• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Musicians Relief Fund........two years and counting

Status
Not open for further replies.
#221
Man, I really hoped after not reading this thread for a few weeks that it would be cleared up. Unfortunately, it sounds like the TB community has in fact been duped and their money stolen. When simple solutions to a large problem are not followed to clear ones name, it is logical to assume that the person in question has something to hide. BMW is a thief, he took money for a service rendered (that service being a charitable donation) and did not render the service. If there is someone's reputation "on the line" other than BMWs then too bad, it's irrelevant to the situation. People's money has been stolen and they have a right to know where it went, reputations be ******.

If it looks like a thief and acts like a thief...
 
#222
It looks like I missed a bunch of posts here, but one thing I'd like to throw out is that I am almost 100% certain that Jeff never received any money from Mike. Furthermore, I can think of no reason that Mike Winnen would have any incentive to 'protect' Jeff on any level. They never met and do not even know each other.

As for the money that was sent to me, like I said, I can document the initial transfer to my account from Mike Winnen, and I can document every expense associated with setting up (and dissolving) the Ohio not for profit foundation. Fortunately, we never incurred any expenses with regard to the 501(c)(3) filing, so I will have some funds available for disbursement at the end of the process.

I'd feel much better if someone else determined where those funds should go, by the way.

Tom.
 
#224
Just checked the user activity, still shows 8/12.

Personally, I don't think we will ever get a straight answer on
any of this.

I am going to call for Tom to dissolve the effort, recover any
remaining funds he has access to and determine a suitable
registered charity to donate any balance to.

It's time to hose off the decks here and move on. The
concept of a registered not for profit charity for Musicians
Relief is way out of the scope of anything that anyone who
was invoved with this can handle.

Also, given my experience, I would not and would encourage
all others not to be involved in any efforts like this.

So, let's get the books closed on this and move on.
 
#225
As much as I hate quoting myself, I stated this on August 13th ....

pointbass said:
As hard as it is to "let it go", for the good of the forum and the participants, IMO, let this one go ....
Click to expand...


It is painfully obvious what has happened here, and equally obvious that anything representing a proper accounting is not achievable. The TB members who contributed should be very grateful that Mr. Bowlus had a hand in at least part of the money distribution .... whatever the final disposition of those funds are, it's nice to know that portion of the money is properly accounted for.

Very sad, in many ways ... sad for those who contributed hard earned dollars for a noble cause, sad for those who never received the benefit of the generosity of the contributors, sad for those who unwittingly were dragged into a sh*t-storm they didn't see coming, and equally sad for those who failed to live up to the (likely) well-intentioned promises they made .... :hmm:
 
#230
can anyone list out the folks who contributed to the aspect of this "fund" that did not get properly dispersed? or notify me via pm if they wish to remain annonymous?

rest assured that this info will not be shared publicly, but kept in a thread in the admin area for future reference. your admins have plans for this situation.
 
#237
On behalf of Paul and the other co-admins, I've been trying to get some resolution to this situation from Mike Winnen (BigMikeW).

He has received our communications, but has declined to respond or provide any form of accounting for the money raised 18 months ago in the name of jeffbass28.

When Paul made the hard decision not to allow charitable solicitation on Talkbass, it was not because he didn't want to help pepole. It was due to concerns about accountability and traceability. Mike Winnen disagreed with this decision and made his feelings well known. Ironically, it is a lack of accountability and traceability from Mike which has brought on this debacle.

We can tolerate this no longer. While we can't prove misappropriation of funds, at the very least Mike is guilty of completely inappropriate and irresponsible behavior.

Sadly, it looks like we'll never get this money back. Regardless of whether these funds are ever recovered, Mike Winnen is now banned from this site. We did not want to do this until he had a final chance to respond. He has had that final chance, and for whatever reasons he has chosen to stay silent.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back