From: CMcdon1829@aol.com
Date: Sun, 20 Jul 1997 09:33:40 -0400 (EDT)
To: balloondeco@fooledya.com
Subject: Re: Michael Wolfe's comments


In a message dated 7/19/97 10:19:58 PM, you wrote:

<<
Bravo Michael!!

Delighted to read people like yourself are getting the message...
you do have a choice when it comes to balloons!!

There isn't just one game in town, but many. BSA is an excellent product we 
have been using on a retail level for a number of years and we now wholesale 
their product, as well. They have beautiful colors(almost 50), excellent 
quality control, great pricing and a responsive staff when it comes to any 
questions or problems. Check out their new line of animal prints in 5", 11" &

36", too. They call them "Wild-Side" prints that come in four styles and, yes

fans, they originated these designs before anyone else! 

We still use Pioneer for a few different colors, agates, Geo's, etc. and 
generally find their product to be very good (especially Images magazine, 
maybe more so than their product). However, we have seen firsthand the 
problems of quality ("poppage", etc.) rearing it's ugly head with Pioneer 
product as of late, like several others have alluded to on-line.

The tension between certain manufactures, inventors, designers and more is 
growing here on-line, at conventions, seminars, QBN meetings and now 
(unfortunately) in the courts. Maybe it is time for all concerned to take a 
deep breath, count to 10 (or maybe blow up a balloon with the breath they're 
holding), look at the balloon they have just blown up and say...
"ya' know...this is a pretty darn good business because of the caring and 
sharing of individuals with new products, techniques, designs and the like." 
Let's work together to insure we do not loose sight of what made our business

an industry - working together!! That togetherness includes manufactures, 
suppliers, retailers, designers, teachers...everybody!!

Here's a bit of proof. If you ever have the pleasure of attending a balloon 
convention, be it IBAC, Jubilee (NABA), Flowers, or others, it is really
quite 
easy to see what makes our profession unique (and makes it work). After the 
classes, parties, competitions and/or trade shows are over do what I have
done 
- look and listen to the people who have worked for you at the hotel, 
convention center or wherever. Their comments will almost always be, they
have 
never seen a group have so much fun and share so much information with each 
other even though they are competitors. Now that means we have learned, we 
have grown, we've had fun and we have succeeded all because we have cared 
enough to share enough with others in this industry. We are not where we are 
today because of a little sac of latex and who has the rights to what and 
who's is better and only use this and you can't do that. Where are where we 
are today because of what we ourselves have learned to do with that little
sac 
of latex and what we learned from others who have tried to use it differently

and let us try it their way, too.

Man did I ever get off on a tangent - sorry to all but I couldn't resist. My 
apologies if I've said too much!

Mark Zettler
Life O' The Party
Hackensack, NJ
>>

It's ok with me that you got off on this tangent...I really appreciated
reading all of your thoughts here, Mark.....I am relatively new to this
business....my son and I have been working hard at it for the last
year....though I have owned it for a couple of years.  One of the things I
really enjoyed in the beginning was the attitude of willingness to share and
cooperate.....I was grateful for every instance of that as I first began
participating in this list.  Then, I discovered that people are people
everywhere.......and I began to see some real mean ugly flaming being done
back and forth amongst some of the balloon decorating community.  It saddened
me to find that....but then, why not?....people are people and there are all
kinds of personalities.......for all kinds of reasons........so I try to
ignore the ugly stuff (take what I can use and leave the rest)........I
considered unsubscribing for awhile just so I wouldnt have to put up with
reading some of the uglier and hateful stuff....but that's pretty silly when
there is ALSO so much I can learn from people who have so much to share.
 So...it's like the real world...pick and choose.
Differences of opinions are valuable....I can learn much from people who have
other ideas, other ways of seeing things.  When those differences are
expressed in ways that cut down others and belittle others I find it
difficult to hear what is being said.  And my delete button gets another
workout.
Now I have gone on a tangent....I just want you to know, Mark, that I have
appreciated your thoughts and I wanted to do more than say "Me too."
Carolyn
Butterflight Balloons
Phoenix