BILLS KHAKIS NEARLY TOUCH OFF INTERNATIONAL CRISIS

	Craig Czury, internationally known poet and teacher.

Poet and teacher, Craig Czury, travels the world sharing with young and
old his poetry and refreshing views on life. His time and talents are sought
after by educators, psychologists, criminologists, philosophers and just
regular folks like you and me. Czury's work has been published and
translated into five languages, yet he works in near obscurity as do most poets. There are those who know, however, and now you do too.
You can learn more @ www.Craigczury.com. Recently Craig Czury writes:

Dear Bill:

Upon my return from Lithuania, an urgent message appeared upon my computer. It reads...Dear Craig Czury, This morning, our State Secretary found a bag at the main entrance of the Ministeria Building. The label was not written by a Lithuanian. The package was addressed to me, From: Craig Czury. The State Secretary suspects that the package could be a BOMB. I feel that I know better. A "bottle" perhaps? Do you have any idea about this?

Kornelijus

Sure, I have an idea. This is an e-mail from my good friend and host Kornelijus Platelis, the Lithuanian Secretary of Education. He is also a former Poet Laureate who invited me as a guest of the Ministry of Education last October to give reading and writing workshops at the University of
Vilnius. What better gift of appreciation to my host than to slide a bottle of mezcal into the front pocket of my Bills Khakis corduroys, along with my blues harp, a colorful bandanna, a thank you note and some poems (of course).

Once the pockets were stuffed with all I had to give, I packed it all into my evidently suspicious looking Guatemalan shoulder bag. This is everything Lithuanians need to sustain themselves through their brutal winters. It didn't matter that Kornelijus was a bit larger than me. Lithuanians tend to
shrink as they get older and with his 50th birthday forthcoming, what better way to leave a piece of America behind than a pair of Bills.

Hung over and running late for the airport, I gave the bag to a young Peace Corps volunteer to give to Kornelijus, never dreaming that she would just leave it on the doorstep of the Ministeria (the equivalent to our Capitol Building). Well, we've always known that a harmonica, hippie bandanna,
bottle of mezcal and some poetry are threats to any country's national security, but all stuffed into the pockets of a pair of khakis should inspire a whole new line of bomb squad twills for Lithuania's post election year... I am sure they will become legendary all across the Baltics.

ESVEIKATAS, Craig Czury

ARNOLD PALMER

	Quality Control guru Mary Anne Epting lives at the foot of the Appalachian Trail and drives and hour everyday to work at Bills Khakis. Mary Anne's husband Chester has single handedly built all our shipping and inspection tables, as well as most of the shelving units within the Bills Khakis headquarters. Thank you Mary Anne and Chester for helping us Build Bills.

To call him the King, isn't enough. Last fall, Arnold Palmer placed an order for several pairs of Bills Khakis. What other brand would Pennsylvania's greatest pitchman wear than khakis made in his home state.

Mr. Palmer's order was inspected by Bills Khakis' quality guru, Mary Anne Epting, who could not resist the once-in-a lifetime chance to contact her husband's greatest idol. So she drafted a quick note of admiration to Arnold and dropped it into one of the back pockets. "I just want to tell you what great inspiration you have been to me and my husband, Chester, through the years. Thanks for the memories." signed Mary Anne Epting.

Three weeks later, a rather non-descript envelope arrived at Bills Khakis addressed to Mary Anne and Chester Epting. Breaking the seal revealed
an autographed photo of the King in his hey day, his hands high, head and
feet esque, eyes fixed. "Thanks for the note Mary Anne. All the best...
Arnold Palmer."

What a thrill it was that day for all of us at Bills Khakis. We can only wish
Mr. Palmer many delightful summer afternoons at Old Latrobe, treating his famous tractor to a soothing drink of Pennzoil, and treating himself to a well-iced bottle of Rolling Rock and enjoying the comfort of his Pennsylvania-made Bills Khakis.

 

THE STORY BEHIND BILLS KHAKIS

While traveling around the country, people always ask me how I got started. Sometimes people actually tell me! This is my favorite version of how I got started.

It starts in Silicon Valley during the pioneering days of information systems and the internet. As I began to wear thin with the corporate dance, so were my favorite old pair of khakis, a pair of original WWII issue khakis that were willed to me by my father. They were his favorites too and had
grown to represent something much greater than I can explain. They got me through college, but riding a desk had taken its toll. I had to replace them, but with what? How?

My search began to border upon obsession, even treason, as late night internet safaris lead me face to interface with Uncle Sam and the door of the Pentagon. Confronted with the possibility of finding the original source of authentic WWII khakis (nothing short of the Holy Grail), I knowingly and willingly hacked my way through 60 years of the most obscure, highly classified WWII documents known to none, discovering the exact specifications and manufacturing origins of my father's half a century old M#1's.

My discovery became my destiny. Fed up with the intangible world of technology, I set out to save an American original, the authentic WWII khaki. The rest is history.

NOTE from BILL: I couldn't have made up a better story myself.

WE'VE SLIPPED A LITTLE

Last year, we reported that Bills Khakis had been recognized by INC Magazine as the 10th fastest growing business in America located within an inner city. Well, we slipped on the ranking this year down to 14th. Our location within downtown Reading, Pennsylvania hasn't budged, representing our
commitment to healthy, vibrant inner cities across the country. The great old buildings of America's inner cities offer incredible working environments and are an obvious alternative to sprawling suburban corporate campuses. If you own a business and are looking to relocate, please consider
the influence you can have on others by locating within your downtown area.

CLIFF

Sometimes I ask myself why I would want to put Cliff in our newsletter. Then I ask, "why wouldn't I?" Cliff never stays in one place for more than a meal and his wanderlust keeps him as far away from here as it does there. He is one of those rare people
you love hearing from simply because he is such a free spirit.
We figure if anyone is going to put our product through hell, it
will be Cliff. And with his view of the world, he can shed some profound insights from time to time. This is what he had to say in his last communique.

Howdy Bill,

I returned from Asia this spring, overhauled my motorcycle, slipped on a pair of Bills Khakis under my riding suit ? and rode. I arrived in Vermont in September after being in the saddle for nearly 31/2 months. I rode on dusty canyon roads throughout the southwest exploring the solace and spring bloom of the desert. I carved the back roads of the Ozarks with its abundant snakes, hanging moss and southern hospitality and I was battered by the offshore breeze of the Carolina Islands, but took the time to indulge in crab cakes, the sounds of wispy dune grass and the tranquility of the not yet bustling beaches.

Though I have explored many remote areas of other countries, I had not yet really tasted America. The foods, the people and the way Americans live is remarkable and radically diverse. I spent time in villages reminiscent of The Gambia, barrios redolent of El Salvadore and rode through towns of "Pop. 18 and 2 coon dogs." This journey really gave me a better feel of the economic and social disparity of our country; it exists in a frightening proportion.

The first two thirds of the ride I did not have a map but instead rode on intuition and suggestions from the people I met in diners along the way. I was reminded time and again of how every person has a story. It was my desire to provide the key to unlock a person's tale in hopes that he/she
would share it with me. And share they did!

Once again, Bills Khakis were a stalwart travel companion and they held up to the rigors of being my second skin. One pair of khaki cutoffs and a pair of corduroy trousers are ample for nearly any situation. It is good to know that in five months when I return to Africa, my small rucksack filled with essentials, I do not have to struggle with what trousers I will bring. While in Africa, I will lead a travel seminar for a college and will then continue down to Namibia. Of course, who knows if I'll make it to Southern Africa - in all reality I may get distracted and instead sail the spice route between Madagascar and Zanzibar in a Dhow. Nonetheless, despite a tentative itinerary, crumbling transit systems and times when I nearly loose my head from annoyances, I know that I at least can rely
on my Bills.

Peace, Cliff

SPONSORED ATHLETES

Bills Khakis sponsors several professional golfers on the PGA tour and Buy.com tour. We are thrilled to have our product being used at such high levels. Here's a quick update on who they are and where they play.

Kevin Johnson: Kevin has graduated from the Buy.com tour to the big dance. K.J. finished 5th in "Q" school and is off to a strong start on the PGA tour in 2001		Vance Veazey, barely missed making the big tour this year and has remained a Buy.comer. Vance has won twice on the Buy.com and plans to return to the PGA tour where he played throughout the 1998 season.		Greg Twiggs is also playing the Buy.com tour and is the only player in our stabel who has a PGA tour victory under his belt.

 

“HAAWGISMS”


Eddie Holden (A.K.A. Hawg), our Bills Khakis sales rep in the South, is famous for his profound views on life.

— On Microfiber. . . No one ever wrote a song "I wish I was in the Land of Microfiber."

 

 

 

A NOTE FROM BILL
Our newsletter is intended to extend a special look into our company, the people behind it, and most importantly, the personalities that really make things tick, our customers.

We are looking for your letters and photographs for inclusion in our next newsletter. Tell us about your life adventures in Bill Khakis. Your contributions are not only appreciated, but necessary to create a newsletter that lives up to the above.

Contact Marge at 1-800-43-khaki or customerservice@billskhakis.com with submissions, contributions and pictures.