I don't know how many of you have noticed the EAA chapter 582 trucker style hat that is hanging to left of the computer in the library, but that thing drips awesomeness.

I'd love to bring them back. If there is interest, I'll take care of getting them made. Basically looking to just recreate that old design. I've got a guy that can do it and it will cost $15 per hat. Any proceeds will go to the chapter. Please indicate any interest here and also ask around to other members (I recognize not everyone is active on this forum) or potentially interested parties so we can get a tally.

I’m glad you noticed that hat Matthew, I know a little bit about it.  It belong to a deceased gentleman and long time Chapter 582 member, Joe Cook.  I probably met him in the late nineties when I was building a One Design in the hangar where Curtis Simonye keeps his Thorpe T-18, on Toledo Executive Airport.
    He would stop by time to time to check on my progress.  The thing I remember the most about him was that he was always cleaning up the shop.  Rather than just stand there he would grab a broom and go to work.  Later when I became involved with 582 I would see him at meetings and when we started building the hangar he was there pitching in.  He was always a lot of help.
    He was a private pilot and owned (I think) a Cessna 172.  He told about how he took off with the gust locks in and how he was able to nurse it around the pattern to a successful landing, the first time.  I guess he did the same thing again some years after the first but this time it didn’t turn out so good.  He didn’t get hurt but the airplane did and that is when he decided to back it in and stop flying.
    Another story he told me and it still gets me to thinking from time to time.  He said when he was in high school they were building the High Level Bridge in to downtown.  If you are from Toledo you know this is a beloved icon for many generations.  Anyway, he told me that he and a couple of his buddies would sneak up there with some girls and dance on it.  How cool is that, Jitterbugging on the High Level Bridge before any cars crossed it?
    In regards to the hat, if I recall right, he brought it out one day soon after we were in the hangar.  I don’t think there was a shop or anything at that point.  He sort of handed me the hat, I guess it was because I wrote the newsletter at the time, and said we could have it.  It was kicked around for months and finally, by luck, it ended up on the wall in the Tom Walsh Librairy.  I think Ryan Weaver put it up there.
    Heck yea I think it is a good idea to have some made.  Maybe we aught to have enough of them made so that we can put them in a, “store,” on this website.  Go ahead and get the ball rolling on this Matt.  By the way, congratulations on earning your Sport Pilot rating this summer.  You are the first person to achieve it in just one season.

Matt:

I've been monitoring these conversations and I'm beginning to see mounting interest in the mysterious "Hat" and the idea of a "quantity" order.

I also spoke with Bill David about this, early on after reading your first posting.

The idea might be to have the Chapter order a large enough quantity (say, 150-250) to enjoy a wholesale pricing and in turn offer them for sale directly to the membership or the public via the website.  Perhaps we could even embroider  the "EAA Chapter 582" name to the back or some such thing.

Sales of these could easily be handled via the internet and through our website.

As a Chapter supported item we could alleviate you directly from any financial burden of the production.  

I have this topic slated for discussion at Thursday's October Membership meeting.  Hopefully you will be in attendance, to offer any additional thoughts and insight you may have. 

I would love to see this hat that "drips awesomeness" brought to the floor for a vote of reproduction and adopted by the Chapter as a fundraiser. 

Tom

President, EAA Chapter 582                

Great, Ill be at the meeting and we'll get the details worked out. I also know a guy that makes some really awesome screen print shirts. He kind of specializes in local stuff.
I'd definitely be interested in having him make some shirts for us. and I'd be happy to take care of that as well. Maybe we could use the design on the hat to start with. They're really high quality shirts and don't have that cheap iron on feel that you get often (as it is screen printed). 

http://www.jupmode.com/jupmode-mens-t-shirts/


As far as card readers go I would think this would be a good option.

https://squareup.com/retail-pos

They have readers that plug into your phone (basically free) and it is set up for small retail operations. They charge 2.75% and can do inventory as well as manage online sales.