bertram31.com

Mikey, I thought the same thing as you when I saw the post "that time again". Just as annual maintenance rolls around every year as " 1962-31" posted, so does our opportunity to support this great site; so let's wish Capt. Patrick a Happy New Year! Uncle Vic usually posted his "support" post in the fall, but we have yet to find someone who can step into his shoes. Since neither Mikey nor I can say it like Uncle Vic, I have taken the honor to repost his last fundraising blog, so here it is in Uncle Vic's own words:

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Faithful - I write to insure that we all are aware that this site - our beloved "sandbox" - is a totally non-commercial labor of love conceived, owned, and operated by Capt. Patrick McCrary for our benefit and pleasure. It is only suppored by our donations to him. There is no advertising revenue, no dues, or other sources of income to support our site.

Patrick would never ask any of us for money - he's just not that kind of guy. But he's now retired and pretty much just lives on social security. He bears the expense of operating this site out of his own pocket. Many of us have financially supported the site over the past eleven years but there are a lot of new Faithful here now that may not realize that our donations are critical to this site reemaining open and free.

Each and every one of us that frequents this sandbox is morally obligated to send Patrick some money to support the site. Its as simple as that - the value we all get , both financially in huge savings of avoiding screw-ups, and the pure laughs DEMANDS that we put our money where our keyboard is.

Just sit down and write a check payable to "Patrick McCrary" and mail it - how about including a note from you thanking him for what he does for us? - to him at 834 Scott Dr., Llano, TX 78643....or stuff some green money in an envelope and send it. No credit cards, no PayPal, its not a commercial venture. Many of us send $100 or more, but anything will help.

Again, its our moral obligation to support the sandbox. So do it, and do it right now so you can participate here with a clear conscience.

Uncle Vic
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Mail Checks to:

Capt. Patrick McCrary
834 Scott Drive
Llano, TX 78643

Sent yesterday! Will send some more in a few weeks.

Thanks Capt. Pat!!!!!

No guys, THANK YOU!!

Your 2014 support was truly great and we hit our goal by the end of August and exceeded by $1,400 through the rest of the year!

We are in our 15th year online now, hopefully, with your generous help we'll continue on for another 10 years to rival the 25 years the the B31 was into production...

Thank you again Guys...

Several of you donated in mid to late December and I will make up a 2015 Donor's Group and include those donors in the new group...

The very best regards to those of who made this year a success,

Patrick

Mine went out with today's mail......many thanks Capt Pat.

Happy New Year to all....

Ray

I sure have tried! But that being said, what matters is helping out!

I will sure as heck donate.

Patrick has never failed to answer the phone, call back or help out in any way with whatever he can. He has NEVER FAILED.

Its the least I can do!

Tommy,
Thanks for picking up the torch and running with it. Uncle Vic always said it best.
Here's to a great 2015!

I am in as always

If anybody hasn't sent their check yet and they have a Paypal account please PM me...

I'm out of checks and moving in a couple of months (so I'm not getting any new ones)... Don't know where I'm moving yet so no new address yet...

If I send you my donation by Paypal (gift - i.e. costs on me) you can add it to your check...

sent

Nav, set it up as a bill pay. Works at my bank, BOA.

Joseph Fikentscher wrote:Nav, set it up as a bill pay. Works at my bank, BOA.

Mine's a business account... Bill pay would cost money to set up...

I pay all my stuff by direct debit, CC or Paypal... I have very little use for checks...

Nav,
How about a counter check?

Mikey wrote:How about a counter check?

A money order would be my last resort... Go to the bank, stand in line, go back to the office, address envelop, go buy a stamp, drop envelop in mail... If I can tag onto somebody's check it will be much easier...

Geeze, Nav, if it's such a pain in your ass to help support the site, just don't worry about contributing. Those who really care will pick up your slack.

Same irascible Patrick. If you hadn't said it I would have.

If it's that much of a pain, Nav, let me know what you intended to send and I'll send it and you can pay me when you get moved.

Mikey you just taught us a new word thanks,capt pat I will see you at the 2015 Rendezvous and thanks for doing what ya do

The technicality of it WOULD be a PITA... That doesn't mean that it's such a bad idea to see if I can find an easier way...

Or is doing things an easy way such a bad idea around here?!...

Oh, and BTW, I'm pretty sure my last donation wasn't the biggest but I'm pretty sure it wasn't that shabby either...

Phew... Some people do have long toes...

Pat CHECK will go out Monday. thanks again for all of your help over the many years. We could start a fund drive for nav....Russ

I'm in. Thanks Capt. Patrick for the site and all the help, and thanks to all on the site. Its such a great place.

Russ Pagels wrote:We could start a fund drive for nav....

What makes you think I need a fund drive?!... The technicality of the donation is a PITA for me right now... And therefore I tried to make an arrangement that would make it easier... What's the harm in that?!... If you want to do something really useful, get the Capt. on Paypal... There are no costs involved and it's simple enough... Paypal would also make it easier for overseas members (and there are a few of those) to donate...

Paypal would also make it easier for overseas members (and there are a few of those) to donate

As a matter of fact, this is correct. I also become a burden to fellow members every November-December for my contribution.
I cannot offer advice as to how this can be overcome, but in my humble opinion if Paypal is the solution, then I'd go for it.
Thank you.

If anyone needs to donate thru PayPal, send it to my PayPal address and post it in this thread. What ever comes in I will forward by check to Capt Pat.

Thanks

Ray. Rawicklund@aol.com

My check is in the mail, Yannis if and when you (or anyone else) want me to help with my paypal I'm glad too accept and forward...

RAWicklund wrote:If anyone needs to donate thru PayPal, send it to my PayPal address and post it in this thread. What ever comes in I will forward by check to Capt Pat.

Thanks

Ray. Rawicklund@aol.com

Thanks Ray,

I assume Rawicklund@aol.com is your Paypal address?!...

I assume Rawicklund@aol.com is your Paypal address?!...

Yep

All's well that ends well in the sandbox. Don't know the logistics of Capt. Pat joining Paypal. If someone could help Patrick with that and there is no cost, swell. Problem solved and many helped.

Thanx Pete, for all your help.

RAWicklund wrote:Yep

Thanks Ray,

The donation has been Paypalled (as a gift - i.e. cost are for my account).

Thanks for helping out.

Mikey wrote:All's well that ends well in the sandbox.

True enough... Having said that, long toes are superfluous and gratuitous insults were uncalled for!...

And once again, thanks to Ray for helping out and thanks to Peter too for offering his help...

Navatech wrote: True enough... Having said that, long toes are superfluous and gratuitous insults were uncalled for!...

Navatech, A quick read and it looks like you got a good sandbox ribbing, far from an insult.


My buddy was new to our dock years ago, his first offshore trip with us we didn't know him well enough too whack him with a fish coming over the side (by mistake of course). He told his wife he didn't think we liked him as we didn't hit him with a fish...that came back to us before another trip.

Guess who came back to the dock smelling more like a fish then the ones in the coolers...guess who also had the biggest grin.


Not sure if that story was relevant or if required...but I wanted to sit a few minutes before getting back to work....

CArl

Nav, I didn't what to get your panties in a bunch, just the old sand box ribbing. you have a nice day...Russ

Carl wrote:A quick read and it looks like you got a good sandbox ribbing, far from an insult.

And:

Russ Pagels wrote:Nav, I didn't what to get your panties in a bunch, just the old sand box ribbing.

You may call it a "good sandbox ribbing" but I find implications that I'm a slacker or in need of a fund drive quite insulting!...

But, as has been said above, all that ends well is good... Water under the bridge and all that...

Having said that, if I'm ever in Capt. Pat's neighborhood I'll make certain to pay him a visit (if he'll have me)... I'll be bringing a bottle of his favorite poison (one of the fringe benefits of frequent travel is the duty free store) and I'll help him set up the Paypal thing...

P.S. I now consider this matter closed... Everybody have a great day!...

Where is the leader of the mean team when we need himn

P.S. I now consider this matter closed... Everybody have a great day!...

It ain't closed till I say it's closed.......wink, wink ,smiley face

Nobody gets and appreciates the sarcasm ......... Except Carl.......Carl loves the sarcasm....

With that said Nav, I got your transfer to my PayPal account..... Heading to the post office right now to send it off.

Ray

Neil he's probably doing his best Jerry Tarkanian and chewing on a towel!

It's not that capt pat isn't capable of setting up a paypal account, he just doesn't want one.

After watching this from afar, I think this is best closed out and lets get down to the business at hand.

Mike,

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!

Dug

Check being cut and will go out this week.

Count me in as well..the least I can do..Thank You Capt Pat!!BH

There are 1137 members on the list. If each sent $25 (I know we all can afford that!), the Captain would be set. Cover his expenses and then some.

Joseph,

A grand thought for sure, but one that only works on paper unfortunately...

The reality of it though is of that 1137 members only 100 or so are actually active and about half of those are site supporters.

When it comes to volunteers for anything only 1% to 5% of the total work force carry the load.

Capt.

Oh well, worth a shot. I will send more in a few weeks.

Regards,

Joe

CaptPatrick wrote:The reality of it though is of that 1137 members only 100 or so are actually active and about half of those are site supporters.

They say that the road to hell is paved with good intentions... I could have waited until I had checks (several months into the future) and made my donation then... But, quite likely, human nature being what it is, I might have just as easily forgotten my good intentions by then...

Frankly, I think that you could alleviate that by making it easier to make the donation... And, for many of us, there's nothing easier then making a couple of keyboard strokes and effect a Paypal gift payment...

I would say, give it a chance... It might even prompt some of the inactive members to make a small donation...

Navatech wrote:
They say that the road to hell is paved with good intentions... I could have waited until I had checks (several months into the future) and made my donation then... But, quite likely, human nature being what it is, I might have just as easily forgotten my good intentions by then...

Frankly, I think that you could alleviate that by making it easier to make the donation... And, for many of us, there's nothing easier then making a couple of keyboard strokes and effect a Paypal gift payment...

I would say, give it a chance... It might even prompt some of the inactive members to make a small donation...

I know this has been gone over more then a few times and I know Capt Patrick that you have your reasons...but Navatech makes an excellent point...strike while the iron is hot and keep it quick and simple to donate.

I told my wife I wanted to send a check last week. Okay, remind me later and I'll look for checkbook was the response. You now how many times we have reminded each other about sending the check and checkbook has yet to be pulled. If I was one who was on the fence about sending it...a check would never be sent.

Whatever the case, you'll get my check, you'll get Navatechs funds and most of the others that always seem to donate...but it would be nice if you could find a way to increase the percentage of contributors.

In the end...whatever works for you, works for me.

Carl

CaptPatrick wrote:When it comes to volunteers for anything only 1% to 5% of the total work force carry the load.

Isn't that the way it works in the world?

If only the '99%' could figure that out.

Atlas Shrugged

I started lurking around this site before it was Bertram 31.com. Then I lurked for while when it became the Bertram site. I remember how active it was then I jumped in. unfortunately, when I started lurking I was probably in my 40;s and now I am 64. Well a lot of the active memebers back then were already up there and now they are no longer around.

Hopefully the younger guys will keep the board alive. Unfortunatley, we have not done any succession planning. Donations are part of it, the next part ensuring the legacy that the Capt. built continues. If we can't keep funding it then we would have to resort to adds. There was a time this board was active enough for that. Now I doubt we could get sponsors, unless we manage to get more members. I think the economy has a lot to do with it.

Not too many people jumping into rebuilds these days. But hopefully those days will come around again. In the mean time, lets not fight over who gives and doesn't give. Lets keep this board going and make it so members want to donate, because it is a great place to be.

I'm in....

Check will go out this week...

Ray

What about one of the gofundme type websites??

Never mind looks like the gofundme charges 8%