Peace In The Valley Y'all

[GTG]

Over the past few days a few members have gotten heated over some discussions that I'm afraid if left unchecked, might turn nasty and start to turn folks away from the site. Now that's just my opinion and I don't want anyone posting their sides here. That turns ugly too, we've all seen it tear down other discussion boards, hiking related and not. On to the topic.

As many of you have read, we're going to sell site related items and use the proceeds to benefit the site in one way or another. Without public discussion, we made evenstar our site banker since he's got a bit of history doing that kind of thing.
(I think he's on his way to Mexico with our 58 cents as I type. )

There has also been discussions amongst many including Mike, evenstar and myself about using some of the proceeds towards charity related costs. We would like to maybe do an Adopt-A-Trail, Adopt-A-Highway and others.

Enter my father Mickey.

As you may or may not know, my father and I own the company whose server hosts this website. From day one he's never mentioned a word for any reimbursement even though I've told him we may eventually have more than a terabyte of pictures of rocks, dogs, grandkids, text posts and videos of fools and rattlesnakes.
My father calls me last night and insists that I go read my email. The following is his letter that he asked me to post in his name. Take a good read and let us know your thoughts.

[Tom Treks]

Awesome Mickey. You have my vote as company of the year, and owner of the year. Bar none.

So what happened to Todd?

[evenstar]

[Sande J]

For what its worth, I think the Adopt a Highway thingie and adopting a needy family are great ideas too.
_________________
And this our life, exempt from public haunt,
Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stone, good in everything..
-William Shakespeare-

[Shihiyea]

Excellent idea....I've often thought about the kids in less fortunate areas of this valley and would love to bring to them the "magic" and the "getting it" of the outdoors. I used to bring things to the homeless school, that my boys had out grown or out used. Those kids are starving for attention and what a gift we could bring them. I am a believer that if you keep a kid busy, they won't get into trouble. Let me know what I can do. Mary
_________________
Courage affects what we are willing to do for ourselves as well as what we are willing to do for an other person.
C. Myss

[Arizonaheat]

[ck1]

I certainly agree to any charitable aspect generated, as long as the site doesn't become a finanical burden to GTS, I'd be all in favor of donating the extras. My first thought was to the Pappas School, but there are plenty of other charities out there.

Along those same lines...I was tossing around the idea of "sponsoring" an Arizona Hikers Blood Drive...I know Todd has plenty of needles, and well...
_________________
-Colin

"The Journey is the Destination"

[evenstar]

[paintninaz]

Mickey you are a gem!

I think the idea is excellent!
_________________
~Tracy

“Friends make the bad times good — and the good times unforgettable.”

[Daddee]

Mickey - well spoken. We all appreciate the generosity of yourself, Todd and the GTS crew. It has helped us create a really unique community here.

As far as the funds raised:

I have participated in several family specific end-of-the-year/Christamas food/toys/clothing drives and a few beginning of the school year supplies drives. Each one was special and each one was memorable. I even got to ge the bearer of gifts on two occasions - an experience I will never forget.

I am all for the charity idea - I don't even really care which charity/family/cause we get involved in, just so long as we can actually make a difference. If we help out specific individuals, great. If we help out the environment, great. It's kind of a no-lose situation.

All I can hope for is that we can all agree on what charity/cause we are supporting.

Oh, and I think that Mickey and GTG should have a very strong vote in whatever we do. I trust them implicitly in these situations.
_________________
"Only small minds want always to be right."
- Louis XIV

"...haven't you lived long enough to know that two men may honestly differ about a question and both be right?"
- Abraham Lincoln

[JW]

[srlatty]

Mickey,

First, thanks for allowing us to use your resources! We were a lost group looking for a home when you were kind enough to allow us in. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to grow into the community that we have.

Second, your idea of adopting a family, or 2, for the holiday season is excellent. I hope to be available to help distribute the goods. I was involved in a similar type project in my youth and it is quite humbling. And one of the most rewarding things I have ever been involved with!

Third and last: Even though we are providing you some entertainment, we should also help to pay for being here. The space and bandwidth aren't free, and you have been more than generous in the past. Maybe its time we started paying you back, if only a little. I still think some of the money generated should be funneled to GTS to help defray some of the costs. I will be more than happy to come up with ideas to wrestle it away from Evenstar, even if it means physical contact.
(If he shows up in the AZH thong, all bets are off!!!!!)

Seriously, thank you for all that you have done for us. We wouldn't be here if not for you.....kind of like Todd.
_________________
Steve

[Hikngrl]

Wow Mickey, you are amazing! What a kind and generous thing for you to offer! Makes a girl proud to be part of this community! God bless you and your family. Yeah even you Todd.....
_________________
~~~Diane~~~

I want to shine!

[desertgirl]

Excellent...Whatever the causes arizonahikers adopts -- Count me in.

Special thanks to everyone at Gartman Technical Services, Inc for your wonderful support for this website community.
_________________
Photos: http://www.pbase.com/desertgirl/galleries
Life is but a dream ...there is no end to what you can dream!

[sherileeaz]

Very good ideas, I support any cause that AZH decides on.
Thanks Todd and Mickey for a great website.

Sherileeaz