Lynnpro - August 2020

Lynnpro - August 2020

Live Life

MAKE YOUR WEEKENDS COUNT!

A friend of mine told me that the first Saturday in August is National Campfire Day. Maybe that means a lot more people will head to the hills that weekend, but I personally don’t need a made-up holiday as an excuse to get outside and enjoy the outdoors. As you probably know by now, nothing makes me happier than a good long hike, a camping trip, or a walk around the block — anything that involves breathing some fresh air. This summer, Cheri and I took a big hiking trip through northern Arizona that reminded me why I feel that way. Before this trip, I always pictured Arizona a bit like the Gobi desert, full of red sand and cacti. But where we went, it honestly looked a lot more like the Midwest! There was some pretty lush landscape out there, and I was amazed by all the greenery we hiked through. The scenery was 100% worth the trip. We spent the week hiking, kayaking, and staying in a cabin in this dusty desert neighborhood that looked like something out of an old western. As beautiful as the kayaking was, the most incredible thing about the trip was the elk and mule deer all over that neighborhood. It was crazy! I’d step out the door of our cabin and see nine or 10 elk just hanging out in the neighbor’s yard. When I tried to go out and grill, they were peeking in the back door. One guy who lived in the area full time had a little garden with a fence around it. While we were there, he worked away in the garden with an elk 2 feet from his face! He told me they’re around every day and he’s gotten used to the company. I don’t care who you are; things like that are worth seeing. When I sat down to write this newsletter, it hit me that I never would have gotten to check out those elk if I hadn’t been willing to go outside, try something new, and pony up for a vacation even though business isn’t the best right now because of the pandemic. There are three reasons I booked the trip. First, I don’t make decisions based on the jingle in my pockets, especially if that’s going to compromise our “Live Life” philosophy. Second, I think that it’s the small stuff that counts in the grand scheme of things. Sharing that awesome experience with my wife was worth a few paychecks. Third, I refuse to live my life in fear. That means I’m always up for trying something new, and I’m not going to let the economy keep me up at night.

Listen, in my view, you have two options during this pandemic: You can either sit around feeling scared and sorry for yourself, or you can keep grinding and enjoy the little things that make you happy. Go outside! Do what you love! Enjoy the nice weather! Pet an elk if you can! There are more important things in life than work, and fresh air is one of them. Personally, you couldn’t pay me enough to work on the weekend and miss out on actually living. If this resonates with you, do me a favor this month. Every Friday, come up with a plan to make the weekend count. Commit to really living while you can. I promise that all of your worries and stress will still be there when Monday comes back around.

–Jeff Saxby

“There are more important things in life than work, and fresh air is one of them.”

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THE BIG LEAGUES

they’ve entered, bowling at least 36 games, or having an overall average of 190 or better. To participate in the PWBA, bowlers must have a scoring average of 190 or higher in any recognized United States Bowling Congress (USBC) league. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE You may see a professional bowler score 190 at a regional tournament and think, “I can do that.” That’s the beauty of bowling! Anyone can score high, but comparing your Wednesday night league average to a pro is like comparing the score from your pickup game of soccer to the scores at the World Cup. For starters, unlike what you’d find at any standard bowling alley, the lanes in a professional setting are oiled specifically to create a more difficult path for the ball, forcing the pros to toss mechanical-like throws. This takes time and dedication to perfect. FIND MONETARY SUPPORT Unlike many other professional sports, bowlers make very little money. The average bowler makes more than $40,000 annually, but they often have to provide their own funds for lodging, travel, and tournament entry fees. Some professional bowlers even have side gigs to supplement their income from the sport. However, many bowlers admit that it’s not about the money. Instead, it’s the friendly competition and the glorious sound of the pins that bring them back for more.

Bowling is a fun activity for all ages, and the game has been providing good times since 5,000 B.C. in Egypt. In modern history, bowling has had its fair share of glory, but if you think you have the aptitude to join the ranks of professional bowlers, then consider what it takes to become the best of the best. JOIN THE PROS The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) and the Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) are the premier leagues for professional 10- pin bowlers in the United States. Unlike the NFL or MLB, in which players are drafted onto teams before participating professionally, it’s fairly simple to join the PBA or PWBA. Members either pay an annual fee or have to meet certain requirements: scoring a 200 or higher at each tournament

Learn more about these professional leagues at PBA.com or PWBA.com if you’re interested in picking up bowling as a professional sport or just a hobby!

FOOTRACE FUNDRAISERS GO VIRTUAL MEET THE MASTERMIND BEHIND THE ONLINE FIREWORKS 5K CUSTOMER SPOTLIGHT:

Every June, hundreds of people in Richmond, Indiana, put on their running shoes and hit the pavement to earn their Fourth of July fireworks. The annual Fireworks 5K is hosted by Whitewater Broadcasting, and its proceeds benefit the Richmond City Fireworks Fund. Usually, the participants’ sweat is rewarded on July 4 with an explosive display in Glen Miller Park, but this year things were different. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the fireworks were pushed back and the 5K went virtual. “For the full month of June, you could go out and run,” race director Rick Duncan explains. “You just had to sign up to register, and within that month you had to finish 3.1 miles. Then you just submitted your name and time online to finish the 5K.” For the last four years, we’ve worked with Rick to print T-shirts, race bibs, and bags for the Fireworks 5K, and this virtual race was no exception. In fact, the 2020 T-shirt design just might be our favorite one yet. It’s a throwback to the ‘90s TV show “Friends.” “It says ‘Fireworks 5K’ in the ‘Friends’ font, and then it says, ‘The One With the Pandemic,’” Rick says with a laugh. “Then on the back with all of our logos it reads, ‘I’m not slow, I’m social distancing.’”

A virtual 5K might not be as exciting as an in-person race, but it’s a great way to raise funds while keeping people safe. For his race, Rick used the promise of our T-shirts to motivate attendees with great success. “We only order a certain number. If we have more people sign up than we do T-shirts, the later people don’t get one, so that encourages people to sign up early,” Rick says.

We’ve truly enjoyed working with Rick, and the feeling is mutual.

“For a long time, we were trying to find different vendors to use for shirts and whatnot, and when I took over as race director a few years ago, I found Lynnpro and I’ve been thrilled!” he says. He loves our custom race bibs and bags pre-stuffed with T-shirts, which he calls “the handiest thing in the world.” We’re happy to see our clients getting creative during this pandemic. Hopefully things are back to normal soon, but until then, we’re here to help with your virtual events!

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ADAY INTHE LYNNPROLIFE: STORIES FROMOUR STAFF JACOB AND HIS GIRLS SPLASH, COLOR, AND CAMP THROUGH QUARANTINE If you’ve been reading this newsletter from the beginning, then you’ve “met” pretty much everyone on our staff here at Lynnpro. That said, we’re proud of our employees and don’t want to silence their voices after just an introduction. Instead, we’ve decided to give them a spot in the newsletter to tell stories about their lives outside of work. Our “Live Life” philosophy says that’s when the important things really happen! This month, we chatted with our head printer, Jacob Oster, about how he’s kept busy during this crazy time of social distancing. Because of the pandemic, Jacob was off work for several weeks, then came back to print T-shirts, bags, sweatpants, hats, and other items for us part time. Jacob is happy to be back at work, but says he also really enjoyed the time off with his young family. His fiancée, Mackenzie, is a stay-at-home mom to their two daughters, 2-year-old Marlee and 1-year-old Jaclynn, and they’ve been splashing, coloring, and camping their way through the season. “It’s something different every week to keep the girls busy,” Jacob says. “Since it’s summer, it helps a lot that I bought a pool! The kids love to swim — it’s a go-to. We also have five different types of coloring activities,

and that’s probably the main thing they enjoy doing. We have a water mat that they can draw on and it turns different colors, and we have chalk and crayons. Then we also have typical new-generation stuff like a kids’ tablet where they have learning activities and things like that.” When they aren’t playing with the kids, Jacob and Mackenzie love watching Netflix together. This summer, they binged “The 100,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” and “Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich.” They’re also planning a camping trip with the girls. “This is somewhere my fiancée has gone before; it’s a whole campsite out by the Poconos, the Poconos caves and stuff. It might be something we’ll turn into a tradition because it looks like it will be a lot of fun,” Jacob says. Hopefully you’ve enjoyed this glimpse into Jacob’s life outside the office! You can look forward to more of these stories as we pass the mic to our staff in the months to come.

Weeknight Curried Apple Pork Chops

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INGREDIENTS

Inspired by The Primal Desire

• 2 tbsp coconut oil or ghee • 1 cup onion, diced • 1 tbsp garlic, crushed • 1 tsp ginger, finely chopped • 1 tsp salt • 1/2 cup water or apple juice

• 2 tbsp hot curry powder • 3 cups diced apples (peeled or not, your choice!) • 6 pork chops • Cilantro, roughly chopped

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. 2. In a large pan over medium heat, melt coconut oil or ghee. 3. Add onions, garlic, ginger, and salt. Sauté for 10 minutes or until onions are soft and mixture is fragrant. 4. Mix in water or apple juice and curry powder. Then add apples, ensuring they get coated in sauce. 5. In an oven-safe dish, arrange pork chops, cover with sauce and apple mixture, and cook for 20 minutes (if using bone-in chops, cook for an additional 10 minutes) or until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 145 F. 6. Garnish with cilantro. Enjoy!

CAMPING FAIR FRIENDSHIP FIREPIT

PERIDOT POPPY RAFTING SCHOOL

SUNDAE THUNDERSTORM VIRGO WATERMELON

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inside this issue

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Make Your Weekends Count!

Think You Can Be a Professional Bowler? Find Out!

Footrace Fundraisers Go Virtual

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Welcome to “A Day in the Lynnpro Life”!

Weeknight Curried Apple Pork Chops

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Celebrate National Chefs Appreciation Week

HOW CAN I CELEBRATE?

Restaurants have had an especially tough time staying afloat during the pandemic. Most eateries had to discontinue dine-in service, and those that couldn’t adapt to offering takeout or delivery may still be questioning whether they’ll ever be able to open their doors again. During the pandemic, it became clear to many of us just how important a role our favorite restaurants play in providing not just tasty chow, but also a sense of comfort and community. Celebrating National Chefs Appreciation Week is a great way to let the chefs who run those eateries know just how much they mean to us.

Now that many restaurants are opening back up for service at a limited capacity, it’s possible to dine in and further support the chefs who make the food you love. But, if you’re still not comfortable eating at a restaurant, there are plenty of other ways to celebrate. Continue having food delivered or picking up curbside from your favorite places. Whether dining in or carrying out, remember to tip well! You can also post about your favorite dishes on social media or leave a glowing review for your favorite eatery on Google or Yelp. The beauty of this holiday is that celebrating includes doing activities you probably already do, so it’s easy to participate. Chefs play a significant role in the evolution of culture, protection of tradition, and construction of community. Their food brings us together, fills our stomachs, and brightens our moods. We may not have fully recognized all they do for us until recently, but now that we have, we can truly celebrate Chefs Appreciation Week to the fullest.

CELEBRATES THOSE WHO BRING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER NATIONAL CHEFS APPRECIATION WEEK

WHAT IS IT?

Since the holiday’s inception in 2013, it has most commonly occurred during the third week of August; this year, it’s August 16–22. Restaurants, patrons, and home cooks alike can show appreciation for the art and dedication chefs bring to their craft every day. Several restaurants across the country celebrate with special events and menus, and patrons flock to their favorite places for great food and company and to support the chefs who bring their communities together.

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