And, frankly, it's nobody's business. GG and her family need a little help, but that doesn't give any of us the right to scrutinize and judge how they spend their money, or to tell them that they can't do anything fun with their kids all summer. I don't think that any of us would welcome that.

Absolutely. i agree with all of that. i also know that letterboxers are some of the most generous people i have ever met. We are open-hearted and helpful and friendly. If GG and her family need a little help, and others want to help them, that is a Very Nice Thing. i am not against Very Nice Things.

And -there are a lot of people on this website that need a little help. Now that the fundraising has started, where is it going to stop? Do we raise money for people who have high medical bills? Do we raise money for other people who are having trouble making their bills or building homes?

i realize that i am also going to be called the soda police for this. And GG, i have nothing against you and wish you a home safe and sound. i have never met you. This isn't about your situation in particular, but what exactly are the rules for fundraising on AQ?

~tigs (wondering if we've opened Pandora's Box)

Are you gonna be auctioning anything off for this fund drive, GG?

This was what I said and was the actual question. The rest was me joking around because its been a long time since I've been to Six Flags.

How are you at being under 48" tall so we can get you in at that price?

Well, if Tim Conway can do it, I guess I could too!

I'll come in by carrier pigeon and sleep on magical pixie dust, the way this fantasy trip is playing out! ;)

(Disclaimer: this current entire post is humor based - there are no serious questions this time. Just for clarity. ;)

Ok this is crazy! Let me clear up some stuff.

I received a message asking me if I regret putting up the pz now that it is going to be used for fun. I really hope it is used for fun. This family has been through the ringer. Goofy has told 5% of the hard times they have had. She does not want to be a complainer, whiners or manipulator.

My response is no. I knew about it before I put it up. I also know about the huge need here.

I would do it again. I contacted goofy and let her know that it (the joke) was taken the wrong way by someone. She knew it was a joke and was not worried. The only reason she responded was because someone took it wrong. She did not want to make a big deal out of it.

I agree we have a history of helping others. This fund raising is for $2,000. Which will not buy a house, build a house, or supplies. This is a hey we really care about you, we know it is hard, we want to encourage you. So the few dollars we put up is to encourage a family that has been through some of the worst of times.

I know I have only been back on the boards for a few weeks, but I go way back with Dana.

I personally would like to know what or who the "Soda Police" are and would also like to know can anyone join the force? Do I have to pass a civil service exam? I can pass the fitness test for sure...

(I'm just being silly. :) Carry on. )

I've called this auction off. I may call the fundraiser off also and go back to doing it ourselves. I'm tired of the up in arms this had caused.

Hey! Where'd ya go, GG?

I gave up its caused to much trouble. We will do it ourselves like we originally planned.

Hey Tigs,

I understand the concern, but I think it is all good here.

I've been the guy in charge of helping people who ask for help at my church in the past, and believe me, I know there are people out there trying to con the system. In fact, it felt like almost everyone that called was trying to hide their actual situation in order to get what they wanted. I found that if I looked at it that way it was just depressing. So I chose to look at it from a different angle. I am sure many of them got what they really needed (Food from the store, gas in the car, a night in the motel), and saved their own money for stuff they didn't really need, but I was there to help. I decided that more important than the money spent to get what they wanted was the encouragement I could give them, and the knowledge that someone out there cared about them. I think that was far more valuable than the few things we bought for them, though they may never realize that that is what they needed, and it helped me to care more about them.

So yes, there is a dark side to helping people out, but a lot of that can depend on your perspective, and I believe this is one of the best parts of being in a community.

If it happens regularly though, we should probably setup a Fundraiser board. That way it would be easier to choose how involved a member wants to get.

-TheKindlyVikings

I give up. No more posts here about fundraising. I may just shut that down and send everyone their money back. We originally were going to do it ourselves when a fundraiser was started we just thought great some friends want to help but now it's caused me to be in tears all day and so much strife here.

Hey GG,

I just want to encourage you. As a good friend of mine always tells me, "Share the blessing." Meaning: let people help you because it really is a growth experience for them, and increases their joy for being able to help. It also knits the community tightly together.

Just like not every box is for every boxer, this funding idea may not be either, but for some it is an awesome opportunity to have some fun and help out a friend.

Stick it out if you are willing. :)

Thanks,
TheKindlyVikings

And -there are a lot of people on this website that need a little help. Now that the fundraising has started, where is it going to stop? Do we raise money for people who have high medical bills? Do we raise money for other people who are having trouble making their bills or building homes?

This isn't the first time that this has happened on AQ (so the box was opened well before this), and I doubt that it'll be the last. For some people, this is their community and it's the place they turn when they need some help.

stop!

We love you!

Every dollar that you received is a hug from us.

Listen this started because someone made a rude comment in private. Your friends are not like that. Be encouraged. We want to help!

I second Shawna's thoughts.

GG, my donation is yours to use. You do a lot to help people feel supported in this community and it is my honor to provide a little something for your family. Simple as that.

Jeff

I'm brainstorming with a couple of others on how to put together an auction using my blog and facebook.

We are broading it a bit in that we will take donations of items put together bundles and auction them off.

Gg

For anyone who is not clear on this, I started the fund raiser, not Goofy. And not a single person who's contributed was forced to participate in any way, shape or form. And there are ignore buttons on every thread.

My dear Goofy, we've done this because we want to. Whether it's our physical community or our emotional community, we have all felt compelled to reach out. Now please, look at those donations in the frame of the kindness they were intended, and realize love ALWAYS trumps hate.

I would be happy to send you one of the stamps I have to add to the auction! Actually, I could make a whole ready to plant box to send for the auction.

Awesome! I have one or two of these that need planting.

So, here is the way I see it. There are lots of fundraisers that cross our paths and we all decide if we wish to donate or not and either way it is ok. Sometimes we are in a position to donate and sometimes we are not and that's ok too. I think if anybody does not wish to deal with fundraising on AQ the ignore button is a great tool. No hard feelings for anyone who wishes to use it. We all play however we want here.

For me, I have to say when we had our fire we did not ask for help; but, friends and family did that for us when we couldn't ask ourselves. I had not been letterboxing for about 8 months and I was blown away by the donations we received from letterboxers (who kept up with us on FB), family and friends. For about 12 weeks after the fire every day we went to the mailbox there was another check or card with cash in it waiting for us. We had no idea how badly we needed it until reality sunk in. It took over six months to settle the insurance claim and in that time we had major expenses that had to be covered. For me, I love opportunities like GG's fundraiser because I can NEVER pay back each person who donated to us; but, I can "Pay It Forward" and that is really important to me. It would make me really sad to know we could not help each other in this community when needed. I hope that we can all be here for each other when needed no matter if that means donating money, sending prayers, good wishes or encouragement...cards with LTC's or quips tucked in, help for people who are in over their heads with Postals, opening our homes to out of town boxers, sharing a snack or bottle of water with a fellow boxer on the trail... I count it all joy. Share the love.

I don't believe you want to. :)

For the record, I have no problem with people raising money for whatever causes on AQ--regardless whether it's for another letterboxer or an organization that a letterboxer supports. I'm a little sad to see the grief it's caused for GG, though.

I suspect part of the problem might simply be that is was a case of "too many posts" by too many people pushing her cause. One or two posts asking to help GG is one thing--lots of them starts to feel more like bullying--like it's the door-to-door salesman that won't leave you alone despite your repeatedly saying no.

GG--for what it's worth--keep the money people have sent you. Anyone who doesn't like the idea of you getting help hasn't donated anyhow. The people who sent you money want to help--let them. Don't take that away from them. =) Which isn't to say that someone who hasn't donated is against you--there could be a lot of different reasons that people don't donate--but there's only one reason that they do--because they want to help!

The only kind of "asking for money" that I'd wouldn't allow on AQ is if I suspect it might be a scam, but I'm pretty sure you really are trying to build a house for your family. I suppose I could be wrong, but I've known you long enough that I trust you on that. =)

And... these threads seem to be cluttering up the Yakking It Up board so I've moved them to the Saving the World board which seems like a better fit for them anyhow. This board had been created for stuff like this--let's make use of it. Those who aren't interested in Saving the World don't have to read it about. Perhaps I should create a special board for them--"People For Global Warming" or something. ;o)

-- Ryan

--"People For Global Warming" or something. ;o)

Sounds like a more appropriate board for Eevil......

Eye bleach moment, huh?!

Boxers or briefs moment!!

Gg

Well, if you really wanna see, you can read this true story. ;)

So you would have no problem portraying my daughter or my son. You have too thick of hair to be the youngest daughter.

Oh, they won't know that! The 5 o'clock shadow might be a problem, though. ;)

I decided that more important than the money spent to get what they wanted was the encouragement I could give them, and the knowledge that someone out there cared about them. I think that was far more valuable than the few things we bought for them, though they may never realize that that is what they needed, and it helped me to care more about them.

I think that is what people in helping professions like you, Tigs, and I come to learn. And there then tends to be a shift away from giving direct cash and doing other things to assist in more ways -- financial counseling, debt consolidation, vendor payments, job assistance, etc.

Giving services and vendor payments also helps to protect against resentment. It's natural for people to think that when they donate money for a special cause that they then want to see the outcome of that to be as they expected. And if it does not come out as expected there is resentment -- just like the soda police article. You can wish all day long that people wouldn't do that, but the reality is, that they will.

What I have liked about the community is that traditionally, it has given support in other ways -- letters, LTCs, boxes, thoughts. And those actions address the encouragement that we want to give them. I'm not against fundraisers. People can spend their money as they choose, but there is a danger in setting the person up for the scrutiny of the soda police.

My family has also been involved in building homes with Habitat for Humanity as volunteer work. Nothing like participating in building and seeing the end result!

Those who aren't interested in Saving the World don't have to read it about. Perhaps I should create a special board for them--"People For Global Warming" or something. ;o)

I know you're being funny here, but also don't forget, that there are those who would like to help, but can't afford to. They're struggling with their own issues.

love ALWAYS trumps hate.

I haven't seen any hate here. Legitimate and thoughtful concerns were expressed by members of the community who have a right to express those concerns. But I saw no hatred coming from anyone.

MM

but also don't forget, that there are those who would like to help, but can't afford to.

I did say that there were a multitude of reasons why people might choose not to donate--but there's only one reason that they will donate--because they want to! =)

But people can still be interested in "saving the world" even if they can't currently swing it....

-- Ryan