Helping Makers Get Back In Business

ddavelarsen

ddavelarsen

Joined
Dec 7, 2000
Messages
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Ray's terrible misfortune made me think of something. I wonder if there's a way we could establish a system of some kind, so that when something happens like Ray's or J Neilson's shops burning down we can quickly jump in to help get them up and running again.

Some things that come to mind are donations to an escrow account from which we could buy gift certificates to Lowes or Home Depot, or maybe a tool depository where makers could send stuff they're not using anymore, that would sit and wait for someone who suddenly finds himself out of his livelihood. Even having some cash available to help hire folks to come rebuild or at least clean up would be helpful. What can we do?

I know there's no replacing all the individual stuff we make for ourselves but maybe a few extra hammers, vises, handle materials, steel, etc sitting in storage somewhere could help get someone back on their feet when they're hit hard like this. It can happen to anyone, and I at least feel powerless when my friends need my help and I'm sitting a couple of thousand miles away with my thumb up my ass.

I can make a few donations for Ray and am willing to organize and maintain any kind of system you folks think might help others down the road.
 
Great Idea Dave.


Im in. What ever i can do, i'll do it. I might have some more motors sitting around.Let me know what you want me to do.

What about donating a knife to sell on Bladeforums and sending the money to Ray and his family?
 
Knifemakers disaster relief fund.

I know at one time , Ken Onion was attempting to get something started for knifemakers. Last I heard it had taken on too many red tape problems getting non-profit status.

If we want to help other guys out , it would have to be a "grass-roots" kinda thing.

Maybe autioning off some donated/selling knives and/or equipment would be the ticket.

I think handling disasters on a case by case basis would be best.

I'm not sure of Spark's policy on Auctions, might need to check on that.

I'm all for it and would be willing to make a knife or tomahawk to help out.
 
Thanks for the input guys. I remember Ken's idea but couldn't remember who it was and hadn't heard anything more about it. Maybe that's for a good reason. I know an attorney who I thought I'd check with to see what it'd take.

An auction is a good idea too, I'll check with Spark to see if he has any objections or requirements.

Michael, I'll see if Ray can use a motor and if so will split the cost of shipping it to him. Is that workable?
 
we can all send some belts, donate parts to make a grinder, handle materials.
What I would miss the most would be the patterns that I have.
WHat happened to Ray? Where is he located?
 
Brian check out Ray's post in Shop Talk. He suffered a terrible loss and doesn't yet know the full extent of it. But his shop looks like Hiroshima.

Thanks J, I'll let you all know what I hear from BF admin regarding possible auction/sale of donated stuff. I haven't heard from Ray today but when I do I'll see about sending those interested his address.

And I'd like to get ready a little bit for the event this happens to someone else again. Two of my favorite folks have suffered this very tragedy, which tells me it's not rare. I sure don't like feeling so powerless to help... Maybe if I (or anyone else who'd like to do it) can accumulate a stash of basic stuff from a bunch of us it would help the next guy out.
 
Dave-

I really think it would need to be, as Mark put it, a grass roots sort'a thing. Making it official, having everything set up legally, having a storage building somewhere with a mass of tools and supplies... I just can't see it happening.

But people doing what they can, at the time something horrible like this happens, could make a huge difference.

The idea of auctioning/selling a knife and donating it to Ray or whomever was in trouble, seems like the simplest, yet most effective action to me.

Thanks for posting this Dave. It shows how compassionate you are, and also is sparking ideas and awareness. Good on 'ya Dave :)

-Nick-
 
I pulled Ray's addy off his web site. Tomorrow's my day to watch Danny so we've going to fill up a couple boxes for Mr. Ray.

I've also been itching to make another Rasp Axe, keep me posted on the auction thing. It's the least we can do on our end to help out. We had alot of help support from our fellow makers when we had our fire. This is just a great community here.
 
What about some of us "chipping" in a few bucks to a paypal account. That could add up pretty fast.

Any way I can help, count me in.

Robert
 
I feel awefull for him! I'll think of what I have ...I know I can help somehow. At least donate a few bucks twords his new hammers.
 
Why not set up a Forumite club with a group of folks to run the business end of it, say a president, vice president and a treasurer. With online banking we could set up a bank account that would be accessable from anywhere. Have knife raffles, auctions, donations and what ever else we can come up with to raise funds for the cause and put them in the account. When someone needs help, they or someone representing them ask the officers of the club for help and the officers discuss the matter in a privat chat on IRC and decide how much to donate to the person in need. Then the treasurer makes an electronic transfer to the person's bank or has a check sent to them. Fast and simple. There would have to be a monthly meeting of the officials and an accounting of the funds available and what was doled out and taken in to let everyone know the club was being run properly. I don't think there would be any probelms with this as long as we choose the right folks to run things.
Go on, shoot me down with all the legal mumbo jumbo, I can take it! :D
Also think of this, we can talk about it and the reasons not to do it till dooms day or we can get off our asses and do it!
What choice are we going to make?
 
I think the auction idea would be the simplist quickest way to raise money for a disaster at hand. The other ideas would take time but could be possible. I'm in to help however I can. If you need a knife for auction give me a shout.
Scott
 
If I wasn't so far away I'd volunteer to help with a barn raising, but as it is you can count me in for a knife if we can come up with something.
 
I like Michael's idea, I think it's important to have several people watching over things like money. That's assuming we could actually generate any donations outside of an immediate event like this one. I'm not sure how you'd keep people believing in the cause without something current to give it weight.

How about this, anyone interested in holding a post of responsibility for something like this let me or Michael know.

Thanks,
 
I'm in for anything -- knife up for auction, paypal, I'll do what I can.
 
I think the knife auction sounds like a great idea for most of us. The folks who dont make knives may be able to purchase one of the knives. If it gets organized correctly it has the potential to generate quite a pile of cash.
 
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