[MidOHasp]

Ed, with the exception of DVSF III (which I think was a little different because there was a brand new Kirkham donated free-of-charge, which considerably helped the bottom line), the proceeds donated to CF have gone down as we've gotten bigger.

As we devote more and more time and energy to trying to make the fling "bigger and badder" than ever before, we lose sight of what it is/was all about.

Now that the Fling has truly become a business (registering via secure internet transaction site, etc...), more and more people are putting on their accounting hats and saying, "Well, if this is a business, and we are trying to raise boatloads of cash for CF, where is all of that cash going?"

You get people thinking along the accounting lines and the nature of the beast is that people question the bottom line, people make assumptions, etc... RIGHT OR WRONG, it happens.

And so it goes, the fling will continue to go down that path to the point where it consumes itself and implodes.

If 500 cobras just so happen to show up, that is great. I do not know how London could handle that, but you can't barricade it and say "NOPE! NO MORE COBRAS TODAY!!"

But let's not try to gather 500 cobras in London in the name of Jenny Smith. Bless that girl's heart, but I bet we'd do better for her if we weren't so consumed with the BUSINESS end.

My little niece has CF, too. I love knowing CF benefits from our fun. But I have a best friend in Iraq. I have family dying of cancer. I have family that is diabetic. That's just me, and that's just my little world.

MOST Cobra people are generous souls. I can't imagine 300 of them showing up at the same place one weekend and not raising more than 8 grand.

It sickens me to think that in the hubbub of commercializing the fling, we have lost complete track of what it was all about in the beginning - friends.

Does it sound cold-hearted for me to say that the Fling was not about Jenny in the beginning?? I think I've made my point clear enough here to not have to worry about what you may think of me having said that. Those of you that know me CERTAINLY know better.

But the event should be about US. Given who "US" is, if we decide we are going to raise 20 grand for the families of those killed on 9/11 or 20 grand for Boys' Village or YOU NAME IT, we are damned well going to do it.

Imagine the same 300 people come this year with no agenda. No registration fee. No name-tag. No packet of maps. A few locals plan some fun things if people are so inclined. We take over London for an afternoon. We bond, we share beers, stories, and camaraderie. If everyone dropped a Bennie in the kitty, there is $30,000 sitting there. I bet we could average that, dontcha think?

Gentlemen, I've never known such a great group of people. Let's not strangle the group to death with overhead and bullsh!t. Let this group of generous, caring, friendly, and resourceful people have a blast one weekend in June, somewhere. Even if it is out west in Minnesota. LMAO.

I'd like to see what fun we can have and what good we can do if left to our own devices.

It would likely be assolutely amazing.

Chew on it for a while. PM me if you feel like responding to me but not publically. Do it publically, though, if you are inclined. I don't think too many people disagree too much. My suggestions don't preclude vendors from coming if they want. They don't preclude news crews from showing up. They just don't plan those things explicitly.

Eliminate the BS. Nip the accounting questions in the bud by not commercializing it. Focus on what is important, here . . . FRIENDS.

Nobody will regret that. Matter of fact, we will be talking about it for years.