I’m mailing a check to MARC tomorrow, an d I wanted to ask you all- now that MARC is established, do you think it is time to move on and find another struggling pet rescue and get them up and running?
Also, is anyone familiar with the workings of CafePress? I would like to update the store with Steve and Thurston swag.
Also, has anyone who paid NOT received their calendar?
schrodingers_cat
How about donating to SPLC or another organization working tirelessly for immigrants’ rights.
David Anderson
I have not received my calendar
cain
Slightly off topic, but today is “Love Your Pet Day”. Perhaps we might see some pics of the critters and an old pic of Tunch?
schrodingers_cat
@cain: Seconded.
Cephalus Max
Not what you are asking, but I *did* receive my calendar.
As far as pet organizations go, I like the idea of switching to a struggling one periodically.
narya
I have not received my calendar, but mail delivery last week was . . . sporadic with the snow. If I don’t get it by the end of the week, I’ll email you separately.
Miss Bianca
Love the thought, JC, but in my experience no non-profit ever gets to the point where they don’t need charitable donations, whether they’re struggling or not. If this charity resonates with you, no reason to jettison it. Just have to organize *another* charity drive product for the new pet rescue! >: >
Another Scott
No calendars for me yet. :-( I ordered two.
But no big deal if you sent them and they got lost. Glad to support the cause.
Cheers,
Scott.
geg6
I’m all for finding another struggling pet rescue to support. Schrodingers Cat’s heart is in the right place, but we raise funds for political organizations all the time. I am against taking away the most pet-centric fund raiser we have here on BJ away from the animals that inspired it.
Or maybe we could put the calendar money into a fund for pet blegs for those here who may need it throughout the year. We always have someone who has a pet health issue they can’t afford or is trying to transport a rescue and this could cover those instances.
jeffreyw
Mrs J says MARC needs the money more than her outfit, but if you need to change just for the hell of it St Francis will accept any help offered.
The Golux
MARC? The Meat Animal Research Center? The Mankato Area Radio Club?
laura
I have not received my calendar, and in was thrown by the po box/street address and so defaulted to the home address.
Aleta
First want to recommend the notebooks for sale, graced by Rosie Lily Tunch and the awfully cute (sp) Little Bit (I forget his name).
Because (I think) you personally know MARC’s quality of work and integrity, that makes it a good choice. (Unless they can only accept up to a certain amount in donations, before bumping up to another level of paperwork, which they don’t want to be at.).
In that case, I’d go with their suggestions of where money is needed. They might likely know about the ups and downs of different orgs, including those who’ve suddenly changed in management.
Maybe a donation (amount stays constant) to marc, and then send a check for what remains to a different place. Somewhere they suggest, or a place that does flood rescue and transport.
jacy
I’ve used Cafe Press to print stuff for gifts and for the kids’ school groups, so I’m familiar with the workings — shoot me an email if I can be of help.
HRA
I agree with finding another pet rescue in need.
Alain the site fixer
I paid late and haven’t yet received my calendar!
Mary G
I paid late and haven’t yet received my calendar!
Aleta
About post office delays. Right now the PO is being forced to privatize transport. Some places have already done it, as test regions (it went badly). All regions are being made to change over as we speak. (Some chaos.)
A lot of pressure is on employees at processing plants. It’s not the employees fault though. All of the local people who contracted with the po to transport mail to individual pos are being let go. They can rebid, but to out of state companies who set the terms, w/o knowing the region.
I believe you can call your closest processing center to report a problem. At least around here that gets immediate action. But things are changing.
Imo the Rs are systematically breaking the unions and breaking apart a valuable system (that’s in the US Constitution). Especially for rural areas.
schrodingers_cat
@Aleta: They want to sell America to the highest bidders just like they did to American corporations.
rikyrah
The calendar is cute.
Thanks, Cole. :)
PS-I guess it would be nice if you found a fledgling organization to support.
rikyrah
@Aleta:
this is a good idea.
stinger
I don’t disagree with Aleta @18, but would add that a mail carrier was killed near Dallas yesterday, and any undelivered mail inside the truck he was driving is probably being held. If your calendar was in that truck, no telling when you might get it.
debit
@geg6: I also like the idea of find another struggling group. (I donate to Vet Ranch/The Abandoned Pet Project, but they are hardly struggling. They grab animals about to be euthanized and provide medical care until they are fully recovered.)
I also like your second idea of having a fund for BJ pets/rescues in need.
Another option might be a senior specific rescue. They often focus more on long term/end of life care rather than adoption. I imagine the vet bills can get up there.
J R in WV
I agree that we shouldn’t stop supporting the current shelter, but perhaps branch out to another one in more of a start-up position, needing a lift?
I contribute to political causes all the time, I help pet rescue here at Balloon Juice!
Thanks again John for giving us all a chance to do a good thing for lost pets!!
Ann Marie
I haven’t received my calendar yet, but mail to my office is ridiculously slow, so I am not concerned. Any animal charity is fine with me.
Ohio Mom
@Aleta: Those ratfinks have so many reasons to want to break the USPO it’s hard to pick just one: yes, break a union, yes, privatize, but also there’s that big pot of pension money they want to get their hands on. Made bigger by that relatively new law that the fund be prefunded for something like 75 years. This is one of their long-term projects.
The Post Office has always been a big employer of monorities — hurting that community is gravy to them.
And then there is the much more subtle effect. The mail is the most private way we have to communicate with one another over long distances. I hate to see that weakened.
Miss Bianca
@debit:
The Walter Fund!
something fabulous
I actually got two, and only ordered one! Sent you a note to that effect to the calendar-specific email when I got ’em. Just occurred to me though you probably don’t look at that one anymore! Will send as well to your regular email just in case. Want to make sure there’s enough for those who didn’t get theirs!
MomSense
@Miss Bianca:
I love that idea!
debit
@Miss Bianca: I love the idea of having money donated in Walter’s memory! This is another place I’ve donated to. The Sanctuary for Senior Dogs.
schrodingers_cat
BTW the tired old argument, how T voters are just poor widdle things and coastal elites are big meanies is coming soon to all prestige media outlets near you. Mousy Tiger mom (chuha == mouse in Hindi ) has a new book out. Apparently, she is charlatan hillbilly Vance’s teacher and mentor. There is an op-ed by her in this morning’s Vichy Times, tut tutting tribalism by are you guys sitting down, “both sides”.
Manyakitty
@debit: I remember we talked about that when Walter left. It’s a great idea!
jackmac
Before you close the books on the 2018 calendar, I’d like to repeat earlier an compliment on how great it looked. As someone who has worked in publication design, I know this had to be a monumental task — especially formatting, sizing and placing all those photos. Nicely done!
JPL
@debit: I love the idea for senior dogs, and once again I can’t say enough about your care for Walter. He was a happy camper probably for the first time in his life.
debit
@JPL: He was the sweetest, gentlest dog I’ve ever known. I miss him every day.
p.a.
Maybe a calendar of ‘On the Road’ photos?
Aleta
@Ohio Mom:
Last I heard (couple years ago) Congress did not know/could not tell the Post Office where that money is, when asked directly.
The PO hired vets preferentially. Hired many vets returning from Iraq and Afgh. They’ve been a good employer in places without local jobs. Letter carriers are known to keep an eye on older people, sometimes call for medical assistance.
The Republicans are destroying and badmouthing a well organized distribution system that hired local workers for good wage, most of whom who cared about speed, finding lost stuff, and the community.
In 1980 when one of the Koch Bros ran as VP on the Libertarian ticket, he outlined his goals. One was privatizing the post office. (I think I saw the entire 1980 list on Bernie Sanders’ campaign website — may be a clue to what else is underway.)
laura
@laura: I have a calendar! Everyone’s boon companion is the best/good lookin/lucky/irreplaceable.
AND so many good ideas for the excess fundage. I love the Walter fund because that salty faced guy broke my heart from discovery through final lap.
You’re all such good people. I’m glad to have a little spot to see you all in the ethersphere.
Aleta
@debit: Senior dog fund is a great idea. One of the issues one thinks about when adopting a sr cat or dog is what costs may come up in the near future medically.
BruceFromOhio
Calendars are awesome. Staying with MARC or moving to another cause is fine, so long as it is pet-focused. Use your judgement, please, you’ve done a swell job to date.
WaterGirl
@J R in WV:
I agree with both of these suggestions.
Tata
Noah’s Arks Rescue takes sick and injured dogs, often dogfighting victims, and rehabilitates them, often at the rescuers’ expense. They struggle. Sadly, I imagine they’re not alone.