LOTS of New and Renewing Members!

We're cranking out the Welcome and Thank You membership packets to go out Monday - 10 New and Renewing members! Thanks so much for your support, World's Largest Things loves you!

-Erika, Director, WLT Inc.

Starting on February's Weekly Whats Large Where

The columns are produced monthly, to be published weekly. Members have full access to WWLW archives, and get Weekly What's Large Where in their email in-boxes. New this year: Profiles of people who build, preserve, and are obsessed with World's Largest Things - one profile a month to compliment the amazing array of Vernacular Architecture awaiting you on the American roadside.

Possible speaking engagement, Stockton KS

... resulting from the Hill City talk! See, it's ALL CONNECTED... We'll keep ya' posted as to schedule!

-EN

KU Alumni Magazine interview

Spent a very nice 30 minutes on the phone with Tom King, writing for the KU Alumni magazine. Should be out in March or April.

Worlds Largest in Hill City

Had a dandy talk in Hill City KS with the Solomon Valley Hwy. 24 association, inspiring rural communities with tales of hutzpah and out-of-the-box thinking about their communities.

Another in the series of Kansas Humanities Council Speakers Bureau talks...

Great evening!

Back to Biz

WooooEeeeeee... Spent a great 40 hours at a Rural Leaders Retreat, getting the battery packs recharged and honing listening and brainstorming skills. Today was the day for catching up on business, and what a lot there is!

Just scheduled a "Scout" vehicle appearance at a Funky Art festival, promoting a tiny town of 400. More details once all the ducks are in a row.

Monday will bring a phone interview with an Alumni magazine, for a profile on 'successful' graduates from the University of Kansas.

Stopped by the Kansas Humanities Council on the way back to Lucas yesterday, and got to meet the lady who coordinates the Speakers Bureau engagements.

Working on tomorrows presentation in Hill City KS (another Humanities Council booking!) about World's Largest Things.

And, best of all, a flood of new and renewing memberships in the mail - I believe we've broken the 90 mark!

Thanks again for everyones support, and keep the Big Ideas flowing.

-Erika Nelson, director.

From the Email Inbox: World's Largest Wagon questions

 

From: Worlds Largest Things [mailto:info@worldslargestthings.com]
Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2008 1:41 PM
To: Media Relations
Subject: World's Largest Wagon questions

 

Hello - I'm the director of World's Largest Things, Inc., and have a few questions about your World's Largest Wagon.

 

Is it on display to the public in a permanent location?  Where is its 'home base'?  Does it travel to special events?  When was it created?

 

Thank you - I'd like to add this to the list of What's Large Where, if it is open for the public to view at a specific location.

 

-Erika Nelson, Director

World's Largest Things, Inc.

www.WorldsLargestThings.com

----- Original Message -----

From: Media Relations

To: Worlds Largest Things

Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 2:39 PM

Subject: RE: World's Largest Wagon questions

Hi Erika,

 

I am not sure if anyone responded to your questions on the world's largest wagon.

If someone did, you can disregard this message, if not, here is the information you were looking for:

 

The wagon is always displayed in the front of our office building.

The home base is Radio Flyer HQ, in Chicago, IL.

The only place the wagon travels is to the New York Toy Fair when Radio Flyer has a booth there.

The wagon was created in 1997 to celebrate Radio Flyer's 80^th anniversary.

 

Please let me know if you have any questions.

 

Thanks,
Blessly

 

Blessly Thomas

Marketing Coordinator

Radio Flyer Inc.

bthomas@radioflyer.com

 

Thank you so much for the information!  That clears up the questions I had after viewing your site...

 

-Erika Nelson, WLT Inc.

Arts Commission Roster online

Want to build a World's Largest Thing? Or, need some 'push' to get the idea going? How about a workshop creating mobile or public art? We've got just the ticket!

The Kansas Arts Commission has now posted the Arts on Tour Roster, with Erika and World's Largest Things included. Communities can apply for 40% of the cost of the project, up to $7500.

Details in the Hire Us section of World's Largest Things dot com.

Woo Hoo! I see big things ahead...

From the Email Inbox: Worlds largest book, La Jolla CA

Hello, Erica, and Happy 2008!

I just stumbled upon your wonderful site, looking for a little joke to cheer up an under the weather friend. I found what I needed, and then stayed to look through your offerings.

I was infinitely AMUSED AND AMAZED! You've done a great job, Erica!

May I contribute one little thing? I happen to have a photo of the WORLDS LARGEST BOOK, and it is here in La Jolla (not in "Liberal" as noted on the site)

I have this information because my daughter, Brittany, started a little non-profit charitable foundation to encourage children to place books into their classroom libraries. (www.BrittanyTurner.org)

For a publicity stunt, to publicize the good work her foundation was doing, she had her picture taken, with many of the donated books, in front of this, the world's largest book.

I have attached the photo for you, and you have our permission to include it on your website. It is in the La Jolla public Library on Draper street. If you want the title you can call them. Their website is:

http://lajollalibrary.org/photogallery.htm

If you look closely at the two attched photos you can see the gloved hands of the Librarians holding the page open. It is no longer displayed standing up, to preserve it better.

Thanks, and keep up the great work!

V.

From the Email Inbox: World's Largest Penny

From: MS

I want to thank you for your website.

Almost 30 years ago, my first wife and I stumbled upon the World's Largest Penny during a driving trip on our honeymoon. If I remember it correctly, it stood in or near the playground of an elementary school, and I imagined it as perhaps a school project from long-ago. It struck me as a combination of kitch and something deeper and more heartwarming...a reaching for greatness in a tiny, unknown and unsung Northern Wisconsin town.

I never knew the real story until I read it on your site. It does indeed make my eyes mist up. Somewhere I still have a picture my wife and I took of us goofing in front of the penny....just a couple of kids from Wisconsin having fun.

Best, MS, Franklin Films

NEW Souvenir Stand online!

 

Looks like its up and running, the NEW World's Largest Things Souvenir Stand. Enjoy! And, let me know if there are broken bits...

-RW, Web Wonder

January Weekly Whats Large Where...

...written, and to the papers! We took a week off for rest and recovery, but we're back with 50 more World's Largest for 2008. This year, we're also featuring profiles of World's Largest Things builders, preservationists, and enthusiasts.

The column is emailed to members weekly, with archives online. Wanna read? Become a Member!

-Erika, Director, WLT Inc.

World's Largest Truckstop

Postcard from Walcott Iowa, the World's Largest Truckstop.  We dined there twice on the holiday Chicago trip, makining up a full 66.6 percent of the World's Largest spottings...  The other 33.3 percent consisted of the World's Largest Basketball (Watertower) from Hebron IL.  One-tenth of a percentage point goes to the World's Largest Bull from Audubon IA, which we spotted on a postcard at the World's Largest Truckstop.

On Ebay: W.L. Rag Doll

Unfortunately, didn't get any bids!  Guinness Certified, too...

 

Item number: 320201552473

From the Email Inbox: Radio Flyer

From: L.F.

Subject: Radio Flyer

You missed the Radio Flyer---see their home page.

 

Also, there was a Radio Flyer--Cargo model made  in California up in the Gold Hills near Big Bear Lake. Don't remember the town.

Thanks for the information!  I knew of the Radio Flyer, made by the company, but evidently I haven't added it to the list yet... Thanks for the reminder.  The one in Spokane Washington is bigger than the company R.F., but doesn't move, so is in a little different category...

 

Thanks again for the info!

-Erika, director, W.L. Things.

From the Email Inbox: Largest swimming pool

Trying to get a picture of the largest swimming pool in the world. Can you help me?

 

Thank you.B.

So far, this is what I've come up with:

 

W.L. pool from Chile, an inland sort of lagoon-ish swimming pool:

http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/10/03/the-worlds-largest-swimming-pool/

 

and, a W.L. Indoor pool in Japan that's over 100 years old!:

 http://www.elitechoice.org/2007/12/17/worlds-biggest-indoor-swimming-pool/

 

Being a Kansas now, I was always told that Holton KS has the largest municipal pool, but it pales in comparison to the Japanese one:

 

http://www.holtonks.net/city/parks/pool.html

 

Hope this helps, and Thanks for Asking!

-Erika, Director, WLT, Inc.

 

Whoops - Largest Municipal Pool, in the states, rumored to be Garden City KS, not Holton:

 

http://www.lasr.net/pages/city.php?Garden%20City&KS&The+%22Big%22+Pool&City_ID=KS1004006&Attraction_ID=KS1004006a010&VA=Y

From the Email Inbox: Another one to add...

From: K.

I just came across your website today.  I know of one not on your list...  BIG FOOT #5, the world's tallest, widest and heaviest pickup truck!!

 

We saw it in St. Louis - the home of BIG FOOT.

 

Here's the website talking about it...

 

http://www.bigfoot4x4.com/bf5.html

Thanks for the information!  St. Louis area certainly has a bunch of great oddities on the list - Vess Bottle, Set of Teeth, Bowling Pins, and Men's Underwear (at the City Museum)... I'll have to add Big Foot.

 

Thanks for writing in!

-Erika

From the Email Inbox: World's largest penny

From:DH

Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 9:34 PM

Hello,

 

I grew up in Woodruff, Wisconsin and was too young to remember the penny drive but my mother used to have a booklet about it.  She told me they collected the pennies on the gym floor and that the floor actually sagged some even though it was on street level.  The penny sits in the same spot it has occupied since it was put up and the block used to hold the Arbor Vitae-Woodruff High School, later grade school.  I don't know when the school came down but I do remember very fondly, attending classes there until we moved to Tomahawk, Wisconsin in 1963.  Now, there is a housing complex for senior adults on the site of the school.  I remember Doctor Kate and I surely remember many snowy days and our own doctor making house calls to give us shots.  My husband, a coin collector, got a look at this giant coin last year when we traveled to Wisconsin to see family members.  He was impressed with the size and with the story.

 

Thanks for talking about the penny. 

 

Sincerely,

 

DH

Alabama

Thank you, Debbie, for writing in!  The penny is popular with a BUNCH of people, because it is such a great story.  I like the story you've shared about the gymnasium floor - it really puts it into perspective.  It's one of the greatest stories behind the building of a World's Largest Thing, I think...

 

Thanks again for sharing your story!

-Erika Nelson, Director

World's Largest Things, Inc.

Renewals

Just processed web domain and hosting renewals - we're good 'till '09!

-RW

From the email in-box: Show Boat Service, Hastings NE

 

Here's a classic roadside site - an inland ship!  There were/are quite a few of these, but they rarely survive.  This one was located on Showboat Road, just East of Hastings NE, and there's hope that it'll come back again - an amazing new complex is being built at this former intersection, focused on people who actually race (see website: Motorsport Park Hastings) and enjoy cars and history.  Rumor has it that the Show Boat may come back in one of the race park!  Way-to-go, George, in revitalizing this section of Hastings!

 

From the email inbox: big nerds?

From: PFF
H. is obsessed with you and what you do. She loves your website and your tshirt and has asked for one for her next birthday. She still remembers your world's largest Nerd. It helps that she is enamored with all things candy, and the concept of a "world's largest" Nerd blows her 8 year old mind. She got a pack of Nerds in her stocking and immediately starting putting the big ones in a baggie. She wants to know how big they are compared to your record Nerd.

And, hey, if any of them is bigger - do you wanna buy it? Every day she looks at the baggie of potential record-sized Nerds and her mouth waters. She can't hold out much longer....the little sugar junkie.

WLT On the Road

We're out of the office over the holidays, Dec. 22 - Jan. 1. But, when there's internet access we'll update!

Happy Holidays, Drive Safe, and have a Big New Year!

-Erika Nelson
-Rachel Wilson

Why World's Largest Things Loves Lucas Kansas

Advantages of basing your operation in a small town:

1. When you call the fire department because a limb has pulled the power line away from the house (but not disconnected) creating a brilliant display of sparks and arcs just feet away from the business computers, you can watch the volunteer firemen get into the trucks and speed over from the station just two blocks away.

2. When your utilities are impared by bad weather, the City Crew will hunt you down and tell you how things are going

3. The folks at the bank will explain everything about an account, no matter how small, and address your concerns immediately (especially when it comes to stopping a check written to a fraudulant slam/scam solicitation). And they'll ask how the fire went.

4. The printer doing your newsletters won't hesitate to call you to proof it on the press, after making sure the sparks from the electrical box haven't started a fire in the wall (see #1 above).

5. The postmaster knows you by name, and will also take the time to research and explain options available for mailing as a Non-Profit entity, even sending a copy of your newsletter to their head office for design advice, complying with postal codes for smooth delivery. And, she'll ask how the fire went.

6. They'll read Weekly Whats Large Where out loud at the Assisted Living center every week, from the paper printed by #4 above, and make sure to ask how the fire went at the next Chamber of Commerce meeting.

7. You can look out the window at the folk art environment next door after a winter storm, help clean up broken limbs, and have your own limbs removed by the time you get home by an anonymous person. And the other people removing limbs will ask how the fire went.

8. The folks at the cafe will tell the story of the World's Largest Thing in town better than the people who made it happen (#2 above), and they'll ask about the fire.

9. With internet service (provided by the same people who donated the substrate for Lucas's World's Largest Thing), geography no longer matters, and you can enjoy the quality of life afforded by Small Town living, while still keeping connected with the global marketplace.

World's Largest Things Loves Lucas!

Postcards on their Way to Members!

"Being a Member Has its Priveleges..." What commercial is that from - American Express? Well, it's just as apt for World's Largest Things, Inc. Postcards to members went out today, so supporters of World's Largest will be some of the FIRST to get their hands on the NEW Souvenir Travel Plate postcards!

Wish you were one of the lucky recipients? Become a Member Today!

Mailing lists

...working on updating the Mailing list for the upcoming "Big Idea" distribution. Had a short interruption while branches knocked out power here and there throughout Lucas, and ripped the service line out of World's Largest Things headquarters. Service re-established at 10:30 today, so only lost a day of productivity!

-RW

Upcoming Speaking Engagement

Phone confirmation of yet another Kansas Humanities Council Speakers Bureau speaking engagement for World's Largest Things and Roadside Attractions!

The folks at Park City are already planning ahead for 2008, with a WLThings talk scheduled for November 8th. More info as the time draws near!

Postcards arrived, delivered...

Now you can find World's Largest Souvenir Travel Plate postcards in retail stores! If you live in close proximity to Lucas, that is...

They arrived Friday, and were separated and delivered Monday before the ice storms swept through the area. Featured businesses with World's Largest:

Kansas Originals Market, Wilson KS
Little Kansas Village Lines, Lincoln KS
Home Oil Service, Lucas KS
K-18 Cafe, Lucas KS
Garden of Eden, Lucas KS
Grassroots Art Center, Lucas KS

And, of course, World's Largest Things home office, Lucas KS!

Big Idea

Winter newsletter, Vol. 1 Issue 2 - being printed now! 

They were originally scheduled for November, but that just didn't happen. We're still recovering from a computer crash that killed the templates (and mailing lists!) from Vol. 1 Issue 1 of "Big Idea", but have finally redesigned in the favored format.

New this year is the use of a local printer, trying to keep rural life sustainable and keep World's Largest Things, Inc. connected to the wonderful town it's based in... So, it's on the desk at Lucas Publishing, slated for this week (Dec 10 - 14) for printing.

Members, you'll ge getting yours soon! Others, Become a Member to join the club.

Thank you for your continued support!
-Erika

Swedish World's Largest Things in the making...

from the Etc. section...

from the December 4, 2007 edition of the Christian Science Monitor

OK, that problem is solved

By most accounts, there isn't much reason to travel to Västerbotten or Norbotten, two of Sweden's northernmost counties. Oh, the occasional tourist comes for whitewater rafting, but the region "is in the middle of nowhere, so no one knows about it," says Thorbjörn Holmlund. He's a tourism promoter and admits there have been days when "I've come close to crying." But now he can foresee a bright future. Why? It's all due to a vote last week by Norbotten commissioners, approving of a moose. But not just any moose. This one will be man-made – of wood – and construction could begin any day now. In a place already teeming with the real thing, how is a man-made moose going to close the tourism gap? Well, it will straddle a mountaintop on the boundary between Västerbotten and Norbotten, with its forelegs in one county and its hindquarters in the other. It also will be as long as it is high: 150 feet. An equally tall man-made "pine tree" beside it will contain an elevator that lifts visitors to the entrance, the critter's mouth. From inside, there will be spectacular views of the countryside below, and in the – ahem – belly of the beast will be a restaurant, a 350-seat concert hall, a conference center, and, of course, a gift shop. The project is projected to cost $9.4 million. After that vote by the commissioners, Holmlund told journalists, "My whole body is shaking with joy."

WLT Board Meeting

December 1, 2007 - Always a grand time! Agenda:

Board Meeting December 1st, 2007

Things to Talk About - Last meeting August 7th

Good response from last mailing. Will see updated member list and renewals

Treasurer's report: More coming in than going out! Established banking relations with Pony Express Community Bank, Lucas. Will update everyone and have books on hand

Gerstenslager: Updates?

Web: Took advice about Blog - working out well. Re-designed home page and Press pages (Rachel). Blog also serves as a Value Added Feature for Members - archiving Weekly Whats Large Where columns

Grants: Slogging through Grants dot Gov site. Advisory Board member keeping up with non-profit information sources (Nancy Jo). Secret Biz Site a Gem! Erika, Slacker.

Workshops: Erika is attending some great workshops from the Arts Council, including Fundraising wkshp. on Nov. 30th in Wichita. Attended a Foundations workshop in October, convinced Chamber of Commerce to order Kansas Foundations resource. Attended Media Workshop with the National Scenic Byways council, director passed along a great book - will bring...

Promotion: TV - lots lately, some more coming up. Postcards - Just designed some for WLT and Lucas community featuring the WL Souvenir Travel Plate, ordering now. Newsletters - December in the works, working with local printer for tabloid size, office supply copy place for inserts. Will be out mid-December. Tees - Reprinted old design, working on a WLTravel Plate design for Spring '08

Affiliations: KS Arts on Tour Roster for FY '09 - '11, KS Humanities Council Speakers Bureau FY '08 - '10, KS Sampler Festival '08?

That's whattIgot... RW and EN