around here. We were lucky here in our part of Southern Minnesota that we didn’ t get all the rain and bad weather I’ m sure some of our other members have endured the last couple weeks. The Summer slate of beer shows is in full swing and hopefully you’ ve been able to attend a couple already. I know the Internet and eBay has greatly changed the picture on local shows but they are still the best way to network, actually handle the items you’ re considering buying and maybe even having a beer or two with some of the greatest people out there.
Been a busy Summer here so far. Several weeks ago, we attended fellow member and resident artist Barry Travis and new love muffin, Emma’ s wedding reception in St. Paul. It was held at St. Paul Country Club and was quite an affair. Barry had the tables decorated with cone top beer cans and I was surprised that there wasn’ t a note on each one asking“ If you have any cans like this ….. According to Emma, he wanted too but she didn’ t allow it. The Rockin’ Hollywoods were the band and true to form the Groom got up and did a couple numbers with the band. Excellent. We sat at the“ Beer Collectors” table
and I even managed to pick up a Hamm’ s Pre-Pro opener from a fellow table mate. Never gave it a thought to bring trading stock to a wedding reception.
As many of you have already heard, we’ re planning a celebration next year for the Batches 30 th Anniversary. Our grand raffle prize is going to be a Hamm’ s Scene-O-Rama motion sign so that should cause some excitement and boost the ticket sales during the year. Hopefully Tom will have the chapter history DVD done in time and we can have that to distribute also. If anyone has additional ideas for the Anniversary, by all means let President Jay or myself know.
If anyone has any recent finds that you’ d like to share with the chapter, I’ d like to create a column in the newsletter to publish those pictures. Feel free to forward the picture and information to me at miner @ bevcomm. net and we’ ll get the column started. Hope to see you at a couple shows this Summer. Support your local Brewer and Chapter.
Steve
Hi kids, my name is Barry and I ' m a collector of old beer stuff. I try to draw the line at pre 1970 ' s stuff, but my temptations go as far as my little wallet will take me. That’ s why I utilize the " powers of scrounge "-no one will ever knock on your door offering you rare brewery items. You need to spread the word however you can-to coworkers, neighbors, relatives( and relative strangers!) The effort you put into it will be directed to your shelves and display cases. I ' ll try to detail some of the people, stuff and situations I come across in my travels and hope you can take( and receive) something from them, even if its just a laugh. Lets start by what you ' ll need to spread the gospel. Some of this stuff is simple, so take what you want from it. Your mileage may vary... BUSINESS CARDS- Hey, where can you get a better investment of a nickel? You can talk someone ' s ear off, wearing a leather thong and show them your beer stuff, but two months later, how will they get in touch with you? Your card is there when you aren ' t-it shows someone WHAT you collect and how to contact you. It can be passed to a neighbor, stuck in a window or posted on a bulletin board or online. I still have some people gave me a decade ago. Get some made, locally or online. Your first lead you get pays for them. PROPS-Whether its an old can with the lid cut out to hold pencils, a wooden case or Hamms cooler,
or a sign in your garage that people can see, its a visual that can start a conversation. " Hey... my Grandpa had one of dem in his cabin!" your fishing buddy says. People will start to know that you are a beer nut. Sure, you ' ll have to graciously accept some Billy beer cans and Pigs Eye coasters, but kissing a few toads to find that princess is nothing, right? GIVE-Information, time, beer stuff, whateverthe more you give, the more you get. Its not a cliché, its true. Yeah, some guys are black holes where everything goes in and nothing comes out, but that ' s an exception. Beer people are giving by nature it seems. Need examples? The Terwilliger ' s, Martin ' s and Stueber ' s give themselves to the chapter and hobby in time, edibles and drinkables. And too often get no thanks for it. But it comes back in unexpected ways. Vance, Bart and Bryan with their homemade consumables-I smile every time I have the opportunity to sample them. Steve Miner and I exchange stuff for cost-it won ' t work for everyone, but if I can put something on HIS shelf or actually SURPRISE him??... well, that ' s an accomplishment. That ' s enough for now-don ' t lounge, go scrounge! Barry Travis