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OPERATION BAEN BULK

Photos by James C; graphics by Salgak; video & Hosting by TR Productions. Contact Webmaster or Contact Operation Baen Bulk for more information.

Donate $25 receive an OBB window decal.

Please note - we intended to offer Redshirtinigs to all donors of $100 or more - and deluxe treatment for donors of $250. We have had a PHENOMENAL response of 13 donations at $100 level and 2 donations at the $250 level. We APPRECIATE you ALL, but we cannot offer any more redshirtings for high level donations. That doesn’t mean you can’t donate - we just can’t guarantee redshirting. We’ll see if there isn’t something else we can do to recognize your generosity.

Books, sweet and salty snacks, coffee, Zombieland movie merchandise, Christmas decorations, Stainless-steel travel mugs for coffee (banging around in armored vehicles in the middle of the night), flashlights, batteries, “Smart Wool” socks, hydration supplies.

WHO SERVES THOSE WHO SERVE? WE DO!

The Baen Barfly support of our deployed soldiers continues. OBB and TeddRoberts.com are directing the newest (Summer 2012) incarnation of Operation Baen Bulk to send electrolyte drinks, protein powder, sweet and salty snacks, flashlights and batteries in bulk to the "Ammo Dogs" of 60th Ordnance Company (aka the "Wolfpack") in Bagram, Afghanistan. The Target Goal is $2000. Once we hit $1000 in pledges and donations we’ll start shipping. These funds will buy:

4 cases/ 2000 stick packs of Electrolyte Drink Mix = 750.00 Bulk candy per spec = 300.00

Flashlights/Calculators = 150.00 Muscle Milk protein powder (approx 30 pounds of mix) = 300.00

Bulk SlimJims/Jerky = need source, estimating 300.00 Bulk snack packs of cookies/crackers, estimating 200.00

In line with other crowd sourcing programs, we will be offering small rewards to donors. Donors who give $25 will receive window decals (see above). The first donors at the $100 (or higher) level will receive “redshirting” by a Baen author in an upcoming novel [Current Redshirt commitments by Michael Z. Williamson (http://www.michaelzwilliamson.com/index.php), Sarah Hoyt (http://www.sarahahoyt.com/), Tom Kratman (http://www.tomkratman.com/), David Drake (http://http://david-drake.com/)]. A "deluxe redshirting" can be yours for a donation at the $250 level - we (OBB) will buy a copy of the first edition book or printed ARC in which they are mentioned, and get the author to sign and personalize the book. Note: one literary death per author - at either $100 or $250 level - UPDATE 7/13 - AND ALL ARE NOW TAKEN! As an alternative reward for a $250 donation, we have one copy of the Schlock Mercenary “Capital Offensive” game WITH KICKSTARTER EXTRAS which Howard Tayler will personalize for the donor. ALL HIGH LEVEL AWARDS ARE NOW TAKEN!

WHAT is Operation Baen Bulk ??

OBB is a different kind of support for the troops. Instead of focusing on individuals, we support entire UNITS, by finding what they need, or want, and can't easily or quickly get while deployed. . .and get it to them. In LARGE quantities. Think of it as the Warehouse Club approach to Soldier Support: we use the power of buying and shipping in bulk, to maximize the stuff delivered to our troops, out at the pointy end of the spear, and minimize things like waste, shipping costs, etc. And in the process, generally deliver a lot more to the individual soldier than normal "CARE Packages" do.

WHO is Operation Baen Bulk ?

Operation BAEN BULK started in the fall of 2009, when one of our founders got a 90-day layoff notice, and moved into the Layoff Pool. With nothing to keep him busy, he corresponded with a few deployed GIs, and noticed that while they had individual requests, there were a number of things they mentioned their entire outfit needed or wanted. And he needed a project to keep him sane while looking for a job with the economy going south.

And thus, was BAEN BULK born: a bunch of SF fans, all of whom read the military SF that Baen Books published, pooled our money and resources to insure the ZombieKillers (a training detachment somewhere in Afghanistan) could have some Christmas Trees and good coffee. And him being kept busy and productive (and yes, he did find another job. A BETTER job, in fact...)

Since then, we've provided for the oddball requests and creature comfort needs of several deployed units. . . and now, we're trying a bit of a crowd-sourced model for raising funds, with achievement tiers so as soon as a threshold is reached, items will be ordered and sent off to the Ammo Dogs...

HOW do we do it ??

First, we get in touch with an individual at a given unit. We talk to them, and find out the specific needs and wants of the unit. Then we find the best buys we can find to deliver those wants. We then raise the funds, and when we get enough, we order the stuff, and send it to the troops.

So, you want to help. . .what do YOU do ???

This one's easy. You go to our campaign at OBB.TeddRoberts.com. You make a donation, using a major credit or debit card, or PayPal. We consider those pledges until we hit our tipover point of $1,000. Once we pass the "tipover" point, we start shipping stuff to the troops. We'll keep collecting donations until the scheduled end of campaign, or we reach our goal of $2,000. If we exceed our goal by 25%, we'll close down the donations, because we want to be honest with where the money goes. Don't worry, if we have that much support, we'll find another unit to support and do this all over again!

The next step... is up to you. We've been at this for three years. Come join us!

Update: 07.14.2012. 10:30 EDT: $2,851.33 in donations!

We have reopened the donation button on request. We have folks who still want to donate, and we have need to cover shipping costs and requested items for a second unit in Afghanistan.