21 replies to this topic

[Guru4tru]

Hi,

I mentioned in one of my last post about the difficulty I had at the Kitty Hawk Kite Festival with all the people that were trying to ask me questions about my kites...especially the Revs. and I can't communicate well. John and I thought it would be good if I came up with some sort of card I could hand them that could direct them to the answers they are looking for. Yeah...Yeah...it's sort of "impersonal"...but at least they will know where to go to get the information. And any of you who have tried to communicate with me will certainly say, "Yeah...It's better if Duane gives them a card!!" heehee!!

So, I figured (this being the "OFF TOPIC" area) I'd just post my first rough draft and let anyone who has suggestions as to how to improve it or what addition resources I might add to cover things better to past them on to me.
===============================================
First draft:

Hello...My name is Duane and I am DEAF...please give me some money so I can buy more kites!!
(heeheehee!!---Just Kidding!!)
===============================================


Hello Friend!

Let me mention…I’m mostly deaf…and I don’t “sign”--- [Advice: Never stand beside a land mine when it explodes…heehee!!]

I started kiting after I retired and I love to fly kites and my wife and I go around to different places to fly them! When I fly I see people that are interested in kiting and often have a lot of questions about the kites I fly and other aspects of kiting in general. So, because I can’t communicate well, I came up with this card to help to direct them to some of the best kiting resources I’ve found. These online sites will be able to answer any questions that one might have about kites and/or kiting in general…including listings of others kite flyers and locations of the many Kite Festivals that are held around the country each year.

www.kitelife.com --- www.revkites.com --- www.aka.kite.org

......................(back side of card)..................

I fly single line, dual line and quad line kites. The single line kite I usually fly is a Gomberg SKYFORM60 (but, there are many, many other fine single line kite makers and all sorts and sizes of single line kites). There are also so many different kinds of dual line kites that I won’t even try to mention any of them here, but you can check them out for yourself online. And I also fly quad (4 line) kites. They are made by, and called, Revolution...Revs for short!
If you are interested in flying any of these I'll be happy to teach you how...I'll do most of the talking! heehee!

And if you have any remaining questions, as you check out these online sites, feel free to contact me at dbeitmen@aol.com and I’ll be happy to answer them, if I can, or point you to where you can find the answers.

Keep It Up!
Duane
================================
So, what do y'all think? Maybe, too many words....Maybe just stop it after the site are listed... :confused!:

Keep It Up!
Duane

[--Pete]

You might consider printing the first part on one side, and the part after the site listings on the other side. That would let you keep the type size a bit bigger.

Also I would make the "any" in boldface or italics rather than in quotes. Same with Revolution and Revs.

Great idea. I may have to do something similar - I'm getting deafer every year.

[Guru4tru]

Thanks Pete...good ideas! (Yeah..."larger type"...my eyes aren't as good as they were either.)

"Gravity catches up with all of us."
---Marilyn Monroe

Keep It Up!
Duane

[Jeepster]

The idea of cards is great ... even for the hearing enabled. I'm always trying to explain how to get more info ... via IKE, REV, KiteLife forums. Having a business type card in my kite bag to "supplement" my arm waving would be a positive addition.

How about coming up with a generic side to the card that all of us could use?

Cheers,
Tom

[Guru4tru]

Jeepster, on 09 April 2011 - 05:30 PM, said:

The idea of cards is great ... even for the hearing enabled. I'm always trying to explain how to get more info ... via IKE, REV, KiteLife forums. Having a business type card in my kite bag to "supplement" my arm waving would be a positive addition.

How about coming up with a generic side to the card that all of us could use?

Cheers,
Tom

Yeah...That's probably a better idea then all my personal BS. I can just mention my hearing loss and tell them here's an information card that can direct them to everything they might want to know about kites and/or kiting. I think that would be better and a lot simpler and to the point!

I suppose all I'd really need would be a few web sites listed:

Kitelife
Revkites
AKA

What else might be important? They can get kite shops at these sites from their sponsors, clubs from their listings, any questions answered in the forums...what wouldn't be at these sites that might need to be added? :confused!:

Keep It Up!
Duane

[--Pete]

Guru4tru, on 09 April 2011 - 06:01 PM, said:

Jeepster, on 09 April 2011 - 05:30 PM, said:

The idea of cards is great ... even for the hearing enabled. I'm always trying to explain how to get more info ... via IKE, REV, KiteLife forums. Having a business type card in my kite bag to "supplement" my arm waving would be a positive addition.

How about coming up with a generic side to the card that all of us could use?

Cheers,
Tom

Yeah...That's probably a better idea then all my personal BS. I can just mention my hearing loss and tell them here's an information card that can direct them to everything they might want to know about kites and/or kiting. I think that would be better and a lot simpler and to the point!

I suppose all I'd really need would be a few web sites listed:

Kitelife
Revkites
AKA

What else might be important? They can get kite shops at these sites from their sponsors, clubs from their listings, any questions answered in the forums...what wouldn't be at these sites that might need to be added?

Keep It Up!
Duane

Actually, What Duane has put together is pretty good for anyone. Leave out the deafness and communications issues from the first side (unless you are also a bit deaf).

Duane, I wouldn't completely leave out the information about your deafness - it explains why you can't directly communicate while flying. You depend on lip-reading and can't do that while watching the kite.

Then personalize the flip side to match the kites YOU fly, and the extent that you are willing to communicate to help a new, interested flier.

I like it. (Oh, and responding to the first post: you thought enough of the questioner to design and print a card just for them. That's personal, to my thinking.)

[John Barresi]

Awesome, really awesome.

I think the bit about deafness is endearing really, makes it VERY personal, and gives a little heart tug to the reader - which is never a bad thing.

[Guru4tru]

OK...I'll sit back for awhile and see if any other suggestions come in and then run with the Deaf Guy Draft! heehee! I know the "Center Stage" of the last festival will probably never happen again (I got my 15 minutes of fame) but I can use the card in my regular flying too...sometimes I have had to go to my truck to write things down for some people that have been interested...especially after a little air time! heehee!

EDIT: Oh yeah...I forgot to mention I'd teach them how to fly them, (I made the changes above). And yeah...maybe a picture of Elvira and Sundancer doing their mating ritual...that'll attract people!! heehee!

Keep It Up!
Duane

[stroke survivor]

Nothing like a little "kite porn" to pull 'em in, Duane!! Seriously though, a great idea for communicating with the bystanders, without having to stop for every question!! Great Idea!!

[Guru4tru]

Check It Out!

I made up a “sample” card. I decided not to go with any pictures in the background, that would be nice, but that would require going through a print shop and this I can print out on card stock on my computer printer. I used “Comic Sans MS” font, because that’s my favorite font---“Comic”! The size of the card is the same as your standard post card. The only thing I might change is they have card stock, I think, with a blue sky & clouds floating across it.

I had to mention that I “don’t sign”; you’d be surprised how many people know how to “sign”. I tell people I can’t hear and their hands start doing all sorts of things. Even when I first met John, he started to give me “signs” (no, he didn’t give me the finger—he didn’t know me that well then! heehee!) I’m too lazy to learn “sign” and I think learning to fly the Rev. was the last effort that this old brain has in it. Anyway, “today” I figure I can just “text” back and forth if I wanted to!

I did mention that Martin, who designs and sells kites http://www.martinblaiskites.com/ , helped me communicate with a person that was “very” interested in buying a kite just like my SKYFORM60, so here’s Martin telling him all about my “Gomberg” kite for me…I’m sure he will think this is a great idea! heehee!
-----------------
So, if you see anything that you think will improve it, please tell me! There is no problem in adding, subtracting or changing some things around.

(FRONT)

Hello Friend!

Let me mention…I’m mostly deaf…and I don’t “sign”……
[Advice: Never stand beside a land mine when it explodes…heehee!]

I started kiting after I retired and I love to fly kites. My wife and I
enjoy going around to different places to fly them. When we do, I see
people that are interested in kiting and often have a lot of questions
about the kites I fly and other aspects of kiting in general. So, because
I can’t communicate well, I came up with this card to help to direct
them to some of the best kiting resources I’ve found. These online sites
will be able to answer any questions that one might have about kites
and/or kiting in general…including listings of others kite flyers and the
locations of the many Kite Festivals that are held around the country
each year.
www.kitelife.com --- www.revkites.com --- www.aka.kite.org


(BACK)

I fly single line, dual line and quad line kites. The single line kite I
usually fly is a Gomberg SKYFORM60 (but, there are many, many other
fine single line kite makers and all sorts and sizes of single line kites).
There are also so many different kinds of dual line, or stunt, kites that
I won’t even try to mention any of them here, but you can check them
out for yourself online. And I also fly quad (4 line) kites. They are made
by, and called Revolution or Revs for short! If you are interested in
flying any of them I’ll be happy to teach you…I’ll do the talking! heehee!

If you have any remaining questions, as you check out these online sites,
feel free to contact me at dbeitmen@aol.com and I’ll be happy to
answer them if I can, or point you to where you can find the answers.

Keep It Up!
Duane



Keep It Up!
Thanks,
Duane