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In This Issue:
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Vol. II, Issue 47 - November 24, 2003
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Notes from the publisher
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Bocce product of the week
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Non bocce product of the week
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The FREE weekly Ezine for bocce aficionados everywhere
Volume 2, Issue #47 - November 24, 2003
Publisher: Mario Pagnoni Copyright 2003 http://www.joyofbocce.com
Come visit us often at joyofbocce.com. We have bocce info, merchandise, links to other great bocce sites, and the best selling bocce instructional book in the USA.
Order Now @ just $13.95 by clicking on the book image to the right.
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I hope you will like this electronic newsletter. To be deleted from the list, you can Unsubscribe at the end of this issue. We will quickly and permanently remove your email address from our list (we'll be sorry to see you go). But, be aware that one of our enthusiastic readers suggested that “…bocce and unsubscribe are mutually exclusive terms.”
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If you know others who would enjoy and benefit from this Ezine, encourage them to sign up. You could forward this issue to them so they can decide for themselves if they want to "opt in". I promise that I will never be in the business of selling or trading your email address or other personal information.
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A word about ads: Like any entrepreneurial type, I'd love to turn a profit from something I really enjoy. For now, I have decided not to accept paid advertisements. If I pitch a product here, it is something I have examined and tested and deem it beneficial to our readers.
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PLEASE – we are always looking for bocce photos and feedback from all over the USA. We want to connect bocce fans everywhere. You can email (author@joyofbocce.com) or snail mail (Mario Pagnoni, P.O. Box 608, Methuen, MA 01844).
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{Publisher’s comments in brackets}
Joy of Bocce 2nd edition
{I'm working hard on a second edition of The Joy of Bocce - and simultaneously trying to land a publisher.
Anybody out there have any clout with publishers? My first book on education was a McGraw-Hill BOMC selection. My second (on computers) got the best review of any book ever brought to press by the publisher. And my softball book is still in print since 1990 with over 50,000 copies sold. Yet The Joy of Bocce is out of print and looking for a new home. The new edition will have lots of new information and photographs.
I intend to use some of the photographs that readers have submitted for our Photos of the Week feature. Please let me know if you have sent me photos and DON'T want them included in the upcoming book.
If you send photos in the future (please do), be advised that I will consider them for inclusion in this second edition, unless you tell me otherwise. Be assured that I will give credit to the photographer whenever possible.}
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Tom McNutt of Boccemon.com has answered last week's questions about lighted balls for night play and bocce ball racks...
"Re: lighted bocce sets... www.spilsbury.com (type in "lighted bocce balls" if cannot locate). I bought two sets last week and we played late into the night.
Pros... Great lights, heavier construction than previously seen and, nice case.
Cons.. not truely spherical... there is a small knob where light and battery are inserted. Batteries aren't cheap.
However, in spite of this, they are great for this time of year. Let me know if anyone has trouble finding the balls. I have considered adding to my merchandise page."
Also..."I would be happy to make ball racks... I have seen lots of different designs... tell folks they can call Boccemon at 360-224-2909.
Keep in mind.. if folks are frustrated that they cannot use their bocce courts this time of year call me. We play all week unless it is actually raining. My courts are draining and ready for play within hours after a rainstorm. We love this time of year. The cold makes the court slightly faster but we all adapt..."
{See this week's photos for Boccemon's court drainage pics - click the Boccemon logo above to visit his web site.}
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Michae Polemeni asks...
"Can we make this an Olympic sport or at least a demonstration sport?"
{Hopes are high that bocce will make its Olympic debut
in 2008 in Beijing. If so, it will probably be the volo style play with metal balls that gets displayed in the Orient.}
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Sue Murphey informs us...
"Brutocao Cellars hosted a bocce tournament for the local Unified School District. The teams had to consist of teachers or school employees only. Local businesses made monetary donations. All donations collected were given back to the schools - each team could use their money for their own classroom, field trips, supplies etc. - however they wish.
I have included a picture of a couple of winners - the Pomolita Junior High Team and the Oak Manor School team - both schools in Ukiah, California. The teachers had a blast and raised money for their school. All teams received something (the lowest prize was $150). Spectators (students, spouses, friends) were on hand to cheer their favorite team on! A fun day.
{Great idea for a fundraiser - See photos of the week below.}
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This week's pics highlight a bocce fundraiser, scoreboard ideas, and drainage issues. Sue Murphey sent the first two photos explaining..."Brutocao Cellars hosted a bocce tournament for the local Unified School District." {See Readers' Feedback above.}
What a great idea for a cause-related fundraiser, combining business and community support with our favorite sport. To learn more about Brutocao wine cellars go to This Week's Photos and click on either of the two photos of the winning teams.
The rest of the photos are from Boccemon Tom McNutt. They show his recent Skorstik scoring device as well as his newest scoreboard. He says..."The dimensions are 16" wide by 32" to the top of rounded crown...The scoring markers for each team are mounted to slide up and down their respective "rails". Very user friendly. "Barkley", which is shown in the photo, is the client's name and is where anyone's logo could go.
McNutt inlcudes pictures of a spectacular court..."This is Barkley Village, in Bellingham, Washington. They had me install a 12' by 76' oyster court last June. This is a great idea for business and shopping areas that are tightly nestled into residential communities. Let's face it, if bocce helps promote community what better place to locate courts than in the center of one?"
Also from McNutt..."I want to express my joy at having oyster courts. In the last couple of weeks the Pacific Northwest has been hit hard with serious rainstorms. Consistently, my uncovered courts are dry and ready for play, without any effort on my part, four to eight hours after a heavy rain. The oyster shell drains and is hard packed very quickly. I had two inches of water covering the entire court yesterday morning. Last night we played for several hours without problems or any damage to the court. {See photos.}
I am considering bagging rendered shell with the intention of providing contractors in other parts of the country the ability to install real oyster courts. If folks are interested in this please contact me. If people are unsure about oyster... Check out "Rocky Marciano" at your local video store. Get the version starring George C Scott. He plays Rocky's father and is an avid bocce player in the movie. In the first 10 minutes, George answers the question of, 'Why crushed oyster shells?' "
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