Name: Pat Sutcliffe
Email: [email protected]
Customer Comments:
As an advertiser on Float Missouri I was wondering if you might consider asking the people who maintain the site to put a retraction on the “real funny joke” they posted yesterday? It is causing tremendous problems.
It didn’t end up being very funny for the canoeing industry in Missouri.
Thanks!
Pat Sutcliffe
This letter was sent to one of our advertisers after our New Alcohol Law Targets Floaters April Fools post gained, let’s just say, a little attention. Below is my response to Mr./Mrs. Sutcliffe.
Hi Pat,
I think you’d have to be in a pretty big hole in the ground to not realize how much publicity the canoeing industry got yesterday. More people were talking about floating yesterday than probably any other day this year or last, I’m sure. We had calls from several outfitters, as well as comments left on our Facebook page about how funny they found it, and the fact that they were receiving calls was a nice way to jump-start their season.
Several radio stations throughout the state were talking about floating yesterday and today. Many websites around the nation posted about the April Fools joke, citing the floating industry in Missouri as a great tourism draw.
FloatMissouri.com is Missouri’s number one floating site, and this year we’ll have over 200,000 visitors that are interested in canoeing, kayaking, camping and more in our magnificent state. We have over 15,000 fans of floating on our Facebook page, and it’s growing every day.
I personally do not appreciate you contacting my advertisers about my site, I don’t see the point, either. Their phones were ringing off the hooks yesterday. Perhaps you and the folks at CanoeMissouri should reconsider your ways and embrace the opportunity to shine in front of a few MILLION people that were talking about floating yesterday.
Will Hanke
FloatMissouri.com
Lighten up, it was a harmless April Fool’s joke and it was a good one at that! If they ban alcohol totally on the river it won’t keep me or my family from floating!
I was panicked when I first read it, but once I found out it was a prank, I laughed my ass off!!! How funny!!! I wish society would lighten up and quit being so up-tight about something so harmless. I too would go irregardless of any bans. Thank you for the great laugh yesterday!!!! 🙂
I have to admit that I was FOOLED by the prank yesterday and I haven’t been fooled like that in a long time. I was pretty upset BEFORE I found out it was a joke then after realizing it was a joke I thought it was a great joke and well played. Even a friend of mine that lives in Maui Hawaii was talking about it.
So in closing I tip my hat to Will Hanke and say well played sir! I love your site and look forward to up coming floating season. And I know a good Dr. that is specialized in removing sticks from certian areas of the body if you need his number let me know.
i agree lighten up. if nothing else now everyone has floating on thier brain. everyone is ready to start the saeson and have a great time on our rivers. it’s one day, everyone had to have it in the back of there minds that is was april fools day. i look at it as a plus for the industry.
Didn’t really bother me as I am not a mixed drink type of person. My preference is beer. As soon as you get in the water pop the top.
I believe Pat with canoemissouri.com probably takes the floating industry a little more seriously than you Hank. Pat was around to fight the Natural streams act from the early 90’s which would have essentially ended floating as we know it today, and Pat helped lead the way on keeping glass off our streams which I think everyone agrees is a good thing. I had never heard of your website until yesterday when people were swearing to never float in the state of Missouri again and I asked where they heard the news. So yes your prank might of gained your site publicity, I can still see someone like Pat who has made major contributions in the State of Missouri to protecting our right to float, might not find it as funny as someone who is only worried about gaining popularity for his website.
Got me good. First time I’ve ever been had like this. I was so pissed. I even call Missouri Department of Tourism to find out info. The operator and I had a really good laugh at my expense. VERY funny and VERY well played!
lol YES lighten up! I knew something was “hokey” when all the folks name’s in the article were ALCOHOL related… lol “Tom Collins”… “Paul Martini”…and “Brandy Alexander”… lol Well played!!!!!
Hi Nathan,
First, my name is Will. Second, I wasn’t attacking all the things that Pat has done, which I’m sure are plentiful and terrific for our state. My specific complaint was that she specifically addressed our advertisers and claimed how ‘horrible’ the silly prank was – which I think is just ludicrous.
Have a super day and hope to see you on the river this summer!
Will
I’m not sure how anyone could have possible taken that article seriously! I loved the names of all the quoted “officials”, “Tom Collins, Brandy Alexander, etc. Everyone really should lighten up!
Dearest Pat,
It is completely obvious that a Cranial Rectal Retraction will complete restore your sense of humor.
Hey Will, first all I would like to state that I too found your article to be funny and well written. Secondly I think you have missed what’s important here and took Pats actions too personal. If this truly had occured Pat Sutcliffe would be the first one in line to fix it, for this we should all thank her for her continued devotion to protecting peoples rights on the river. I don’t see where it is to your advantage to make a personal vendetta with someone that has a working relationship with almost every major outfitter (including those who advertise on your site)! A simple “Sorry for the confusion! Lol” Would have been a little more professional!
While I agree it was good April Fool’s fodder, I have to support Pat in her efforts to curb any destructive effects. You don’t realize that some potential floating customers just hear part of the story and decide to go to another state to float. This industry is that volatile. Just the words “flood” or “drought” can, and have in the past, ruined floating seasons for some of us, even when our water was great. Perception is the name of the game. Not all of our customers are “float trip fanatics”, and tune out the logic of what they hear. Other than that, thank you, Float Missouri for your contributions to the float industry.
It was hilarious, and has everyone thinking about their upcoming floats. You did the industry a favor!