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#1
10-07-2006, 07:12
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BMs Charity
Hi Guys,
I was recently asked by a friend and colleague in LOS who I trust implicitly to help out in a case where a young thai girl required an operation on her eyes so she could see again ..........Of course I helped out financially and to cut a long story short the young girl now has perfect eyesight.....I know this case to be genuine as I met her both before and after her operations....and I met her family who were very grateful and had me to their home for a meal...........a very joyous meal!!! I have also donated money for several other operations for Thai children and have also given my share for AIDS patients welfare/keeping in the country...... I am not after any compliments for this.......quite the opposite.......as I consider it to be my duty for all of the pleasure this country has given me over the 25 or so years I have been coming here This plus some recent posts have got me thinking that this board could actually make a diffrence in a small way to the lives of some deserving people in LOS........ I guess what I am talking about is a MTB Trust Fund...........which donates to worthwhile causes from time to time......... I haven't discussed this with Nicke as I am just putting this out to see if it appeals to BM's and if they would be interested in getting involved...... I was thinking perhaps we could have a donation box at MTB where whenever we visit.....perhaps on the first night of the tour.....we drop in say 500 or 1000BHT.......or whatever amount we try to agree upon........obviously no one is required to donate nor is their any fixed amount...just say a kind of amount you might be comfortable with.......and this could be then used to try to benefit someone who really needs it.......preferably Thai and requiring some help for medical or other worthy reasons.....but we could also possibly include BM's who have no health insurance who come off a bike or need urgent asistance or something similar....... Anyway I just thought I'd drop this in here to see if you guys think the idea has merit and to see what sort of amount you may be interested in donating on your visits to MTB...... I will discusss this with Nicke + some of the other local BMs when I am out next week......... Of course I also seek your opinions on how it could be best adminsitered and I immediately thought that BM's on the ground like Dodger, Duncan, LiL, Hobbsy and anyother local BM who might like to get involved as it wouldn't be fair to ask Nicke to do much more than offer a collection point........... I would love to hear your feedback on this one.... Many Thanks Nels.......
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 ....but of course I was verey verey draaank at the taaame!!!
Last edited by nelsonone : 10-07-2006 at 07:18. 
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#2
10-07-2006, 08:59
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Firstly I think a BM fund is a good thing.. I would support the idea.. However this was floated before and somewhow got bogged down in suggestions for legal incorporation, directors, etc etc etc Complexity killed it so KISS.
Secondly I would strongly dissagree with a charity fund being used to help BM's that use hospital services. Who would decide what is serious enough.. Who would decide of the BM could have afforded it or needed it.. Also more importantly why is it the ****wits in life who dont get insurance and dont take care and dont make plans for themselves in emergency situations should get the help and support of those that do plan and take care. You see this as an expat where some guys dont have anything in the way of cover or emergency funds and then something happens, the community has a whip round and everyone has to chip in and the person gets helped.. Then they continue on without emergency care or cover. Essentially they get thier medical insurance for free while others pay for both thier own cover and to help out the people who dont plan. I hope that doesnt sound too mean but people need to be responsible for their own actions. Part of the problem will be that whoever wishes to administer this will then have all kinds of justifications and other things to do.. Personal charity is one thing but public / group charity that doesnt have a specific goal gets more awkward. Anyway I am happy to contribute.. Theres orphanages, a womens HIV hospice, deserving causes all ight here on the Island. Also if the funds had no goal then Father Giovani is always in need of support.
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Men have only 2 emotional states, hungry and horny.. So ladies, if you see me without an erection, make me a sandwich.
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#3
10-07-2006, 09:04
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The last few hours i was reading a story in the thaivisa which has been linked in thread about the Aids infected Tg asking Frodeīs wife for help.Didnīt want to stay that long but this story hit me. Also the board did some donations to an organisation helping aids infected people. As not every BMīs is able to visit LOS many times a year their should be a way to give oneīs donation too. Maybe a thread where immediate help is required (like that one for blood donation i remember ) would be fine too.I think many BMīs would give a donation from time to time, me included.
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Never to old to make yourself a fool  Especially in LOS
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#4
10-07-2006, 09:10
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Agree with you LIL, BMīs spending their holidays in LOS should take care for themself.If you have the cash for booze and girls, then you should have for an insurance too,it costs less than a night out.
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Never to old to make yourself a fool Especially in LOS
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#5
10-07-2006, 09:30
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I agree with you both on the BMs not receiving funds for any reason guys.......but thought I should include it in the float to gauge other BM's opinions on whether they wanted to include this category
Didn't realise it had been bought up before LiL and that it got bogged down..... I was thinking that it would be good to be able to choose different charities based on merit and to have a few local BMs administer.........however I can understand that this can be difficult to administer.......... Another option we could consider then is a permanent box dedicated to ONE charity...........say father Giovanni........as he does great work...and has benefitted by some of my funds before (based on LiL's recommendations).......and I trust him.......and we could then make monthly or annual donations to him on behalf of the MTB BM's I would be disappointed to think that we couldn't make a difference somehow just because we couldn't find some concensus............
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....but of course I was verey verey draaank at the taaame!!!
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#6
10-07-2006, 10:11
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I think that the collection idea is good but collections should be short (one month ?) and the amount cleared.. of course one month collection each month may not be as much money or grab a headline but we are not doing this to get our picture in the paper are we. This means no one is having to sit on a large amount of money and its easier to be transparent.
A suggestion could be to have a standard charity that recieves the monthly money UNLESS as BM's we have decided to do a charity drive for a specific different cause.. That takes the headache about deciding who gets what away from the admins as its defined unless BM's have a proposal for this month and a drive for them. Getting money from overseas is a struggle.. Small money transfers cost large transfer fees.. Credit card movements cost money and a long clearance time.. Paypal is awkward about getting money out in Thailand.. E-Gold is not easy for most BM's.. AsianPay is one solution I already use and might be possible but will take a heathy % to do so.
__________________
Men have only 2 emotional states, hungry and horny.. So ladies, if you see me without an erection, make me a sandwich.
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#7
10-07-2006, 10:31
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Agreed with all of the above LiL..........
what would probably work best then is a collection box in MTB with a standard recipient/sponsored charity.........with the charity collecting say once a month or fortnight...... LiL has made a couple of suggestions above for likely chatities.......anyone else like to second one or more of those or add another.......????? All BM's should feel free to offer alternatives.....or to boo hiss the idea if you wish.....or anywhere in the middle if you prefer.......
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....but of course I was verey verey draaank at the taaame!!!
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#8
10-07-2006, 10:38
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A collection box is for sure a good idea but how will the oversea BMīs do it?I will visit LOS this year for sure but maybe not Phuket, no chance to give a donation into a box in MTB!! Maybe there is a way to transfer money easily. Sadly i am not an expert in that field.I just know western Union, which has very high fees, money which would be more usefull in the donation.But if someone doesnt bother the fees, why not?
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Never to old to make yourself a fool Especially in LOS
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#9
10-07-2006, 10:51
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Well I guess the service fees would be crushing on small amounts sharkey.......and unless we were sending say US$100 at a time the administration would be pretty difficult also......... It would be great to make it bigger than just a local collection box though if others have ideas on this????
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....but of course I was verey verey draaank at the taaame!!!
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#10
10-07-2006, 19:40
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This thread/idea you have started Nelson is full of merit in my eyes (pardon the pun)
Since this forum/site costs nothing to join...And the invaluable information that I have received from this forum, I'd only be too happy to drop a few $$ into a collection box at MTB to support a worthy cause for the local kiddies etc. For sure, we would need an expat bm with some time on their hands to liaise with Nicke & count up the $$ and get the $$ into the appropriate place/s. Nelson, since you brought up this suggestion, I would like to see you put forward a charity/s to which you feel the donated money could go towards. If things work out well, lets say for 12 mths?...Perhaps us fellow bm's in 12 mths time could cast a vote as to who/m the next worthy recipient/s may be? I'm all for the idea..........Nelson,you've definitely started something here, how bout getting things into 2nd gear ? & seeing how things pan out. 
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#11
10-07-2006, 19:57
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Good idea.... I was contemplating how to do this as i am not a regular traveler to LOS.... Money through the post is not going to happen... I would have said Paypal might be the best way with but obviously there will be some sort of charge... i think its something like 5% of the total amount so if we were to send for example 500 baht we weould have to do 500 baht + the extra (that was just an example) Its a good idea so count me in if we can get this up and running
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Life is like a box of chocolates..... you go to Thailand and get greedy 
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#12
11-07-2006, 00:16
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I think its a good idea,provided there is a BM in Phuket who can administer this. I know all it takes is a box on the bar,emptied regularily and counted out by Nicke and administrator and delivered to said cause. It should be easy and I'd certainly throw in some baht on my next visit.
I don't want to put a damper on this idea,but remember all those plans for collections/donations after the tsunami that came to nothing. These ideas are great but have to be taken forward by someone. I'd be happy to contribute to any particular worthy cause provided it went to local thai people who really need it.
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I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my Granddad Not screaming in fear like his passengers
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#13
11-07-2006, 01:18
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Just an idea and not sure if it would be easy to handle, but maybe some accounts outside thailand could be opened (lets say i.e. europe, asia, america) and later to be transfered for special cases when there is enough cash on it.Are there any banker among our BMīs who can say how far bankīs support this (bank account etc.)) ?
__________________
Never to old to make yourself a fool Especially in LOS
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#14
11-07-2006, 02:16
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Thats always going to be the problem... Talking about it is good but really we need a plan of action... We have such a good time in Thailand when we are there that returning something back to those in need in a country we love dear is great.... C'mon lads lets get this going...
__________________
Life is like a box of chocolates..... you go to Thailand and get greedy
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#15
11-07-2006, 02:37
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sorry to break in guys,but I never miss meeting like this.I have been supporting a kid in brazil for 2 years <food,education ,cares ,and stuff like that>I will be glad to join you guys,western union,suits me fine,though any other way <bank account number,post office or whatever,will be ok as well.
nelson I agre with what livinginlos says<no bm's, only thais> best if kids. give it a start I rely on you. sammy
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MADE IN ITALY...NAH  btw. that guy is a twat 
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#16
11-07-2006, 02:39
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a bank account overseas is not the best idea imho. what if something happens to the BM in charge of the account?it wouldn't be a problem to open an account here in switzerland but for foreign people not living in switzerland it would be difficult to get access to the account so if anything would happen to me then it would be almost impossible to get the money back. maybe the expat BM's could open an account together in los? the account-number could be published on the board and BM's could make donations via internet-banking. i'm not sure about the transaction-charges for those donations. i think it's a great idea and would be more than happy to contribute.
iltis
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#17
11-07-2006, 02:50
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I agree a foreign bank account could cause some problems... Would it possiable to open a bank account in los under a charity name or would the be classified buisness? Maybe 2 signatures needed to do withdraws... As i wouldnt think a withdraw would happen on a regular basis 2 people could easily arrange to do this.... A paypal account would also be handy if possiable to do have one in Thailand...
These are just theoretical ideas... But hey at least a start 
__________________
Life is like a box of chocolates..... you go to Thailand and get greedy
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#18
11-07-2006, 03:03
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This was my question if Bankīs give special accounts to charity organisationīs for example.Transactions could always been made by internet banking, so if something happens to the BM, but i didnt said it should be opened to an BMīs name, more a charity organisation.
__________________
Never to old to make yourself a fool Especially in LOS
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#20
11-07-2006, 03:08
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agree with you there. the less complicated it is the more people are going to join. i think yours is a good idea 'cause there are allways BM's around to give a donation at the bar
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#21
11-07-2006, 03:27
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I would gladly drop some cash in a charity box when visiting MTB , I usually get "stung" for something from the Hash crowd most trips.
 Over the years the Hash has had various collections for local "good causes" , from the Tsunami to a new roof for the local school. Most of the time it is the "minor" charities that need a helping hand , and it is usually not a great sum of money that is required , but it can really help. Some of you may remember that during my last trip Gollum got "scalped" , that is the third time he's ended up bald for charity . A few thousand Baht , given to a worthy cause can make a real difference. I can't really help with any of the organisation , but would support you all the way Nelson.
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Member of Phuket Hash House Harriers
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