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Winter is almost over and we are networking to even greater heights! The Rolling Stone article of 1/26/96 almost doubled our volunteer force, and put Rock and Wrap it Up! on the map. Creative Arts Agency of Beverly Hills CA who saw the piece, will work closely with our new Regional Director for Los Angeles, Damian Leone in setting up food collection in the film industry. We sincerely thank Michelle Kydd of C.A.A. for her yeoman's efforts to accomplish this wonderful goal. Red Hot Chili Peppers have signed on with us for the second leg of their tour beginning March 5. Ozzy Osbourne's tour have gotten our organization wonderful publicity. Miami film producer Elisa Kasher did a piece on RWU on their "Deco Drive" evening news/entertainment program. This program aired on February 5, 1996 on NBC in Boston and Fox in Miami. The three minute piece is available by request. We will try to get copies for any director who needs to do presentations. Ozzy's people also collect soap and shampoo, unused, from their hotel stops throughout the world and have sent us 350 items to date. This is a project that other bands might want to adopt on their tours.

We have added new Regional Directors:

* Buffalo NY: Danielle Heinmann
* Los Angeles County CA: Damian
* Chicago IL: Misty McElroy and Eileen Hanrahan
* Montreal Canada: Mark Fleming

We also welcome aboard volunteers: Tracy Weese (Shepardsville WV), Fred Franzblau (Denver CO), Maryanne Keenan and Joseph Dubow (Woodcliff Lake NJ), Barbara Drillen (Columbus OH), Theresa Dumas (Jersey City NJ), and Amy Smith (Livonia MI). We have T-shirts available in all sizes for our regional directors and food pick up volunteers. They are available by request. We have started to mail out fund raising letters for our organization. If you would like to help us in our campaign, I can tailor our letter to go out to your own mailing list with your name on it. Please let us know. I may be able to get our volunteers IBM 286 and 386 computers for the donation of postage. If you need a computer for WRU business, please let me know as soon as possible. I am also requesting free air time from America Online for our volunteers. We will have our newsletter available on our homepage each month. Please check your monthly pickup calendars to make sure you have the newest dates. I have included a food transfer suggestion page which ran last year. Please familiarize yourself with safe food handling skills. We thank Jennifer Kelton and the Los Angeles Food Bank for the training in proper handling of perishable foods.

We are going to list our members' e-mail addresses in April. Please call me with your e-mail address or URL. My number is 1-516-295-0670, fax 1-516-295-3848. My e-mail address is Ruler@delphi.com All bands who are part of us and have home pages are listed at our site (URL). Our URL is

http://members.aol.com/rocknwrap/

Bands who have used Rock and Wrap It Up! services to date: Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Bruce Hornsby, Michael Bolton, Phish, Nine Inch Nails, MegaDeth, Bad Religion, Candlebox, Page and Plant, Van Halen, Melissa Etheridge, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Queensryche, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Hootie and the Blowfish, The Grateful Dead, Bonnie Raitt, The Beastie Boys, Pearl Jam, The Allman Brothers, The H.O.R.D.E. Festival, Bon Jovi, Lollapalooza 1995, Soul Asylum, Rusted Root, David Bowie, Ozzy Osbourne, The Dave Mathews Band, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, AC/DC, Rod Stewart.

Hunger Happens!

Suggestions for smooth and safe food transfer

Please use these suggestions whenever possible. Please read them and call if anything is unclear.

The best way to transfer food is to be able to take it directly from the backstage area to a waiting refrigerated vehicle. You all have been sent the The Food Chain list of organizations who pick up food. Use this group as your first means of transfer. They have worked with most of us and we have found them to be professional and prompt. This applies to City Harvest and other local pickup services. Second Harvest is the national organization of food banks. They also have lists of refrigeration vehicles who will meet you at events or can act as deposit locations. Please always fill out a receipt at venue.
Acceptable foods

* Low Concern
o Fresh fruit
o fresh vegetables
o grains
o flour
o nuts
o baked goods
o packaged or canned foods
* Moderate Concern
o hard cheeses
o cold cut meat
o smoked meats
* More moderate concern
o Protein salads (tuna, chicken, potato, egg)
o dairy products
o hot meats
o soft cheese

Unacceptable foods
Foods prepared with alcohol can lead to allergic reactions, spoiled foods, leftover table food, perishable food left out for two hours or more, home prepared foods and insect or rodent contaminated products.
Useful items
If you are transferring food to a local kitchen, please have with you the following items:

* styrofom or plastic cooler
* ice (ice can be gotten at most venues, gratis)
* gallon size storage baggies (from experience, always double bag to prevent leaks into other foods)
* can liners
* a foldable grocery cart (optional) to transfer food

Remember, the decision to serve what is donated lies with the kitchen or shelter. We will do everything in our power to get them edible food. At our soup kitchen, we have a kitchen commandment; if in doubt, throw it out.