This giveaway was rather spontaneous. So, this means the thought process of picking a winner did not get the proper research for such a simple yet complicated giveaway. This may have been a good idea but a bad implementation.
Originally, we had people casting names for who they think deserves the camera. Then we were going to vote on those names and pick a winner. However, it really would not be fair for us to decide who is more deserving than another. After all, in the heart of the Christmas spirit, for those of us who celebrate Christmas, me being one of them, believe the one who we are celebrating would say we are all equal. Those who celebrate a different Holiday would probably agree that it would be unfair to judge who deserves a prize more than another.
Having said that, in our good spirits we have all thought of who we think is deserving of this camera. But none of us should really judge in favor of one person over the other. Therefore, I am changing the selection process for the winner and making it as simple as possible. All the names listed in the NAMES thread will be placed in a container for a blind draw. One lucky winner will be picked. However, I would like to add the following. Some forum members who wish to remain anonymous have decided to donate some items as well. This is such a great gesture on their part I only wish they would let me mention their names so they can be thanked for their generosity. I will discuss with them how they would like to have those items awarded and communicate our agreement to the rest of the forum.
So, with all that has been said, I will close the NAMES thread in the near future and begin making the list of names to draw.
Merry Christmas AND Happy Holidays to all.
Oh, I will try and video the drawing and have it available for all to view.
Originally, we had people casting names for who they think deserves the camera. Then we were going to vote on those names and pick a winner. However, it really would not be fair for us to decide who is more deserving than another. After all, in the heart of the Christmas spirit, for those of us who celebrate Christmas, me being one of them, believe the one who we are celebrating would say we are all equal. Those who celebrate a different Holiday would probably agree that it would be unfair to judge who deserves a prize more than another.
Having said that, in our good spirits we have all thought of who we think is deserving of this camera. But none of us should really judge in favor of one person over the other. Therefore, I am changing the selection process for the winner and making it as simple as possible. All the names listed in the NAMES thread will be placed in a container for a blind draw. One lucky winner will be picked. However, I would like to add the following. Some forum members who wish to remain anonymous have decided to donate some items as well. This is such a great gesture on their part I only wish they would let me mention their names so they can be thanked for their generosity. I will discuss with them how they would like to have those items awarded and communicate our agreement to the rest of the forum.
So, with all that has been said, I will close the NAMES thread in the near future and begin making the list of names to draw.
Merry Christmas AND Happy Holidays to all.
Oh, I will try and video the drawing and have it available for all to view.
Ororaro
Well-known
Back to your senses! Good! No more Country Club voting.
What a relief...
Merry Christmas.
What a relief...
Merry Christmas.
S
suzums
Guest
Right on! 
robin a
Well-known
THANK YOU..................Robin
S
Socke
Guest
Sounds like the right way to do it to me.
jjovin
Established
I assume this is some kind of a sweepstakes.
How does one enter it?
How does one enter it?
bunkawen14
A Glimpse of the World
An old fashioned sweepstakes would seem by far the best way to go.
Happy Holidays and good luck to all.
By the way, who couldn't use a new rangefinder body? (My Hexar RF is being serviced, and my M8 order hasn't come through!)
Happy Holidays and good luck to all.
By the way, who couldn't use a new rangefinder body? (My Hexar RF is being serviced, and my M8 order hasn't come through!)
Igor.Burshteyn
Well-known
Kudos! Genereous deed made in right way. Somebody will be very happy this Christmas. My remark on "popularity contest" is witdrawn.
Gabriel M.A.
My Red Dot Glows For You
Sounds fair.
The names thread has been closed. I will now compile a list of names for the selection process.
flipflop
Well-known
all rff members on the list?
Yes. RFF members on the list.
CaptB
Newbie
I don't want to be a spoil-sport here. One minute I am reading that the rules have changed for the give-away........the thread will close sometime in the "near future" (days would be fair with a specified time and day of closing)........but it appears the thread is already closed. Maybe it is just me......but this whole giveaway thing should have been given more thought. I believe.....to "really" be "fair to all".................all members should be allowed to participate IMHO.
Capt B
Capt B
mike goldberg
The Peaceful Pacific
Gifts of the Season?
Gifts of the Season?
Dear Jorge & All,
I was happy to cast my vote for an RFF member whom I thought deserving. It's probably a great idea to do a random draw from the names submitted.
I cannot help wondering what agenda [if any], is associated with the words in bold in Jorge's message:
... for those of us who Celebrate Christmas
In the Holy Land, some 9,000 miles distant from incredibly beautiful Oregon [I've been there]; the road to nearby Bethlehem is illuminated for Christmas, courtesy of the government of Israel.
Personally, I celebrate Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. Those words, for those of us who celebrate Christmas... offend me. I want to believe that RFF is about range finder photography, NOT about religion. We have members worldwide, Christians, Jews, Moslems, Hindus, Buddhists... and those who believe in Spirit, yet adhere to no formal Faith.
Sharing of our wealth at this time of year, be it a Bessa RF or filters that one is not using... is about spreading light, warmth and the Universal spirit of giving, as we encounter Winter. It is about the heart, and not about our individual belief systems.
Respectfully,
mike goldberg
AFTERTHOUGHT:
Neither offense nor irritation is intended
It is, indeed, all too easy to misunderstand or misinterpret someone else's words or intentions.
mike
Gifts of the Season?
Dear Jorge & All,
I was happy to cast my vote for an RFF member whom I thought deserving. It's probably a great idea to do a random draw from the names submitted.
I cannot help wondering what agenda [if any], is associated with the words in bold in Jorge's message:
... for those of us who Celebrate Christmas
In the Holy Land, some 9,000 miles distant from incredibly beautiful Oregon [I've been there]; the road to nearby Bethlehem is illuminated for Christmas, courtesy of the government of Israel.
Personally, I celebrate Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. Those words, for those of us who celebrate Christmas... offend me. I want to believe that RFF is about range finder photography, NOT about religion. We have members worldwide, Christians, Jews, Moslems, Hindus, Buddhists... and those who believe in Spirit, yet adhere to no formal Faith.
Sharing of our wealth at this time of year, be it a Bessa RF or filters that one is not using... is about spreading light, warmth and the Universal spirit of giving, as we encounter Winter. It is about the heart, and not about our individual belief systems.
Respectfully,
mike goldberg
AFTERTHOUGHT:
Neither offense nor irritation is intended
It is, indeed, all too easy to misunderstand or misinterpret someone else's words or intentions.
mike
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RdEoSg
Well-known
I'm not going to put words in Jorge's mouth Mike, but I read it as he was trying to be more encompasing of other beliefs. He even said "Those who celebrate a different Holiday would probably agree that it would be unfair to judge who deserves a prize more than another."
Anyways, thats how I read it.
Anyways, thats how I read it.
nikola
Well-known
Do you now Mike what is offending, rash reactions!
... ok it's not offending but irritating!
... ok it's not offending but irritating!
cameramanic
Following the light
All Names
All Names
Am I correct in thinking the names of all Rangfinder Members will go in the hat?
All Names
Am I correct in thinking the names of all Rangfinder Members will go in the hat?
cameramanic said:
No, Stephen Gandy has donated a camera to be awarded to a RFF member who is without a RF or without a "good serviceable" RF camera (think of a bad unserviceable camera as the 1973 Chevy Vega I drove when I was in high school, but 20+ years later). A list of the names of the members who the membership feels fit that criteria was assembled, and the camera will be sent to the person who's name is drawn from a hat.
In other words, Joe, Kim, Jorge and I don't qualify.