This week was a week when all you heard was bad news. Diesel prices were once again on the rise with no end in sight. There were on-going challenges in our lumber markets, continued weakness in the dollar, higher food costs, record crude oil prices and log and pulpwood quotas tightened in some locations. If you stopped and thought about it, you'd have been tempted to hit up your doctor for a double prescription of Lexipro (an anti-depression medication).
Last week was also April 15^th, tax day. This year, it was on a Tuesday, but you would have thought it was a Friday at Red Rock because of the steady stream of suppliers coming to pick up their checks early because they owed taxes. I never anticipated anything like that on a Tuesday, but next year on April 15, I'll be sure to beef up the office staff to handle the extra flow, just like we do on Friday's. It was like being in a partnership with H&R Block!
The one bright spot last week was the weather; it was sunny and GREAT!!
As I sat down on the front porch to write this week's newsletter, I decided I wasn't going to let all these business challenges get me down. Then a possible solution hit me! Since it's important to give back, and, when times are dark, helping someone always makes me feel better, I thought, "why not focus on giving."
So, please find below, a "cut-out" coupon (kind of corny, huh??). Please print out this email and cut out the coupon, then fill it out and mail it to us here at Red Rock Enterprises, 9659 Friendsville Road, Friendsville, MD 21531, or email it to us at sales@redrockllc.com, or fax it to 301-746-5268. You are probably wondering how filling out coupons is going to kick off our summer on a positive note.
Well, here's what I came up with. No matter how bad things get, look back at the times that were worse in your own life. (like when I went with my mom to the cancer center and saw all the children who were there, battling cancer) This exercise can really put things in perspective.
Anyway, everyone has their own favorite charity; as you probably already know, mine is Garrett County Lighthouse; and our family supports them on a regular basis. Here's an opportunity for you to help your favorite charity. When you fill out the coupon below, tell us the name of your favorite charity. We'll put all the coupon's we receive in a hat, and draw a winner. Red Rock will then make a donation, in your name, to your favorite charity. We'll do 3 drawings, one for $100, and two for $50, and announce the winners in the May 8, 2008 newsletter. (ALL COUPONS ARE DUE HERE BY: MAY 5, 2008)
Maybe by taking this opportunity to help our favorite charities, it'll help us look beyond all the doom and gloom out there, today, by remembering how we were able to help a good cause.
While we are all business-people, and it's important for everyone to make a profit, there are some things that are just bigger than that. That said, lets kick this summer off on a positive note!

Last week, I asked someone who is working with us on our FSC project if they had a picture of me that they threw darts at. They said they used to, but that they took it down. It's unclear if they took it down because it was full of holes, or, if they'd just had a change of heart. I was just wondering, after all, because of all the work we have been doing on our FSC certification. I had been told that I've been "barking" a lot of orders lately....
Speaking of FSC, we continue to move forward with our certification. This is a larger undertaking than I originally planned, but everyone has pulled together and we are performing like one great orchestra. (My wife told me I was talking in my sleep the other night and the only thing she could understand was FSC, FSC, FSC.....)
We're all looking forward to successfully finishing this project because it's important to be able to offer certified wood to our customers and, to add value to the Red Rock brand. Our philosophy is that if our customers look good, we look good. Once again, it's all about that win/win philosophy.

Right now, I have strong orders for Poplar, no smaller than 10 inches on the small end, in 9 and 18 foot logs, no trim is needed. Call or email for prices. Also, we need red, white and rock oak in 25 foot lengths with a minimum of 13 inch diameter on the small end. These logs MUST be straight and the knots trimmed flat.

Date	Diesel: Retail Prices (PER GALLON)
July 1995	$1.10
January 2000	$1.36
July 2000	$1.43
January 2001	$1.52
July 2001	$1.38
January 2002	$1.15
July 2002	$1.30
January 2003	$1.49
July 2003	$1.44
January 2004	$1.55
July 2004	$1.74
January 2005	$1.96
July 2005	$2.37
January 2006	$2.47
July 2006	$2.93
January 2007	$2.88
January 2008	$3.62
TODAY	$4.14

1 cup rice, regular or instant, cooked according to package directions
Cooking spray
2 pounds large or jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons freshly chopped cilantro leaves
1 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder Coat a stove-top grill pan or griddle with cooking spray and set over medium-high heat to preheat. Season both sides of shrimp with salt and black pepper. Place shrimp on hot pan and cook 2 to 3 minutes per side, until bright pink and cooked through. Sprinkle shrimp with cilantro.

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, whisk together orange juice, lime juice, ginger, cornstarch, and garlic. Set pan over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Simmer 2 minutes, until mixture thickens. Season, to taste, with salt and black pepper. Transfer sauce to a serving bowl. Serve 2/3 of the shrimp with the rice and dipping sauce on the side. Reserve remaining shrimp for wraps, if desired.

Last week, I wrote about relationships and how important they are. Recently, I read a book called The Fred Factor by Mark Sanborn. It's an excellent book about relationships and illustrates to show how even the simplest things can make a BIG difference. (It's well worth the read time at $15 at Barnes and Noble.)
I often talk about employees, contractors, truckers, customers, and suppliers in my emails but lately I've failed to mention all of the other professional people that help me do what I do. I have a GREAT team of lawyers, accountants, bankers, surveyors, real estate agents, and insurance agents that take very good care of me. Over the years I've striven to build relationships with all of them, just as I have with everyone else whose part of the Red Rock family. I try to view all of you like family because that's the right way for someone in my position to do it. Once again, it's about relationships. See?
One day last week, Frank Stark, our forester, was in my office and I was talking to one of the five lawyers we retain. (I have 3 in MD, 1 in WV and 1 in PA). During the conversation, we talked to each other like a brother and sister would, which struck Frank as hard to believe. Then he remembered that that was the way I treat everyone who makes a contribution to the success of Red Rock Enterprises.

Thank you, once again, to our lawyers, bankers, insurance agents, surveyors, real estate agents, and accountants.