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

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#121
fenderhutz said:
Jive I can appreciate you want to micromanage the total of the donations. But it is REALLY isn't going to get any money back or solve any problems? All that is going to happen is you are going to have a bunch of people with torches and pitchforks breaking down the gates of TalkBass.

BIGMIKEW didn't handle the money properly, coming up with a complete total of funds given isn't going to fix anything. If he never filed an official 501 form it doesn't matter why he said he needed the funds, he doesn't have to account to anyone.

It would be the same legally as a homeless man asking for money to say he is going to eat with it to find out he is just going to go buy some beer. No one can sue the bum for misrepresentation. Neither can anyone on here for BIGMIKEW. He didn't have any official business or charity registered properly.

I agree it's shady, but stop the witchhunt. Your time is worth much more than micromanaging money no one will ever see again.
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I don't think that anyone is expecting to get any money back or trying to put together a lawsuit. Only reason I'm counting is to give BMW the benefit of the doubt to see if there may be a shortage thus clearing any reason for people to think he is being shady. If he's innocent, then people should know and call off the witchhunt.
 
#123
A full and complete accounting would be helpful, and would answer a number of valid questions which have been presented in this thread.

However, I am at this point doubtful that we can recreate everything needed to prepare a full and accurate accounting.

So, in light of trying to make the best of the situation, my thought is that the best solution would be for me to dissolve the Ohio not-for-profit foundation, and report back on the amount of the filing/accounting fees still available. We could then put it to a vote as to what charity gets the funds (I'll suggest a donation to St. Jude's in honor of Adrian Garcia), and I can produce proof of that contribution to whomever wants to see it.

We then go about our lives, sadder, but wiser.

Tom.
 
#124
tombowlus said:
A full and complete accounting would be helpful, and would answer a number of valid questions which have been presented in this thread.

However, I am at this point doubtful that we can recreate everything needed to prepare a full and accurate accounting.
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I agree, and a full assessment of damages might not be a pretty sight to see.

So, in light of trying to make the best of the situation, my thought is that the best solution would be for me to dissolve the Ohio not-for-profit foundation, and report back on the amount of the filing/accounting fees still available. We could then put it to a vote as to what charity gets the funds (I'll suggest a donation to St. Jude's in honor of Adrian Garcia), and I can produce proof of that contribution to whomever wants to see it.
Click to expand...

Since you're taking suggestions, I'll throw up Sweet Relief as a contender.

We then go about our lives, sadder, but wiser.
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I'm only speaking or myself, and no-one else.
As a guy who makes mistakes, and is the recipient of more forgiveness than I deserve, I tend to be a more forgiving type of guy. It's easier when the other owns up to their mistakes and apologizes. I would expect that from a son, brother, father, or friend. But when someone acts irresponsibly, and then has a cavalier attitude about owning up to it, it irks me. In some ways it's worse than hearing a sincere "Sorry man, I got drunk and before I knew it I spent all the money on hookers". An apology and open communication can go a long way towards healing.
 
#125
tombowlus said:
A full and complete accounting would be helpful, and would answer a number of valid questions which have been presented in this thread.

However, I am at this point doubtful that we can recreate everything needed to prepare a full and accurate accounting.

So, in light of trying to make the best of the situation, my thought is that the best solution would be for me to dissolve the Ohio not-for-profit foundation, and report back on the amount of the filing/accounting fees still available. We could then put it to a vote as to what charity gets the funds (I'll suggest a donation to St. Jude's in honor of Adrian Garcia), and I can produce proof of that contribution to whomever wants to see it.

We then go about our lives, sadder, but wiser.

Tom.
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I am all in favor of this. I have no particular charitable preferences at this
point other than it be reputable and secular.

I certainly cannot and do not expect an accounting from
you, as you were not the recipient of my funds.

I would have been fine with 'I think its about this much and it
went here, here and here'. I didn't even receive that courtesy.

I am also pretty jerked about the cavalier disrespect for the
donors shown. I don't think I am asking too much when asking
for an explanation, given the solicitation and my contribution.

A simple 'I got in the weeds, and I dropped the ball, but here's
what I recall or can reconstruct' would have sufficed. Just
come clean on it and its over with. At least for me. I won't
speak on the behalf of other donors.
 
#126
I agree jive, I too am forgiving but have a hard time forgiving one who won't own up to their own mistakes and at least give some sort of response to where the funds went. I think it's pretty obvious that all the money didn't go to only the filing fees that Tom received.....what about the money that was supposed to go to Jeff, where did it go?

I personally think BigMikeW should at the very least be banned from the classified section. I think people have been banned for much less things but just the whole "jeff situation" IMO is enough for a banning.

Actions speak louder than words and I think BigMike's actions so far speak loud and clear.
 
#128
If you are taking suggestions on charities then may I suggest Riley Hospital for Children.

I have personally seen the work they have done for kids here in the US and around the world (Iraqi kids have been treated here). They have (had?) the top rated childrens burn unit in the world last I knew. On a more personal level, they saved my half-brother's life (3rd degree burns inside and out) and will forever be grateful to them for it.
 
#131
I agree, I think what charity we end up donating to needs to be discussed later. The task at hand right now is a) trying to see what money we can get back and b) trying to see how much money was actually donated since BigMike is not willing to come forward with the help to clear his name. We already know that the money for Jeff didn't go where it was supposed to so I think BigMike is already looking bad and it makes me really wonder since he won't come forward to explain where that money really did go? If that money has "disappeared" I have a good feeling that BigMike has taken money from these donations as well.


Be a man, stand up and clear these things up like the honest person you claim to be would.
 
#132
I just noted some inconsistencies here.

BMW Posts this here. This is the Mike thread.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=260528
This thread is posted on 7/08/2006.



I excerpted the following:
BigMikeW said:
We were able to raise this amount for Mike Fredericks

$3,689.86!


Simply Awesome. This literally only took two weeks to raise. the initial week and a half before Mike knew and since this past Monday when everyone else found out.

I want to once again thank everyone involved in the building of Mike's Fredericks Bass and all that contributed to the fund. I am praying that Mike's backslide and renewal of symptoms is temporary.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

You can still continue to make donations to the fund.
Click to expand...

The jeffbass thread is posted by BMW on 2/09/2007.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=308319

In the first, BMW indicates that all this money for Mike has been raised. True. A bass was built and delivered. True.

The jeffbass thread was posted 7 months later when I donated. The
Mikebass donation was LONG over at that point.

Yet, on this very thread on post # 20 BMW states:

BigMikeW said:
Very little money was for the setup of the charity. That money went to Tom and was used for filings.

The rest of the money went to the Mike Fredericks Relief Fund and was all used. No idea where the notion that there was money left over or being held sinc I layed out that it was all used.
Click to expand...

I am not sure how the money I donated to help jeffbass28
in February 2007 got sent to Mike, whose fund was raised and
donated 7 months earlier.

I am going to tag that as a flat out misrepresentation.

I know and love Mikebass and I hate to see him used as an excuse.

I also have a lot of respect for Tom and find it unfortunate
that BMW is trying to dump this mess in his lap rather than
stepping up and addressing it.

And I concur with Bran Tyler, jeffbass was flat out used.

I find this whole business extremely distasteful.
 
#139
Would it be appropriate for those who sent money, have had no response/feedback on where funds went, and are not pleased with their transaction to leave negative feedback via the feedback feature in TB? Regardless of where the money went, it sounds like many are not happy with their transaction...
 
#140
That is a double edged sword. Personally, I wouldn't as it
wasn't a straight up sale or trade and my activity wasn't
solicited based on a classifieds thread.

We have a few pages of negative feedback right here.
That should cover it and is certainly more detailed than
a cryptic 10 word feedback line.
 
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