<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div>Dusty et al-</div><div><br></div><div>As an engineer who has attended many conferences, I knew I had arrived at a much better space when hugs and smiles were my reception instead of 'your packet is over here sir.' You all created a great environment for sharing ideas and learning. Too often at a conference I am searching for a talk that teaches me something useful, that is given by a speaker that is fun to listen to. That didn't happen here, I enjoyed every talk and learned a ton. The times between talks where probably even more informative- another aspect I don't usually experience. So, many thanks to you all for the experience and the new friends. </div><div><br></div><div>August Hasz,</div><div>Resource Engineering Group<br><br>Sent from my mobile, please ignore any typos.</div><blockquote type="cite"><div><div class="moz-cite-prefix"><br>
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<p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman','serif'; COLOR: #080005; FONT-SIZE: 12pt;
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Hello to
all our straw building family members,</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; COLOR:
black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family:
'Times New Roman'">
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<p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt;
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></span>
</p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman','serif'; COLOR: #080005; FONT-SIZE: 12pt;
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">As those
who have been involved in organizing one of these
international events well knows, when you step forward
and offer to make another International Straw
Builders' Conference materialize, you once in awhile
fall victim to maybe just a shadow of a doubt. You
might have more than one dream that you spend the
coming years throwing bake sales and car washes to pay
for this grand gathering of truly visionary thinkers
contemplating the naturally built environment. Then,
whether it's courage, or merely having taken a step
past some invisible line, you draw your sword and toss
the scabbard away, for there is no longer any safe
return. </span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt;
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p></o:p></span>
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<p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt;
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></span>
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<p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman','serif'; COLOR: #080005; FONT-SIZE: 12pt;
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">It's not
so very long, though, that you realize there are those
marching with you, and they've got your back. To your
left and to your right, you have the support of a host
of friends who take up your cause because it's a
worthy one, and instead of asking for help, they
volunteer their help. It starts with scores of natural
builders, architects and engineers offering to speak
about their projects, their techniques, and their work
on behalf of the natural building community, and
sweat-equity philanthropists working in Haiti,
Pakistan, Nicaragua and aboriginal reserves.</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; COLOR:
black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family:
'Times New Roman'"><o:p></o:p></span>
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<p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt;
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></span>
</p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman','serif'; COLOR: #080005; FONT-SIZE: 12pt;
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Then,
slowly but surely</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY:
'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt;
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">, thanks
to the leadership of our sister organizations around
the world<span style="COLOR: #080005">, the attendance
roster lengthens and the momentum gathering under
your feet is undeniable. An amazing gift of
enthusiastic young volunteers out of Moab, Utah and
other parts sign on to help with the ever-growing
list of tasks. Game on!</span><span style="COLOR:
black"><o:p></o:p></span></span>
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<p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt;
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<p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman','serif'; COLOR: #080005; FONT-SIZE: 12pt;
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">With
humble gratitude, that is how we organizers of the
2012 International Straw Builders' Conference view
this process. Dusty Szymanski, Executive Director of
the Colorado Straw Bale Association had a vision and
called it "Hosting the next International Straw
Builders' Conference." With member and board of
director approval, he set it rolling and it just
gained speed and momentum from that day forward. Your
humble organizers, the COSBA board of directors, fell
into a rhythm of specialty just like a good job site
crew. </span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt;
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<p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt;
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<p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman','serif'; COLOR: #080005; FONT-SIZE: 12pt;
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Before we
knew it we, all of us, became an amazing triumvirate
of awesomeness: Organizers, Speakers and Attendees. So
we want to take this moment to salute you and thank
you for the wonderful opportunity to set a vision in
motion and watch it grow of its own volition. A
special thanks to Bruce King, who took our newfound
and newly-renewed friendships and transformed us into
family (although the Rainbow Girls might have had
something to do with that, as well).</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; COLOR:
black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family:
'Times New Roman'"><o:p></o:p></span>
</p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt;
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<p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman','serif'; COLOR: #080005; FONT-SIZE: 12pt;
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">We are
forever grateful and amazed at the generosity of your
participation. </span><span style="FONT-FAMILY:
'Times New Roman','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE:
12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p></o:p></span>
</p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt;
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</p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New
Roman','serif'; COLOR: #080005; FONT-SIZE: 12pt;
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The
Colorado Straw Bale Association board of Directors</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; COLOR:
black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family:
'Times New Roman'"><o:p></o:p></span><br>
<br>
Dusty<br>
<br>
Straw & Timber Craftsmen INC<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.strawandtimber.com">www.strawandtimber.com</a><br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:dusty@strawandtimber.com">dusty@strawandtimber.com</a><br>
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