Inventor's Digest Magazine Building Alliances through Selfless Service My name is William Haney, an inventor from Bensalem, PA. I have a full time job along with running Universal Arts, Inc. I am the secretary for the American Society of Inventors and also a member of the Bensalem Township Kiwanis Club. "Imagination Land" a special needs playground is one of our projects. Universal Arts painted my invention, "Lunar Hop"™, a space-age game, designed for children and adults, challenged and unchallenged, for hopping or walking and foot placement on craters found on the moon, in the playground last summer. Old Country Buffet is and has been working with the Kiwanis Club on several projects. The Bensalem Township Kiwanis Club and the American Society of Inventors are 501 (c) (3) non-profit organizations. In March, I was invited to participate in Community Appreciation Days on April 2nd & 3rd at the Old Country Buffet through Bobbi Enke, the Community Representative, for Old Country Buffet. Old Country Buffet invites Businesses and Organizations to showcase at their restaurants from within the community to help promote products, services and networking... what a wonderful concept. After speaking with customers at the restaurant, a woman approached me asking me, "What do we have here?" I said that I'm representing three organizations Universal Arts, Inc. Bensalem Township Kiwanis Club and the American Society of Inventors. She said, "I had no idea we had inventors here." I replied, "Oh yes". She asked, "What did you invent?" So I directed her attention To the portable DVD player on the table playing the first birthday party at the playground along with the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Lunar Hop™ installation in the playground. The woman turned out to be Mrs. Linda Wolodko, Regional Marketing Coordinator for Buffets Inc., in charge of 73 stores on the East Coast, Maine to Florida. I showed her what a patent and trademark looks like explaining trade secrets. I then unveiled my other invention "Mirage II" Stop Smoking Bank designed for children and adults and as a gift to family or friends. Shaped like the roman number 2, the Stop Smoking Bank is an alarm box housing a faux cigarette with a filter or a faux handrolled cigarette, also a hidden compartment. I showed Linda the psychological effect of the Stop Smoking Bank, passing your hand over the cigarette and depositing money in the Bank, rewarding yourself for not lighting up. If you choose not to deposit money in the Bank and light up any way, you are now fined a dollar to be deposited in the Bank for a loved ones' higher education. Linda said "Aren't you the clever one! We need to do more of this in our restaurants." I said "that would be great!" Now, I start thinking about Buffets, Inc. and all the restaurants they have throughout the country Old Country Buffet, HomeTown Buffet, Country Buffet, Ryan's and Firemountain, and how many inventors' organizations there are. What this could do for the inventive community. I spoke with Randy Barrett Director of Marketing for Buffets, Inc., about national inventors night. Mentioning how successful the event was on April 2nd and April 3rd 2007 at restaurant 0128. How Linda thought it was wonderful having an inventor showcasing their invention, answering questions about the patent process, for the customers. Linda and I were also talking about maybe showcasing inventions in other restaurants. Randy said get with Linda and Bobbi Enke, Old Country Buffet Community Representative, do a pilot program and keep him in the loop. I set up a meeting with Bobbi Enke and Bill Smith manager of Old Country Buffet, and Jay Cohen, President of American Society of Inventors and my self for Inventors Night at Old Country Buffet on July 18, 2007. The July Inventors Night pilot program was successful. How appropriate to have inventors night in the same township where Ben Franklin flew the kite for his electricity experiment, at Growden Mansion Park in Bensalem, PA. Based on the success of the pilot program, we organized a second event on November 7, 2007. Well the November 7, 2007, Inventors Night was successful on many levels Linda traveled from CT, to witness the event, Al Manigrassi Senior Area Director was invited to witness history in one of his restaurants. Award presentations Certificate of Appreciation, In honor of your pioneering vision, Linda Wolodko, Bobbi Enke, and Bill Smith for Old Country Buffet. Buffets, Inc. made history Inventors Night has never been done in a restaurant atmosphere. Linda wants to make February 2008, Inventors Month in her region which is from Maine to Florida. Inventors Organizations who would like to attend inventors night, for more information you can contact.   American Society of Inventors C/O William Haney P.O. Box 58426 Philadelphia, PA 19102