The annual RMOWP auction, held at the conference in Bryce Canyon in June, raised over $1,800 for the scholarship fund and other purposes, with auctioneers George Gibbins and David Staat encouraging, cajoling, and badgering attendees to part with their pennies and dollars.
Members donated numerous auction items, ranging from clothing, photos, tripods and other photographic equipment, note cards from their own photos, and a wicker basket equipped for a romantic picnic for two. Virginia Staat donated a hand-painted gourd birdhouse, and several members donated their own outdoor-related books, including a book on Bryce Canyon National Park with several photos taken by Jack Olson during RMOWP’s first conference there in 2000.
RMOWP’s corporate friends also sent items for the auction.
These included a handsome handmade stag-antler skinning knife by Puma. Founded in 1769 in Solingen, Germany, Puma combines traditional handmade craftsmanship with modern manufacturing techniques to produce some of the finest knives and cutlery in the world. Puma’s products include fixed and folding classical hunting knives, plus knives for almost all outdoor activities and top-quality collectible knives. Puma knives are produced in Germany, and knives in the Puma IP line (for International Production) are designed in Germany and manufactured in Spain. See www.pumaknives.us.
From Minox Sport Optics we received the company’s new ZX5 riflescope. Based in Wetzlar, Germany, Minox’s products include binoculars, spotting scopes, wildlife cameras, and an extensive line of fine riflescopes, known for their craftsmanship, performance, and value. The ZX5 riflescopes offer 5-times magnification, a large field of view, and a choice of reticles for short and long-range shooting distances. For additional information, click www.minox.com.
Cotton Carrier, a British Columbia company, provided RMOWP with one of its camera holsters – the CSS Endeavor Holster, designed to keep any camera, from compact to full-size DSLRs, strapped close to your body for hiking, climbing, biking, or whatever, but always easily accessible for when that once-in-a-lifetime shot appears. Not only does the Cotton Carrier system protect our equipment from unpleasant encounters with rocks and trees, but it also relieves the strain from our necks and shoulders. See www.cottoncarrier.com.
No more dirty camera lenses. Corporate friend LensPen, another Canadian company, shipped us its DSLR cleaning kit with new invisible carbon. LensPen makes products for keeping our lenses and other optics clean when out in the field, and also offers cleaners for touchscreens and DSLR sensors. For information see www.lenspen.com.
Hitting the road with your furry friend? Then you could use the two products donated by Denver-based Buddy Beds: a memory foam travel dog bed and a car seat protector blanket. Buddy Beds makes the best memory foam dog bed on the market so our loyal companions sleep as well as we do, or maybe better. The company produces a variety of dog beds, crate pads, and related products. See www.buddybeds.com.
And RMOWP also received two knives from one of our oldest corporate friends – Buck Knives. The two rosewood pocket knives were each engraved “RMOWP 2016.” In addition, Buck donated an exceptional skinner knife, walnut with a brass bolster and a satin finish blade engraved “RMOWP 2016 Members Choice,” which Al Perry received for winning the members’ choice photo contest at the conference. Buck has been making knives since 1902, and is known for making top-quality knives, from hunting and fishing to everyday use plus survival and tactical. And all with Buck’s famous “Forever Warranty.” See www.buckknives.com.