Spyderco pass around retirement fund

[Yog]

On another thread Ross has just raised a timely point, what to do with the Spyderco pass around knives once they have done the rounds ?
Although the Military and Dodo have quite a while to go, the Pride only has about a week.

Sal has suggested we raffle them off and give the proceeds to charity. Sounds good to me.

This raises a few questions that I would like to throw open to debate.

1) Is a raffle a good idea ?

2) Would you be prepared to support it ? (they would make good presents if nothing else).

3) Should any raffle be limited to just those that took part in the pass around, or open it up to everybody ? The temptation is to limit it, but we could raise more money for charity if it was more open.

4) How much would be a fair price for an entrance fee to the raffle ? Fixed percentage of the knife ? Cost of the knife divided by the number of people who enter ? Other ?

5) How do we collect the money ? At a pinch I would do it, but money isn't my forte.

6) Where the knife was one of the cheeper ones, or didn't have so much interest, should the money be passed on right away, or accumilated to a decient amount ?

I'm not worried about picking a winner, I'm sure we can easilly reach an agreement on that, something to do with lottery numbers probably.

Personally I think this is a good idea and would even be prepared to partake even for the knives I already have (which seems to be most of them lap: ), heck, I know I should give to good causes more often, and this way seems like a good way to aswage my guilt . But I do understand if this wasn't everybodies cup of tea.

Let the debate begin.
:240:

[stonehard]

Running the raffle is a tough one. I suggest that you use counters with players names written on them and put in a bag. This way no tickets are involved. (bit like the footy)
You have to decide between current pass arround members if you want to broadcast the raffle or keep it between themselves.
How ever a grand draw at the end of the year would be good. This would be accompanied much the same way as the KITH. all players donate a fixed sum to partake in each passaround. This of course would be equal to the number of people divided my the cost of the knives or knife in that passaround. Thus allowing you to buy knives of a higher value and also keep them for the grand draw. This also allows you to get a good chance of winning somthing.

I dont know how many knives are passing as we speak (looks out of window and sees 49 bus) but you could retrospectively pay for these between your selves or as they are donated a small fee would do.
but imagine what you could buy if 50 members paid £10. Of course if you get free samples or at cost then thats extra profit.

As for charity my two are Medicine Sans Frontiers (crap spelling)
this is doctors with out borders. They go to places like Ruwanda to look after sick and wounded people for no pay. (Bit like ER last month )Somtimes very risky but worth while.

The other is this site. Being new I cant see how it is funded as bandwidth costs money. but an income would help I'm sure. not knowing who really is who ( somone might tell me ) I'm sure there are lots of plans that are limited to finance. So an income might be benificial to the site.

[ZDP-189]

Don't recommend a raffle, as it is difficult to manage and you may get regulatory problems.

I suggest you run a simple auction on BB for a week. Post a price, then let everyone else bid too. No complicated eBay-like rules and hidden proxies - what you bid is what you pay. Biggest number gets the knife; postage on top of that.

MSF and Amnesty are my two favourite charities, because they help people in dire need without regards to political or religious considerations.

[ugug]

hey

how about Yog gets to keep a couple of the knives for putting in all the hard work of organising the damn thing?

ugug

[Danzo]

hey

how about Yog gets to keep a couple of the knives for putting in all the hard work of organising the damn thing?

ugug

Or all participants chuck in a couple of quid to the charity and THEN we give Yog one (ooh er.... )

Danzo

[Ophidian]

Well unless you want to give me the military to run a side-by-side comparison test with my SERE……

I say give Yog some of these knives for all his hard work. Maybe he can do a long term test report (say after 12 months hard use)….. And if he is keeper of these blades we know where to source one in the future if a new member would like to try before he or she buys.

[boaty]

And if he is keeper of these blades we know where to source one in the future if a new member would like to try before he or she buys.

Now that's a stroke of genius - the BritishBlades library of knives.

Don't all fight over who's to become the librarian wordfigh

[Cool]

hey

how about Yog gets to keep a couple of the knives for putting in all the hard work of organising the damn thing?

ugug

Yog should definitely get something. All of them is cool by me.

[Yog]

Whoohaa !
Let's not get hastey here, I'm getting quite a kick out of just experiencing these knives :wink:

How about for a while we just chuck different ideas into the virtual hat ?

Here's a new one.
Limited to just those who partook in the pass around, a raffle with no entry fee, the winner agrees to make a donation to charity (or if money is short some significant good deed), the details need not be posted.
There's no one here I wouldn't trust to do the right thing if they won.

P.s.
Thank's for the thought guys, much appreciated

[PS_Bond]

Can I offset against previous good deeds? Oh blast, already spent the feelgood factor on those, nuts...

[Alick]

Stamping down greedy thoughts... We should match Sal's generousity and open this to everyone, not just the people who joined in the passround. That should be benefit the charity the most. If plenty of people join in, a raffle could raise more than an auction is likely to. Q is will enough people participate ?
My 2p worth. Alick

PS Sorry Yog. I think you deserve one too

[ZDP-189]

From his comments, I believe Sal's wishes were to riase money for charity.