GLOBAL
NEWSFLASH
I have been overwhelmed by
the response to my announcement that all Beanies will retire on
December 31, 1999. Since the announcement, there have been thousands
of messages posted on websites worldwide discussing the discontinuation
of Beanie Babies. I have received hundreds of letters from children,
educators, hospitals, clinics, charities and collectors around
the world asking me to reconsider my decision and create new Beanies.
After much thought, I am willing
to put the fate of Beanie Babies in your hands. You make the
decision. You have inspired the Beanie Babies line through
your devotion to them. I will kickoff the new millennium by conducting
the first live worldwide vote of its kind, a global vote
to determine whether Beanie Babies should, or should not, be continued.
Our Beanie Baby factories are shut down, but if you decide that
new Beanie Babies should be created, I will re-launch production.
As the new millennium begins,
people in every country and every time zone in the world will
have an opportunity to participate in the "Beanie Babies Ballot".
The global vote will begin on 12/31/99 at 6:00 a.m. EST, USA.
When you access www.Ty.com
you will be asked this question: "Should Ty create new Beanie
Babies in the year 2000?" The website will give detailed instructions
on how to cast a vote by internet or telephone at that time. On
1/2/00 at 6:00 a.m. EST, USA, the voting will come to an end.
Results will be final and binding.
We will be charging an amount
of U.S. $ .50 (fifty cents) per vote (which requires credit card
validation). This charge should ensure integrity of the vote,
as well as prevent over-voting. Ty employees/vendors/licensees
are not eligible to vote. All proceeds (100%) from the vote will
be donated to the Elizabeth
Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Regardless of
the outcome, children of the world will benefit from your vote.
Remember that it is you that can make a difference in this world.
