1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:01,840 Welcome everyone to buying local. 2 00:00:01,840 --> 00:00:04,480 I'm your host. I almost forgot my name there. 3 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:07,200 I'm your host, Mike Nelson from 5 Towers Media. 4 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:11,520 This is probably my fifth meeting, I think today so far 5 00:00:11,520 --> 00:00:15,080 it's 1:00. You know, brain's a little bit 6 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:16,960 mushy and I still got a few more so. 7 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:21,080 But I'm going to put my best foot forward here, Jacques. 8 00:00:21,080 --> 00:00:26,040 And we're going to talk about Operation Give back before I do 9 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:28,560 though, Jacques, And so that I don't Messa, even though I've 10 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:32,080 known you for I think 25 years now, I, I'm still going to mess 11 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:35,480 up your last name, brother. So if you don't mind, just 12 00:00:35,480 --> 00:00:38,960 introduce yourself to us real quick and but tell us a little 13 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:39,960 bit about who you are, what you do. 14 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:42,400 All right. Yeah, Jacquie Equie. 15 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:45,640 There it is. Spell it phonetically next time, 16 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:46,720 Michael. Have it in front of you. 17 00:00:49,160 --> 00:00:51,240 Yes, I think it's been about 25 years. 18 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:56,160 Yeah, I am the founder and creator of 4S for Life, which is 19 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:59,920 a local organization that benefits everyone dealing with 20 00:00:59,920 --> 00:01:05,200 mental health. This event itself is geared 21 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:08,240 toward our veterans, which we all know can use all the help 22 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:11,240 that they can get. But I think over the years we've 23 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:14,640 helped thousands of people. We've raised Jesus hundreds of 24 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:17,560 thousands of dollars for all different causes pertaining to 25 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:19,920 mental health. We've done an anti bullying 26 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:22,760 campaign, health and Wellness program in the Queensbury School 27 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:26,120 Operation Give Back. We've did a lot during COVID, so 28 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:28,560 sort of like you all over the place all the time, constantly 29 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:29,840 going. So yeah, man. 30 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:32,400 Got to be on that hustle, right? Gotta. 31 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:34,520 Gotta. I don't know. 32 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:38,240 I I hear from people that they talk about being bored and I I'm 33 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:39,760 just always like, what's that like? 34 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:42,200 I don't ever have time for being bored. 35 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:44,200 Yeah, I don't think you do either with all the stuff that 36 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:44,880 you got. Going on. 37 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:47,240 No, I think you know what, I was just having this conversation 38 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:50,280 with my wife the other day and I said, you know, I think, you 39 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:52,840 know, as you, you talk to men that are older and they retire 40 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:54,880 and they get and and once they lose their purpose, man, it 41 00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:57,280 seems like you look at these guys and they're just like that. 42 00:01:57,280 --> 00:01:59,560 There's no desire there. They they just lose everything. 43 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:02,240 I mean, you have to stay busy. I think it keeps us young, it 44 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:05,040 keeps us active. It keeps us, you know, sharp. 45 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:08,000 And I think, yeah, I'm going to do it until they put me in the 46 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:10,759 ground, I think, or my wife just says that's enough. 47 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:15,560 Well, I, to your point, man, I think, I think purpose is the 48 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:18,120 key component that's missing in a lot of people's lives. 49 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:23,040 I think having purpose solves a lot of problems and keeps you, 50 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:25,840 keeps you moving, gives you something to, to work for, live 51 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:28,880 for. And the purpose of our show 52 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:32,280 today is Operation Give Back. So let's, let's talk about that 53 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:33,560 man. Tell us a little bit about 54 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:37,080 Operation Give Back. All right, so Operation Give 55 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:39,800 Back is a military appreciation day. 56 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:45,600 It's a full day of music, food, raffles, such on for veterans, 57 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:48,680 their families and kids. Open to the public, 100% of the 58 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:50,800 proceeds go to local veteran organizations. 59 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:54,400 So over the last, this is Year 5, so it's a big year for us. 60 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:58,440 It's our fifth anniversary. It's consistently exponentially 61 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:00,800 built each year, but we've helped everyone from the 62 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:03,880 Adirondack Vet House, Operation at Ease, Therapeutic Horses of 63 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:08,320 Saratoga, tons of VFWS, American Legions, anything that has to 64 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:10,480 pertain to veterans that we can help in any capacity. 65 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:13,520 We like to do that. But more importantly, it's to 66 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:16,520 create a day and an atmosphere for our veterans, for them to 67 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:18,840 feel the love and support from their communities, you know, for 68 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:21,240 the sacrifices they make and to come out and have that 69 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:23,480 camaraderie, the like they had in the military, you know, share 70 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:27,960 stories, laugh and cry and just have a a great day and and a 71 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:30,040 great area. Slickman Brewing Company every 72 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:32,280 year is military owned. Chris and Heather March are 73 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:34,960 phenomenal people. They open their doors up every 74 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:36,480 year. They were one of the founding 75 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:39,720 partners, so myself, my organization, Chris and Heather 76 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:43,720 and also Alan Lapel from Vested Veteran Grill were the three 77 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:48,480 people that started it and now it's blown up to what it is now. 78 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:52,680 Yeah, yeah, yeah. And Year 5 now you guys, you 79 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:54,120 guys are packing the house over there. 80 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:55,480 Is that, is that my understanding? 81 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:58,000 And I still like I was trying to get there last year and I, I, I 82 00:03:58,160 --> 00:04:00,640 can't remember, it was something kid related ended up happening I 83 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:01,400 couldn't get. Over there. 84 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:06,440 But yeah, I think honestly, so it, it normally runs from noon 85 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:08,760 to we'll say closing, which is about 10:00 PM. 86 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:10,320 The last band is on at like 8:00. 87 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:14,480 So it's, it's solo axe in the beginning, first four hours solo 88 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:20,040 duos and then we get into some, some full bands, you know, so 89 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:23,040 it's probably like 1500 people in and out of that brewery 90 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:24,520 throughout the day at different times. 91 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:26,360 I mean, we're, we're packed at capacity. 92 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:28,400 The, the, I mean, it has a huge, if you haven't been to slick 93 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:32,240 Fin, you know, it has a tap room, but it also has a huge 94 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:36,360 outdoor back patio area with a large army surplus tent. 95 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:39,360 It's all enclosed with the flaps that are rolled up. 96 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:41,440 That's seating for people. We have the stage in the back. 97 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:43,280 There's cornhole boards, fire pits. 98 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:47,120 It's it's just a really good place to to be, to be around. 99 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:49,640 Yeah, yeah. So you guys are on Rain or 100 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:51,680 shine? Or on rain or shine, we have an 101 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:54,560 extra big tent, normally entertainment one over here in 102 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:57,000 Hudson Falls. John Myers normally donates a, 103 00:04:57,120 --> 00:05:00,240 an extra tent, so we have plenty of coverage between the two 104 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:04,840 tents and indoors. And yeah, as I said, everyone 105 00:05:04,840 --> 00:05:06,320 donates their time, all the bands. 106 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:09,520 We'll have three, hopefully three different food. 107 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:11,720 I know Al Lapel with vested Vet will be there. 108 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:13,480 I believe Stumpy's, which is right up the road. 109 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:16,640 Stumpy's Pizzeria. Amy, she's she's amazing. 110 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:18,520 Wanted to be a part of it. And I'm, I'm possibly gonna have 111 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:23,960 a third one just to, you know, cut down on lines and, you know, 112 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:26,560 give people, you know, a little variety, you know, especially 113 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:28,440 because they're bringing kids and a lot of kids don't want a 114 00:05:28,440 --> 00:05:31,360 full BBQ meal, you know, get something, you know, a small 115 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:34,120 pizza or a grilled cheese or a Mac and cheese or something 116 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:36,200 that, you know, can keep them them happy. 117 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:38,960 So the the parents can stay and and spend more money on on 118 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:40,280 raffles and silent auction items. 119 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:42,200 Right, there we go. There we go. 120 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:46,440 What is the What is the raffle in silent auction typically 121 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:49,240 consist of? So we normally get things 122 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:51,520 honestly, I've had things mailed from all over the United States, 123 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:54,720 woodworking items, tickets to events, overnight stays at 124 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:57,880 hotels. And then of course, if you've 125 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:00,120 been to fundraisers, you know, different kind of baskets, A 126 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:04,160 gardening baskets and Black Rifle Coffee company donated a 127 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:06,760 ton of stuff last year. We did 3 or 4 baskets with all 128 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:08,920 their coffee and they, they're military owned as well. 129 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:12,960 Absolutely. So, yeah, I mean, what you see 130 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:16,000 typically, you know, at the and then of course our shirts, we 131 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:18,080 have shirt sponsors of any businesses out there. 132 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:20,280 Obviously 5 Towers Media is a sponsor. 133 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:22,960 You know, you guys are on the shirt every year and it's a 134 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:25,000 great way for them to advertise because these smaller 135 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:27,040 businesses, you know, especially ones that are just starting, 136 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:29,160 when people see that you support their veterans, they're gonna 137 00:06:29,280 --> 00:06:31,080 more than likely support your business as well. 138 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:33,120 Yeah. And it's a great way to do it. 139 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:36,000 It's 100 bucks to sponsor, you know, put your logo on there for 140 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:37,680 500 shirts. I mean, that's, that's you're 141 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:39,280 not going to find cheaper advertising than that. 142 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:43,880 I think I'm a serious Jacques and I know that we've talked 143 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:48,480 about this in past years on the show, but for anyone that's just 144 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:51,320 getting introduced to Operation Give back for the first time, 145 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:55,120 how did this whole thing even come to start you? 146 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:59,840 And I think you said is it Alan from Vested veteran and. 147 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:03,840 Heather and Chris March. Yeah, you guys just. 148 00:07:03,840 --> 00:07:05,760 Sitting around having a beer one day and yeah. 149 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:10,040 I, I, yeah, we frequented. So my brother-in-law is a Marine 150 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:13,200 and you know, a lot of the, their clientele is obviously 90% 151 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:15,400 military. And we, you know, we go down and 152 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:18,080 have a, a good craft IPA, something just hang out, you 153 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:20,960 know, have a cigar Outback, you know, it's a nice place to go do 154 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:22,680 that with your, with your, with your buddies. 155 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:25,560 And I was just sitting at the bar and I was talking to Heather 156 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:28,800 and I'm looking around the the tap room and I said, wow. 157 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:32,400 I said, there's no events in the area that strictly pertain to 158 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:34,840 military where everything goes back to the military. 159 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:37,000 I said, what would you think about maybe hosting a military 160 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:39,480 appreciation day? And it was that easy. 161 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:41,240 Heather's eyes lit up and she said, you know what? 162 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:42,400 She pulled her husband Chris over. 163 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:44,080 She goes, hey, we planned it in three days. 164 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:46,000 I mean, it was just like something we we threw together 165 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:49,080 and it was like, OK. And 1st year we raised like 166 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:51,600 $3500 in four hours. It was like $1000 an hour. 167 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:54,600 It was ridiculous. And then we were like, hey, how 168 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:56,040 can you know? Obviously, like everything else, 169 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:57,600 you like to add things each year. 170 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:01,040 So then we started to add music. And it was a couple bands and 171 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:02,440 there were a couple of musicians. 172 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:04,360 And then we had to get into another food truck. 173 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:07,320 And then it went from 3500 to 8000 to 13. 174 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:09,720 Then it's, you know, it started to grow and it started to catch 175 00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:11,320 on. And people got so excited about 176 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:13,720 this event. And it goes back to what you 177 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:15,320 said, having that drive and that purpose. 178 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:18,280 But people support you such as, you know, companies such as 179 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:20,000 yourself or friends such as yourself. 180 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:22,560 And you see the excitement in their eyes about, man, I can't 181 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:25,440 wait till that event next year. It makes you that much more 182 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:27,440 excited to go. OK, what can we do to make this 183 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:30,200 even bigger and better and set aside the money aspect? 184 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:32,600 I mean, yeah, we'd love to make more each year. 185 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:35,280 But you know what, honestly, as I said to my wife, if we went in 186 00:08:35,280 --> 00:08:37,960 this year and only made $5000, it wouldn't matter. 187 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:41,080 It's to create the atmosphere that those veterans feel like 188 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:43,080 they are appreciated. And, and I think that's what's 189 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:45,640 lacking obviously in this country nowadays is, is getting, 190 00:08:45,680 --> 00:08:48,160 you know, treated like third class citizens when they, when 191 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:50,400 they come home. And I, you know, it's, it's 192 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:52,520 uncalled for. So if we can create that kind of 193 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:55,640 atmosphere for them and their families, I think it it it truly 194 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:58,000 goes a long way. Absolutely. 195 00:08:58,640 --> 00:09:02,880 And I, you know, I'm curious about, you know, obviously the 196 00:09:04,680 --> 00:09:08,480 community. Sorry, my phone started ringing 197 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:11,680 there, Jacques. I've got this new system set up 198 00:09:11,680 --> 00:09:14,160 and I don't have anything configured and like all of a 199 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:16,080 sudden everything's connected and I don't want it to be 200 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:21,440 connected. So sorry, Jacques, bear with me 201 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:21,840 here. I don't. 202 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:25,760 Know you're good, buddy. There we go. 203 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:26,680 All right. I got you back. 204 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:29,040 I I lost the window. I lost everything I couldn't. 205 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:31,000 See your Oh man, that's all. You don't need to see me. 206 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:32,920 You know what I look like. Technology, I'm supposed to be 207 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:37,840 good with this stuff. So, you know, from a community 208 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:41,960 standpoint, it really sounds like every year the community's 209 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:45,080 pitching in, whether it's people in, you know, obviously, you 210 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:47,480 know, slick fins in Fort Edward, but it's not just the Fort 211 00:09:47,480 --> 00:09:48,920 Edward community that's coming together. 212 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:53,440 Can you, can you speak a little bit to where everybody's coming 213 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:56,640 from geographically, business, why, you know, perfect walks of 214 00:09:56,640 --> 00:09:58,400 life, all that stuff. Yeah. 215 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:00,960 I mean, basically it's open, you know, for Washington, Warren, 216 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:03,040 Saratoga County, and it's slowly expanding. 217 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:06,480 You know, Fort Edward, it was great just because the brewery 218 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:08,120 was already there. And you know, like when you're 219 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:10,080 planning an event, everyone knows your most important thing 220 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:11,360 is getting your date and your venue. 221 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:14,120 So venues are always, you know, you know, it's not cheap to do a 222 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:16,000 venue for any event. You know, you're talking about 223 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:19,360 thousands of dollars, you know, to, to just even to rent it and 224 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:22,920 sometimes without food, without. So when we decided to start it, 225 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:26,040 you know, and we had the venue because Heather and Chris were 226 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:27,040 like, Hey, we're just gonna open the door. 227 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:28,160 And I'm like, wow, that just saved us. 228 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:31,120 So there's the good thing. And the reason why we can donate 229 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:32,800 everything back is there's no overhead for this. 230 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:35,760 OK so the venue is literally donated. 231 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:39,040 The food trucks donate back. I've never asked them to but 232 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:41,000 they always donate back so they make their own money. 233 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:44,000 The musicians all donate their time. 234 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:47,480 I mean if you add up what you would spend on 8 bands or 235 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:49,640 musicians. Plus my sound guy does it for 236 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:50,760 free. I have a professional sound 237 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:53,800 engineer that comes on and takes on the entire event and sets up 238 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:55,720 everything from the stage to the lineup. 239 00:10:56,640 --> 00:10:59,280 The volunteers, the women I have every year that keep coming 240 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:02,200 back, there's 8 to 10 of those. I have one of the girls softball 241 00:11:02,200 --> 00:11:04,320 teams coming to volunteer this year and do 5050. 242 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:07,000 They want to be a part of it. So I think it's it just catches 243 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:09,480 on and it's like anything else where when you're when you put 244 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:11,720 good out there and people see that they want to be a part of 245 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:14,000 something because not everyone knows how to start something, 246 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:15,840 but they can be an integral part of it. 247 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:18,160 Hey, someone else is starting. All I got to do is show up. 248 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:19,480 Hey, I want to, you know, I want to jump on. 249 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:22,520 I want to sponsor, like you said, or I want to do a raffle 250 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:25,080 basket or I just want to show up and hang out and listen to music 251 00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:26,840 and in whatever way you want to do it. 252 00:11:27,040 --> 00:11:28,960 You know, we invite people from from all over. 253 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:31,600 I mean, we work with Adirondack peer-to-peer, which is Jeremy 254 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:33,280 Dewar's. They they come out and they're, 255 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:35,960 they're another partner with us, Feeder Canal Alliance. 256 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:38,920 They start advertising. I'm going to be on Channel 10 in 257 00:11:38,920 --> 00:11:43,240 May on a new thing called Soldiers to Service with Ryan 258 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:45,320 Peterson. And we're talking about the 259 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:47,200 event, which is going to be huge exposure for us. 260 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:50,360 And that's in the Albany area, where I was born and raised. 261 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:52,640 So now people down there see me up here. 262 00:11:52,640 --> 00:11:54,800 And I've had people come up that I went to high school with their 263 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:57,560 grades going like, man, we can't believe that you are doing all 264 00:11:57,560 --> 00:11:59,440 this. I'm like, hey, you know what? 265 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:02,160 That's that was my calling. I guess somehow it found me 266 00:12:02,160 --> 00:12:04,000 along the way. And here I am. 267 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:12,680 Yeah. It's as far as putting the event 268 00:12:12,680 --> 00:12:15,200 together. I mean, logistics has got to be 269 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:18,120 the hardest thing, right? Like, how do you handle all 270 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:20,320 these different groups, all these different people, bringing 271 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:23,160 them all together, getting them there, you know, attendance? 272 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:27,640 How does that all work? Well, so it's funny because once 273 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:31,000 we get done with the event, like last year's event, at the end of 274 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:33,120 the night when I was sitting hanging out, I started hitting 275 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:35,960 up my musicians that night and saying anyone that wants to come 276 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:36,880 back, let me know. Now. 277 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:39,120 I went right to my sound guy. Are you in for next year? 278 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:40,640 Yup. I already knew Chris and Heather 279 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:42,240 were in, talked to the food truck. 280 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:43,640 It's always about staying ahead of it. 281 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:48,160 So like right now, obviously venues done I have to IBS is 282 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:51,200 they donate a couple of porta Johns for us because it's for 283 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:52,920 veterans to help some of that capacity. 284 00:12:52,920 --> 00:12:55,480 So when you have people like that, I have a volunteer 285 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:57,160 coordinator who I just reach out to her. 286 00:12:57,160 --> 00:12:59,920 I put them in a group message. So what you do is you delegate 287 00:12:59,920 --> 00:13:02,200 sort of like, I mean, you know this, you delegate. 288 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:04,160 So you have a volunteer coordinator, they take care of 289 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:06,440 all the volunteers setting up the baskets, setting up the 290 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:09,120 auction items, doing the raffle tickets, getting the T-shirts 291 00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:10,360 ready. They do all of that. 292 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:12,320 Now. Your sound engineer takes care 293 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:14,240 of all the music. They do the line up, the stage, 294 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:16,800 the sound system. OK, another problem, Heather and 295 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:18,880 Chris, the brewery is self-sufficient. 296 00:13:18,880 --> 00:13:20,920 It takes care of its own. Their staff takes care of the 297 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:23,600 beer and and other things. The food trucks are their own 298 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:25,640 separate entities. So they bring their own staff. 299 00:13:25,680 --> 00:13:27,240 All they do is say where do I set up? 300 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:28,920 Here you are. They're good. 301 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:31,760 All I have to do is is go up and network, which is what I want to 302 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:32,960 do. I just want to be able to sit 303 00:13:32,960 --> 00:13:35,920 around and talk to these veterans and learn about them 304 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:39,200 and their stories and just just enjoy the day. 305 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:43,000 And, and you know, if you, if you delegated properly, I think, 306 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:44,880 and you have the right people. I mean, without any of these 307 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:46,960 partners, this doesn't work. You take Heather and Chris out, 308 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:49,680 you take Alan out, you take the sound guy, it doesn't work. 309 00:13:49,680 --> 00:13:51,720 It's, it's a team effort. I mean, and, and that's what it 310 00:13:51,720 --> 00:13:53,280 is. We have a very, very strong, 311 00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:56,240 cohesive team that puts this event together each year. 312 00:13:56,240 --> 00:13:57,880 And I couldn't do it without any of them. 313 00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:02,520 Amazing. What, Jock, as far as when 314 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:05,520 you're looking at what to do with the funds each year, how, 315 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:11,160 how do you evaluate who's the most needing or where the 316 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:13,120 money's going to go? Like what does that look like? 317 00:14:13,520 --> 00:14:16,080 So we normally reach out. We'll, we'll put feelers out a 318 00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:18,560 couple months before people that don't know it. 319 00:14:18,560 --> 00:14:22,480 A lot of the military organizations do know now who we 320 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:24,200 are and what we do. So they'll start reaching out. 321 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:27,000 Hey, and you know, they'll, they'll give us a background. 322 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:31,040 And So what we do is each partner picks a beneficiary. 323 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:32,360 So that makes it fair across the board. 324 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:34,200 So I'll pick one. Chris and Heather pick their 325 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:38,120 own, Ellen picks one. We normally try to do 4. 326 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:41,240 I think like we did 4 last year. I think it was either 4 or $5000 327 00:14:41,240 --> 00:14:43,840 to each organization. We do a check presentation right 328 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:46,880 at Slick Fin. So sometimes it's not just neat, 329 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:49,000 it's it's, it's who's in the area where I know where the 330 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:51,320 money's going to. Like I'll use the vet house, the 331 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:53,120 ad running vet house by run by Jeff Varmet. 332 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:55,800 He coached all my boys in wrestling for 30 years. 333 00:14:56,720 --> 00:14:58,600 He's a Marine. But I know exactly where that 334 00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:01,120 money's going here locally. I know what he does at the vet 335 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:04,800 house where somebody like Wounded Warrior, we would never 336 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:06,360 donate to. And I don't mean to say that 337 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:10,680 negatively, but when your CEO makes 6 figures on a nonprofit 338 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:13,240 organization, that makes me a little leery of where that 339 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:16,000 money's going. So I wanted to go to, I want to 340 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:17,440 keep it local. And that, that's huge. 341 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:19,840 When someone like yourself say if you came with your wife or 342 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:21,920 kids and you came or hanging out, you want to know your money 343 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:24,120 stays in our community. It's not going to Iowa or 344 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:25,800 California. It's staying right here to take 345 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:28,600 care of our veterans. We have to look out, you know, 346 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:29,800 for the people in our communities. 347 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:30,960 And I think that's very important. 348 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:33,720 Yeah, absolutely. And little shout out to the 349 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:36,760 Adirondack Vets House too. We actually, we, we host their 350 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:40,160 website for free because they're a veteran organization and and 351 00:15:40,160 --> 00:15:43,000 try to help those guys out with. We don't ever hear from them 352 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:45,240 because they don't need much from us, but we know we're 353 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:47,880 always there when they do appreciate what they do. 354 00:15:47,880 --> 00:15:53,480 Obviously great organization and, and great cause it's, and 355 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:56,800 I, I love what you said though, like as far as being able to 356 00:15:56,800 --> 00:15:59,320 make sure that that money is, you know where it's going, 357 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:00,880 right? Like it's going to have impact. 358 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:04,800 Cause to your point at, I mean, I think everybody at this point 359 00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:08,400 has read stories about larger organizations that do all this 360 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:11,280 fundraising. And then a small, small 361 00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:13,840 percentage of that money actually goes to where you think 362 00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:15,840 it's going to go to help the people you think it's going to 363 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:19,400 help, right? So knowing that it is going to 364 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:24,200 go back and actually help real people, right and it's not not 365 00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:29,080 not paying for a CE OS, you know, expensive lifestyle or 366 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:31,760 whatever it is, but. I think, yeah, you know, and 367 00:16:31,760 --> 00:16:33,800 that's the thing, you know, when when I asked for those sponsor, 368 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:35,680 you know, especially the local businesses, they want to know if 369 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:37,280 they're sponsoring, you know, veterans here. 370 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:41,120 And, you know, the bigger scheme of things, you always hope that 371 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:43,600 maybe someone in a different town saw what you were doing and 372 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:46,560 it it could still happen and go, hey, we might want to do that in 373 00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:48,000 our. And that's what you hope for. 374 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:50,000 I mean, when you start something like this, you're hoping like 375 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:53,000 maybe Bennington, Vt make, you know, using them as an example, 376 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:55,440 saying, hey, they're doing this in in upstate New York. 377 00:16:55,440 --> 00:16:57,040 Why don't we do something like this for our veterans? 378 00:16:57,440 --> 00:17:00,800 You know, my ultimate goal would be to if I could just travel 379 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:03,360 around and set up these events and help get them started, I 380 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:04,960 would do that. I mean, I would be open to that. 381 00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:07,560 And I think it would be, it would be great because they 382 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:08,960 could do it right in their own community. 383 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:11,599 So rather than try to ask the, the state or the federal 384 00:17:11,599 --> 00:17:13,760 government for money for your veterans, do it. 385 00:17:13,839 --> 00:17:16,319 Your do it yourself, go out. I mean, we raise money for 386 00:17:16,319 --> 00:17:17,920 everything right from cancer to the South High. 387 00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:21,119 I mean, South High dance 700 and $1000. 388 00:17:21,119 --> 00:17:23,599 I mean, it's like, you know what the veterans could do with 700 389 00:17:23,599 --> 00:17:24,920 and something, $1000. I. 390 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:27,079 Mean and they do a great job, but same thing. 391 00:17:27,079 --> 00:17:31,320 Our veterans deserve the same type of, you know, support. 392 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:35,120 So I, you know, I think that it's very important that to keep 393 00:17:35,120 --> 00:17:36,960 it local and like I said, not expand too much. 394 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:38,760 So we're in Washington, Saratoga County. 395 00:17:38,760 --> 00:17:42,400 We try to keep it right in that in that scheme of things. 396 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:45,600 And I think it'll continue to grow and we'll see where it 397 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:47,360 goes. Maybe I have to expand and it 398 00:17:47,360 --> 00:17:49,040 may outgrow the brewery. I might have to make it at 399 00:17:49,040 --> 00:17:52,920 multiple locations, which was a thought this year, but I don't 400 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:56,000 want to spread myself too thin. So it's then it's then it's 401 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:58,400 compiling two different events, even though it's under the same 402 00:17:58,400 --> 00:17:59,160 umbrella. You have to have. 403 00:17:59,160 --> 00:18:01,120 Oh, yeah, it's a whole new, yeah, you got to have a point 404 00:18:01,120 --> 00:18:03,520 person here and somebody here. So I was like, you know what? 405 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:07,560 So what we're doing is we're doing 2 friends of mine, Brianna 406 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:09,440 and Lance Bergman, who come to every event. 407 00:18:10,240 --> 00:18:13,160 They are doing something called. There's a bowling tournament on 408 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:15,560 April 11th at Broadway Lanes in Fort Everett. 409 00:18:15,560 --> 00:18:18,440 It's called No Pins Left Behind. I thought it was a catchy name 410 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:22,480 as like no man left behind. But anyway, it's, it's in the 411 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:24,240 afternoon. It's a Saturday, I believe it's 412 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:26,760 like 1 to 4. It's 4 veterans and their 413 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:28,160 families, but it's open to the public. 414 00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:30,440 I'll have a DJ. We're going to do a 5050. 415 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:33,280 That money will probably donate to the Marine Corps League, 416 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:35,040 which I'm now a part of. I'm doing some of their 417 00:18:35,040 --> 00:18:37,200 fundraising for the US Marine Corps League. 418 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:40,600 So we're tying in and it continues to grow and more and 419 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:43,560 more people want to be involved and we need to grow those ranks 420 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:46,880 in the American Legions, the VFWS that have the, that older, 421 00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:49,480 that older group, the younger guys don't want to get into it 422 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:50,640 as much. And I think we need to get 423 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:52,960 something to attract them into it and show them the importance 424 00:18:52,960 --> 00:18:56,560 of building those ranks because there is a lot of help out there 425 00:18:56,560 --> 00:18:58,560 for the veterans, if they seek it, if they, you know, if they 426 00:18:58,560 --> 00:19:00,920 choose to, to look for it, there is a lot of help. 427 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:03,680 And I, I realize that going to my first Marine Corps League 428 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:08,440 meeting as a civilian, because as I said, my brother-in-law is 429 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:11,120 a Marine, my family's military, my wife's family is all 430 00:19:11,120 --> 00:19:13,840 military. But for what I do in the 431 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:15,960 community, they wanted me to be a part of it. 432 00:19:15,960 --> 00:19:18,560 And I was honored to be, you know, brought into that to that 433 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:21,920 family and be able to witness these guys doing what they do. 434 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:23,280 They do Toys for Tots every year. 435 00:19:23,280 --> 00:19:26,480 They do a lot for the community. So I think I'm going to make 436 00:19:26,480 --> 00:19:29,360 them my beneficiary from give back this year and donate back 437 00:19:29,360 --> 00:19:31,080 to the the Marine Corps League and what they do. 438 00:19:32,080 --> 00:19:34,760 That's amazing. And you know what, in some of 439 00:19:34,760 --> 00:19:38,680 what you're saying, I, you know, really resonates with us at at 5 440 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:40,560 towers. You know, we, one of the reasons 441 00:19:40,560 --> 00:19:43,600 why we started buying local to begin with is because we truly, 442 00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:49,160 truly, truly believe that if everybody focused on their 443 00:19:49,160 --> 00:19:53,200 community and making their own communities better, if everybody 444 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:56,360 did that, if every community did that, what a world we would live 445 00:19:56,360 --> 00:20:00,000 in, right? And so we obviously love 446 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:03,000 anything local. We love anything that is 447 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:06,360 supporting local businesses, local causes, local people, 448 00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:09,320 anything that uplifts, uplifts our local community, you know, 449 00:20:09,320 --> 00:20:12,000 we're 1000% behind it. So I love it, man. 450 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:13,120 I think what you're doing is great. 451 00:20:13,760 --> 00:20:16,080 Well, all you guys are doing is great at, you know, at Heather 452 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:20,840 and Chris over at Slickfinn. Great beer, great people, you 453 00:20:20,840 --> 00:20:24,080 know. And I just, I just think it's 454 00:20:24,080 --> 00:20:25,920 such a great event. So we're we're super excited to 455 00:20:25,920 --> 00:20:29,200 be involved, even the small part that we're involved in it so. 456 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:31,360 No, and I appreciate that. I mean, like you said, we've 457 00:20:31,360 --> 00:20:32,280 known each other for a long time. 458 00:20:32,280 --> 00:20:34,160 You Remember Me from starting out for us for life. 459 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:36,640 And when I just started out, you know, we've had a lot of 460 00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:38,320 discussions. We used to meet at coffee over 461 00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:41,400 at crew and had our chats and you know, we're very similar. 462 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:44,200 Our background, the way we are, the type of man, you know, men 463 00:20:44,200 --> 00:20:46,280 that we are, that you know, the type of belief system we have. 464 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:48,920 We've always, you know, thought about, you know, the same thing. 465 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:51,120 We have the same vision, I think, and a lot of aspects. 466 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:54,920 So I appreciate that and and the website and I had some other 467 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:56,160 things. I have to get back on there 468 00:20:56,160 --> 00:20:58,760 'cause I have stuff to add, you know, for this year's event, 469 00:20:58,760 --> 00:21:00,960 just to get it updated. Yeah, let's get that site 470 00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:02,520 updated. 'Cause I think there's a Jeremy 471 00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:04,600 that I think he's the one that e-mail. 472 00:21:04,600 --> 00:21:07,320 Is there a Jeremy? Jeremy's one of our guys, yeah, 473 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:11,040 he's, he does like a lot of our SEO and and web. 474 00:21:11,120 --> 00:21:13,640 He probably might have emailed you about a late update or 475 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:16,960 something that we did, but yeah, send it on over man. 476 00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:20,360 We'll get that stuff updated and get some fresh pictures on there 477 00:21:20,360 --> 00:21:22,800 and I'm sure we got a change of date on there, right. 478 00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:24,240 What's what's the date for the update? 479 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:26,520 So. The date is May 16th. 480 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:29,400 May 16th. Yeah, but we used to we so 481 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:31,320 every. So here's the the thing that got 482 00:21:31,320 --> 00:21:33,800 me so last every year we've done it on Mother's Day weekend and 483 00:21:33,800 --> 00:21:36,560 it's been a banger like every. Obviously it's grown. 484 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:39,640 And the problem is, is that Heather being a mom and her 485 00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:42,440 birthday is the next day, she always gets stuck working it. 486 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:44,400 So I talked to her this year and I said, you know what? 487 00:21:44,680 --> 00:21:47,120 I said, why don't we give everyone a break and we'll do it 488 00:21:47,120 --> 00:21:48,320 in. So we're doing it in between 489 00:21:48,320 --> 00:21:51,080 Mother's Day and Memorial Day. So I don't think it's going to 490 00:21:51,080 --> 00:21:52,680 affect anything. I mean, if people are going to 491 00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:53,480 come out, they're going to come out. 492 00:21:53,480 --> 00:21:55,360 Doesn't matter if you switch the date, they're coming out for the 493 00:21:55,360 --> 00:21:58,920 cause. So as I said, the bowling event 494 00:21:58,920 --> 00:22:00,720 is like a kickoff. It's something that they wanted 495 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:03,240 to do for the event. So it's a kickoff for operation 496 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:06,760 give back. It's about a month before and 497 00:22:06,760 --> 00:22:07,760 I'll have some information there. 498 00:22:07,760 --> 00:22:10,360 I'll have the last couple years shirts I'm going to sell though. 499 00:22:10,560 --> 00:22:13,200 Anything that we sell goes right to the, you know, to the cause, 500 00:22:14,120 --> 00:22:16,720 but I'll be on hand and talk to people about the event, what we 501 00:22:16,720 --> 00:22:18,640 do. There's limited sponsorships 502 00:22:18,640 --> 00:22:20,400 available. Businesses are a contact. 503 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:22,440 I mean my phone's blowing up. I mean it's just people just 504 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:24,400 want to be on the shirt. They will like, how can we help? 505 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:27,480 And so it's amazing to to have that kind of support when you're 506 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:30,200 doing something local and know that the community stands and 507 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:33,400 believes in what you're doing. You know that means a lot. 508 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:35,440 So that's what keeps pushing it forward, I think. 509 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:38,160 Absolutely. So May 16th, what's the time 510 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:40,440 again? Starts at noon and goes all day, 511 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:43,840 so it's all day event. Live music all day. 512 00:22:43,840 --> 00:22:46,200 Like I said, two or three food trucks. 513 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:50,200 We'll have the raffle, silent auctions, there's no charge to 514 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:51,720 get in. It's just you walk in the 515 00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:53,720 brewery, come on. And actually the other thing is 516 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:59,600 so Adirondack peer-to-peer every year, Jeremy, they, Jeremy 517 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:02,880 Dewar's over there, they buy the 1st $1000 in food. 518 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:05,880 So what they do is for veterans, they'll give you vouchers so 519 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:07,520 they'll pay it ahead. So say if you were to come in, 520 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:09,840 you're a veteran, you go up, you tell them where, which, you 521 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:11,440 know, which food truck you want it for, they give you. 522 00:23:11,480 --> 00:23:13,240 So you get a free meal on peer-to-peer. 523 00:23:13,240 --> 00:23:15,480 So I mean, that's, that's a huge thing. 524 00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:17,240 The 1st $1000 in food is already paid for. 525 00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:19,080 So, you know, you get in the door, you get a, you know, you 526 00:23:19,080 --> 00:23:21,080 get a quick snack, you have a great beer from Slick and you 527 00:23:21,080 --> 00:23:23,920 listen to some great music, take a shot at a raffle. 528 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:25,800 And then, you know, even by the end of the night last year, the 529 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:28,520 band still had, I, I guarantee you there was probably still 100 530 00:23:28,520 --> 00:23:31,200 and 150 people there right up till, you know, 93010 O'clock 531 00:23:31,200 --> 00:23:35,040 still listen to that last band. So, yeah, it's, it's, it's, it's 532 00:23:35,040 --> 00:23:36,200 crazy. It's it's amazing. 533 00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:40,600 Love it, love it, love it. What if people want to get a 534 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:41,800 hold of you? They want to learn more about 535 00:23:41,800 --> 00:23:43,760 the event, maybe they want to donate, they want to get 536 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:44,960 involved. How do they find you? 537 00:23:46,840 --> 00:23:50,960 I'm easy to find, Mike, you know that I'm easy to find. 538 00:23:50,960 --> 00:23:53,920 No, you can you can go on the 4S for life page. 539 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:56,640 You can find me social media. You know, I'm I'm on Facebook 540 00:23:56,640 --> 00:23:59,440 and Instagram. Just message me. 541 00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:01,800 I'm always posting. You know, if you, if you follow 542 00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:04,760 me, a lot of people that we know are very similar. 543 00:24:04,760 --> 00:24:06,000 So they follow it and they see it. 544 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:09,920 So the event page will be up probably within the next week. 545 00:24:09,920 --> 00:24:11,600 The event page will be all over social media. 546 00:24:13,040 --> 00:24:15,080 And you know, like I said, anybody that wants to, you know, 547 00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:17,480 we're going to be looking for baskets for the raffles, silent 548 00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:20,080 auction items. Again, 100% of the proceeds go 549 00:24:20,080 --> 00:24:22,280 right back to local veteran organizations. 550 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:25,360 That's very important. And you know, we just come on 551 00:24:25,360 --> 00:24:27,400 out and have a good time. And, you know, if you haven't 552 00:24:27,400 --> 00:24:29,760 been to Slick Fin, come on out, try a great beer, some great 553 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:31,560 food. I just be around some great 554 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:33,040 people. I mean that that's truly what, 555 00:24:33,040 --> 00:24:36,000 what any event should be about. It's the money is the secondary 556 00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:38,400 aspect. I mean, it's always nice, as I 557 00:24:38,400 --> 00:24:41,800 said, you know, to raise the money and help what you can. 558 00:24:41,800 --> 00:24:45,360 So we'd love, you know, to, to make a ton of money. 559 00:24:45,360 --> 00:24:48,360 But the the importance of the day 'cause we always do it like 560 00:24:48,360 --> 00:24:50,680 a moment of silence about halfway through while one of my 561 00:24:51,120 --> 00:24:53,600 musicians plays the Star Spangled Banner and on his 562 00:24:53,600 --> 00:24:57,040 guitar and we do a moment of silence for all those soldiers 563 00:24:57,040 --> 00:24:59,840 that have made the ultimate sacrifice and we honor them as 564 00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:01,640 well. So it, it, it brings everything 565 00:25:01,640 --> 00:25:04,320 together a lot, a lot of tears. Last year I had AI picked out a 566 00:25:04,320 --> 00:25:07,520 song and probably it was a song. I'm trying to think it might 567 00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:09,760 have been, it was Tim McGraw. It's anything. 568 00:25:09,760 --> 00:25:11,240 It's, it's about a soldier coming home. 569 00:25:11,240 --> 00:25:12,280 I can't think of the name of the song. 570 00:25:12,280 --> 00:25:15,280 And they bury him up on the end of the road where he grew up. 571 00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:18,000 And I and I had more veterans come up and it was, it was 572 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:19,960 silent, but I didn't know it would have that effect. 573 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:23,600 It was a good effect, but it was just like man, and to see all 574 00:25:23,600 --> 00:25:27,720 these guys really show their true humanity and not have that 575 00:25:28,120 --> 00:25:29,360 AI have to be tough for everybody. 576 00:25:29,440 --> 00:25:32,960 It was really good to see them just just be a a human being and 577 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:35,360 just and just just be part of the day. 578 00:25:36,040 --> 00:25:41,880 Yeah, love it man and website is operation give back dot US. 579 00:25:42,320 --> 00:25:47,840 Yes. And then the S4S page is on 580 00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:48,880 Facebook. What is that again? 581 00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:53,320 For ask for life is on yeah, it's on Facebook and the link to 582 00:25:53,320 --> 00:25:56,280 the website is on that page so you can find it right on that 583 00:25:56,280 --> 00:26:00,840 page and I will get you the the new date I'll get you as soon as 584 00:26:00,840 --> 00:26:03,800 I get the lineup food, like any pertinent information you need 585 00:26:03,800 --> 00:26:06,280 for the website that you guys help create, I'll get that up. 586 00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:09,560 So if people want to visit that, that'll be a direct link right 587 00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:12,560 to the event and they can, you know, see the shirts this year 588 00:26:12,560 --> 00:26:15,000 and the the sponsors and and everything else so. 589 00:26:15,560 --> 00:26:16,760 Amazing. Love it. 590 00:26:17,680 --> 00:26:20,840 Jock, thanks for coming on man, giving us the update and talking 591 00:26:20,840 --> 00:26:22,800 about the events. Always good to see your face. 592 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:24,720 Oh, it's always good to see you. We'll have to catch up on these 593 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:26,440 days when we're not doing anything. 594 00:26:26,640 --> 00:26:28,480 I know we'll have to do it. We'll have to actually do it 595 00:26:28,480 --> 00:26:31,840 live instead of overcoming here. You know. 596 00:26:32,240 --> 00:26:34,680 Spending my whole life on Zoom meetings these days, Jacques, 597 00:26:34,680 --> 00:26:37,560 It's, you know. It's amazing how technologies 598 00:26:37,560 --> 00:26:39,400 come to Zoom like you used to have to do it. 599 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:41,400 And you know, I think you're the same way I am. 600 00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:43,600 Like I don't mind the zoom because it does help because 601 00:26:43,640 --> 00:26:46,920 we're so busy, but I, you know, I do, I would always and I 602 00:26:46,920 --> 00:26:49,880 always tell people I want to do coffee, but I like, I love to 603 00:26:49,880 --> 00:26:51,880 have that personal touch with a conversation, no matter what 604 00:26:51,880 --> 00:26:54,640 we're talking about, just to have that personal interaction. 605 00:26:54,640 --> 00:26:57,560 I think is very important to keep us connected as, you know, 606 00:26:57,600 --> 00:27:00,640 as, as, as human beings, because I think we lose it sort we 607 00:27:00,640 --> 00:27:04,160 don't, but we do. And I think it's, it's important 608 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:06,880 to, to catch up every once in a while with people and, and, and 609 00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:10,560 definitely make that, you know, that, you know, try to squeeze 610 00:27:10,560 --> 00:27:11,720 it in because I know you're busy. 611 00:27:11,720 --> 00:27:13,120 Like I said, thank you for squeezing me in. 612 00:27:13,120 --> 00:27:15,480 And I was, I just happened to to think about it. 613 00:27:15,480 --> 00:27:17,480 I was at the Gold Star meeting the other night because one of 614 00:27:17,480 --> 00:27:20,120 my friends, one of my wife's friends is in that group. 615 00:27:20,120 --> 00:27:24,360 Tracy punted her so and she invited me and I went to talk to 616 00:27:24,360 --> 00:27:25,800 them. And we were, I was talking at 617 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:27,840 the time to Matt and I was like, Oh yeah, I already talked to 618 00:27:27,840 --> 00:27:29,000 Mike. And then when everything. 619 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:31,080 And I was like, OK, yeah, I got to get a hold of Mike now. 620 00:27:31,120 --> 00:27:33,360 And you're like, oh, so, so thank you for squeezing me in 621 00:27:33,360 --> 00:27:34,760 because I was worried. All of a sudden I was like, oh, 622 00:27:34,760 --> 00:27:36,480 what are we going to do now? Because you were like, I'm 623 00:27:36,480 --> 00:27:38,120 booked up in March. So I'm like, oh, crap. 624 00:27:38,120 --> 00:27:39,560 And you're like, no, I'll get you into my guard. 625 00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:42,400 So I appreciate. That man, I'll always make time 626 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:46,920 for you, my man and, and I any time for causes like this and, 627 00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:50,480 and helping our veterans. So happy to do it and happy and 628 00:27:50,480 --> 00:27:52,440 glad that we got to jump on here, man. 629 00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:53,600 So thanks a lot all. Right. 630 00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:56,560 I appreciate it, Blake. And of course, thanks everybody 631 00:27:56,560 --> 00:27:58,200 for listening. You know, you can find this 632 00:27:58,200 --> 00:28:01,000 episode and other episodes at buying local dot US. 633 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:03,480 You can listen to our podcast, Apple, Spotify. 634 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:08,600 You can take a look at Jacques and my the ugly mugs here on on 635 00:28:08,640 --> 00:28:11,040 the video if you want on YouTube and rumble. 636 00:28:11,040 --> 00:28:13,080 And, you know, we appreciate everybody listening. 637 00:28:13,400 --> 00:28:15,920 You know, don't be afraid to share the show, send it to a 638 00:28:15,920 --> 00:28:18,400 friend, like subscribe all those fun things. 639 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:20,920 And again, we appreciate everybody for listening and 640 00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:22,920 everybody for viewing. So thanks a lot everybody.