Skip Happens Podcast - Every Boot Has a Story!

How A Family Turned Tragedy Into A Lifetime Of Licenses

Skip Clark

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SPEAKER_02:

Good morning and welcome to the Community Connection, the Inner Harbor Cast. My name is Skip Clark. I am your host again this week, and another great program for you, as you know, with the Inner Harbor Cast, uh, where you reach out into the community, being locally owned and operated. There are a lot of organizations here in town, 501c3 organizations that uh have a lot to do with how we live and what we do every day, and uh a lot of great causes. And uh this morning is one of those. Uh I'm talking to Nikki, who is uh with Little Tags, and uh she is the founder of that. Her husband is in here, uh Jason as well, and good morning to you both. Thanks for coming in. And you're gonna tell us a little bit about what Little Tags is all about. First of all, good morning.

SPEAKER_00:

Good morning, thank you. Thank you guys.

SPEAKER_02:

Good morning, Skip. Thank you for being here. Uh, for listeners who may be hearing about Little Tags for the first time, um, can you share who Nathan Bush was and what he meant to those around him? Nikki being you are his sister. Yes. So why don't you start?

SPEAKER_00:

So Little Tags, um, we had started about five years ago. Um, as you had said, it's a nonprofit, 501c3. Nate was a big um avid hunter, loved to take kids out um in the woods, kind of show them the ropes on you know just what to do in the outdoors. Um we tragically lost him in an accident. Um so we started this foundation um in his memory.

SPEAKER_02:

I know it's hard to talk though. I totally get it.

SPEAKER_00:

And then and how long ago was the uh uh it was in 2020, so it was five years.

SPEAKER_02:

This was this in Tully. Um I think I read about that.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, yeah. Yep. So we started this foundation. Um we wanted to, you know, help out kids that in and the families um deal with you know the financial burden of a lifetime license. So we give out the lifetime licenses at no cost to the family or the child.

unknown:

Oh wow.

SPEAKER_02:

So um obviously losing Nathan was devastating. Very devastating. It's just hard to hard to even fathom that happening, but it does happen and unfortunately. But you're putting you're putting all those memories and everything to great cause. Uh, what was the moment or conversation that sparked the idea to turn that tragedy into something so meaningful?

SPEAKER_00:

Um, so we actually, it was my mom and my sister, we were kind of just sitting around um the breakfast bar at my parents' house, and we were just, you know, we didn't want to do a scholarship, we didn't want to do anything, you know, kind of that everybody's done. Um, and it just kind of came about. Um the name in itself, you know, tags. We used to get a little tag, you know, when you're talking about it.

SPEAKER_02:

That was like when you're hunting, you get your tag, yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Yep. So it just it just came all came together, and you know, we created the logo and we thought we'd give out maybe two to three a year, and it's surpassed that by a lot. So I love that.

SPEAKER_02:

And uh so your his legacy lives on by doing something like this. I can see that, I can understand that. Um so how did you land? Well, uh you just kind of talked about the mission and all that and landed on, you know, giving out these lifetime tags. Um but explain in your own words what Little Tags Foundation does. Now you do the tags, but uh is there any more to that?

SPEAKER_00:

So we do the tags, we also um do the merchandise. Um if w we sell the merchandise, but if people need um, you know, hunting clothes, um, any gear except for firearms, we can't do that. Um they can apply online and they can um they can get it that way. Uh we're trying to expand with mentors and stuff. Um and we would love to build a lodge someday, but you know, that's does cost a lot of money.

SPEAKER_02:

So never say never.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, never. Never say never.

SPEAKER_02:

Exactly. Never say never. But you I mean that's one of the goals. And uh you said uh you give out these tags. Why is it so important to provide lifetime hunting and fishing licenses instead of the annual ones?

SPEAKER_00:

Um, so we believe that the outdoors is more than um just recreation. It's a way to teach patients responsibility and respect um for the environment and the value of quality time. Um by investing in our youth now, we ensure those traditions and values will be passed on um for generations.

SPEAKER_02:

Absolutely, absolutely. And I think, you know, uh me growing up, I mean, my dad was a hunter. I mean, my brother-in-law's, they all go out. It's hard to get them together for a Thanksgiving dinner, if you know what I mean, because they're all out in the field doing their thing. Yeah. Uh but it's so important, and and I like the fact that it's also together time. Uh maybe a father and a and a son go out, or maybe, you know, even the women are hunting and everybody sticks together and you have that bonding. Yeah. Uh did you hunt?

SPEAKER_00:

Yes. I it's been many years. Um I don't have time. Um but I was my teenage daughters, um, they are showing interest, and I would like to get back out there um with them. So, yes, I did use to hunt.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. Jason, tell me um a little bit about your side of this. Being you're Nikki's husband, you're involved, you've been there since day one.

SPEAKER_01:

I have been there since day one. Um that she made mention of the conversation that her mother and her sister uh were having around the breakfast bar at her mother's house. Um, what it was, there was there was a few extra bucks that people had donated um to you know during the funeral time and all of that. And they wanted to do something that would promote what Nate was interested in, um, which was the outdoors. And it wasn't just necessarily hunting. Um, he was a hunter, he was a fisher, he was a fisherman, he was a trapper, um he was a woodsman, he was a logger. Um loved the outdoors, yeah, outdoors, he's an outdoors guy, and he he would take it upon himself to take a kid that was interested and just show them, show them the ropes, and that was kind of the premise of it. Um so as they started to build this thing, um Nikki and I have a bit of a reputation locally in our community for helping folks in need through benefits and such. And I have a bit of a knack for being able to raise money. Um, so that's kind of my side of it. I'm I'm you're very much in very much involved in you know, working the donations and helping to you know make this thing go along.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, the community is very lucky to have you both. You know, somebody that wants to give back and somebody that wants to put meaning to something and make it all work. I mean, you're talking about building this lodge down the road, and let's, you know, that could be a goal that, you know, like I said, never say never, because it can happen. We know it can happen. I've talked to other organizations where they've set goals and then they've come back and said, guess what? You know, we got a grant, we made this happen, we did this, and now we have our maybe in your situation, you're gonna come back and tell me, Well, we got our lodge. Yeah. And that's what I want you to do. Could you uh also well you also provide gear, correct? Yep. And uh, what type of gear are we talking about? And how do you decide what a youth needs to get started?

SPEAKER_00:

So basically the gear is you know, safety gear. That's you know, when you're hunting, you have to do your safety course. Um if that costs money, we will um in New York State, usually it's a small fee, but if they need help with that, um we will provide the funds for it to get the um the safety course done. Um but it's your jackets, your blaze orange, um, you know, if they need the tree stand gear, um the harness stuff, um, all of those items, fishing poles, bows, um, we can't do firearms, um, but basically anything you need in the woods blinds, tree stands, yep.

SPEAKER_02:

How important now the tree stand, how important is that that uh I know people that hunt and they go sit in the stands and they don't strap themselves in. Then I heard about a situation where somebody fell out of a tree stand, yeah. That individual is no longer with us. So I'm so your tree harness, you know, it's safety first. You have to.

SPEAKER_00:

Um especially with these these young kids, you know, they're usually most kids, they are um they're kids, they're grown up with it, but you still you never know. You could easily trip um and fall.

SPEAKER_02:

So uh do either of you have a story about a maybe a particular kid or family that who really reminded you of why little tags exist?

SPEAKER_00:

Is there something that sticks out in your mind or is it just we have so many um tons of great stories of people applying and you know reaching out if um if they need a license and their family can't afford it. I don't have just one story. Um no, there's there's a lot. We've given out over 200 licenses.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay, so since its inception, um, like Nikki said stated earlier, we intended to give out, you know, her first year she intended to give out three or four licenses. So we have so far surpassed two hundred licenses for over a hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars given out.

SPEAKER_02:

Dude, that's awesome.

SPEAKER_01:

So the the amount of stories that I'm I'm sure her head is flooding right now.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, I can see the look on her face. I know this is radio, but if you could see the look on our face.

SPEAKER_01:

There's a you know, through the application process, which is on our website, which Nikki can give you, um a child can apply, and the application is set up to this to the type of it can be anything that they need that falls in our parameters. Um so there's several stories. I mean, we get applications that are hand printed in crayon.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

And we love those. So if we can get a picture, if we can get a video of a kid, you know, if you can get a video of a kid stating that they want to go hunt so they can hunt with their aunt, uncle, father, mother, grandparent, brother, sister, and or if they want to fish. You know, the same it applies to all of it, but it's there's there's hunt literally hundreds of stories.

SPEAKER_00:

We love getting the crayon ones, the ones that I we I we get in the mail, and it's just like, oh my god, you know, it's just awesome.

SPEAKER_02:

How do you hold it together? I mean, sometimes she doesn't. And I and I understand. I don't know if I could.

SPEAKER_00:

We have a we have a huge support system.

SPEAKER_02:

Knowing first of all, the legacy and everything about this, and then when you receive those letters or the drawings that are in crayon, yeah, it's kind of like wow.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, it is. Wow.

SPEAKER_02:

And I'll tear up warming too, you know.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Um how many how many youth would you say you have helped?

SPEAKER_00:

So right now, um, with just the licenses, not including the gear, 205 licenses um we've given out, and that is um approximately$128,000 that we've given in five years. Um this past fundraiser that we did in September, we raised our biggest yet was$43,000.

SPEAKER_02:

Let's talk about the fundraisers.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

So it's just incredible. It's fun. So what kind of fundraisers do you do throughout the year?

SPEAKER_00:

That that's really it. Um the other thing that we do, we started going to the uh fairgrounds, the sportsman show, the expo, that's in January this year. Um we have um oh the can and bin drive, that is big. We have um bins around Cortland. Um people drop off cans and all that money goes towards it. And then we just have local supporters that'll, you know, kind of cut a check and mail it to us throughout the year.

SPEAKER_02:

So can it's one big fundraiser. It's four it's one big fundraiser. It's like 365 days out of the year. It goes on 24-7. Yes, it does. And when we say that, it I'm saying like you go to the website, which is um little tags foundation.org.org, little tags foundation.org. And um, if somebody like myself or somebody listening to this right now says, you know, this is pretty awesome, and I hope you do, um, that you say, you know what, I want to give a little. I have a little extra. It's holiday season too, and I want to give a little bit.

SPEAKER_00:

So we do have uh PayPal Venmo um that you can do it through. Uh you can click on a link that says donate. There you go. Yep.

SPEAKER_02:

Yep. Does anybody write checks?

SPEAKER_00:

Actually, we do get quite a few checks.

SPEAKER_01:

I'd I'd like to speak on this. Please do. We will take donations in any form, cash check, any type of Venmo, cash app. We have it all. It's all on our website. Cool. Um, we have several businesses that would like to they look some of them would like to be known, some of them would like to remain anonymous, but are very much behind our mission of I love your mission. Getting kids outside and creating situations where they can be and spend time with their families in in a heritage type situation. Yeah, I think we need that. Yeah, it's a thing.

SPEAKER_00:

We have a lot of grandparents too that apply for their grandchildren, which I think is awesome. Um you know, just to hear it kind of, you know, the story for why their grandchild wants to get out there, whether it's in the grandchild's words or the grandparents, it's just it's rewarding.

SPEAKER_02:

I love that. How many um well let me ask you this? You're talking about the kids getting out there. Uh it's different today than it was years ago. A lot different. And I'm sure you both know that.

SPEAKER_03:

Yep.

SPEAKER_02:

Uh have you noticed a shift in how kids are getting introduced to the outdoors in this generation uh compared to the past decade? And what have you noticed?

SPEAKER_00:

Um, right now we notice, you know, they're tr they're taking their safety courses online, which uh if you gotta do it, you gotta do it.

SPEAKER_02:

But I went to the community uh building. If you can get it, Camillas, I think it was.

SPEAKER_00:

We have tons of sportsman clubs around here that offer um usually at no cost. Um so if anybody needs, you know, a list of those clubs around you, uh, reach out to us, we'll get them to you. Um but we do notice a shift and they're doing it online instead of actually going and doing it in hands-on. Um you learn more when it's hands-on.

SPEAKER_02:

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Absolutely, no matter what we do in life. Yeah, you listen to it. You grasp it more. You do sing. Absolutely. I think doing what I do, uh it's been hands-on. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

To add a little to that topic as well, like we spoke earlier of that long-term goal of the lodge. That's a far and distant goal right now, but it it maybe is a feasible goal at some point in time, depending on donations and you know, with the effort we put forth. Um that we would like to hold classes and events for kids to come and you know, have it be a family, you know, oriented place. That would be awesome. Yeah, just a that would be the place. You know, a nice place out somewhere where kids can learn.

SPEAKER_02:

Didn't mean to cut you off. I apologize. Um, have you like I mean, we have you know, Dick Sporting Goods, we have Bass Pro Shops, we have stores like uh Cabela's. We have stores like that. Do you get involved with them?

SPEAKER_00:

We have reached out to them. Um I have written letters.

SPEAKER_02:

But it's a big corporation, it is hard to get through the door.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, they don't reach out. Um I write them letters like mail it and I email, and we've gotten no response.

SPEAKER_01:

Maybe somebody's listening to we would love a contact if someone has one that they could reach out out to us on the website and get a little bit of a endowment. We would we would we it's a goal for us to to gain a large sponsor like that. Hopefully somebody will hear what we're trying to do here.

SPEAKER_02:

So the the when do that they have to compete or compete, complete the safety course at a young age. 1212. Okay.

SPEAKER_00:

Yep.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay, and that's how you qualify for the license.

SPEAKER_00:

Well, you qualify for the license. Um, you can get it it from when you have a social security number, a birth certificate, and then we do it until 18. Um so they can apply, whether it's the child or the parent, they can apply whenever.

SPEAKER_02:

So you you've started the Little Tags Foundation. I'm talking with Nikki, who is the founder, and uh um Jason, her husband, who is like your backbone right now, and keeping you. I mean, this has got to be very difficult for you to do. I think every time this happens, um your mind must immediately go back to that place in time, how it all started, which is very difficult. But you know what? You're blessed and you're standing strong, yeah, and you're getting the word out there because you know that um Nathan would have wanted this. Oh, yeah. Nathan would, and he's there and he's you know, watching these kids go out and do this because he absolutely loves it. But uh, you know, as a not-for-profit that began from this very personal uh place, what were some of the early challenges in getting uh the foundation established? Did you have a tough time doing that?

SPEAKER_00:

Or yeah, the 501c3, as everybody knows, um it is it's it's US wide. Um but to get that status, it did take some time. Um so that was probably the biggest hurdle. Um the second hurdle was just getting the name out there. Um now that you know we're we're five years in, more people are hearing about it, words getting out. Um yeah, the that was the big and I mean the other hurdle too is just dealing with you know the reminder of why we started this. Um but I mean, other than that, you know, my mom and my sister, Natalie and um Wave A Bush, they're they're great supporters and they're they're the backbone too.

SPEAKER_02:

Your hometown is Cortland?

SPEAKER_00:

Truxton.

SPEAKER_02:

Truxton. So you're right in Deer Country. Yeah. You're down in Preble. You're down where I got a speeding ticket on 81. But you're in that area. I mean, that's a whole different subject. But still.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

And I do remember that trooper coming down the ramp. Um, but no, but I'm just all kidding aside. That is like my brother-in-law's, they go to Truxton, they're in Preble. I I got so many friends, so many uh local artists, country artists that get out there, and uh that's where they usually go to hunt. So you're running the heart of that uh as well as the fishing. Yes. I mean, in that area. Yeah. So um where do you hope Little Tags is five years from now?

SPEAKER_00:

Five years from now, I'd would have loved to secure a plot of land and to get, you know, start thinking about the lodge and building it. Um I would love to hit that 500 license um threshold, which is I think it's pretty doable. Have you doable?

SPEAKER_02:

I think it is. Yeah. Have you expand wanted to expand? Has anybody approached you saying, you know, you're doing this here. This is such this little tags idea that you have is tremendous. Now, maybe another state, uh surround, you know, we have Pennsylvania, it's big hunting territory as well, it's other tier. It is. Um but it the this is a very important thing.

SPEAKER_00:

We haven't had any anybody approach us. Um in our bylaws, we are U.S. wide. Okay. So we can give in other states. Okay. We just have not had the opportunity yet.

SPEAKER_02:

Or maybe other organizations or other people wanting to do what you do come to you to find out how you did it, and then it expands. So yeah. So his legacy is not only Nathan's legacy, is not only here, it's everywhere. And it needs to be because of what he's doing. Are there uh outdoor experiences or mentorship elements you'd like to add one day? I mean, you talked about getting some mentors.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, we have a we have quite a few people that are interested in mentoring. Um, but in order for us to take full advantage of that, um it it's just really honing in on, you know, we have so many sportsman clubs, um, and I'd like to do the I like to do it right the first time. You know, so it's it's it's just doing the research that we need to do.

SPEAKER_02:

You're right. We have a lot of sportsmen's clubs. And I know you're gonna be at the show in January. Yes. But um, do you actually go to those clubs and represent little tags and talk to the the men and women that are here?

SPEAKER_00:

We have a couple of times, but not a lot. Again, it's only, you know, six of us all together um to go out and do that. So it is, you know, time is it there's not enough of us, put it that way.

SPEAKER_02:

Um, I just I'm starting to think about everything. Yeah, that it's yeah. You know, when you think about Nathan and everything Little Tags has become, what do you hope he would say if he could tell you something right now? Nikki, what the heck you doing? No, I'm kidding.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, well, that's pretty much probably how he would say it.

SPEAKER_01:

That's kind of how he would say it. Um you just mentioned the mentor thing, and Nikki mentioned it earlier. Um Nate was doing that on his own. You know, he he basically started our premise without even knowing that this was gonna happen. Obviously, he didn't know that this was gonna happen. He didn't, but he was already doing all these things. He wasn't buying kids licenses, but he was certainly giving them his time. If he wanted, I'll go with you. Exactly. He would you know teach a kid how to how to you know you know throw tackle and bait a hook and you know, fish and trap and all of it. He would he basically started the mentor part of it before we ever started.

SPEAKER_02:

Now, what got Nathan involved with this? Let's go way back even.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, this is my dad. All right, yeah, dad. Um Joe Bush did it every every time he could, you know, when the season opened up, even at when the season wasn't open, he was cleaning his traps, he was he's yeah, he's still with us. Um it was dad.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah. Oh god bless us uh Joe Bush story. Um it's funny you mentioned earlier about the Thanksgiving day uh stuff. Joe Bush normally has his Thanksgiving dinner either late or we're waiting a little bit for him. And when they was alive, we were waiting for the both of them. Yeah, exactly. I mean, it's a it's a day, you know. They they plan to eat late, and that's how it's gonna be, you know. So it's it's definitely part of Nikki's family heritage. Yeah, it comes way down, it comes down from Joe's dad right on down through, you know, and I'm sure it came some way above that. Yeah, you know, way back. It's they uh hunting and fishing and outdoor life is a way of life for them for sure.

SPEAKER_00:

Family of loggers.

SPEAKER_02:

Little loggers, yeah. There you go. Well, truckston preble, it's just you know, in this beautiful area. Uh little tags foundation.org is the website. Now, if somebody goes on there, you said they could donate, they can get information about what you're doing.

SPEAKER_00:

Uh can they they also can apply on there as well. There's an application process.

SPEAKER_02:

There's an application and that application process that comes to you.

SPEAKER_00:

Yes.

SPEAKER_02:

And then you review it. How does all that work?

SPEAKER_00:

So it'll come to us and we have a committee that actually goes through all of the applications, the ones that are online and then the ones that are mailed. Um, and then they pick out the ones that um you know that resonate most on what our mission is. Um, and then we contact them, uh, we let them know. We actually do write checks. Um, we cut the checks right to the local city clerk and town clerk because we have learned that 50% of those funds stay within that town. So we don't do big box stores. Um, sorry.

SPEAKER_02:

No, no, no, no, no. But we want we want the money there. Yes. Yes, exactly.

SPEAKER_00:

And then they get it. Um the checks are made out to that city clerk um for lifetime licenses, and um then they'll just start getting everything in the mail, and that's it.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, one final question. What does success look like to you? Is it a number, a feeling, a legacy, or something else? I know these are my notes.

SPEAKER_00:

Definitely um I would say a feeling. The legacy as well. Um but yeah, it's the feeling.

SPEAKER_02:

Um I'm putting you on a name.

SPEAKER_01:

I'm I'm just gonna speak it straight. Please do. Nikki and her family are the the legacy and the feeling. Yeah um and not to divide us, we're not divided at all. But without the funds, we can't continue. Correct. Bottom line. Um that's but even for me, it's more about the heritage of it. Yes, no, and I totally understand that. It's you know, it's it's not everybody's cup of tea, but it's you'll it's getting kids out doing things.

SPEAKER_00:

We have supporters that don't even that don't even hunt, you know. They don't even it uh they're doing it, they're giving us the funds because it's helping the the kids. You know, so it hits every aspect of um the different types of people that support little tags.

SPEAKER_02:

Do you two have have kids?

SPEAKER_00:

We do.

SPEAKER_02:

We do. Do they hunt?

SPEAKER_00:

Um, so I have one, Brooke hunts um Bailey, she loves to fish. So yeah, they're just two young daughters. Yes, they're 15, they're twins. Um, your daughter.

SPEAKER_01:

I have an adult daughter, okay, Elena. She's not she's not interested in the hunting fishing, but she's definitely an outdoors person, hiking, nice, you know, that sort of thing.

SPEAKER_02:

See, there's a lot to be in outdoors. Yeah, yes, there's way more than just the hunting and the fishing all kind of reflects on that. It does, yeah. It does. Yep. Yeah. You know, you're both very strong. And I want to thank you both for being here today to tell us a little bit more about Little Tags Foundation. Uh, little tags foundation.org is the website. Please, as they as Nikki and Jason were saying, uh, this cannot continue without the funding. And being a 501c3, it's a nonprofit, which also means, you know, it is the holidays. Make a donation. Do what you can do for this organization. Uh, it's tax, it's a tax write-off, it's a 501c3. Yeah, and there's you know, we're all looking for those angles right now, just the way life is, is you know, with the money.

SPEAKER_00:

We will be um getting ready to uh go through the applications right now. We always give some for Christmas. So the parents, when they receive them, they put them under the tree. Um, and we're looking to do 15 or 20 more licenses um for the holidays.

SPEAKER_01:

So to speak to the uh to the donation part too. I'm a small business owner, so is Nikki. Um this is the time of year where small business and large business owners are looking for a place to donate some money, and Nikki can certainly provide the proper paperwork for any donations that do.

SPEAKER_02:

There would be a uh a contact email, phone number if somebody wanted to. Yeah, I kind of figured that as much. But yeah, little tags foundation.org. Please do what you can. Um when I found out about this, I said this is gonna be one of the best interviews they ever did. And um just uh when you we we're local and we're hometown and a nonprofit on top of that, and all just for a great cause. Yeah, and uh you know, uh Nathan Bush will live forever. He will, he will, definitely will absolutely, and it's a tragedy that you've turned around and made into something good. Yeah, you know, it's exactly it's never good in the way of the way it all went down, but it's you know he's watching you do this right now, and yeah, he is you know exactly what I mean. Uh Jason and Nikki, thank you so much for being here. Thank you. Uh Little TagsFoundation.org, the website, please, please do what you can do. All right, and uh help them out. Uh here they are local. And if you hunt, if you fish, you just love the outdoors. This is the organization you need to uh get involved with, tell your friends about. Uh if uh, like Jason said, being a uh a small business owner, if you know somebody in that situation, say, hey, dude, guess what? You know what? I know you love to hunt, but have you heard about little tags? You know, you need to get involved. It's local.

SPEAKER_00:

Yes.

SPEAKER_02:

Thank you both for being here. Thank you. God bless you both. You're on a mission and it's awesome.

SPEAKER_01:

Thanks. Skip, thank you for having us. We appreciate it. The whole Little Tags family appreciates you having us.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, appreciate you right back on what you're doing.