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View Full Version : A word about Cigarfest 2009 & the Nub crew


skipper
05-04-2009, 08:01 AM
I am in the fortunate position that Sam asks me for help from time to time. It is through this help that I get to know more about Sam and the entire Oliva crew and get to see my long time friend Dave Wagner. It is with each meeting that I come to know more about the make up of these people.
For instance, Sam, this man spent a week working in London with a 7 hour time difference then as I was leaving my house to drive the 150 miles to the Cigarfest, Sam was roughly landing at Kennedy A/P (around 9 miles from my home) to be picked up by Rick (the regional Oliva and Nub rep) and embark on the grueling drive through Queens, The Bronx, All of NJ and finally to PA where we worked setting up, got a few hours of sleep and 9 am the next morning began working the event. Sam had to be pushing his body to the limits. At no time did he falter or even show the slightest hint of fatigue or non-interest. Sam was as energetic as any of us, always smiling, thanking the thousands of visitors, signing shirts, cigar boxes, posters, humidors, calendars and whatever his fans asked. He posed for pictures, rolled cigars, thanked just about everyone and continued throughout the day as if he had just gotten a refreshing night of sleep.
Dave Wagner, as business minded a person as I have ever met, while taking care of business and ensuring everything goes off not only without a hitch, but to the standards required by the Oliva company, always manages to make you feel welcome and more. The reps follow his lead. And their generosity is second to none.
And now to the friends I have made about a year ago and finally got to meet. Brcrane, Maverick, Evilash, AKA Brian, David & Steve... You guys are the best. Volunteers working as diligently, tirelessly and conscientiously as anyone could have asked. I'd be tossing ripped tickets on the floor, I'd turn around and expect to see a mess and it was all cleaned as Dave or Brian just picked up all my trash. We gave away cigars to over 2,500 people, spoke to all of them even if it was a simple word, such as "enjoy", or an engaged conversation about the history and makeup of the Nub cigar. Stacking more product on the table from the boxes below. Aching backs, knees, missed meals, and nothing but smiles and appreciation. You guys, all of you, ROCK!!!!
And thank you all for allowing me to call you all friends.

And to the 2,500 new friends I made who anxiously traded their #24 ticket for a Nub cigar, I look forward to our next meeting and getting to know you all better!:thumb:

EvilAsh
05-04-2009, 08:37 AM
Great post Skipper :)
It was truly a pleasure to finally meet you in person this weekend!

I look very forward to the next time all of us can get together!
--Steve

NickDrista
05-04-2009, 09:41 AM
great post skip.

chrish012
05-04-2009, 09:48 AM
Great post. Sounds like you guys did a helluva job, I can only assume it was the best booth in the whole place!

'Grats on all your new friends. Hopefully some make it to nublive, and hopefully you will meet them all again

brcrane14
05-04-2009, 10:19 AM
Thanks for the post, John. My feelings are spot on. Before my weekend recap post was deleted I posted my feelings on every aspect and every person I had the pleasure of meeting and working with over the weekend, and now looking at your post, its almost as if we were sharing a brain as we typed.

Seriously, the pleasure was all mine. I enjoyed every minute of the weekend, and look forward to hopefully doing it again! We are ALL friends on here.

maverick21383
05-04-2009, 12:06 PM
Thank you for the post John, It really mirrors my thoughts about this weekend. It was fantastic to finally meet you, Dave Wagner, Rick, and of course Sam. It's funny because I never felt like I was working. Perhaps it was the fact that we were all just having fun, basking in the rock star glow that Sam eminates, or perhaps it was meeting all the fans of Nub and educating the newbie Nubbies that traded that golden ticket (how fitting was the color) for a delicious Habano. You're a wealth of knowledge and your friendships with some of the coolest guys in the business never ceased to amaze me John. I definitely look forward to the next time our paths cross, which hopefully will be soon. Thank you so much for making me feel so welcome.

skipper
05-04-2009, 02:50 PM
you guys make it easy

CSMAnderson
05-04-2009, 03:37 PM
Sounds like a great time. Next year, man next year.