First of all, I come in peace.
I’m just going to cut, paste, and respond. I think I’m entitled to that…
DV:
In no way are any of my comments going to be given with ‘an attitude’!
JP:
Just wanted to remind you that you said that and then explained how your attitude and emotions molded each of your responses. You’re entitled to that, but it’s just one of those things . . . saying you “don’t mean to ________” doesn’t always mean you’re going to hold true to that… Just an observation. No biggie…
DV:
If you haven’t been here since the inception of the “Fling”, then please read page 4 of this thread…”
JP:
I have done that, both in this thread, and on the DVSF website many times. Probably 5. I understand the roots from that and from many other sources as well.
DV (paraphrase):
Over the last 2 years or so, small few of Central Ohio guys trying to undermine event and take it over
JP:
That is the first I’ve heard of that. I know some of you who have no idea who I am or what I am all about are laughing your asses off right now. Laughter is good for you. But seriously, as you’ll find out later, Ed is talking about times I haven’t even been around, so he’s not talking about me. I think he’ll verify that. But honestly, all joking aside, I didn’t know this.
DV:
You know in fact one of the biggest events for individual Cobras ever, was cancelled within days of the event!”
JP:
I don’t know what you’re talking about. Seriously – that’s not with the “smartass” tone – sometimes I hate online debate. I just don’t know. The event itself was canceled way before a few days out, so that can’t be it. AutoX? Mid-Ohio run? I’m just asking, honestly.
DV:
Hmmm, major attitude boiling up. . . . . . JP, fella you do not have a clue!
JP:
I’ll address that later. Trust me.
DV (not a quote or paraphrase, just “From DV”):
Mike Braatz and his “incorrect” figures from CF, etc…
JP:
I guess I would assume that CF would know what was donated to them, but I also guess I have no idea on that. This young grasshopper is young, inexperienced, and clueless. Sorry, that was kind of smartass, but seriously… I’d just assume CF would have their numbers pretty darned close?! I will maybe come back to this later.
DV (paraphrase, I may be paraphrasing incorrectly, if so . . . SORRY!):
We raised $12,000 in 3 months, that’s like $48,000 in a year.
JP:
That’s like me showing a loan officer my first paycheck with a sign-on bonus so she can find out how much I make in a year. Just multiply by 26!! I must be a millionaire!
DV:
87 days, 87 days, EIGHTY-SEVEN DAYS!!!
JP:
And for having it go the way it did with only 3 months plus whatever holdover from pre-sniper planning you could use is a commendable feat. We are grateful for the event being what it was, especially on short notice. I know we all breathed a huge sigh of relief and happiness the day the Fling was “back on”
DV:
Have anyone of you ever asked where the money was going and didn’t receive a direct answer?
JP:
Respectfully, yes. I truly believe that question has been asked more than once and has NOT been answered clearly, directly, etc… Back to that later.
DV:
Please explain bigger? More Cobras? Yes. More Cobra families? Yes.
JP:
Of course that’s what I mean. Also, to address your question about big being bad, no I don’t think so at all. I don’t mean to say that there is a correlation beyond coincidence between size of fling and size of donation. I think they are largely unrelated (or should be), but that you can’t argue with what’s happened from a purely numerical perspective. That’s all. God, don’t turn people away! I would never think anything like that!!
DV:
Helluva implication JP (in response to me asking, “…where is all that cash going?”):
JP:
Not at all. Just a question that you say is welcome. Maybe phrased in a mean or implicating way, but I really don’t think so – I’ve re-read it a dozen times and asked others to read it, too. People who would be honest with me – who have no problem telling me I’m an asshole!
I like to know how EVERYTHING works – down to the simplest stupid crap. I got in a lot of trouble when I was a little kid – broke a lot of stuff. I spend a couple hours a month on
www.howstuffworks.com just learning how things work that I didn’t know about but I use daily. If I touch it or am a part of it, I have to know how it works. I just want to know where the cash goes. Of the hundred or so (God knows how many) drag runs that were made (I know I made maybe 20?) on Sunday, where does that money go? Is that in the same “pot” as any checks that may have been sent in as donations (above and beyond registration fees, etc… which I understand are NOT donations!)? Are there multiple pots? I just want to know. I want to know what expenses were covered out of what, etc…?
I guess my big misunderstanding just hinges on this. That’s why I want to know. Because honestly, my assumption isn’t the best. I know I’m probably missing something, but I just figure…with the numbers I understand, I don’t get it. I’m sure I wasn’t the only person to send in a nice donation. I paid my registration. I gave a bunch of drag runs down Main St. I know others did the same – I’m completely confident that several and/or MANY did so to a bigger extent than I did!! When I write all that down, the left column doesn’t come close to the right column. All I’m saying is I’m missing something, that’s all!
If the registration isn’t really meant for CF, and it’s meant for our picnic – and whatever’s left over goes to CF if there is any, fine. Totally fine! I think you SHOULD be paid for every hour of time you put into this event, and it sounds like you’re not. To me, that is an issue – probably shocking to hear that from ME! But it’s TRUE! I hate to see your son go through hell to help you make this happen. That shouldn’t have to happen.
But if the registration doesn’t cover what it needs to cover, then are we sending donations to pay for the event to be run? Are we drag racing to pay expenses? IF NOT, then HOW would we pay for that stuff otherwise? Good grief!
Before anyone thinks I’m making any accusations of anything, I am NOT. I’m ASSUMING that my math up there kind of has to be at least close to true. I don’t think that means anyone is stealing from anyone. Jesus! What it means to me is . . . charge more for registration. If the event that the registration fee covers can’t be covered by $100 per Cobra Family, then make it $200. Make it whatever it needs to be to pay everyone to make the event happen – the event that we all somewhat decide we want.
Dead serious. Serious as a heart attack. I’d pay $500 if that’s really what it took. My confusion stemmed from being under the impression that expenses were covered by registration fees. Is what I’m asking making sense? All I want is to understand how it works – just like the washing machine I broke when I was 10.
DV:
‘WE’ took in a helluva lot more than that. The $8,000 that you have misquoted is what ‘WE’ GAVE/DONATED to CF, NOT what we took in.
JP:
I know I’m young and inexperienced, but I know. I understand that whole aspect of NET vs. GROSS. But thanks.
I like how you say I misquoted that number. Who knows? I had an email forwarded to me in AUGUST, originally from Suzana Mueller, stating that when all was said and done, the total number that was donated (NET) was $1,022.00.
$536 from 50/50 proceeds
$466 from misc. donations
$20.00 from auction
First of all, what was the 50/50? The raffle? Couldn’t have been. I haven’t said anything about this email before because it just doesn’t look like it even had to do with our event. I sent in $450 in donations from the generous people who attended a dinner I put on. That leaves $16.
The only reason I post that now is because I’m sitting here just asking questions, not accusing anyone of anything. That should be SOMEWHAT apparent, now, I hope! But the number Ed is sticking to is $12,000. The number someone else (Braatz??) gave was $8,000. What on earth is this $1,022 number? I’m just asking for someone to set me straight on it – tell me “That was miscellaneous CASH collected THAT weekend. It did not include donations sent in before, after, or the money from the drag racing.”
Just tell me that and watch me say . . . “OKAY!”
I just want to know, but don’t jump me for quoting $8,000. That’s the number I’ve heard the MOST. I’ve also seen $1,022. At least I’m not quoting THAT one!
(continued...)