RodBuilding.org has now been online for just under 7 months. It was an idea that many said would never work. Too many rules, too many other boards already established, too many already popular for this one to have a chance.

Yesterday at 8:58PM, the 10,000th post was made on this message board. That equates to roughly 50 posts per day, every day. My administration page also shows something like 90,000 different individual people (rod builders I must assume) who have visited the site since it went online on June 12, 2001. These people account for well over 1 million hits per month and usually between 500 and 800 click-throughs on each individual sponsor’s link each month. Not bad for a 7 month old rod building message board with too many rules and bland, colorless postings.

And by the way, Tony Hill was the fellow who made the 10,000th post. So Tony, I suggest you make some room in your shop for all the previously promised prizes. You are the winner.

Perhaps we’ll do something like this again for the person who makes the 20,000th post.

................

Congratulations Tony and congratulations Tom for having this site available with such great success.

I guess we made some promises for giveaways to recognize the 10,000 poster, so I will try and contact Tony Hill and arrange to get the lucky list of items to get with more rodbuilding and fish catching. I think you'll really enjoy this, and it's a pleasure to be a sponsor for rodbuilding.org.

Best Regards,

Rich
Richard's Rod & Reel Service
www.rodreel.com

Congrats to Tony and thanks Tom for creating and maintaining this forum. No doubt the most informative and pleasant board on the subject to be found.

Congratulations Tony!
I have some goodies for you and will e-mail you to get shipping details.

It is clear that the rules of this board are, at least in part, responsible for its success. Top quality is always recognized as such sooner or later, and in this case rather quickly.

Andy Snedden

I also "know" Tony through a couple of other boards, and agree he is a great guy and keeps making me jealous with the pictures of Stripers he keeps posting.

Congrats THILL!!!!

So what did he win??? Thanks Daves Rods

Custom Rodbuilders Supplies donated;
1) a Rainshadow IF903-3 blank.
2) a sliding-band reel seat (nickle silver or black aluminum) with a birdseye maple, cocobolo, rosewood or walnut insert.
3)a set of Snake Brand snake guides (or a set of TiCH single-foot wire guides) and matching stripping guide and tiptop.
4) a cork grip or set of 5* Supreme cork rings to build his own grip.
Shipping included.

I just hope Tony doesn't use the rod to chase stripers! Its a great blanks but....

Andy Snedden

Dave,
The idea of Tom announcing the 5,000 th poster promted us to do something in recognition of this. So Richard's Rod & Reel donated a set of St. Croix Posters and some hats and other items to the lucky Poster. At the time another sponsor also joined in with items to give the lucky poster. As time came closer about 10,000 there was notice on the board of this becoming imminent

This time with #10,000 we upped the ante along with another generous sponsor (Rodbuilder Supplies) via Andy Snedden, as already he mentioned his impressive list of rodbuilding items that Tony will be lucky to own. I am not sure if others got in the act on this one, but in any case the winning 10,000th poster gets a whack of rodbuilding stuff.

Here is what else Tony will get from Richard's Rod & Reel Service, as part of the lucky draw and Mr. #10,000 Poster:

- Of course, the set of Posters to the lucky Poster

- A moderate value, very good quality Marado or D.A.M. Fly Reel.
(value of about $75)

- A genuine, authentic, St. Croix black cordura covered hard fly rod case (value $35)

-A set of titanium carbide framed guides with top and hookeeper.
(value of about $35)

-The Rod Building Guide. Book by Tom Kirkman ($15 value)

-A selection of tackle that we carry from Grim Reaper spinnerbaits,
Venom Plastics, and Super Cast line (value of at least $25).

So. There you have it. Just our way of recoginzing the great site of rodbuilding.org and our appreciation for participation as a sponsor.

Someone asked previously about the potential with what could be won with the 1,000,000 th post. Well, we'll see if we live long enough to see that happen and hope the site is still around.

Thanks all for support. and Tony, this will be shipped to you at no charge for the shipping. We'll arrange to get your shipping address either by contacting you. or email me at info@rodreel.com.

Rich Garbowski
Richard's Rod & Reel Service
www.rodreel.com

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NO.... WAY!!! NO..... WAY!!!

I can't believe what I am seeing!!! This HAS to be some kind of cruel joke! I'm going to wake up and it will be just a dream, right?!?

I NEVER EVER EVER win anything! I'm actually getting choked up! Really!

I'm going to post something in a bit, but let me just say THANK you to everyone for your kindness, and THANK YOU to Tom Kirkman for creating such a wonderful place!

NO WAY!!!

...And to think, this morning, my main concern was that I have a bottle of C.P that went bad! (looks like it may have gotten frozen)

I went from grumpy to elated all in a couple of seconds! What a thrill!!!

TH

The fame of this contest and of Rodbuilding.org just spread.

Tidalfish.com, a big forum on the east coast, just had a post about this board. I'm betting you will see a bunch of new faces from there.

Here is the post:

[www.tidalfish.com]

TH