Calling All 37 Forever Members!

Mark M · 07-23-2001, 02:52 PM

I apologize for the length of this ...

I know there are a great deal of people out there that have shown interest in the 37 Forever Foundation. Now, for those that said they were interested in being members, yet haven’t seen the website ([url]http://37forever.homestead.com/[/url]) [i]please[/i] check out the message board and let us know if you will be at the Sept. 8th meeting. We need to get some kind of count so we know what to expect. If we have 12 people show up, well, I guess us 12 will have a great time. If 200 show up, we’ll have a great time but we might run out of food. So [b]please[/b] respond to the thread about who will be there, and let us know [i]one way or the other[/i] (which is the definition of RSVP :p ).

For those that said they wanted to be members, yet haven’t chimed in on anything, here’s the deal (or at least my take):

1. We are not asking for money (although the dinner will have a charge ... not much, but something to be decided in the next few weeks). The Foundation will be funded primarily through corporate sponsorship. Although we will look for and accept personal donations, it is not being done at this time, nor will you be hit up for check. The only money you will ever have to pay is a membership fee (which will be reasonable and decided, again, in the next few weeks). I don’t make a whole heckuva lotta cash and don’t intend on spending much myself, so don’t worry. We are not looking to bilk you out of your hard-earned paycheck

2. We are [i]not[/i] asking you to drop everything in your professional and/or personal life to spend time working for the Foundation. What we ask is that you spread the word ... let people know about Joe and his actions ... let them know about the Foundation. If you have any knowledge you’d like to contribute, please feel free to do so. If you have any time to write letters or visit corporations in the future to get donations, please do so. Basically, [i]any[/i] contribution at this point is better than none.

3. This is [i]not[/i] a scam of some sort. Now, my wife is still a bit leery (she’s just like that). After all, most, if not all, of us have never met in person (I have met Alan Clubine, who doesn’t hang out on this BB, and he appears to me like a very, very genuine person). We only know each other from what we type, and that makes judging people and their intentions very difficult. Hell, I’ve had my doubts at one time or another. But I’m willing to give Adam a chance. Think about it ... without him, Poznaski never writes that article and without him, Flannigan never gives us space in the Sunday KC Star (the best selling day for them). If this were some kind of scam, he would’ve asked for us to give him money first, he wouldn’t (or at least I doubt he would) have gone through all of this trouble to keep us updated on everything, Otter wouldn’t have created the website, and Adam wouldn’t have gone out of his way to get people tickets to the home opener. Besides, if someone just wanted to scam some cash over the internet, there are a lot of easier ways to do it.

4. The money we raise goes towards three things: 1. A scholarship for underpriveledged youth; 2. An award for someone who has done something akin to what Joe did; 3. provide community swim lessons to inner city kids (we already have the Red Cross’ support on this). No money is going into Carolyn’s pockets, nor any of ours.

I’m writing this because, well, it seems that a lot of people showed interest at first and now it seems like those that seemed gung-ho don’t even check in. I know Adam sent a whole heckuva lot of emails at first, but that has calmed down (not a rip, Adam, just a comment ;) ).

This is not intended to chastise anyone, to whine and cry about people not doing stuff or anything else. The things that need to be done at this stage are getting done, and we are on the verge of something absolutely huge and wonderful.

Now, some of you might ask why I support the Foundation. Well, the fact is, I’ve never been given the chance to do something like this ... something good, something right. Joe was the first Chief I remember being a fan of, and I can still remember how I cried the day he died. I’ve done a lot of crappy things in my life and I guess this is my way of trying to atone in some way or another. I’m proud to be a part of this group. Whether we fall on our faces or not, at least I know I did what I could to help others.

Adam, I apologize if I’m out of line in any way, shape or form. I’m doing this because I feel these things need to be said.

MM
~~Hopes that people are listening.

07-23-2001, 02:52 PM	Topic Starter
Mark M What time is it? Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: You tell me ... Casino cash: $9884900	Calling All 37 Forever Members! I apologize for the length of this ... I know there are a great deal of people out there that have shown interest in the 37 Forever Foundation. Now, for those that said they were interested in being members, yet haven’t seen the website ([url]http://37forever.homestead.com/[/url]) [i]please[/i] check out the message board and let us know if you will be at the Sept. 8th meeting. We need to get some kind of count so we know what to expect. If we have 12 people show up, well, I guess us 12 will have a great time. If 200 show up, we’ll have a great time but we might run out of food. So [b]please[/b] respond to the thread about who will be there, and let us know [i]one way or the other[/i] (which is the definition of RSVP :p ). For those that said they wanted to be members, yet haven’t chimed in on anything, here’s the deal (or at least my take): 1. We are not asking for money (although the dinner will have a charge ... not much, but something to be decided in the next few weeks). The Foundation will be funded primarily through corporate sponsorship. Although we will look for and accept personal donations, it is not being done at this time, nor will you be hit up for check. The only money you will ever have to pay is a membership fee (which will be reasonable and decided, again, in the next few weeks). I don’t make a whole heckuva lotta cash and don’t intend on spending much myself, so don’t worry. We are not looking to bilk you out of your hard-earned paycheck 2. We are [i]not[/i] asking you to drop everything in your professional and/or personal life to spend time working for the Foundation. What we ask is that you spread the word ... let people know about Joe and his actions ... let them know about the Foundation. If you have any knowledge you’d like to contribute, please feel free to do so. If you have any time to write letters or visit corporations in the future to get donations, please do so. Basically, [i]any[/i] contribution at this point is better than none. 3. This is [i]not[/i] a scam of some sort. Now, my wife is still a bit leery (she’s just like that). After all, most, if not all, of us have never met in person (I have met Alan Clubine, who doesn’t hang out on this BB, and he appears to me like a very, very genuine person). We only know each other from what we type, and that makes judging people and their intentions very difficult. Hell, I’ve had my doubts at one time or another. But I’m willing to give Adam a chance. Think about it ... without him, Poznaski never writes that article and without him, Flannigan never gives us space in the Sunday KC Star (the best selling day for them). If this were some kind of scam, he would’ve asked for us to give him money first, he wouldn’t (or at least I doubt he would) have gone through all of this trouble to keep us updated on everything, Otter wouldn’t have created the website, and Adam wouldn’t have gone out of his way to get people tickets to the home opener. Besides, if someone just wanted to scam some cash over the internet, there are a lot of easier ways to do it. 4. The money we raise goes towards three things: 1. A scholarship for underpriveledged youth; 2. An award for someone who has done something akin to what Joe did; 3. provide community swim lessons to inner city kids (we already have the Red Cross’ support on this). No money is going into Carolyn’s pockets, nor any of ours. I’m writing this because, well, it seems that a lot of people showed interest at first and now it seems like those that seemed gung-ho don’t even check in. I know Adam sent a whole heckuva lot of emails at first, but that has calmed down (not a rip, Adam, just a comment ;) ). This is not intended to chastise anyone, to whine and cry about people not doing stuff or anything else. The things that need to be done at this stage are getting done, and we are on the verge of something absolutely huge and wonderful. Now, some of you might ask why I support the Foundation. Well, the fact is, I’ve never been given the chance to do something like this ... something good, something right. Joe was the first Chief I remember being a fan of, and I can still remember how I cried the day he died. I’ve done a lot of crappy things in my life and I guess this is my way of trying to atone in some way or another. I’m proud to be a part of this group. Whether we fall on our faces or not, at least I know I did what I could to help others. Adam, I apologize if I’m out of line in any way, shape or form. I’m doing this because I feel these things need to be said. MM ~~Hopes that people are listening.
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