April Fools Swap - Make A Joke Out Of Cancer!

[IronMike]

This traditionally run fly swap will have no limit to the amount of people who can volunteer their tying time (capped on Valentine's Day with all flies due by April Fools Day).

There will be no restriction in style or cost.

There will be no limit to the amount of flies each person submits (with minimum of course).

All extra flies will be auctioned off to benefit The Jimmy Fund.


Make a joke out of cancer by tying up as many extras as you can!

Contact me by Email/PM for address.


Curing cancer - Closer By The Fly!

[IronMike]

Great, looks like some interest starting...

The details will be finalized on Valentine's Day, so I will start the roster here:

1. IronMike
2. fcband
3. ashley
4. Bill S.
5. Juro M.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
.
.
.

[IronMike]

Here's some specifics on what I'm thinking for this swap:

Swaps generally are around a dozen tiers. In this case, I am not limiting by size, but will cap the swap next Tuesday, Valentine's Day - chosen to reflect our feelings for kids, and adults, who are fighting cancer. We'll find this out on Valentine's Day the exact amount of ties and you will have until April Fools day to get them in the mail - about 6 weeks to tie or buy! Mail in deadline is April Fools Day - because cancer is a joke already and it's time to make it history.

Typically, a theme is suggested at the start, for example: Sand Eel Patterns, Flats, Bonefish, etc. In this swap, I am not limiting us to a style of fly. The theme in this case isn't about the type of fly you tie - it's about the passion you put into it and our hope that we can make a difference in the fight against cancer. So I'd like everyone to just tie their BEST fly - one that makes them proud. For example, in 2004 I received flies from Jack Gartside, his best popper selection - 4 flies fetched $50!

Typically, each participant ties as many flies as there are participants. The "twist" on this swap is that I'm asking people to tie additional flies - as many as they would like to. Those extra flies for the Meister? Now they will be extra flies to fight the Monster - they will be auctioned off with the proceeds going to The Jimmy Fund via my ride in the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge. So, if there are 12 entrants in the swap, and every person ties an extra 6, then everyone will get an assortment of 12 flies and I will be left with 72 flies to auction! :)

I receive them all, make "X" batches containing 1 from each tyer and send them back out to the participants (usually, people kick in a couple of bucks to cover mailing costs. I generally prefer to just use Priority Mail for $3, at least last I checked - it's faster and very convenient to just stick the flies in those little boxes you get from USPS).

Please let me know if you have any other questions!

Best regards,

Mike


Here is some info about The Jimmy Fund:

The Jimmy Fund Clinic at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a place where children and their families find hope.

For people in New England and around the globe, the Jimmy Fund Clinic is one of the world's premier centers for pediatric cancer research and treatment. Starting in the 1940s, when Institute founder Sidney Farber, M.D. used drug therapy to achieve the first-ever remissions of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Dana-Farber researchers have made strides against virtually every type of cancer that strikes children, from solid tumors that involve individual organs to those that affect blood or lymph.

The clinic is also a place where vintage Disney paintings adorn the walls, the waiting rooms are playrooms, and caring doctors and nurses provide expert and compassionate care for children with cancer.

Designed specifically for the comfort and convenience of pediatric cancer patients and their families, the Jimmy Fund Clinic follows Farber's "total patient care" philosophy, assuring that a patient's psychological, family and spiritual needs, as well as their medical needs, are met.

Through a unique and long-standing collaboration, Jimmy Fund Clinic patients receive inpatient care when needed at nearby Children's Hospital Boston, the nation's premier pediatric medical center.


Here is some info about the PMC:

The PMC Mission
The Pan-Massachusetts Challenge raises money for life-saving cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through its Jimmy Fund. The centerpiece of our fundraising effort is an annual bike-a-thon that crosses the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Committed cyclists and volunteers as well as corporate sponsors and individual contributors are essential to the PMC meeting its goals. Since its founding in 1980, the PMC has been successful in mobilizing increased support from all these constituencies. We strive to inspire even more proponents of our cause in order to raise more money and afford Dana-Farber's doctors and researchers the necessary resources to discover cures for all cancers.

[IronMike]

Come on guys, lets make this happen in a big way. What better way to get your hands on some primo flies (assorted yet) from what looks to be some really top notch tiers!

[IronMike]

Blizzard on the way, what better time to whip out the vice and put cancer on ice!

--127-3-

[IronMike]

A fly swap of five is complete jive, is anyone alive?

[IronMike]

1. IronMike
2. fcband
3. ashley
4. Bill S.
5. Juro M.
6. TimSt
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

[IronMike]

averagejoe is in!

[IronMike]

Juro Mukai is OUT! I'll hold this off a little longer for anyone else that wants in.

1. IronMike
2. fcband
3. ashley
4. Bill S.
5. TimSt
6. averagejoe
7. Fabrizio

[IronMike]

Lee G has signed up - great to have him on board this swap of selflessness ;)

8 is a great number, so I'm going to cap this now. So, pick your favorite pattern and start tying guys!

Thank you very much for being a part of this very worthwhile cause! Please tie a minimum of 12 flies (absolutely feel free to add more), the extra will be auctioned off to help benefit The Jimmy Fund.

1. IronMike
2. fcband
3. ashley
4. Bill S.
5. TimSt
6. averagejoe
7. Fabrizio
8. Lee G

[averagejoe]

So is this swap still alive? what do i do with flies

[IronMike]

Yes indeed, still on! Please get me those flies - I have 2 packages so far and they are VERY nice, thanks Bill and Tim!

I'll send you my address Joe.

PS: That avatar is hideous - bad (good?) night? :)

[IronMike]

Lee G has signed up - great to have him on board this swap of selflessness ;)

8 is a great number, so I'm going to cap this now. So, pick your favorite pattern and start tying guys!

Thank you very much for being a part of this very worthwhile cause! Please tie a minimum of 12 flies (absolutely feel free to add more), the extra will be auctioned off to help benefit The Jimmy Fund.

1. IronMike
2. fcband
3. ashley
4. Bill S.
5. TimSt
6. averagejoe
7. Fabrizio
8. Lee G

Still missing a couple here guys, please let me know what's up... on May 1st I'm going to send out what I have!

THANKS FOR PARTICIPATING!

[IronMike]

Flies going out these week! Didn't get them all, but still some nice flies heading your way guys!

[IronMike]

Fabrizio, I'm going to have to pull the cord on this, maybe next time!

Getting them out in a few guys, sorry for delay.

[IronMike]

Actually, to be specific, I only have flies from:

Ashley
Bill S.
Tim St.
Lee G
fcband

"averagejoe", are you still in? I don't mind extending this just a few more days if you can get them to me by end of week? If you already sent them and I'm simply not recognizing them, please contact me, it's possible. I have many flie packages here and sometimes people don't write their "handle" and I don't know their real names.

THANK YOU!

[IronMike]

More than average Joe is IN and flies on their way - will get them out next week fellas!

THANKS!

[IronMike]

OK Guys, the flies are on their way! AverageJoe, your PM box is full, I need your address (couldn't make it out on the envelope)!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH for participating and for being patient with the shipping out of these! Although a medium sized group participated, I have a VERY LARGE batch of flies for the Jimmy Fund Auction thanks to the generosity of each of you in making more than enough.

I will do this again next year for sure, best swap I was ever part of! :)

[IronMike]

Thank you...

TimSt
AverageJoe
Ashley
LeeG
fcband
Capt Bill!

http://webpages.charter.net/mikemahler/images/FlyAuction2006/File0003Large.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/mikemahler/images/FlyAuction2006/File0004Custom.jpg

All very nice!

For those that didn't notice, mine aren't included. Sadly, I lost my vice. Yes, LOST MY VICE. Here one minute, now gone. I assume it's some sort of Fly Tying Cat Burglar. When I find it, or buy a new one, I will send you all some flies.

THANK YOU ALL!