getting camera to Joe, surplus funds

[raid]

If 100 people pay each month $5 each, we have $500 ready to go. If Joe's money should be spent on Joe, this is certainly propoer and fine, but we could start from scratch a monthly lottery.

 

[Bryan Lee]

With total respect for Frank as it was his original idea I would say no amount of money is to much to have a afternoon in San Francisco or L.A. with a new camera when youre freezing you yinyangs off in Canada in the middle of winter. We dont even know if Joe has time but who knows he might have a week to burn or he might just be busy. I spent a few winters alone up the Yukon river in Alaska so thats where im coming from with my thinking on the subject. I think we would all love to see pictures of Joe in California taking pictures with his new camera and in a way it would be a holiday for all of us even those stuck in the snow unlike myself whos sweated off a kilo in 100f degree heat all day. Again with total respect to Frank, as Joe knows all about this stuff by now maybe we could just ask him if he wants to fly down or if he even has the time.

 

[jlw]

There's thousands of people here. Somebody *must* live in the same city and can meet up in a coffee shop?

Let's hope none of those thousands of people are Canadian customs agents!

 

[bobofish]

Absolutely a hood, as for the case it will certainly be something he will like....people can be pretty picky about their cases.

I like the plane ticket idea, if Joe's up for the trip...a nice weekend...some sun.....a new camera.....

Things like little accessories are valuable gifts, but can sometimes be a little ho-hum compared to something like a camera....

Potentially, we could leave some of the funds in a future "for Joe" fund, just as little rewards throughout the year; film, filters, etc.

Edit: Forgot to mention that the Luigi Case idea is a fantastic one....Maybe Luigi's even willing to cut a deal. The case would of course have to be personalized, and maybe even have a little RFF graphic.

And the lottery idea is fantastic...has me drooling already. (I never win the lottery though, alas...)

 

[FrankS]

No offence taken whatsoever, Bryan. I'll simply ask Joe.

 

[Bryan Lee]

I'll ask Joe. Thanks for the details, Bryan!

Thanks Frank, I was typing while you were posting and in the end I have total faith you will figure out the details on all this and in the end well all be happy. This is about doing something good for a good guy and it couldnt have come at a better time after a few of us have been grouchy and suffering from cabin fever lately.

THANKS FRANK ​

 

[jlw]

Hire a green-eyed redhead to deliver the camera and spend the night? (Sorry, inappropriate)

I'm sure you meant a red-haired, green-eyed security guard named Mike O'Malley, who'd be ideally qualified for transporting valuable items. What's inappropriate about that?

 

[oftheherd]

I'd vote for a lens hood.. the rest donated to RFF.. I think buying a plane ticket is a nice thought, but a bit too much.. it might be inconvenient for Joe, and we don't need to make him go that far out of his way for something he didn't ask for

I agree. Plus, for some reason, I specifically remember Joe once mentioning in another thread how when he buys something in the States, he always stops at Customs on his return and pays his duties. That's good. One of the things we depend on here is Joe's integrity. Wouldn't want to sully it now.

 

[ch1]

Let's not forget that the SF area gets lots of rain in Jan/Feb.

Joe may wind up with "soggy skies" if he goes - but I agree it's really up to him.

Just keep in mind the sales taxes are going to come close to USD 200 if he "buys" it in Calif.

 

[peterc]

I vote for getting camera, lens and hood for Joe. Surplus to RFF (since I'm sure it isn't free to operate). Buy it in Joe's name (that will avoid Calif. taxes), ship to Trius for spiriting across the border and ship "next day" delivery to Joe.

Peter

 

[oftheherd]

I suggest the following:

Use the surplus fund to start a new concepts here. A lottery in which one person each month gets a lens or camera and only people paying into this fund are eligible. use the surplus to start this fund.

Wow, sounds like a Korean Keh. 😀

For those who don't know, Korean women often enter into a keh, where all contribute a certain agreed upon amount for the number of months that there are members. Each month a different woman gets all the money. Works out well as long as all continue to contribute for all the agreed upon months. Of course, stores are rife about the first one or few not continuing to contribute. 😡 😀

Not that it would happen here of course. :angel:

 

[jlw]

If 100 people pay each month $5 each, we have $500 ready to go. If Joe's money should be spent on Joe, this is certainly propoer and fine, but we could start from scratch a monthly lottery.

I STRONGLY suggest you consult state laws before you start using RFF to advertise a lottery!! (Don't ask; it was a long time ago, but I found out about this the hard way. Let's just say that in most states, attorney general is an elective office, so they're not exactly adverse to publicity for busting out-of-state "gambling" operations.)

I also was struck by the similarity to the idea of a keh. The way I've read about it is that a group of families agrees to get together once a week for a potluck dinner. At the dinner, each chips in a set amount -- say, $20. Then they have a drawing, and whosever name is drawn gets the money.

What makes this different from a lottery is that once you've won, you're no longer eligible next time -- so eventually, everyone will win the pot once (you're honor-bound to stay in the group and keep contributing after you win.)

In mathematical terms, this means that the money you get out eventually is exactly equal to what you put in, so you're not actually gaining anything compared to what you'd get by socking away your own $20 every week for a year -- it's really a savings plan rather than a game of chance (thus avoiding legal problems.) Still, not everyone has the willpower to save $20 a week and leave it untouched for a year -- but in the dinner-game setting, you've got a social incentive to stick with the program, and every week you get to see somebody walk out with $1,040 (assuming it's a year-long cycle) knowing that sooner or later, that somebody is going to be you.

I'm not volunteering to set this up (it really works better in person) but there it is as an idea...

 

[Gid]

Camera, lens and hood sounds good to me, with the rest to RFF. Out of interest, how much would the Canadian duty be if it was done legit? Or is Canadian customs delays the issue?

Gid

 

[VinceC]

Out of curiosity, how much IS Canadian customs on a gift of this value? Shouldn't the generous member contibutions also go toward ensuring Joe has a legal, ethically procured camera? Or should he spend the rest of his life wondering if the tax authorities are going to catch up with him? Just a thought.

 

[dcsang]

Alright, enough revelling, let's keep this going to completion!

There are 2 issues to deal with at present: how to get the camera to Joe, and what to do with surplus funds and contributions that will continue to come in (mailed MO's and such).

The last is easiest to deal with first. Either we buy film and accessories to go with Joe's camera, or the surplus is directed towards the RFF site. I favour the latter. What do you guys think?

Now, how to get the camera to Joe? Any ideas?

I vote for the extra funds to go to the site.
As for the camera to Joe.. well.. seeing as how he's wayyyyyyyyyyy up there (points North of Calgary) .. how about we get a dogsled to deliver it to him 😀

Dave

 

[JoeFriday]

how about we get a dogsled to deliver it to him 😀

it's gotta be quicker than the postal service

 

[dcsang]

it's gotta be quicker than the postal service

Well.. I know we've got a remote office up there (emphasis on the word "remote" 😀) but I don't know anyone up there; other wise I would have (ab)used the internal mail service here at work 😀

Dave

 

[FrankS]

Good point Vince!

 

[GeneW]

However nice it would be to put the 'personal' touch on delivery, we could pay to have expedited, overnight courier delivery, even from the US. It costs a bit, but clears all the legalities, etc, and Joe would have the camera within a day or two of shipping, plus all the shipping and customs papers. Businesses frequently use this service for important items that they can't afford to have 'stuck' in customs.

Just a thought.

Gene

 

[VinceC]

I like Gene's idea best. A proper gift requires proper delivery. That's the cost of doing business. It also removes chances for errors or unexpected foul-ups.