Well, the time has come everyone! The first draft of the 2015 OFC Calendar went to the editors today. Of course, in order for this project to fly at all, I need to know how many to order. So here's the deal:

The cost for the calendars in the continental United States will be $18.50. This includes the calendar, shipping fees, and Paypal fees with the exception regarding international shipping detailed immediately below.

I know many of our overseas members have inquired about shipping, but I can only provide a ballpark figure based on the U.S. Postal Service website. I can estimate the size and weight of course, but beyond that it is pure guesswork. From what I can tell, shipping to Europe and Australia will run about $12 extra to send it via First Class mail. (I know, I know! The shipping costs are nearly as much as the calendar! But there is little I can do about it.) Of course I can try to combine orders and ship for those who can easily get them around to each other. So when you order, please be sure to remind me if you are overseas so I can budget everything accordingly.

I do have one uncomfortable confession to make. As I started this project so late, and then had hand surgery to recover from, I am going to be cutting it close to get them to you for Christmas. I promise that I will move them out promptly once they have been printed, but I am being told it's a four week turnaround. 'Tis the season I guess.

What this means is that the sooner I receive payment the better, so I can have the envelope/box addressed and ready to go the minute I pick up the calendars.

This is important! The spreadsheet I use to track everything is sorted by your OFC user name. Please be certain to include it however you contact me so I can keep records straight. This is especially important if you communicate via email.

Payments can be made via Paypal to:

ofc-calendar@patchworkmcg.com

I would prefer not to post my address on an open internet forum. So if you prefer to send a check or money order, please contact me via email and let me know. Email is best; as last year I could not empty my PM box fast enough to keep up with the orders. Again, use ofc-calendar@patchworkmcg.com.


Be certain of course to include your shipping address when you order

A BIG thank you to all who have ordered already. I responded to everyone so far as I know, so if you did not hear back form me, send me an email to verify that your money came through and that I have the occasional brain lapse when it comes to communication.

Please keep the orders coming as we are not yet at the 50 copies threshold that makes this project workable. We are close though. It should go without saying that I only have pre-orders and last year's figures with which to estimate a total print number. Once I have placed the order, there will be a fixed number of copies available. So....the sooner you order, the better.

I have aspirations of driving south today to personally drop of the "very large" file at the press personally. But we'll see as several things must fall into place first.

Paypal sent Patch.   

I plan to drop off what I hope is the final draft tomorrow. So I'll need to finalize the order soon.

That means I need to get everyone's orders ASAP in order to calculate the total number of calendars needed, otherwise I have to guess and might come up short. It certainly would not be the first time.

If you have to put off payment for a week or so, I understand. Just let me know via email how many you want and when to expect payment. That will at least give me an idea of the number needed.

ditto 

I plan on placing the order tomorrow, so get yours in while you can. Once they are ordered, the quantity will be fixed.

FWIW, there are a surprising number of new members who have ordered their first calendar. That's great to see.

Also, though it probably goes without saying, ...

You people have some DARN FINE guitars out there!

I just got proofs from the printer. They look quite nice in my humble, yet biased, opinion.

If my math is correct, we have fewer than 20 calendars left.

Order while you can everyone. Once they're gone, they're gone for good!

Four more were spoken for today. The supply will be running thin soon.

If it helps Mark, I had a bit of fun writing about your backgrounds......

I anticipate receiving the finished product within a week. Who else wants one......or three?

I got word yesterday that I can pick them up sometime on Monday. If I can get them early enough, I will also ship them out that afternoon. Any other orders?

Thanks for the concern Arumako. There are no issues with the roads this week. The only thing slowing me down is the orthopedic boot on my foot that I'm not supposed to put any weight on because of a chipped bone.

My doc's not going to be thrilled with my nearly complete inability to follow instructions I'm afraid.

Alright, here's the eleventh-hour plan.

As far as I know, the calendars will be ready for pick-up some time tomorrow afternoon. I have already labeled the envelopes and boxes for everyone who has ordered. Hence, I will go directly from the printer to the Post Office if there is enough time. For those who are unaware, the calendars come from a professional service, not an office store or some such. It is actually an hour drive for me to get there, so I anticipate this errand chewing up most of the afternoon start-to-finsh.

That being said, I will also check my emails one last time before leaving to pick everything up, so if you order before then, I can get your calendar out with everyone else's. Otherwise, it is hard to say exactly when new orders can be shipped as I will be travelling for the holidays. My family does not have internet so I cannot promise to get any new orders placed after Christmas on their way in a timely fashion. (I do try to check my email when I can at public access points.......usually Starbucks.....I'm a coffee fiend, sue me.)

For all those who have ordered already, I sincerely apologize for the late start of this year's project. Thank you all for your patience. I hope you feel it to be rewarded when you see the finished product.

I no got smart phone.

I no want smart phone.

Well, it's not the first bad news of the season (I'm already in an orthopedic boot for the next 6 weeks.), but I'm just now told they won't be ready until tomorrow afternoon.

Sorry again everyone.

They're on their way.

Thank you kindly to everyone who contributed!

Thank you kindly to all who purchased copies!

I wish I could have used all of the pictures submitted, but there is only so much space. I'll tell you what: There are some VERY nice instruments on this forum!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Calendar arrived today, it's awesome!   x 12 

Great job Patch!! 

Thank you everyone for your kind compliments. I apologize for not responding sooner, but I have been out of the internet realm through the holidays visiting family up and down the east coast.

I'm glad you are all pleased with the result.....I admit, I always worry a bit.

Bernie,

My mailing list is at my office. I'll check tomorrow and verify the shipping address. Keep your eye on your PM box.

Patch

Glad to hear it Bernie.

For everyone else:

I have ONE calendar left. First come, first served.

This is the last chance to get a copy of the 2015 Ovation Fan Club Calendar.

And just like that, the last one is claimed!

Thank you again to everyone who submitted pictures and everyone who got copies. We'll see how next year works out. However, if there is one, I promise to get started in plenty of time this time. This one turned out to be a much greater challenge than the previous ones just because of the time crunch. I usually take about four months to do what I did in six weeks. And then, just two days before I picked them up, stuffed them in envelopes, and took them to the Post Office, I tore up my ankle and chipped a bone in my foot, landing me in an orthopedic boot with crutches. THEN, for the first time, I had to replace several that disappeared in transit, were left by postal workers to sit in the rain, along with other vagueries of shipping. THEN, I found out that I clean left two people off the shipping list somehow! (Possibly the pain meds for my foot were involved, I dunno.)

Anyway, I'm giving myself plenty of time if I do this again. So expect a new thread around the beginning of summer....maybe.

Thanks again everyone! I hope you get a year's worth of enjoyment out of them.

2013 is there as well Mark. I've always thought it was worth keeping a record online.

Glad you like it Nick! Thanks for the compliments.