posted
This is an utterly cool idea. I wasn't here last year, but I would love to participate this year. And First Book seems to be the perfect place for us, since just about everybody here loves to read. Plus, we might be influencing future members. Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
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I also vote we at least explore the possibility of switching charities - if nothing else it'd be a good chance to learn about different charities and see which ones people consider worthwhile.
Although, of course nominations should be ones to non-political/non-controversial groups.
Do we need our hosts permission/blessing to do something like this in Hatrack's name?
posted
I thought this was a cool charity, especially for us gamer types. It buys age appropriate toys and games for sick children in several children's hospitals, and the hospitals themselves. It was set up by the guys at Penny Arcade in response to one of those 'gamers are lazy evil people' articles.
Not that I'm advocating switching charities, but Dag wanted to hear about some others. Posts: 5422 | Registered: Dec 2001
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posted
I vote that we pool it as one big donation. Also, I vote for First Book. Also, we should probably see if we need our hosts' permission.
Posts: 786 | Registered: Jun 2003
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posted
Yes!!! We should do this again! It doesn't really matter to me if we choose a new charity or go with First Book - I'm open to either.
Posts: 5879 | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
I assume since we did the same thing last year and it was fine then, it should be fine now. Of course, there was the difficulty with Kama Con not being able to be called Hatrack Con, so I'm not positive. Someone could email Kristine and ask.
Posts: 4655 | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
Last year the donation was by "the members of the Hatrack River Forum" (see the thank you card) -- seems like it should be ok to do it that way again, neh?
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
Sounds like an excellent plan to me. I'll be happy whether we stick with First Book or try a different charity that we can all agree on.
Posts: 3546 | Registered: Jul 2002
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posted
My one thought is that while First Book sounds like a great charity, it seems rather trivial when things like genocide in Sudan are going on.
Posts: 3446 | Registered: Jul 2002
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posted
Don't get me wrong I think books are incredibly important for a variety of reasons, but people dieing in mass numbers is in my opinion something else entirely.
Edit to add: If everyone still wants to do First Books that's fine, I don't want to turn this into a nasty argument, I'm just giving everyone my two cents.
posted
I remember last year someone had mentioned a charity where you would buy a kit - a goat for a family or rice to feed a family for a month or start-up costs for a small business.... I wish I could remember the name of the charity, but I thought it seemed pretty neat.
posted
Last year we decided to donate to a literacy project because books are what has brought us together as a community. It seems to me that if we make a contribution as a group, it should be to something that the represents the largest possible number of members.
Literacy may not be the most urgent of the world's needs, but it is important and is something that ties us together at Hatrack.
Posts: 12591 | Registered: Jan 2000
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posted
I am most certainly interested in this. It sounds like a cool idea.
I would have to go with the Literacy First. As was mentioned before, it represents us as a group. If we start looking into other charities, an argument can result in which people are debating which cause is the most important. And that wouldn't be fun.
And the one lump sum through paypal sounds like a really cool idea. Is there a charge for opening up a paypal account?
quote: If we start looking into other charities, an argument can result in which people are debating which cause is the most important.
I just always like to make sure my money is as well spent as possible so I just don't see any reason to settle on something less important just to avoid an arguement.
quote: I like First Book -- it fit well with our group and isn't going to raise a bunch of controversy.
What exactly is controversial about funding the Red Cross's efforts in Sudan? Its not funding the rebels, its not funding an invasion of Sudan, its not funding the UN.
Its fine with me if everyone decides that First Book is more important for whatever reason (and there are plenty of good ones), that's your opinion and I won't argue with it. I just hope people won't decide on it because they want to avoid discussion on which charity could most use our money.
Posts: 3446 | Registered: Jul 2002
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posted
All charities could use are money, that's not the issue. The issue is which charity fits us best as a group. We can't donate to all the worthy charities out there.
Posts: 4655 | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
I agree that First Book is an appropriate cause, but don't we all like to eat here, too? I think Heifer International is equally appropriate.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
I give a bit of money to several charities every year, btu none to reading programs, so I still think that Reading First would be my first choice. I understand that there are plenty of good chrrities out there, and plenty of needy families, but I think that we have to help people to read, because one of the best way to combat poverty in a long term manner is to increase their education levels....and without reading skills that is impossible.
Plus, it is what we did last year, so I am all for making this a Hatrack tradition....
posted
My vote would be for First Book or Heifer International, because both are of the "teach a man to fish" variety.
Posts: 26077 | Registered: Mar 2000
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posted
I like the idea of First Book, and the other ideas are great too. However, I don't know if I can even get into my Paypal account anymore. It's been well over two years since I have used it and policy on it has changed a few times to which I have not clicked the agreement stuff for. I could set up a new account.
Posts: 2208 | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
I would definitely contribute to a Hatrack charity this year. Didn't have the money to last year, but I'd be more than happy to this year.
My vote is for First Book-I usually donate to a charity that funds literacy for adults (can't remember the name off-hand), but First Book sounds cool to me.
It makes me hope that if I were in a situation where my family could not afford to buy me a book that someone gave me that gift, especially thinking about how much reading has effected my life over the years.
posted
Sorry about that, First Book should have been at the top of the list but somehow vanished.
It is there now.
So far, the vast majority favor a donation to First Book. Unless there is a dramatic change before the end of the week, I will set things up for First Book.
Posts: 12591 | Registered: Jan 2000
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posted
I would also like to continue to donate to First Book. I also stumbled across this site: http://www.theliteracysite.com which apparently is either donating to or associated with First Book.
Posts: 3546 | Registered: Jul 2002
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