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Page 12 www.DesertMessenger.com Vendor Welcome huge success By Shanana Rain Golden-Bear Quartzsite, Arizona - A hearty group of caring volunteers set out to welcome Quartzsite vendors during "Peak Week". The huge project included volunteers delivering small Welcome Bags to vendors at the various shows and swap meets around Quartzsite. In the weeks leading up to "Peak Week", the volunteers also stuffed approximately 1500 bags, containing a "Q" collector's pin, Vendor Survey designed by Dennis Kuehl and the Vendor Board, Quartzsite's Care Watch SOCK-IT-TO-ME ssock ED! lity Qua E PRICSOCKS U VAL IABETIC KD K Clog Sandals- Men's & Ladies K Gurkee Sandals K Perry Suspenders K Reversible Women's Vests K Bling Zipper Vests K Large Selection of Beautiful Scarves K Bling Women's Hats One of a kind hand dyed/hand painted Jackets PLUS lots of matching accessories TYSON WELLS CENTRE FRONT ROW - E. KUEHN 800-565-7593 information, Quartzsite Brochures, a pen, and Vendor Application w/return envelope for next season. Last week the Town provided the volunteers with an appreciation lunch, listened to concerns raised, creative suggestions and gathered all the information. The Vendor Board and Health & Development Board will then process the results, before presenting to Town Council. The one thing all volunteers agreed upon was how the vendors really appreciated the kind gesture, of just saying, "Thank you for being here." Not only were the vendors showing gratitude to the volunteers with smiles, hugs and small gifts, but surrounding shoppers were positively affected by the exchange. Last Januray, vendors reported that Jennifer Jones and then-candidate-for-mayor Ed Foster were visiting them stressing how bad everything was and that the Town didn't want them. Vendors complained they were driving away sales with their "trash talk". When the Health & Development Board discovered what was happening, they combined efforts with the Vendor Board, and the Vendor Welcome Committee was born. A huge thank you to Sean Hyun Nam of Nuport Gifts, who designed, printed and gave us a great discount on the Tshirts, which are available for sale at his location just north of the Main Post Office. Thank you to Frank Lauer, Beth Praast, and Skip Gallup for their financial support and purchase the T-shirts. This project could not have happened without the cooperation of many Town February 6, 2013 employees, including Laura Bruno, Beverly Cunningham, Beth Praast, Steve Heinrichs, & Suzan Fonda, along with members of the Health & Development Board and the RV Parks, Swap Meets & Vendor Board. This year, vendors and their customers were shown by local and snowbird volunteers that Quartzsite really does want the vendors. The Town receives no direct property tax money, and survives on sales tax revenue generated from vendors, businesses and fuel sales. Thank you to all the volunteers and sponsors of Vendor Welcome Committee who took time out of their days to send a message of gratitude for our winter visitors. Illness affected a few volunteers, but a huge thank you goes out to everyone who helped in the Vendor Welcoming Commitee: Barbara Bowman, Beverly Cunningham, Beth Praast, Carolyn Guthrie, Charlene Brown, Dean Taylor, Dennis Kuehl, Denise Florian & her friend Loren, Jan Stivers, Jenny Mills, Jini "Huggy" Dill, Joe Winslow, Lois Duell, Lynda & Mark Goldberg, Marcia Parsons, Monica Timberlake, Patricia & Floyd Anderson, Paul Albright, PJ Bettmann, Shanana Rain GoldenBear, Skip Gallup, Suzan Fonda, and Talea Shadowind.