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Musicians Relief Fund........two years and counting
- Thread starter Juniorkimbrough
- Start date
- Status
I almost hate to get into this, but since the issue of what to do with the money has been resolved, I have a few things that I would like to say. My 2 cents, if you will.
So... a TB member (Mike Fredericks) has some medical issues and has to sell of his entire stable of instrument to pay his medical bills. A very big deal, considering this guy is a working pro. No bass = no work = no income. A group of TBers, headed by Mike Winnen (BigMikeW), raise money between themselves to get this guy a new bass. Good on them! Shows the quality of people found on this board, as opposed to the thieving low-life slimeballs you usually hear about on the internet. Excellent work!
This incident gives rise to the idea of a Talkbass fund. "If a few of us can do this for Mike, what can ALL of us do for the next person?" was the feeling. This ball is picked up and ran with by Mike Winnen.
Enter the "Musicians Relief Fund."
After a few weeks of speculation and (one would assume) planning, a new recipient is chosen to become the first poster child of the MRF, one "jeff_bass28;" a TB member facing various life crises -employment and possible homelessness- but most importantly, a vicious child custody fight to remove his young child from a dangerous situation. An uphill battle considering both his personal circumstances and the attitudes and policies of the family court system in his home state.
Threads regarding the collection of donations are posted in several forums by MikeW. A lot of people are understandably skeptical, but quite a few donate.
The months go by.
And by.
And by.
With no news or updates, people begin questioning the validity of the MRF, and the usage of the funds collected. Arguements ensue, which result in the permanent banning of Mike Winnen (BigMikeW). But what about the intended recipient, this "jeff_bass28?" Where's he gone?
So... a TB member (Mike Fredericks) has some medical issues and has to sell of his entire stable of instrument to pay his medical bills. A very big deal, considering this guy is a working pro. No bass = no work = no income. A group of TBers, headed by Mike Winnen (BigMikeW), raise money between themselves to get this guy a new bass. Good on them! Shows the quality of people found on this board, as opposed to the thieving low-life slimeballs you usually hear about on the internet. Excellent work!
This incident gives rise to the idea of a Talkbass fund. "If a few of us can do this for Mike, what can ALL of us do for the next person?" was the feeling. This ball is picked up and ran with by Mike Winnen.
Enter the "Musicians Relief Fund."
After a few weeks of speculation and (one would assume) planning, a new recipient is chosen to become the first poster child of the MRF, one "jeff_bass28;" a TB member facing various life crises -employment and possible homelessness- but most importantly, a vicious child custody fight to remove his young child from a dangerous situation. An uphill battle considering both his personal circumstances and the attitudes and policies of the family court system in his home state.
Threads regarding the collection of donations are posted in several forums by MikeW. A lot of people are understandably skeptical, but quite a few donate.
The months go by.
And by.
And by.
With no news or updates, people begin questioning the validity of the MRF, and the usage of the funds collected. Arguements ensue, which result in the permanent banning of Mike Winnen (BigMikeW). But what about the intended recipient, this "jeff_bass28?" Where's he gone?
I'm right here.
"Proof," you say?
Tom Bowlus, thank you very much for the attorney tip. Charles Lynch of Mansfield. A very good guy, and former head of his county's family court system. I was impressed! A bit too pricey, though; maybe next time. But thanks, Tom!
Pat(cheezewiz)...Christmas of '07, you offered to send me your old MTD Kingston, since I was still without instrument. I seriously thought about it, but finally told you no; I just wasn't comfortable with someone doing that. Thank you very much for the thought, though. That's what meant the most, and it has not been forgotten!
To anyone who donated even a penny to this fund, believing it to be on my behalf, I thank you. You're better people by far than I am; I never would have given to something like this!
"Proof," you say?
Tom Bowlus, thank you very much for the attorney tip. Charles Lynch of Mansfield. A very good guy, and former head of his county's family court system. I was impressed! A bit too pricey, though; maybe next time. But thanks, Tom!
Pat(cheezewiz)...Christmas of '07, you offered to send me your old MTD Kingston, since I was still without instrument. I seriously thought about it, but finally told you no; I just wasn't comfortable with someone doing that. Thank you very much for the thought, though. That's what meant the most, and it has not been forgotten!
To anyone who donated even a penny to this fund, believing it to be on my behalf, I thank you. You're better people by far than I am; I never would have given to something like this!
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,516
- 19,951
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
I am a bit slammed this week, but I will get the payments off to the two charities and provide proof of such payment to Thor ASAP.
Sorry for the delay...
Sorry for the delay...
I still remember when Mike W told me about what he was doing with this fund. I had just gotten to work at the new job (grocery store deli, part-time & minimum wage.) and he called me with the news.
I was stunned.
On the one hand, I was thankging God for the generousity of everyone here, hoping that this would be just the break I needed; on the other hand, I couldn't help being skeptical. I could see how this could go VERY badly, bringing me down along with it.
The only "rules" i gave Mike were to keep certain personal info, like my last name and/or my daughter's name, out of any public discussion; and that I did not want to touch a dime of any money collected. He could distribute it directly in the fund's name.
I should have called foul when the next day, he put both my last name and my daughter's name in a post, after promising not to.
I kept in contact with Mike for several months after this started. I kept in contact with Tom Bowlus, also, since he was managing the legal aspects of the fund. Tom had made several comments to me regarding the amount of money raised (approx $2500, IIRC); but I think Tom's figures were based on statements made to him by Mike, with no real concrete proof.
Then one day, Mike Winnen just disappeared. He wasn't on talkbass. He wasn't on his own website. He wasn't answering his home phone. He wasn't answering his cell phone. To this day, I have not heard from him.
When Tom Bowlus said that even he couldn't reach Mike...well, at that point I had written the whole thing off as a scam.
The "where's the beef" topics started appearing on talkbass not long after this. I recieved several nasty PM's and emails from people about the fund and had had enough. I asked for my account to be closed and left talkbass.
Couldn't stay away, of course! So I come back...and dear God, this thing is STILL going on! :scowl:
I was stunned.
On the one hand, I was thankging God for the generousity of everyone here, hoping that this would be just the break I needed; on the other hand, I couldn't help being skeptical. I could see how this could go VERY badly, bringing me down along with it.
The only "rules" i gave Mike were to keep certain personal info, like my last name and/or my daughter's name, out of any public discussion; and that I did not want to touch a dime of any money collected. He could distribute it directly in the fund's name.
I should have called foul when the next day, he put both my last name and my daughter's name in a post, after promising not to.
I kept in contact with Mike for several months after this started. I kept in contact with Tom Bowlus, also, since he was managing the legal aspects of the fund. Tom had made several comments to me regarding the amount of money raised (approx $2500, IIRC); but I think Tom's figures were based on statements made to him by Mike, with no real concrete proof.
Then one day, Mike Winnen just disappeared. He wasn't on talkbass. He wasn't on his own website. He wasn't answering his home phone. He wasn't answering his cell phone. To this day, I have not heard from him.
When Tom Bowlus said that even he couldn't reach Mike...well, at that point I had written the whole thing off as a scam.
The "where's the beef" topics started appearing on talkbass not long after this. I recieved several nasty PM's and emails from people about the fund and had had enough. I asked for my account to be closed and left talkbass.
Couldn't stay away, of course! So I come back...and dear God, this thing is STILL going on! :scowl:
I wish I could give Mike Winnen the benefit of the doubt. I wish I could say he started this with the best of intentions, but just got in over his head. The bass build for Mike Fredericks was definitely legit, but after that? I think he just saw an "easy" way to get money. I think he found someone with a good sob story whose name he could attach to it and proceeded to take everyone for all he could.
Based on the last conversation i had with Mike, I wouldn't be surprised if he tried scamming his church, too. He suggested taking up a collection there to pay for my ex to get her tubes tied so she wouldn't have another kid she'd refuse to care for. "We've done it before;" he said, "for some drug addict mothers so they wouldn't have any crack babies."
I thought he was joking. He assured me he wasn't.
A few nights ago, I had a big 3-post long addition to the current topic. I deleted it. I just want it gone. I'm tired of having my name attatched to this thing. A lot of people got reamed by a big fat dildo with my name on it. I can't help feeling like a total scumbag about the whole affair, and I didn't even do anything!
Mike and I have never met. I think it's best that we never do.
I don't know what Mike Frederick's implications about Mike W "protecting" someone were about. I'd be interested to find out.
Mike Winnen is/was a scam artist, imho. And we all fell for it. He only ponied up the cash when he was finally backed into a corner to do so.
And that's the view from my side of the fence.
Tom, I'm glad to see someone finally track down what's left of the money, and even more glad to see it being put to good use; even if it isn't where it was intended to go.
CheezyPat and anyone else who said to track me down and give it to me, again thanks for the thought. But I don't want anything more to do with this debacle. Dirty money, as far as I'm concerned.
Anything else...?
Based on the last conversation i had with Mike, I wouldn't be surprised if he tried scamming his church, too. He suggested taking up a collection there to pay for my ex to get her tubes tied so she wouldn't have another kid she'd refuse to care for. "We've done it before;" he said, "for some drug addict mothers so they wouldn't have any crack babies."
I thought he was joking. He assured me he wasn't.
A few nights ago, I had a big 3-post long addition to the current topic. I deleted it. I just want it gone. I'm tired of having my name attatched to this thing. A lot of people got reamed by a big fat dildo with my name on it. I can't help feeling like a total scumbag about the whole affair, and I didn't even do anything!
Mike and I have never met. I think it's best that we never do.
I don't know what Mike Frederick's implications about Mike W "protecting" someone were about. I'd be interested to find out.
Mike Winnen is/was a scam artist, imho. And we all fell for it. He only ponied up the cash when he was finally backed into a corner to do so.
And that's the view from my side of the fence.
Tom, I'm glad to see someone finally track down what's left of the money, and even more glad to see it being put to good use; even if it isn't where it was intended to go.
CheezyPat and anyone else who said to track me down and give it to me, again thanks for the thought. But I don't want anything more to do with this debacle. Dirty money, as far as I'm concerned.
Anything else...?
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,516
- 19,951
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
Jeff:
Hey, there! Nice to hear from you again. I hope that things are going well (or at least well enough) for you.
Thanks for chiming in.
Tom.
Hey, there! Nice to hear from you again. I hope that things are going well (or at least well enough) for you.
Thanks for chiming in.
Tom.
I certainly can't blame you for any of this and I think your
decision to steer clear of any further involvement was a
good decision.
decision to steer clear of any further involvement was a
good decision.
Wow. Having followed this from near the beginning (I think it had started before I joined tb) and having considered putting some money into this thing (good karma and all that), all I can say is that I never personally felt any ill will toward the intended recipient (jeff.. Aka papacita). I have simply been a concerned observer through all this, but I for one am glad that jeff is doing ok and that the scam artist was identified and rightfully tarred and feathered. Glad to see all this coming to an end, and I'd like give a nod to Thor and Tom. They're nothing short of stand up guys, even if I did steal Tom's camera and hand it off to jive so he could put a picture of his @$$ in the middle of all his NAMM gear porn. Tom, Thor, I'll buy you a beer just because.
Bob Lee (QSC)
In case you missed it, I work for QSC Audio!
- Jul 3, 2001
- 12,668
- 2,036
- 67
- Disclosures
- Former Technical Communications Developer, QSC Audio
Bob Lee (QSC)
In case you missed it, I work for QSC Audio!
- Jul 3, 2001
- 12,668
- 2,036
- 67
- Disclosures
- Former Technical Communications Developer, QSC Audio
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,516
- 19,951
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
FYI, payments of $352.57 have been made to both Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation and St. Jude's, and confirmation of both has been sent to Thor.
Hopefully, we can be happy that donations were made to two very worthy charitable organizations, and we can now move on.
I sincerely hope that this experience has not stifled anyone's philanthropic aspirations. It should, however, serve as a reminder to exercise caution in all things, especially those involving donating money to a cause.
Tom.
Hopefully, we can be happy that donations were made to two very worthy charitable organizations, and we can now move on.
I sincerely hope that this experience has not stifled anyone's philanthropic aspirations. It should, however, serve as a reminder to exercise caution in all things, especially those involving donating money to a cause.
Tom.
I have received confirmations by email verifying these 2
charitable donations.
Thanks to all of you who have assisted in putting this mess to
bed, especially Tom Bowlus and Juniorkimbrough.
As far as I am concerned as an original donor, this brings
this matter to a final disposition.
And, I am going to request this thread be closed.
charitable donations.
Thanks to all of you who have assisted in putting this mess to
bed, especially Tom Bowlus and Juniorkimbrough.
As far as I am concerned as an original donor, this brings
this matter to a final disposition.
And, I am going to request this thread be closed.
- Status
