My Hope Experience Part I

[DoubleJ]

There seems, but a few times, where a THANK YOU just isn't enough to convey what I felt and experinced at this years Pilgrimage.

There are so many people to thank but a few singled out "atta boys' and atta girls' " go to the following: (in no particular order)

Trey Cannon: Anyone that says Superman isn't real, has not met Trey. The energizer bunny isn't even close to being in the same league as him. Trey, his family, and their newly adopted son, DR Who, made a marathon trip to Hope early in the week to get this show on the road. He was non stop the entire weekend and probably even days after the pilgrimage. Whenever we needed additional help, Trey would make a call and the right people for the job came (Sorry didn't catch your name, but Trey's nickname for you was Runt)..or in some cases, the right heavy equipment for the job. Trey...The list is endless for what you did for us pilgrims..a BIG ATTA BOY to ya, my friend!!!

DR WHO aka Mike Bentz: Your efforts were above and beyond as well. Injured shoulder and all, Mike was right there helping out...Tearing down and setting up the tent. Hooking up the sound equipment...Running the mixing board during the musical entertainment. You may be a few volts behind Trey in the energy department, but you are close..very close!!! a BIG ATTA BOY to ya!!!

Jim Hunter, Stephen Phillips, Mark Kaufman and Roy Delgado JR: Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to provide us with an insiders look into the Klipsch Mystique. Your stories, your wealth of knowledge was greatly apprecited. a BIG ATTA BOYS' to ya all!!!

Amy Unger: Thank you for your help in making this happen. Even though you weren't there, your presence was felt. Thank You again for all your help and also what you do for us every day on the forum. a BIG ATTA GIRL to ya!!!

THE INDY STAFF: I'm sure there was quite a few, behind the scenes, people to thank as well..a BIG WAY DA GO to ya all!!!

"LITTLE TREY" AKA TRACE: All I can say is that you are a riot, young man. Thanks for the great conversations throughout the entire weekend. Also, thanks for all the help throughout the entire weekend. Not too many kids your age have the drive and dedication as you do. You have the same great qualities as your father..and that my friend, is a good thing. a BIG ATTA BOY to ya, my friend.

THE FOOD SPECIALISTS: We did not go hungry this weekend. We were treated to some great home cookin' that was second to none. a BIG WAY DA GO to ya all!!!

THE HOPE EMPLOYEES: Thank you letting us invade your space. I appreciate your hard work and dedication in making a quality product. I also thank you for what you had to do to prepare the plant for our invasion. The matching Tie-Dyed shirts you wore that day made it extra special. a BIG WAY DA GO to ya all.

THE HOPE TOUR GUIDES: Thank you also for taking time out of your busy schedules to show us the plant and also sharing some of your experiences while working for Klipsch. a BIG WAY DA GO to ya all.

PICKY: Thank you for contributions as well. I'm looking forward to seeing your pictures and also the movie footage of the Great Event of the Century. a BIG ATTA Boy to ya!!!

THE CRAZY DECIBLE BUNCH: You know who you are. Thanks to all of you that lugged your pride and joys to the pilrimage for our listening/deafening pleasure. Your hard work gave many of us the ability to experince gear that we may never would have had the chance to listen to. a BIG WAY DA GO to ya all!!

KAREN JOY and her husband Lenny (name??): Karen has been a long-term employee (28yrs I think) and was kind of enough to share with some of us her experiences at Klipsch. She was able to tell us who did the work on Seadog's Cronwalls. Thank You Lenny for sharing a PWK story with me. Lenny told me the story about the first time he met PWK. The story went sorta like this."after experiencing a flat tire with his tractor mower, Lenny had to walk a mile or two to the closest phone, which happend to be the Klipsch plant, to call his boss to come and pick him up. While waiting for help, PWK approached him and struck up a conversation that continued with the two them going over to what is now the museum. PWK played some of his type music, which Lenny wasn't a big fan of..but he went along with it anyway. PWK than asked Lenny if he as ever seen a glass shatter due to sound waves? Lenny replied with a confused-hesitant..NO. PWK proceeded to set a wine glass on a pedastel and told Lenny that he is about to see it happen...but you will to follow me behind the shatter-proof glass. With PWK and Lenny out of harms way, PWK demontrated how it could be done".

Lenny was amazed and was very thankful that he wasn't in there when it shattered because shards of glass went everywhere...With a chuckle, Lenny added that this probably wan't the first time PWK gave this demonstration. For there was a fireplace on one wall that was full of broken glass..Of course Lenny's telling of the story was better than what I could recite, but I think you get the gist. A BIG WAY DA GO to the both of you. These are the stroies that need to be heard so they can live on forever

THE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: A job well done!!! Thank you for showing all of us a good time. A BIG WAY DA GO to ya all.

KLIPSCH: For giving away the best attendence prizes that I have ever seen. This gesture was greatly appreciated by all. A BIG RESOUNDING WAY DA GO to ya all.

and last but not least...

THE FORUM MEMBERS PRESENT and NOT PRESENT: It is all of you that made this a very successfull pilgrimage as well. Even though some of us meet only once a year or only converse by the way of the forum, I consider each and everyone of you my friend. We are a very unique bunch individuals that share a common bond called Klipsch. Some of my friends tease me that I must be a member of some weird cult, but I just give them a big smile and say..."There's no better one to be a member of than this one"

Once again, THANK YOU EVERYONE THAT HAD ANY PART IN MAKING THIS PILGRIMAGE A SUCCESS!!!!

JJ

[dtel's wife]

Double J, thanks for the post. Each post by the forum members in attendance seems to fill in more of the blanks about the Pilgramage.

It is was great meeting you. Way to go, Yankee,[] great post. Can't wait to see you all next year.

Christy