Posted on 09/30/2004 5:15:07 PM PDT by Republican Extremist
No more Leatherman tools for me!
Top Business Leaders from the Outdoor Industry Endorse Kerry-Edwards Tuesday September 14, 2:24 pm ET The Health of the Great American Outdoors is at Stake
OREGON CITY, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 14, 2004--Senior executives from leading outdoor manufacturers, retailers and associations across the country gathered today to endorse Senator John Kerry for President and Senator John Edwards for Vice President. They announced their endorsement at a press conference with Senator John Edwards at Clackamus Community College in Oregon City, Oregon. "We have come together to endorse Senators Kerry and Edwards because they share our values and goals," said Lee Fromson, president of Seattle-based Cascade Designs, Inc., a leading manufacturer of outdoor equipment. "And we are here today because the Great American Outdoors is in serious jeopardy and if we fail at protecting the outdoors then our businesses will fail, our health will fail and we will leave future generations with air they can't breathe and water they can't drink."
Remarks by Senator John Edwards and Cascade Design's Lee Fromson carried common themes:
We must clean up the air we breathe and the water we drink or the health of all Americans will suffer We must provide more venues and opportunities for outdoor recreation for the 150 million Americans who actively enjoy outdoor recreation We must treasure our national parks for recreation and not the industries that mine them for treasure We must lower health care costs to stay in business. This is true for all businesses not just our own. "Our national parks are severely under-funded resulting in rampant understaffing, site closures, eliminated visitor education programs, neglected cultural and natural resource preservation and unsafe trails," said Peter Bragdon, vice president and general counsel of Columbia Sportswear. "Protecting our parks and open space is essential to the health of my business, the outdoor industry at large and to the many States whose economies depend upon tourism and recreation, not to mention the millions upon millions of Americans who enjoy the Great American Outdoors each year."
"Health care is the hardest decision I have to make each year as a business owner," said Paul Fish, president of Mountain Gear in Spokane, WA. "I want to provide my employees and their families with quality care but the cost of doing so weakens the very business we are trying to build together."
Executives attending today's event included: Lee Fromson, president, Cascade Designs, Inc.(Seattle, WA); Peter Bragden, vice president, general counsel, Columbia Sportswear (Portland, Oregon); Menno Van Wyk, CEO Montrail (Seattle, WA); Paul Fish, president Mountain Gear (Spokane, WA); Carn Nielsen, vice president, Mountain Gear (Spokane, WA); Dan Nordstrom, CEO Outdoor Research (Seattle, WA); Jeff Bowman, vice president, Cascade Designs, Inc. (Seattle, WA); Doug Phillips, president, Metolius Climbing (Bend, OR); Tim Leatherman, president, Leatherman Tool Group, Inc. (Portland, OR); Dunham Gooding, president, American Alpine Institute, Ltd (Bellingham, WA); Brian Bennett, national accounts manager, Patagonia (Ventura, CA)
Outdoor businesses depend on abundant and available recreation opportunities so their customers can enjoy outdoor activities. In return, outdoor businesses employ over a million Americans, contribute $18 billion to the U.S. economy and work closely together to promote an active and healthy lifestyle to the 149 million Americans who enjoy the great American outdoors.
September 14, 2004
Dear Fellow Americans:
We are business leaders in the outdoor industry and we have come together because we can no longer be silent. Outdoor businesses depend on abundant and available recreation opportunities so our customers can enjoy outdoor activities. In return, outdoor businesses employ over a million Americans, contribute $18 billion to the U.S. economy and work together to promote an active and healthy lifestyle to the 149 million Americans who love the great American outdoors.
In our opinion increasing the number of venues for active outdoor recreation, staunchly protecting the environment, bolstering recreation and conservation funding to our public land agencies and reducing health care costs go hand-in-hand. They are essential for the health and well being of the outdoor industry and its customers.
Senators John Kerry and John Edwards share our values and goals. They know that promoting active outdoor recreation promotes good health. They know that proactively protecting and supporting public lands for recreational use means future generations will enjoy them too. They know that improving the quality of the air we breathe and the water we drink is not negotiable for any industry or business in America. They know that health care costs will continue to increase unless we are united in reducing obesity in America.
John Kerry and John Edwards are committed to preserving our national parks for the benefit of current and future generations. President Bush has promoted policies that break that commitment and endanger the future sustainability of our national parks. President Bush's policies have severely under-funded our national parks resulting in rampant understaffing, site closures, elimination of visitor education programs and neglected cultural and natural resource preservation, demonstrating indifference towards unsafe trails, unclear facilities and the growing shortage of safety staff.
As importantly, the Bush administration has rolled back basic environmental protections that undermine parks including:
Rolling back Clean Air Act requirements that ensure visibility and healthy visits to our national parks; Eliminating federal protections for our public lands that will allow mining, logging and development in national forests; Slashing the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which enables the National Park Service to acquire new land and protect and enhance existing parks facilities. In contrast John Kerry and John Edwards have a plan to protect the scenic landscapes and vistas for the appreciation of future generations through rigorous enforcement of clean air and water regulations and will preserve the resources that embody our cultural heritage through committed funding for parks operations by:
Increasing the operating budget of the National Park Service by $600 million will put our parks back on the path toward recovery and restoration. We will pay for this important objective by modernizing the sale of mineral rights and using the revenue generated to increase the operating budgets of our national parks. We know that Senator Kerry is a champion on the environmental issues that are central to our industry and customers. We also believe that Senator Kerry's economic and health care policies will keep our businesses competitive and health care affordable.
Therefore, we the undersigned are proud to endorse Senator Kerry as the next President of the United States.
Sincerely,
Lee Fromson, president, Cascade Designs (Seattle, WA)
Peter Bragden, vice president, general counsel, Columbia Sportswear (Portland, Oregon)
Menno Van Wyk, CEO, Montrail (Seattle, WA)
Paul Fish, president, Mountain Gear (Spokane, WA)
Carn Nielsen, vice president, Mountain Gear (Spokane, WA)
Dan Nordstrom, CEO, Outdoor Research (Seattle, WA)
Jeff Bowman, vice president, Cascade Designs (Seattle, WA)
Doug Phillips, president, Metolius Climbing (Bend, OR)
Tim Leatherman, president, Leatherman Tool Group, Inc. (Portland, OR)
Dunham Gooding, president, American Alpine Institute, Ltd (Bellingham, WA)
Larry Harrison, president, Earth Games (San Clemente, CA)
Jim Clark, CEO, Watermark (Arcata, CA)
Steve Barker, CEO, Eagle Creek Travel Gear (San Diego, CA)
Peter Metcalf, CEO, Black Diamond (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Ashley Korenblat, president, Western Spirit Cycling (Moab, Utah)
Mike Wallenfels, vice president, Mountain Hardware (Richmond, CA)
Roody Rasmussen, CEO, Petzl America (Clearfield, UT)
Tony Post, president, Vibram (Concord, MA)
Kelly Stone, director sales and marketing, Werner Paddles (Seattle, WA)
Joe Hyer, president, Alpine Experience (Olympia, WA)
Mike Sullivan, president, Sullivan Agency (Wimberley, TX)
Bob Olsen, president, Peregrine Outfitters (Williston, VT)
Michael Crooke, CEO, Patagonia (Ventura, CA)
Brian Bennett, director national accounts, Patagonia (Ventura, CA)
Adam Forest, managing partner, The Forest Group (Lotus, CA)
Gordon Seabury, president, Horny Toad Activewear (Santa Barbara, CA)
Paul Gagner, vice president, Gregory Mountain Products (Temecula, CA)
Tom Campion, founder and chairman, Zumiez Inc. (Everett, WA)
Malcolm Daly, president, Trango (Boulder, CO)
Rodney Smith, president, American Outdoor Products (Boulder, CO)
Joan Keller, president, Le Travel Store (San Diego, CA)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contact: For Cascade Designs, Inc. Martha Keeley, 978-468-8961
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Source: Cascade Designs, Inc.
Phone: (503) 253-7826 Toll Free: (800) 847-8665 Fax: (503) 253-7830 Warranty E-mail: toolwarranty@leatherman.com General E-mail: mktg@leatherman.com
Use a Gerber multi-tool myself .Made by Gerber legendary blades,makers of some the finest fighting & work knives around.
Same here. I originally bought it over the Leatherman because I can get it out and get the pliers deployed one-handed.
The BuckLite Tool can also be opened with one hand, if you "twirl" it like a Balisong knife. The company included a small printed statement in the package which espoused Christian beliefs, IIRC. Anyone know if Buck continues to do that?
The Gerber opens with a simple flick of the wrist. "Twirling" may look neat, but when you're wedged into a tight wiring closet, or laying on a floorboard with your feet on the seatback and one arm buried up the the elbow behind a dash panel, simplicity rocks.
Dear Sir or Madam:
I assure you I have personally read your e-mail. However, due to the volume of messages received, I cannot give a personalized response to each to you.
However, here in a nutshell is a general response:
Because I publicly stated how I am going to cast my vote, almost all of you have threatened a boycott against my company.
So be it.
I took a position, and now I will accept the consequences.
I am still going to do my absolute best to make great tools and hope that you and all Americans, of every political affiliation, will find them of value. If not today, someday.
Tim Leatherman
President
Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Kerry / Edwards
To Whom it May Concern:
I just read that the Leatherman Co. and it's owner is supporting Kerry / Edwards in this years election.
You just lost a customer....and I will be very vocal in letting my friends and family members know where you stand.
You are certainly free to spend your money however you see fit.........And so am I.
Sincerely,
Osage Orange
I quit buying Levis b/c of their anti-american/anti-gun stance. They feel it everytime I go shopping.
So when everything is inside a national park/monument/refuge/wilderness area and nobody can get to it, how many products will be needed by your customer base. Cascade designs makes great products and a crappy company to work for. A few of their employees took part in the fleecing of the NW taxpayers when the Kingdome roof repair ballooned from 6 million to 60 million dollars by pretending to work at supervisory jobs while really working at Cascade Designs.
Phone: (503) 253-7826 Toll Free: (800) 847-8665 Fax: (503) 253-7830
Too bad.
Modernizing the sale of mineral rights? More details please.
I used to own several Leathermans. I finally realized I didn't use all those things and switched to Benchmade knives - still my favorite brand of knives. Also switched because the Leatherman didn't hold a decent edge.
Didn't like Gerber - had used some years ago and thought them poorly made. Bought a knife about 4 months ago because it was on sale - liked it so much I bought another Gerber knife last month. Much better than I remember them - not as good as Benchmade, but a great value for the price!
Haven't used Gerber multi-tools, but if they are on par with their new knives then they would be well worth checking out.
I am glad I did not see Buck Knives on the list of Kerry supporters.
I know what John Kerry is. I also know that birds of a feather flock together. So, knowing they support John Kerry tells me all I need to know about them.
Like I wrote The CEO of Home Depot regarding their suport of CBS and Dan Rather:
Your support of proven liars reflects on you. I must do business with individuals that I can trust their word. You continue to support of CBS and Dan Rather tells me that you and them share the same values, therefore, I wil do no more business with your company.
Oh, really? I wonder why MOST of these people who are endorsing the two Johns are on their board?
Lee Fromson, president of Seattle-based Cascade Designs and The Outdoor Industry Association board president.
Outdoor Industry Upset By Bush Environmental Policies
Expressing growing opposition to President Bush's environmental policies, leading executives of over 30 major outdoor equipment manufacturers and retailers released a letter last week condemning Bush's rollback of America's public health and environmental laws.
At almost the same time, a growing number of elected officials from communities with strong outdoor-oriented economies have begun speaking out against the administration's assault on public lands and the environment.
In a letter delivered at a press event in Oregon City, OR, leaders of companies such as Columbia Sportswear, Cascade Designs and Vibram warned that "President Bush has promoted policies that...endanger the future sustainability of our national parks." [1]
"We are here today because the Great American Outdoors is in serious jeopardy and if we fail at protecting the outdoors then our businesses will fail, our health will fail and we will leave future generations with air they can't breathe and water they can't drink," said Lee Fromson, president of Seattle-based Cascade Designs, Inc., a leading manufacturer of outdoor equipment.
"Protecting our parks and open space is essential to the health of my business, the outdoor industry at large and to the many states whose economies depend upon tourism and recreation, not to mention the millions upon millions of Americans who enjoy the Great American Outdoors each year," added Peter Bragdon, vice president and general counsel of Columbia Sportswear. [2]
Industry leaders decried the impacts of every component of Bush's environmental agenda. They cited the weakening the Clean Air Act, the elimination of protections for public lands such as the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, and severe budget cuts to the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
The outdoor industry has become a major player in the national economy in recent years, generating over $18 billion in direct annual revenue and billions more through related tourism, travel, lodging, and other economic activity.
States with large expanses of public lands and forests are enjoying the benefits of the surge in outdoor sports and recreation. A recent study by the Sonoran Institute found that western communities with the highest proportion of protected public lands also enjoy the most diverse economies, greatest job and income growth and best standards of living in the region. [3]
Because of this, the Bush administration's weakening of public lands protection in the West has brought about an angry backlash from elected officials in areas close to these lands. Efforts to open roadless areas of national forests in Colorado to oil and gas drilling have upset local governments, who say the administration is ignoring their pleas to protect public lands.
The oil and gas industries, working through its former employees who now occupy top posts in the administration, have sought permission to drill in the HD Mountains and Thompson Creek roadless areas in the southern and western parts of Colorado. Local communities, whose economies no longer rely on extractive industries, are opposing the move.
In a recent exchange with Forest Service officials at a public hearing, James Harrmann, mayor of the southern Colorado town of Bayfield, asked why the Forest Service was ignoring the concerns of local governments. He ended by quipping, "What do I have to do, run for Congress?"
OUTDOOR INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
4909 Pearl East Circle, Suite 200
Boulder, CO 80301
Tel: 303.444.3353
Fax: 303.444.3284
info@outdoorindustry.org
Mountain Gear
N. 730 Hamilton
Spokane, WA 99202
Customer Service:
800 #: 800.829.2009
Phone Number: 509.326.8180
International: 509.444.3341
Fax: 509.325.3030
E-mail Address: info@Mgear.com
Oh crap! Time to get my Doug Ritter custom knife instead!
Columbia Sportswear
United States Residence:
# For general questions please call 503-985-4000
# For warranty issues please call 800-547-8066
Peter J. Bragdon – Vice President/General Counsel and Secretary
Mr. Bragdon became Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company in July 2004. Previously, from 1999 to January 2003, he served as Senior Counsel and Director of Intellectual Property for the Company. Mr. Bragdon served as Chief of Staff in the Oregon Governor's office from January 2003 through June 2004. Before joining Columbia, from 1993 to 1999, Mr. Bragdon was an attorney in the corporate securities and finance group at Stoel Rives LLP.
FWIW, the response to my letter to Columbia said that there are other executives of the company that support President Bush. Said that the president of Columbia Sportswear (Timothy Boyle) has publicly and financially supported President Bush. I checked on Opensecrets to confirm the financial part. It shows a $2,000 contribution to Bush this year. (BTW, he contributed $1,000 to Gore for the last election.)
Columbia says that they will not as a company endorse a candidate.
Make of it what you will, I guess. Columbia should have made sure that their executives are not using the company's name to promote a candidate. Maybe they'll learn from this. Their stance is definitely different than the one taken by Leatherman.
As for me... right now I'm undecided about buying from Columbia again. The Columbia brandname has now been associated with trying to defeat President Bush, and you can't unfry an egg.
I need a new one since my Uncle Henry was confiscated when I tried to carry it on to an ONT==>ATL flight. Oops...
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