I emailed Marty Horn to get an update on some of the ideas that supporters have brought up recently. If I left out anyone's suggestion, please know that it is an example of my poor memory rather than a reflection on the quality of your idea. He gave me permission to share his response:
"Status as it is now on:
Guardian Bells: May happen. Up-fronting the money is the hold up. AS Flag: Not enough call for this to be cost effective. Yet… Challenge Coin: In the works! Gonna be NICE… Tote Bag: Not currently in the works Books: Talked about often, but no movement on it/them. Shirts: Gonna happen if we can ever decide on this. We don’t have a staff, or the resources, to be a store. Things like shirts or anything involving sizes is expensive to get stocked. Not to mention the room it takes. Surprise: Mouse Pads. Soon.
The biggest money maker for us was my wife’s brainstorm of the stuff for troops, like the Xboxes.
Then the legal beagles swooped in and crushed it. Seems the laws concerning this stuff is so vague that, to be safe, we can’t do it.
But we are battling that. That is taking 3 ... lawyers!!! One is expensive, 3 are killing me… J
Hope this helps." -Marty Horn
I then asked if there was any way that we supporters could assist them on these projects and his response was:
"Since all the marketing, sales, packing and shipping is done here, not sure how volunteers could help, but I’m all ears…" -Marty Horn
So that's the scoop. Personally, I think that you all have come up with some really awesome ideas!
Kathy