A Club Charity

[mattadams]

I'm not sure what some peoples thoughts on this are. I know we help out the USFS with our trail adoption of Saxon Mountain, and we help out the Toys 4 Tots each year, but the T4T is more of a CoA4WDCI thing and we are just there to support it.
One of my "dreams" has always been to have RMFTC help out a local charity, and proceeds from any sales of merchandise, etc. that goes over the cost of supporting the site would go towards this other charity (again, I'm not running nor do I ever intend to run this site for profit), and we could also help with various fund-raisers to raise money for the charity as well. It could be a charity we could try to work with on more of a level then just giving some money to occasionally, such as a food bank where we could occasionally go and help sort or deliver food for the homeless, or an animal-related organization that we could help volunteer at adoption drives, or bathing or just walking and giving attention to some of the animals that are awaiting adoption.

I'd like to get everyones input on this, because without the support of a lot of individuals, it would be trivial to even attempt it. But I'd like to hear if you would be interested in helping out, both financially as well as with your time.

Me personally, I would like to see us help out a local animal shelter. Preferably not Denver Dumb Friends League (mainly because they have enough help, and they don't rent to people in apartments) but perhaps the CoASPCA or the Humane society, or even a smaller local shelter. RMFTC could provide links to their website and help with adoptions by having "dog of the month", "cat of the month", etc. on the site, as well as having members occasionally volunteer as they are able to do so, walking dogs, volunteering at adoption drives, etc. But that is just my idea. I'd like to do what the group would truly be interested in doing.

It's not something that would be required for RMFTC members to participate in, but I think it gives a great feeling to know you are helping out, and for those of you with community service hours to work off, might help for that too! LOL.

I realize a lot of people don't have a lot of spare time and/or money, but this might be worthwild. It's also something that you can have your kids potentially get involved with and make family time out of it.

[Tray]

I'm in.

I don't have a ton of either to donate, but I'd love to help when I can.

Just from my past experiences, I'd suggest MaxFund. I don't know how they are with adopting to apartment dwellers, or anything like that, but they changed my life forever when we adopted Brady from them.

[mattadams]

I was putting this last paragraph on that last post as you were posting, LOL.
I realize a lot of people don't have a lot of spare time and/or money, but this might be worthwild. It's also something that you can have your kids potentially get involved with and make family time out of it.

Maxfund is a great idea, I'm not sure how they are with apartment dwellers but they are all very nice and I had spoken to them when I was looking into getting a dog for myself. They also do some things we could help with, such as merchandise sales, etc. to help the shelter. I know at various events Maxfund will be there, and not only will they have a few pictures, and some animals with them, but dog toys, floormats, cat condos, etc. for sale, with profits going to the shelter. I like that, and we could easily set up a seperate area of merchandise to help them with that.

[Tray]

I know they do a lot of other fund raising stuff as well, but not sure what all is involved. I know they invited me to go speak at a big fund raiser dinner they had, and it was great. I got to tell them the great story about how they saved a dog from near death, and allowed us to give him a loving home for the last year or so of his life. Without them helping pay for vet visits, and medication, I would never have been able to do that. I figured getting dressed up and giving an extremely emotional speech to help them raise money was the last thing I could do to try and help repay some of that.

[MMPC]

I like the idea very much, Matt, count me in. It's been my experience that donating time can be much more rewarding for both the charity and for the volunteers involved - plus it allows those with strict budgets to participate - so I'd look for something like that. People could always donate money too - I don't know of a charity that doesn't accept monetary contributions.

As for picking a charity, there are many worthwhile ones and I'll probably just go with the flow. One idea I had, however, is that instead of just picking one charity - we could initiate some sort of quarterly program (every 3 months we switch charities) to help out as many as possible - up to 4 per year. That also has the added benefit of possibly involving different RMFTC members - everyone can find one they'd like to support at one time or another.

Regarding ideas, I'd still love to see a "TEAM RMFTC" bike a few of the shorter charity rides this summer. I know I'll be doing at least the "Tour de Cure" (benefit for diabetes research) and "Moonlight Classic" (benefit for Seniors, Inc.) again. It could be a lot of fun, it's not that expensive to enter (usually about $30), it's only one day (or night) - and it's also great exercise! :)

[mattadams]

As far as Team RMFTC, I'm cool with that. I just can't afford to have the jerseys made up, LOL.
AS far as a rotating charity, also not a bad idea.

[mattadams]

I found this page at Maxfunds site, sounds like they have lots of opportunities for all kinds of interests, even if you don't like hanging out with the animals or working with animals they have other "administrative" things they are looking for volunteers on.
http://www.maxfund.org/Pages/Volunteer-Page/Volunteer.htm

[mattadams]

OK I see a lot of people are reading this but not a lot responding. Lets hear some input, eiher for or against it, or if you have other ideas, etc.

[Walking Eagle]

I've read the post, but I'm at work and would like to think more about it before I respond.

[Warrlord]

I could be up for something like this. The only charity things I've ever done were related to motrcycle rides & bowling events. This'll be different.

[Up2myLbowsNmud]

ok well, I would love to spend time at an animal shelter helping to walk dogs or whatever they need. I miss my pets so much since they live with my mom and I cant afford to have them here. Matt and I had talked about it super-briefly last fall, but i would be interested in actually making it happen. I would love to spend more time with animals and i have a decent amount of time on the weekends to do it.

Rotating charities? i think at this point it would be difficult to do that on an organized rotation, but i also think that when something comes up that is important to members i.e. avon's breast cancer walk or something like that where it may hit home for one of our members... i think we should let eachother know and possibly organize an event to group all of us together to support another charity's event. I guess it is sorta what chris was talking about with the biking. If something is going on and its important to ya, shout it out! I am always up for stuff like that (as long as its not a 50 mile ride up the mtns)

So chris, get on it and do a bit of organizing for this summer's rides that you want people to participate in! Im in for the moonlight, but i dont even really know anything about any of the others. And I am sure that many others would join in if it was formally anounced for members to participate in the name of RMFTC and information was provided in advance!

So my pick is an animal shelter to claim as "our charity of choice" but to definately get more involved with others that hit home with our members, or are maybe just fun for a free tshirt...

[rino351]

I like the fact that everyone is trying to get involved, but I think it would be very difficult for very many people to pitch in. I like the idea of charity, and I have participated in many charity events, but the whole rotating thing- I don't think that would work all that great.
Helping out a struggling pound or something like that would be pretty cool :thumbup: , and I would most likely go into something like that, and yeah, I like the bike idea too, but like I said, it would be pretty hard to have volunteers for a venue that some people may not like or what not.
It could be possible though, I've never doubted the human spirit. :D
I think you came up wiht a grand idea Matt :beer: , and I am liking the thoughts so far, but alot of planning is still needed from this point to make this happen.
I'm in. :D


I have probably contradicted myself a couple of times in this post, but I write as I think, and often times change my mind. We'll see what is to come. :wink:

Good Job!

[CNTRYCOWBOY]

I'm game for any sort of volunteer work. I used to volunteer a lot at soup kitchens and things like that. I'll read through this some more and post again with some more info.

[smoothengagement]

i like the idea, i love animals, and would be up to help. i just dont want to pick up dog poo! LOL. count me in

[cntrycowgirl]

I'm game! and I love the idea of helping an animal shelter. I can't promise I'll always be available, but I will sure try.

[fordnbikes]

Being a starving college kid ( not true because i am gaining weight through my college experience) and i work a lot with school and, well work i too will try to donate time or money or both. :lol:

[mattadams]

I know one of the advantages to a place like maxfund is we could do group events, etc. where everyone tries to get together to help, but people can also go in whenever they have some free time, help doing whatever they can do, and so forth, on their own free time.

[mattadams]

I was thinking about this last night while I was falling asleep. I thought about the "rotating charities" idea but as I thought about it, it might be more work then it's worth, to find charities, get established as a volunteering club, volunteer, and then quit in a few months to work on something else. I think i'd rather see something where we support one chairty predominately, and then as others come up that people would like to support, we can do our best to help them as well, and if the club decides at some point ot wholeheartedly support the other one, we can switch, but not have it on a set timeframe or anything. There is no reason we can only help one charity at a time, like was mentioned before, I'd love to have the club show up and do diabetes bike rides, breast cancer walks (I know many people affected by this particular one so I am in support of this as well), etc.

[smoothengagement]

im up for anything really, breastcancer and stuff would be awesome, i love the pet idea... you are our leader, decide what u would like to see the club do, and we will fallow

[mattadams]

yeah but if I pick something and very few people show up, it won't be a good charity for us. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink, right? :)

[Walking Eagle]

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink, right?

Not to take away from this thread, but I did a study on making horses drink. If you hold it's head under water, it will gulp for air and in the process drink water.


Back to the thread.

I say we go with the animal shelter.

[Tray]

Not to take away from this thread, but I did a study on making horses drink. If you hold it's head under water, it will gulp for air and in the process drink water.

Even if that's true, I doubt very many members could hold a horse down.

[smoothengagement]

I COULD!!!!!!!! :)

[Tray]

That very well may be true, but from the small portion of members I've seen/met, not a whole lot of them pack pounds that it'd take.

[Cricketbug]

I'm in for the charities and helping out. Another animal shelter we could look into is Cat Care Society in Lakewood. (http://www.catcaresociety.org/) Most of the time, they need volunteers to help play w/ the critters. I'll also talk to my vet to see what he knows about shelters and volunteering.

I know the MS walk is coming up - it's FREE to get in. The Avon breast cancer 3-day walk will happen sometime this summer in the Denver area. Just think - RMFTC-ers spending 3 days together. :knock: When I was younger, I used to fund-raise and bowl for the Jerry Lewis MD telathons. Also, the school I'm student teaching (Oberon Middle in Arvada) does a S.O.S. (Save Our Students) walk/run every fall.

If ya want, let me know and I can do some checking.

[Jcmichalik2]

This is definately be something I will take into consideration. Haven't really had any volunteering experience, but it's never too late to start.

I wonder, do any of the animal shelters deal with aviary animals (i.e. birds)? My real weakness is birds. I currently have a cockatiel named Terry, who I've had since I was 10 years old, and have had other cockatiels as well. I had all sorts of doves, raised a woodpecker, a crow, robins, sparrows, and a couple of pigeons, and a few parakeets. I enjoyed every one of them.

Don't get me wrong, I love dogs and cats as well. I used to have a pit bull (from when I was 2 until I was 16), and she was the biggest sweetheart to ever roam the planet (to me anyway), and my mom currently has 3 cats, of which I enjoy being around as well. Like I said, when it comes to birds, that's where I really melt, because I just loved birds ever since I first received Terry (which by the way, a neighbor found him, and gave him to us).

[Cricketbug]

This is definately be something I will take into consideration. Haven't really had any volunteering experience, but it's never too late to start.

I wonder, do any of the animal shelters deal with aviary animals (i.e. birds)? My real weakness is birds. ---snip---


Let me check to see about bird shelters. I'm such a bleeding heart. :)

On an aside note, would you possibly be interested in a Muloccan Cockatoo? In-laws need to find a new home for her - tame, hand-trained, about 19y/o we think, fully trained, etc. PM or e-mail me, I can give you more info.

Nikki

[mattadams]

Please read the following if you are interested: http://www.rmftc.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=905

[Ryan98]

I am deffentley in. HAve we ever tried to do like meals on wheels for the elderly around the winter time>>>>> :twisted:

[mattadams]

I know a few of us are still volunteering at MaxFund but some no longer are. That's ok, people get busy and stuff. If you are interested let me know, there is a volunteer orientation coming up This Saturday that you could attend (I'm one of the volunteer cooridnators so I know some of this crap, LOL).
As far as meals on wheels, hadn't really thought of it, but always thinking of ways to help out! :)

[Tiffster]

What time Matt? I know this could get me in a world of trouble, but if I can make it I would like to volunteer.

[mattadams]

The orientation on Saturday the 19th is at 9:30am.