FOH CAN/US Box Pass 2017 - who is interested?

[ChanceSchmerr]

Hello all,

Thanks again for the kind thoughts and messages the last couple of weeks after some hard news at work.  Your uplifting notes were a wonderful tonic and I'm pretty much back to my old happy-go-lucky self.  It also helped to get out to Seattle last weekend to catch a Blue Jays game (much to the chagrin of Seattle Mariners fans, apparently), and to discover some great new favorite restaurants along the way up the Puget Sound back to Canada (shout-out to Aloha Poke in Fairhaven/Bellingham - some of the best poke I've ever had!)

Anyway, that's not why I'm posting here.  Rather, I'm posting because I've decided - I'd like to run another FOH CAN/US Box Pass!

Many of you may remember the last open FOH CAN/US Box pass I ran back in 2013. (I say "open" because I'm sure that other box passes have been run within specific countries on FOH since then).  The last Box Pass I ran was interesting - we had a wide range of participants (from cigar neophytes to grizzled cigar veterans), a wide range of cigars in and out (from Reservas to legendary LE/REs to cigars as aged as 80 years old), and a wide range of personalities.  I certainly learned a lot in organizing it, and had hoped to pass that experience on to keep the tradition going, but it seemed that no one wanted to take up the mantle.

So I guess I'll do it myself! (With some help from @Lotusguy)

Over the next couple of weeks, I'm going to determine the guidelines for this one - How we'll manage swaps, what range of cigars to include, etc  You can expect it to start off with a full range of Cuban cigars - Everyday smokes, discontinueds, RE's, LEs, Customs, etc.  I think this time we'll start with the Canadian members and then send it through America (last time we went through the US first and then through Canada).  I've got a few ideas to streamline the process, particularly with managing the swaps - I found that the approval process was the biggest hurdle last time, as a few folks seemed to want to negotiate the best one-sided deal possible, rather than adhere to the best practise of Box Passes - "It's a fair swap - if you'd be happy with the swap if you were on the other side of trade".  We'll solve that one before it starts this time, so that we have a smooth and enjoyable box pass for all.

I've spoken to a couple of folks, and I know we've got some preliminary interest - so while I get everything together, I will put it out to all CAN/US members of FOH: If you are interested in joining and participating in FOH CAN/US Box Pass 2017, post your interest below.  Your post does not guarantee that we can include you, but I can promise that we will review and consider all applicants to ensure we have a good group of folks in the pass that will make it enjoyable for all.

For this box pass, I am particularly concerned with getting the right group. This doesn't necessarily mean the folks with the best and/or rarest smokes, or the ones who have been smoking cigars forever, but rather the ones with the best attitudes, who understand and agree with what a Box Pass is all about. The whole point is to trade for some cigars you've not had or want to try, while at the same time trading in some cigars that you have that you think others might want to try, either because they are interesting, hard to find or just are smoking beautifully right now.  That said, to participate, you should have a decent collection of cigars to draw from, to keep things interesting.  This doesn't mean you have to have REs/Reservas or super-aged cigars, but you should have a good variety of cigars to choose from. If you're just starting out and only have a couple of boxes of cigars to your name, this may not be the time to join in the pass, but I urge you to follow along and see if this is something you'd like to join in the future if your collection grows over the next few years.

Enough blather from me - who is interested, curious, or just wondering what the hell I'm talking about?

 

 

[ChanceSchmerr]

Interested members List - (FINAL PARTICIPANT LIST TBD)

1. Chanceschmerr (organizer) (CAN)
2. Lotusguy (US)
3. Boosted (US)
4. dizedean (US)
5. Erm310mce (US)
6. fabes (US)
7. jsummers157 (US)
8. Lant63 (US)
9. Nekhyludov (US)
10. havanaclub (CAN)
11. ChrisMG (CAN)
12. jacktarnold (US)
13. Charley (US)
14. CatchNRelease (US)
15. topdiesel (US)
16. ehdg (US)
17. stinkhead (US)
18. Ramrod918 (CAN)
19. zeedubbya (US)
20. Knilas (US)
21. khomeinist (US)
22. shlomo (CAN)
23. joshb (US)
24. Wertman (US)
25. Newkarian (US)
26. Notsocleaver (US)
27. garnett (CAN)
28. Tave1225 (US)
29. SloppyJ (US)
30. Onsto (CAN)
31. CanuckSARTech (CAN)
32. Boopdeep (US)
33. devildoge9 (US)
34. BarryNY (US)
35. joeypots (US)
36. ComancheKeen (CAN)
37. treberty (CAN)
38. KFBR392 (US)
39. zulubravo (US)
40. vintagerodshop (CAN)
41. ChefBoyRG54 (US)
42. Capt. Brett (US)
43. Tommyz (US)

CAN: 11
US: 32
 

Updated 20 June

[Boosted]

Chris I skipped over the post but you already know I'm in.

[dizedean]

Interested members

1. Chanceschmerr (organizer)
2. Lotusguy
3. Dizedean

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[Erm310mce]

Hey Chris,

I'd like to participate.

you did a really great job on the last one, I'm sure this one will also be top notch. 

Thank you, 

 

[fabes]

I'm in as well. Sounds like fun!

[jsummers157]

Definitely interested! Have done a few on here and just organized one myself a few months back. Always a joy to connect with others this way, so count me in!


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[Lant63]

I'm in. Also if you need help getting it safely from Canada please reach out to me. I more than likely would be able to help in this aspect.

Thanks for organizing.


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[Guest Nekhyludov]

I'd love to participate! Never done a box pass before, but it sounds like a lot of fun.

[havanaclub]

Definitely interested, if you'll have me. I am in Canada.


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[ChrisMG]

Count me in!

[jacktarnold]

I'm in. I was in the last one you ran and enjoyed it. 

 

Thanks for doing this again. 

[Charley]

I'd like to get in on this.

[CatchNRelease]

I'm in if there is room!

[topdiesel]

I would like to participate.  You can put me on your list of members to choose from.

[ehdg]

Been a long time since I was part of a box pass.  Sounds interesting.  I'm willing if y'all would have me.

[stinkhead]

I would like to be in as well if there is room! 

[Ramrod918]

I'd like to be involved if there is room.  Got a pretty good cigar selection across the board and will provide a list if needed. Just up the road from Victoria too if you need a hand with anything just PM me.

[zeedubbya]

Chris--I'd like to be in for sure.  Love box passes.  References available on request--haha.  

--Zane

[Knilas]

Would love to participate, if you have the space. Thanks!

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[khomeinist]

Interested.  

[shlomo]

Interested

[joshb]

I've been inactive on the board/hobby for a few years after my son was born, but I'm back now!  I'm interested and have plenty of interesting stuff to contribute...

[Wertman]

I am in.  Live in Phoenix but dual citizen if that counts.

[Newkarian]

Im in.  Hopefully we can out do the epic passes I have been included in over on Cuntus.