"I am a citizen of the United States of America. I do not speak your language. Misfortune forces me to seek your assistance in obtaining food, shelter, and protection. Please take me to someone who will provide for my safety and see that I am returned to my people. My government will reward you.”

This is the first paragraph written in English and this is repeated in 13 languages. It is called a blood chit and it is from the Vietnam War (1968).

A blood chit is a prepared message carried by military air crews and by other service members deemed to be at what the military calls “high risk of isolation". It is written in local languages that a lost service member can present to most anyone who might help.

It is printed on silk for durability and was distributed immediately before a dangerous mission.

Blood chits originated in England 200 years ago and was introduced to US military during WW II. It has been used during the Korean conflict, the Vietnam War and through both Middle East conflicts.

As mentioned below, much of the year has been taken up with the generation of the Red Wing Creative Economy report.

Related, and even more of a time sink, has been the initiation of the Red Wing Innovation Incubator.

This is a physical space dedicated to help grow and mentor new businesses in the Red Wing Community.

This activity is being driven by Red Wing Downtown Main Street and our involvement is because of a firm belief that the stronger the local economy is, the stronger our business can become.

Visit the web site and see what the hub-bub is all about. Red Wing Innovation Incubator.

It has been busier here than it might appear.

Earlier this year, we became involved in a project to try and measure the local Creative Economy and contrast it to other communities. Armed with this information, the goal becomes to make defensible recommendations going forward.

This is important to our business for obvious reasons, but it is also important to the community because this is where the economy is growing very rapidly.

We couldn't (or even shouldn't) do a significant project like this alone. We partnered with the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, Red Wing Downtown Main Street, Inc., Anderson Center at Tower View, Red Wing Arts Association, ArtReach and the Sheldon Theatre of Performing Arts.

This is good company to keep and adds credibility to the final report.

We are proud of the final report and encourage you to download your own copy.