items for a good cause

[rebel]

FVR made a nice archery bow last year for the kiddies auction. Should we, as a collective, have a collection for some charitable event? I know, every place we work and shop nickles and dimes us. However, this is our chance to see our money go where we want.

[canid]

sounds worthy indeed. i'm in no position right now, but if the idea takes off i'd be happy to see what i could contribute.

[Gray Wolf]

rebel, great idea, let's put this together. If nobody has experience with these types of events, or doesn't want to take the lead, I'm willing. I have a lot of experience with this. It takes time, and first we need to decide what charity we want to donate the profits to. Again this is a great Idea! Let's do it!!!!.

[Gray Wolf]

Well as I said I have a lot of experience with non-profits as Director of Fundraising for some, on the Board of Directors as Executive VP for one of the largest Counties Boys and Girls Clubs (9 years) all volunteer never as a paid position. So if the Pack members really want to do this, and if Chris is for it, I'd be proud to take the lead.

[DOGMAN]

I'd be in...maybe we could try to find some under funded scout troop or something and donate gear and/or $$$ to help them get out and about

[Gray Wolf]

Sarge, Rick and Chris, can we make this a sticky?

[canid]

before i finish these jobs i'm working on and head back north, i'll see if i can get more of that mahogany obsidian slab, my source lives here. if i do and i can turn out anything decent i'll be sure to let you know. i know there's at least some workable black chert where i'm heading.

the only staves i have to work with now are poplar [the bows i'm working on atm probably won't hold up very long for anything other than decoration, i started them for tillering practice], though i have a new source for bamboo, and i'm close to getting my shop back together and the prospect of some decent wood is getting closer.

i will certainly see what i can do, but far from a position to promise anything yet and i still need to see if flanders still wanted any of those rose thorn gouges and if owl girl still had any interest in one of my bows [where have you two been?] for the record: sorry flanders, i've been in rough straights lately.

[Gray Wolf]

Chris, Sarge and Rick, I would like your input on this. I think the best way of doing this is to first decide if it will be done, then decide on the charity (which needs to be a 501(c)(3) non-profit), that needs the money. Everyone needs to understand that doing this is not a week or month project, it is at the minimum a six to 8 month time frame.

[Rick]

I don't think I have a say in it any more than the rest of you. Since it resides on Chris's forum he's the one that would have to give it's blessing from a litigious stand point.

[Gray Wolf]

Since it resides on Chris's forum he's the one that would have to give it's blessing from a litigious stand point.

That's why it needs to be money that's donated, not products. The products donated to this event, would be turned into the money we donate.

[Beo]

I liked the auction idea, we put together items for auction and post the pics or send them to one person running the event, all proceeds would go to whatever charity we decide. (Boy Scouts is my vote) We do this here for kids, its called "Shop With A Cop" and take the money and kids to buy presents at christmas, or take a group to Bass Pro for camping gear.
Oh yeah I'm on board btw. Chris has the final say, it may even draw us some new members and sponsors for the site.

[rebel]

If Chris gives his blessing for this I guess we would need a place to have an auction for the items.

Rules for the auction.

Then a place to send the proceeds from the auctioned items.

A benefactor (s).

[Gray Wolf]

The Boy Scouts Of America have solid financial backing. But, we could use the money for "Scholarships" to sponsor kids who can not afford to belong to the Boy Scouts. Take a look at how much it costs to belong, including the uniforms. Now imagine if you had 2 or 3 kids.....

[canid]

i was offered some of that mahogany slab and some cactus spine wood for handles today. i've also been trimming up some of my split bamboo for bow backings which i'd be glad to set aside for a few bows to auction if i can come up with a couple good staves of suitable limb/core wood.

count me tentatively in.

[canid]

secured that slab and the cactus wood for handles:

[Gray Wolf]

That's great canid.

[Gray Wolf]

Chris would you let me know if this is a project that you're interested in, or have any questions about. Please PM me. As I've stated, I have the experience and would be proud to take the lead. It takes a lot of time and planning, and I don't want to waste my time or get people involved or interested if it's something that you can't or don't want done in the name of Wilderness Survival.
Thanking you in advance...
Gray Wolf

[Chris]

So what... you guys want to all donate gear to be auctioned to other forum members with the proceeds going to charity?

I don't have a problem with that.

Might I suggest Donorschoose.com - you can find specific types of school things you want to donate in, then you get pictures and stuff back showing how your donation was used:

http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/p...=185731&zone=0

For instance that.

or

http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/p...=175401&zone=0

So what? People would post what they have available, others would bid, the payments would go to say Gray Wolf if he wants to handle it, then he would make the donation on behalf of the forum. Or I guess I could accept the payments, if people don't trust Gray Wolf (nothing personal, but I'd be "official" i guess right?). My only concern is my accounting, I need to ask my accountant how to appropriate record the payments & donation for my business balance sheet.

The only problem I see is that someone bids on something only to have it not be delivered or be delivered in poor condition.

If you guys want to do this I could make a general chat subforum to handle it.

[rebel]

There're alot of potential problems. It would take someone with alot of time to stay on top of things. In addition to damaged goods, what about bad checks?

[canid]

i think a wider scope of auction venue would be in order, personally.

ebay could be great for that. the rest would be a matter of drumming up outside interest. everybody here will know of it, however it is to be arranged, but the more people know of the event, and the more they know about it, the better the turnout and interest. lets see what graywolf and everybody else has in mind.