The Postcards for Mom Pranksters

The next Mom could be yours. Here's what we've decided to do:

We will be holding a charity auction through MissionFish.org to select the next Mom. Seventy percent of the proceeds from the auction will go to a charity that you, the readers, choose. I have weeded through the long list of charities, and have come up with four that I thought were suitable to my wife and my tastes, and (hopefully) our audience's.

Here is the poll: http://www.postcardsformom.com/polls/may04poll.php
Please take a few minutes to read about each charity and choose the one that you believe should benefit from our auction.

What about the other thirty percent?
We had a great time with the original project, and as it progressed, it started taking up more and more of my personal time. While I didn't mind it, we have progressed past the stage of this being a personal joke and have entered the area of this site being somewhat of a service. The site does cost me money to run. I'm definitely not in this for the money, but I sure would like to recoup some of the costs, as I'm sure anyone would. We decided that a seventy/thirty split would be fair.

The High Bidder
The high bidder will have to agree to a few rules before being deemed the real winner. These rules will be posted in the auction. By bidding on the auction, you are bound by these rules. Read carefully.

The new Mom will receive a three-month mailing window, preferrably starting June 1 2004. After three months, the high bidder's Mom will be removed from the mailing list, and a new one will be added. Just think, someone will receive a bunch of weird mail for 3 months, and then it will just go away.

I don't have money to donate, but I want my Mom to be chosen!
Fret not, little ones. The future of PCFM is not money-driven. As I mentioned, this is simply a way to help pay some bills, have fun, and help out a charity. This Mom will have the stage for three months. After that, we will probably do a fun essay contest or something similar. We would like everyone to have the opportunity to get their Mom in on the joke. A checkbook should not hinder you from playing along.

I don't want to bid, I just want to send something!
Hold your horses! The auction will be over by May 25^th, and the next Mom will be posted no later than June 1^st. Use this time to stock up on ammo. Purchase postcards, writing paper, pens, and envelopes.

Get ready for the onslaught. We're going to have a blast.

Hey Everyone, Puffy Will here... I'm doing much better and am going to be working on a little site re-design today, along with the press release I wanted to get out yesterday. Stay tuned and let's get the show back on the road!

I'm at home today and probably tomorrow with a very serious case of poison ivy. My face is puffed up and my left eye swollen shut. I may have to put off the announcement for the fact that I can't see to type. I apologize for this, as I'm wanting to get the next phase going, too.

I did, however, get a shot in my arse today, which was cool, except mooning a nurse doesn't have the same effect as mooning a car full of strangers...

You can now listen to this morning's KFRC broadcast at

http://www.postcardsformom.com/sounds/willhank051204.mp3

Looks like they cut the end of the conversation off of the audio, but that's ok. It was a blast.

So, What's Next for Postcards For Mom?

I'm glad you asked. What's next? Another prank. Another Mom. A lot more mail. And money for charity. All mixed into one great time.

How will we pull it off - again? Stay tuned for an announcement on May 14^th.

I'm now the featured blogger on STLBloggers.com.

w00t!

You can now hear Mom and I on the Steve and DC radio show:

http://www.steveanddc.com/uploads/audio/highlights/WillMothersDay.ram

Requires RealPlayer (free from real.com)

Wow - we were on for 7 minutes... I thought it was like 2 or 3...

Hey if you like Barenaked Ladies, you should check out the Amazon River Boys - especially their song Horses, Cows, Chicken, Sheep off their Chasin' The Wind album - it's hilarious and a great CD!

For those of you in the San Francisco area, I will be on KFRC tomorrow morning, 8:30 AM (Central) with Cammy and Dean.

Mom was on a radio station in Syracuse, NY this morning, as well as another in Fresno, CA. I also received an email that the project was mentioned on the radio in Columbia, MO.

Here's the link to today's article... http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/News/St.+Louis+City+%2F+County/29A50930447D637686256E91001C6F56?OpenDocument&Headline=Mother+finds+source+of+all+the+mail+she+was+getting+

Everyone,

The Post-Dispatch will be doing a follow-up article in tomorrow's paper. I will keep you updated with any other news as it develops. If it is not on a front page area, I won't be able to get a link for it. But I will probably purchase the paper and scan it into PDF format for everyone (assumin' thats legal!).

It is true that I have talked with the Talent Coordinator at the Late Show, although she said not to hold my breath. If nothing else, I actually got to talk to and be considered by the best show on TV. (And I wouldn't do Leno unless they paid me real good!)

I've listened to the Steve and DC radio show for over 12 years now, and it was an honor to have them call me to be on the show. Sweet.

So, its all good.

Hey y'all this is Kev. I just wanted to drop in and say... WOW!! The response has been phenomenal. Mom is still reeling in the after effects of the article on Sunday and the Radio show this morning. My mom was on 40 different radio stations all across the United States this morning explaining about the "silly mail" she gets in her mailbox every day. I do not think she really understands how big this project has become. Will got an e-mail from the Letterman show a little while ago. There is a possibility that they could be on there by the end of the week. We will keep you informed. She is just flabbergasted about all the media attention. Mom if you get on here and read this. I love you. Well I will be checking in from time to time, still on the road teaching. Keep sending stuff!! Will has some thoughts on where the site will go from here so we are not going anywhere. Maybe a guest mom????

I have a great idea for the next stage of PostcardsForMom. Its not going anywhere.

But first, lets see what other media outlets want to run the story before I go changing the site. I know that the Post already wants to do a follow-up later on this week, I'll let you know how that goes and what day the story will run.

Hey there everyone. Yesterday the phone rang at 7:23AM. Here's what happened:

Me: Hello?
Mom: William Hanke, you are in SO MUCH TROUBLE! (laughing)
Me: Why, what's up?
Mom: What's up? It's on the front page!
Me: Oh, that ;)

So for all of you who are wondering, yes, Mom found out yesterday, Mother's Day. There was a large article on the front page of the Post Dispatch. Mom said she got up at 5:30AM to sit and wait for the paperman to deliver it. I can only imagine the look on her face when she opened the paper, expecting to maybe find a small article about her mail, when she saw a big picture of herself on the front page!

Busted!

Does this mean the project is over? Not exactly. I'd like to finish out the month since Mom's birthday is at the end of May. Now's your chance to get a birthday card, wrapping paper, confetti, or whatever else in the mail to her. Make her birthday a real blast!

More to come...

For all of you wondering...He hasnt talked to his mom all day. He said he will make a post either tonight or tomorrow morning to let you guys know all the details. I told him to get with it, I know I would hate the suspense myself but hey thats Will..... So try and get a good nights sleep and stay tuned... :)

HEllo everyone this is Will's wife. He just got off the phone with the producer of the Steve&Dc show (always his favorites :) He will be on in the morning at 6:10 central. Make sure to listen!! Will keep ya posted for any other new developments.

For those of you that are not in the St. Louis area, you can now view the front page of the paper at

http://www.postcardsformom.com/frontpage.pdf

You can read the full story at

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/News/St.+Louis+City+%2F+County/2659AC65CEC904AA86256E8E0037601D?OpenDocument&Headline=Don't+tell+mom

I should take the opportunity to globally express my love for my wife, who is a wonderful mother as well.

Love ya, sweetheart! Happy Mother's Day to you, too.

Paul in Saint Louis writes:
Will,

I received a call from my mom about 30 minutes ago. She had recently read the article on the front page of the Post Dispatch. I had also read the article about an hour ago and rushed to the web site. I have to say that it was a brilliant, thoughtful and about the funniest thing I have ever heard.

My mother is not the best on navigating her computer so I read her a lot from the site. Together, on Mother's Day, we laughed our asses off for nearly 10 minutes. Thanks for OUR gift! It feels good to smile!... WARNING! I believe my mother has clipped out the
article and is planning on sending it to Oprah.... she made it sound like they were very tight! :)

I wish you the BEST and please tell Celeste HAPPY MOM'S DAY!...

Thanks, Paul. Glad this is having such a positive impact on the area and the world.

Scott writes: I am a minister and I plan to mention your funny and touching story in my Mother's day sermon tomorrow. I will then ask the whole church to send you mom a birthday greeting!

Karen says: Hi Will, I think you are the bravest son in the world!!!! ... and the nicest!
You call this nice? Well, ok, you're right...

And Tom in Honolulu says: What a son will do for his mother....or for his and his brothers enjoyment.
Tom, I wasn't doing this for my brother's enjoyment. Its a great tool to torture him :)