Official Luthiers Forum!

Ronald McDonald house is a good one. They provide a place to stay for parents of sick kids when the kids need to be away for treatment for an extended period of time.

This is a great opportunity to multiply a little, and have it mean a lot.

I'm sure we all have favorite charities, probably at least some of us have been touched by circumstances that make specific charities more dear to us. For instance, because of my wife and sister, breast cancer and MS take my focus. Susan Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and Nancy Davis Foundation for MS

Looking at environmental issues, (which affect all of us), I appreciate the efforts of the National Resource Defence Council (NRDC).

Note that a lot of charities are local or regional, rather than national or international. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but you should be aware where your money is going. In some instances, like a particular Ronald McDonald house, that might mean that families in Atlanta, Georgia, USA would reap the benefit. On the other hand, the breakthroughs from a charitible research institute should benefit everyone on Earth.

If you want to check out a charity to see if they are efficient with the funds or if they are mired in administrative or funraising costs, check out: Charity Navigator

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

Sorry folks, but lets please keep the project directed toward a charity and not political interest groups. That would keep some of us involved who might have to pull out otherwise due to conflict of interest issues. Don A38533.547650463

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

Even though everyone's posts here are very good, and everybody has the good of all in mind, I think this needs to stay relatively small in "political and socio-economic scope", let the guitar itself do big things. Even if it doesn't bring a ton of money, it's really about all of us OLFer's coming together in the end for a good cause. The guitar may make money for a charity, it may not. It make take forever to get done. Let's not loose site of what it really is over who it goes to.
That, and if we make contact with our group of choice they will want a deadline I would think. I know I would. We can't keep saying- "it's on the way" for three years.
Speaking of previouse good causes- where's that OLF guitar?
That was another I volunteered time and resources for, and it never made it here. (not an intentional thread hijack- just the truth!)


Fire at will!...

Craig L

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www.handcraftinlay.com

I agree with Don and Craig. Personally, I think sticking with kids issues is something we can all agree on without much conflict.

not me. I don't want to help the kids. ^___^
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That's the best devil face I can make......I, obviously, was joking...John Mayes38533.5865972222

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

dang.. my devil face got scalped

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

[QUOTE=John Mayes] not me. I don't want to help the kids. ^___^
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That's the best devil face I can make......I, obviously, was joking...[/QUOTE]

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

There how bout that one...

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

ahhh.. the "more" button.......

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

I don't see an absolute need to get the charity in volved untill we present them with a check, other than maybe informing them right before we put the guitar up for auction. I tend to agree with Craig, if the charity is involved before we have the guitar done, added pressure to complete by a specified date will be applied. So lets build it, auction it and present the funds to the charity. In that order.MichaelP38533.617037037

You have my amen.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

I'll get the rest of it (some or all) if someone tells me who to paypal.

As one who will be helping with the marketing, I feel that choosing a chartiy now is an absolute must! There are a variety of reasons but the biggie is to add legitimacy. We all know what we are about but in this case, legitimacy will probably translate into real $$$ for the selected charity. A well known charity, such as St.Jude's tends to get people's attention. Their endorsement will almost guarantee the best possible return. Mind you, I am NOT endorsing St. Jude's over any other charity; I am using them merely as an illustration of a well-known charity. Case in point, if we decide to do an eBay auction, the name value will accomplish two things. First, it will get attention and second, the charity involved may have an "in" that will get us special attention from eBay or whatever vehical is chosen as the sales outlet.

Steering clear of psuedo-environmental/political charities is a very good idea also. As someone else said, "Keep it for the kids!" Questionable issues (read: devisive!) will lose half of the potential buyers immediately.

One final thing, we need to have a projected completion date AND inprocess photos from EVERY luthier involoved. These will be on the ad, wherever it appears. This is NOT selfserving (remember, I am not building anything here). It is good practice from the standpoint of selling the idea, showing committment and putting a face with the project.

Give it some thought. I will be happy to approach this from whatever standpoint the builders prefer but this is, IMHO, the prudent place to start.

Comments appreciated.

Sincerely,

Steve Brown

I should have known better than to mention an environmental charity (or "psuedo-environmental/political" charity.) I agree that it would be a bad choice, and it would be divisive. I'm such an idealist that at times I get the notion that environmental concerns are not political but simply universal concerns for everyone. Since I already removed my mask, can I say that it is kinda ironically funny to dismiss environmental charities and instead focus on a charity that may very well be researching or treating disease caused by environmental contamination or pollution.

Anyway, I already voted for one of the worthy causes (they ALL are worthy.) And, I'm proud to be a very tiny part of this heartfelt effort.

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

Just another thought here guys. How about, as Steve mentioned, each person involved along the way take some digital photos of the build process. The goal. to completely document the build.

When it's complete, someone could compile the photos onto a CD and it could accompany the guitar to it's new owner. Might raise the bidding a bit.

[QUOTE=DennisLeahy] I should have known better than to mention an environmental charity (or "psuedo-environmental/political" charity.) I agree that it would be a bad choice, and it would be divisive. I'm such an idealist that at times I get the notion that environmental concerns are not political but simply universal concerns for everyone. Since I already removed my mask, can I say that it is kinda ironically funny to dismiss environmental charities and instead focus on a charity that may very well be researching or treating disease caused by environmental contamination or pollution.

Anyway, I already voted for one of the worthy causes (they ALL are worthy.) And, I'm proud to be a very tiny part of this heartfelt effort.

Dennis
[/QUOTE]

Sorry Dennis, I wasn't picking on you. I could have chosen my words better.

Steve Brownsfbrown38534.2575231481

I am in. I can donate time or money or both.