A conversation I just had with a fellow CA member and BOTL has inspired me to make this post.

It has been a very rough road for me through the last year and a half working with Guillen Cigars (AKA GDW Cigars), more than most of you will ever know. I have constantly been fighting stress emotionally and financially. When I first got into this in Sept 07, I saw it as a fun project to make some money and help people at the same time. I didnt smoke at the time and it took me 8 months to get to the point to light up my first stogie. After that i very rapidly got past the taboo of smoking (cigars).

From there I started getting more and more involved with online communities. First Cigar Live, than Cigar Pass, Club Stogie, and soon after Cigar Asylum. It wasnt until CA started that I truly got to understand what Cigars are all about. Brothers of the leaf, the people, the friendships, that all come together while stepping away from life and enjoying a good smoke together. And when I say this... I dont just mean this compared to other Cigar forums... But I dont think there is any other place online or in person, that I can meet so many quality people... PERIOD! Not even "family" reunions.... To me, Cigar Asylum has been probably the most support I have gotten from anyway/anyone/for anything, in my whole life. My life is full of people including my own family telling me Im a failure and will always be. That Im wasting my time and money on anything I try to do. Recently, SOME of them are starting to see the light. But CA as complete strangers has come to my side and kept me on my feet. When that above mentioned CA member was talking to me I realized that among many other factors along the way, without CA, I very well may have never made it this far or ever succeeded. There are so many of you that I would gladly consider family. Since day one you have encouraged me, and listened to my stresses, and stuck by my side. Not only do I feel honored to know you guys, I feel that same honor in return. Recently I tried to break into a new forum that I will not name. But right off the bat I was treated I feel poorly because I was not a site supporter. At that time making my introduction I offered up free sticks to a bunch of people in a box pass with some interesting aspects to it. I had not even tried to sell my cigars yet and a few key members/mods were hurrassing me about not giving them money. Granted many of the other members responded in my defense, I didnt and STILL dont feel like Im truely welcome there. JUST BECAUSE OF MY OCCUPATION... Its like im completely disregarded as being able to be a valid member of the site beyond the point of being a vendor. I first posted there 3 months ago and still have not posted a single sale thread, and just yesterday a member with 21,000 posts and a site supporter was putting me down for not contributing money.

At that same time I had decided I dont really want to post more sale threads here on CA, The extra money has definitely been key to keeping us in business but now that we are getting into retail I dont think its as necessary. As much as I can use the extra money and enjoy getting my cigars to more members, I just don't want to take away from the rest of what CA has to offer. I look at CA as a home, friends, a place to put my feet down and blow off some steam if i need too (which can be often), and lend my ears to others at the same time. I know im not the only one here having a tuff time in life!!! I dont want to feel less a part of that because I usa CA as a "marketing tool" as referred to by members on the other sites...

All n all, I dont know what EVERYONE gets out of my participation on the boards, but there is a large group that I owe the deapest gratitude. There is now way I can thank you enough. And although I dont really know the admins TOO well, I have to give a special thanks to you guys as well. You guys do an OUTSTANDING job. you keep this place the way it was meant to be. Without a team like you guys it wouldnt be the same, Congratulations.

I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Don't ever change.
Andy
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Awwwwwwwww :-)
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Andy,

It is for people like you that the Team of 11 created CA in the first place. We wanted to establish a community that folks could call home. Thanks for sharing your story.
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:-)
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Any site who's first call is "show me the money" ain't worth chit.

Thanks for reminding us why we're here, Andy. :-)
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Thanks for sharing your story Andy. There are a lot of great folks on here that truely DO make this place feel like home! :-)
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I'm glad you're part of the family here and glad we had a chance to meet, Andy. :-)
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Well said, Andy. And I will say that it was definitely great to meet you and hang out in Vegas. :-)
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Andy, you are as much a part of Cigar Asylum as anyone. I'm sure most everyone here is glad you're a part of the community.

One of the reasons we have a retailer room is so folks like you can advertise what you have without fear of others hounding you to buy a banner ad or requiring you to participate in a "paid" membership. That room was made just for folks like you!


Thank you for the very kind words.
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Very well said. Thanks to the Gang of 11, this place has become both home and a refuge.:-)
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You're one of the good guys Andy, and it's a pleasure to call you brother.
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Thanks for the thoughtful and inspiring post, Andy. And thanks for making great cigars.

This place *is* great.
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I can only echo Peter's words Andy. The name Asylum has alot more significance than many realized at first.

This is truly a refuge or port in troubled times.

Best of luck to you!

Travis
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:-)
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Thanks for the thoughtful post Andy and best of luck with your venture.
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Well said, Andy!

Your post really made me smile... and realize how grateful I am for this little family we have here.

Other boards exist for different reasons... Cigar Asylum is what I am looking for in a cigar community. Sounds like it is for you, too.

Blessings on you and your business ventures. You know you have a lot of support here in the Asylum. :-)
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Nice post Andy :-)

:-)
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Thanks Andy:-)
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Great Post!:-)
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I feel like I know you better after reading your post, Andy, and it is great having BOTLs like you in the Asylum. Being a retailer doesn't mean you can't be a true Brother of the Leaf as well...thanks for reminding us of that.
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