Stew McKinsey Trust Fund

[Whappo Grande]

We’ve been thinking about what could be done to help in addition to all the heartfelt prayers that have been offered up for fellow bass player Stew McKinsey, one of the many victims of Hurricane Katrina?

AccuGroove just opened up a trust fund account today for our good friend Stew. Anyone wanting to contribute can mail checks or money orders made out to "Stew McKinsey Trust Fund" or you can contribute with most major credit cards.

100% of the money will go towards helping Stew offset his losses during this horrible tragedy. Any amount will help, because it all adds up.

Mailing address:
Stew McKinsey Trust Fund
2912 Scott Blvd.
Santa Clara, CA 95054

God bless,
Mark Wright
Manager, co-designer & bass player
AccuGroove Speaker Cabinets
Toll Free: 1-866-4 Whappo
Email: info@accugroove.com

Stew McKinsey's Web Site

[James Hart]

HAVE YOU HEARD FROM STEW!??!!

I've been real worried! I posted in his forum @ bassnutz.com the other day... and in the NOLA thread here on TB.

[Whappo Grande]

Unfortunately, no one has heard from him.

Mark
AccuGroove Speaker Cabinets

[James Hart]

Stickied here in Bassists for Stew

[LajoieT]

Yea, I'm waiting to hear from Stew, but I'm sure right now logging on to TB is the least of his worries. I had just spoke to him about heading into NOLA to hang for a bit this Christmas when we are in the area visiting my in-laws. I doubt that things will be even started to be recovered by then if timlines from Andrew and some of the other recent similar events are any indication. They are looking at YEARS of recovery. Stew's the only TB'er I know personaly from the NOLA area, but I'm sure there are others and my thoughts and prayers are with them all. I've been too busy the past few days to weigh in on the other Katrina related threads, but when I saw this title I thought that something tragic had happened. I'm glad that this is being started up spontaneously and not in response to specifiic circumstances. Let's just hope that Stew got out while the getting was good.

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

OMG! Didn't know about this. It's hard for me to help from here, but I deeply hope that Stew is OK. I'm really worried about him.

[James Hart]

I know some people that jam with him.... I've got some calls out to them now.

[j-raj]

here is what I received this evening via the "Anthony Jackson Yahoo Group":

From : Gregory <contrabassboy@yahoo.com>
Reply-To : anthonyjackson@yahoogroups.com
Sent : Saturday, September 3, 2005 10:27 PM
To : anthonyjackson@yahoogroups.com
Subject : [anthonyjackson] our friend Stew McKinsey (of New Orleans) is OK

| | | Inbox
Stewart McKinsey (subcontrabassist@yahoo.com) elected to ride out the
hurricane with his dog. No one had heard from him until today!
Everyone, of course, is thrilled to learn he is OK!

For more about Stew, here is his myspace profile:

http://www.myspace.com/stewmckinsey

This is the message received today from his dad:

Stewart is at the Cross Point Church in McKinney, Texas. Please don't
call him there yet. He got there about 5 minutes ago, and needs to
sleep. He'll be flying up here early next week, just as soon as he can
travel.

Both Vanessa and I thank all of you from the bottom of our hearts ---
all our prayers have been answered. He is OK except for some damage to
his feet. I told him of the trust fund set up by all the bass players,
and he was humbled and thankful.

You have all been so kind to us, and your many calls have helped to
make an unbearable situation livable. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Mark and Vanessa McKinsey

Glad to hear that he is safe!

[Bernie Connors]

Thank you, Lord! So glad to hear that Stew is safe!!

[Craig Garfinkel]

Out-f***ing-standing!

I sent Stew a PM, saying it's gonna be a great day when I finally get a response from him. Well, the great day has come early, before his being able to respond.

I was just watching folks being rescued from rooftops, and was overwhelmed with emotions as I thought of Stew, praying that he was okay. Then I came upstairs to check for any news and here it is!

[Rickenbacker7]

In case no one here has gotten the GOOD NEWS, Stew is alive and well and in Texas as I type with his cousin Steve. He will be flying up to New Hampshire as soon as he is able to travel to be with his folks. His beloved dog Jaxon, however, is either at-large or was left behind somewhere and my heart breaks for Stew on this regard, as I know how close he was to Jaxon. Please donate whatever you can to the Stew McKinsey Trust Fund to help Stew regain his footing in this terrible tragedy.
thank you- and thank you Mark for giving me the good news and to Mark Wright for setting up the fund.
Jana
please see the other posts for the link to the fund.

[Craig Garfinkel]

Jana, Mark, Mark W., Stew's Mom & Dad,

I'm in CT, so please don't hesitate to let me know if there's anything I can do for Stew while he's chillin' at home. There's lots of us TBers here in New England and when and if he's up for it, we can get together for a "life is good" type of hang.

[James Hart]

I'll be chipping in to the fund in the near future.... all the money I could do without and then some was donated to 2 animal groups that the Mrs' and I hug trees with...

http://www.uan.org/ears/index.html

https://secure2.convio.net/aha/site/...MPAIGN_ID=1442


We'll add some more to those funds in Jaxon's name next time a paycheck hits me.

Plus I'm gonna see about some purdy wood for Fred to build a new bass for Stew if his are lost/destroyed

[Rickenbacker7]

James and Craig,
I think that part of the money sent to the main fund for Stew he could use somehow to look for Jaxon. I don't know. I wrote to him but am not expecting anything from him until he is rested and settled. Being a registered veterinary technician I know what animals go through in these kinds of crises' and so I am even more sensitive to what poor Jax is most likely experiencing. I know the most important thing is that Stew is alive and well, but Jaxon was family, not just a disposable item like the Ntl Guard and other powers to be treat them like. Either way, I appreciate the thoughts and love everyone is sending to Stew and to Jaxon. If I only had wings, I would fly there and pluck him up myself and take him to Stew... ah ya welll.........
Keep the mighty Jax in your prayers as well please? I know I am...
Jana

[Whappo Grande]

We just set up a PayPal account, but we would rather email the address individually to people than have it posted on a site.

Bless you,
Mark
AccuGroove Speaker Cabinets

[Rickenbacker7]

I understand totally- is the for the regular fund? I would lke to paypal some right away if that is possible. I will not post anything about it.
Bless you for starting this for Stew!!
Jana

[Whappo Grande]

This PayPal account is for Stew's Trust Fund. I'm sending you a PM.

Thanks,
Mark
AccuGroove Speaker Cabinets

[effbee]

Originally Posted by James Hart

Plus I'm gonna see about some purdy wood for Fred to build a new bass for Stew if his are lost/destroyed

I don't think I'll wait to see if Stew's BEE's are OK. It could take months before we know anything. I'm getting started on an 8 string for Stew ASAP. We can hope for the best, but I can't imagine that his axes made it through that mess.

Hey James, Larry Davis from Gallery Hardwoods just left my shop, and he said he would donate the wood for Stews bass. Let me know if you have some suggestions for what would look cool. It needs to be a workhorse, but I want to do something that looks special too. I'll see if other vendors will donate parts.

I'm sure there are lots of other players who may have lost gear in the storm (or worse, their lives, or the lives of loved ones), and I wish we could help all of them. I don't want anyone to think that Stew is more deserving than anyone else. He's a very close friend of mine, and he has played my basses almost from the beginning. I don't have the means to do much, but I can do this for my friend.

Big thanks to Mark & Susie for setting up the trust fund!

Thanks to Larry for donating the wood!

Please pray for Jaxon!!

Fred
BEE

[James Hart]

Hey Fred, I hope Larry took some good photos! I've been waiting to get the Tour together for your shop like I did for when he visited Chris B.

I was figuring hitting Larry with some cash / bartering to pay for some of Stew's wood. Like you, I cannot do too much... but I'll do what I can as well.

As far as look, I don't know Stew's tastes well enough to pick for him. Personally I love the figured Bubinga Larry gets, and the Maple burls are pretty outragous too.

I'll email you on this later or tomorrow.

[Rickenbacker7]

[quote=effbee
I'm sure there are lots of other players who may have lost gear in the storm (or worse, their lives, or the lives of loved ones), and I wish we could help all of them. I don't want anyone to think that Stew is more deserving than anyone else.

Please pray for Jaxon!!

Fred
BEE[/QUOTE]

Bless all of you for all the things you are doing for Stew.. he is one of the most genuinely sweet, honest and real people I have ever been blessed to know.. he is so full of compassion for others, even in the midst of what he just went thru with his divorce..
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you are doing.
While what Fred said is true,,Stew is who we know and can do something close for... so sad and so heartbreaking...
I am praying non-stop for Jaxon and for Stew's recovery.. I hope we hear from the man himself to know how he is and his heart is doing...
HUGSSSS TO ALL OF YOU!!!!!