Lakes Region Youth Need Help

[baygo]

My wife and I are new residents in the Lakes Region. Today, January 16, is day number 200 of our 3 year plan for restoring a landmark tavern in Laconia. The 230 year old building is located at 2075 Parade Rd. and once served grog to the minute men who served our country in its infancy to establish its independence.

We took on this project with a very high level of enthusiasm, now much to our surprise the tremendous amount of community encourage and assistance has us in a state of utopia. Riding our wave of sheer delight in where we have landed, I'm initiating this forum to bring light to one group of people in particular, and to start discussion around how, as a community, we can assist them. The group is the Lakes Region Boys and Girls Club (LRBGC). We are thrilled to be growing roots in a community who's youth are as involve in community service as this great group of young teenagers are. Our par three golf course would likely still resemble an overgrown jungle were it not for their voluntary efforts to come and help remove the grass clippings. My back would likely still be sore if they had not come to my rescue and helped spread the tons of sand I have applied to the greens. Every parent who has a child who participates in the Lakes Region Boys and Girls Club, has reason to be proud.

It has been brought to my attention that the church that provides space for the LRBGC is asking that the club relocate by this Jun. I've heard that substantial amount of money is needed to make the move. This has sprung me into action with intentions to set an example and help teach our youth that everything is possible for those who set their mind to it. I create this forum for us as a community to come up with and organize fundraising ideas.

Once the warm weather returns (which my Louisiana wife impatiently awaits) we will offer up our golf course to host a fundraising tournament. This should put a dent in the total but not likely to cover it. I've put my imagination to work and have come up with another idea that I hope will take another chunk out of the total and at the same time help us address a personal need.

The ceiling in our Tavern was a popcorn ceiling that had collected decades of smoke and grown disgusting in our view. We have scraped the popcorn off and wish to create and inlay a wine cork mosaic to compliment the wood beams. We plan to open the Tavern for what we hope will be considered a "grace period" with limited seating around the 1st of February. Everyone who brings a cork and a one dollar donation to this cause will receive a spot in the mosaic for their cork and a 50% discount off their bill if they dine (can not be combined with any other discounts or promotions). If you don't have a cork, we will have corks to offer in exchange for your donation , or hopefully impress you with our wine list. People or businesses who would like to sponsor and create a smaller mosaic within the larger mosaic may do so by purchasing corks by the 100's.

Please further help by getting the word out to your favorite restaurants that we need corks to offer. We will reward all restaurants that contribute corks by creating and maintaining a link to their web site from ours.

If you are not into golf or wine, please put your imagination to work and return to this forum with additional ideas for how we can help strengthen our community by funding the expansion of horizons for our youth. Please email this to all your friends and relatives.

Thanks.
http://www.Tavern27.com

[Argie's Wife]

I am assuming that the LRBGC has a non-profit status.

That being said, have you considered requesting money from the local towns that benefit from the services of LRBGC? Many towns include social services' requests for money are part of their special warrant articles. The groups write a letter to the city council or board of selectmen requesting a specific amount of money and listing the benefits of their services. It would be prudent to include administrative costs that are paid for through the contributions, as this is a question that most town's budget committees will ask when they get the request. The selectmen and budget committee make their recommendations on the warrant article if they decide the request is appropriate and adminsitrative costs are reasonable (read: low), and that their town or city is benefitting from the services. The more information you can provide, especially stats for the number of persons/families who receive services, is beneficial. Then the request is voted on at the town meeting or on voting day (if the town is SB-2).

You may also consider asking school boards for their sponsorship via a letter to the board. If four school districts contributed $200 each, that's $800 closer to your goal.

This might be a good time of year to ask vendors if they would like to raffle off an item so the proceeds would go to your organization. Check with some of the local marines or home repairs (Home Depot) to see if they would be interested in making a donation of an item for raffle. You might be amazed at what's available and the doner would be able to write off the item as a tax deduction (if it's a big-ticket item) and get the free-advertisting that comes with it.

Finally, there's grant money available but it's not as plentiful as it used to be. There's a great article on Edutopia for grant money for after school programs in a rural setting - that would fit the LR to a -tee.

Here's the article: http://www.edutopia.org/show-me-money

Hope this helps.

[fatlazyless]

As someone who last played a round of golf on what was a par-3 course in about 1965, is there any chance you'll be offering el cheapo golf clinics or lessons for some of us local losers who have lots of time to kill? What better way than hitting a little white ball around a nice green golf course?


Hey.......one more thing......if you are a smart cookie.....then maybe try to get that Argie's Wife to help write you up some boy/girl's club funding requests to Meredith.

Your golf course location is just a quick and easy dive down the Parade Rd from Meredith. Meredith has enough money to go buy an $800,000 aerial fire truck w/ a 100' tower, in 2009, that just sits in a garage 99.54% of the time, so they should be able to find a $2000-check for a kid's happening program. :)

[Lakesrider]

:laugh:


oh and a big BTW.....


http://www.buzzle.com/articles/popcorn-ceiling-asbestos.html

[Yosemite Sam]

Meredith has enough money to go buy an $800,000 aerial fire truck w/ a 100' tower, in 2009, that just sits in a garage 99.54% of the time, so they should be able to find a $2000-check for a kid's happening program. :)

Removed photo of fire truck. I guess it didn't go over that well in this post.

I will have to admit that it does do a good job of putting up christmas lights and keeping someone busy polishing it! :)

[baygo]

:laugh:


oh and a big BTW.....


http://www.buzzle.com/articles/popcorn-ceiling-asbestos.html

Thanks for the insight here. The original pop corn ceiling was put up in the mid 80s, well after asbestos was banned.

[Janet]

you do like to beat a dead horse!

[SIKSUKR]

Why would you hijack this well intentioned thread meant to help a great cause with your obnoxious neverending rant that has nothing to do with this persons agenda? Sometimes I just don't understand a few members here.

[Yosemite Sam]

Why would you hijack this well intentioned thread meant to help a great cause with your obnoxious neverending rant that has nothing to do with this persons agenda? Sometimes I just don't understand a few members here.

In this thread baygo ads something that appears to be for a good cause and also relates to Tapas, then it appears to be OK with you.
When bayo states in another thread http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9059 that he is opening Tapas you respond with the below comment:

Greetings neighbors. This is not a rumor. Tapas is coming to the Lakes Region. This post is straight from the proprietor. We hope to open for a grace period with limited seating in early Feb. This grace period is intended to provide our staff the opportunity to refine its skills and our neighbors the opportunity to share their feedback with us.

The grace period may be lengthy and will be experienced by invitation only. All who wish to be on the invited guest list should visit http://www.tavern27.com and follow the instructions for consideration to be added.

We will post to this forum once we are officially open.


Add me to that list as well.I read it as picking and choosing if we want you to eat in our restaurant.

[baygo]

As someone who last played a round of golf on what was a par-3 course in about 1965, is there any chance you'll be offering el cheapo golf clinics or lessons for some of us local losers who have lots of time to kill? What better way than hitting a little white ball around a nice green golf course?


I am a short game specialist who has influenced the play of a couple of pros who have competed in Major Championships. Last year I held free clinics on Thursday afternoons. The clinics were a great way for us to build relationships with our neighbors. I intend to continue with these clinics in the spring. Hope to see you there.

[fatlazyless]

Last year I held free clinics on Thursday afternoons. The clinics were a great way for us to build relationships with our neighbors. I intend to continue with these clinics in the spring. Hope to see you there.

Wow.......you the man Baygo....sounds very inviting....and time spent on a nicely maintained green golf course seems like it would definately be time well spent. Probably, the surroundings bring out the best from everybody......plus it's right in my price range! ......:)

[baygo]

Here it is, isn't it a beauty!! :laugh:

What do you have against the lakes region kids and why did you have to intrude with that big time consuming graphic of a fire truck? Did you deliberately attempt to kill this forum? You are case in point for why people should not be able to hide behind an alias.

[Yosemite Sam]

What do you have against the lakes region kids and why did you have to intrude with that big time consuming graphic of a fire truck? Did you deliberately attempt to kill this forum? You are case in point for why people should not be able to hide behind an alias.


I just don't think that "Winnipesaukee Forum" should be used for marketing someones business.

If the webmaster of this forum thinks it is OK, then I guess I'm out of line.

[baygo]

I just don't think that "Winnipesaukee Forum" should be used for marketing someones business.

If the webmaster of this forum thinks it is OK, then I guess I'm out of line.

Using my business to host a fund raiser... guilty as charged

Using this thread to market my business.. not likely.

This web site is ranked 2,723,971 out of over 50,000,000 web sites during the past 7 days.
http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/winnipesaukee.com

My web site is ranked 172,358 over the same period.
http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/baygo.com

I use my web site to market my business and if you visit my home page you'll learn I am using it to help market this forum.

Please kick back and enjoy a bottle of wine then bring me the cork.

[SAMIAM]

Baygo....just to let you know that some members of the forum like give a little dig now and then. Better to just take it with a grain of salt and not get your feathers ruffled. You are coming on pretty strong for a new member......"What have you got against kids" ....wasn't called for.
Take a deep breath.

[SIKSUKR]

Maybe I need to take another breath. I didn't know of any affiliation except that it was a fundraiser for the boys/girls clubs.

But I look at each thread independent and don't search others looking for possible conflict before posting like some here do. Wow.

[Yosemite Sam]

Maybe I need to take another breath.I didn't know of any affiliation except that it was a fundraiser for the boys/girls clubs.

But I look at each thread independent and don't search others looking for possible conflict before posting like some here do.Wow.


What caught my eye was the fact that the Lakes Region Boys and Girls Club volunteered their time to help a profit making business. Why would they volunteer to remove grass clippings and spread tons of sand for a profit making golf coarse. Is this golf coarse going to be a non-profit organization and the money will go to help the needy in Laconia? Maybe Laconia doesn’t need volunteers to help in other ways to benefit the people who really need assistance and can’t afford it, i.e., the elderly.

[fatlazyless]

Is the www.themysticmeadows.com link already somewhere in his thread? Didn't see it, unless I missed it?

Having a nice green golf course just seems a whole lot better than cutting up the former golf course into a subdivision of roads and homes. Once an old farm or open land gets subdivided, it's gonzo for good-zo......too-bad-zo!

Here, here...... a round of applause to Baygo for undertaking what's got to be a big job.

[Yosemite Sam]

Is the [url] Here, here...... a round of applause to Baygo for undertaking what's got to be a big job.


Why don't you volunteer some of your free time to groom the coarse. :)

[gtagrip]

Why don't you volunteer some of your free time to groom the coarse. :)

Dude, how about you get off your soapbox now! Saw some of your comments in another thread and it seems you are just looking to pick a fight.

[Lucky1]

Why would you hijack this well intentioned thread meant to help a great cause with your obnoxious neverending rant that has nothing to do with this persons agenda? Sometimes I just don't understand a few members here.

Was confused

[baygo]

I'm flattered to read all the supportive statements in regards to the energy I am putting forward to save a property acknowledge as a benefit to the community, however, I was hoping that this thread would serve the boys and girls club. Is there any way we could bring that into focus? Please.

[fatlazyless]

Why don't you volunteer some of your free time to groom the coarse. :)

Sure thing, I'll be happy to volunteer some time grooming the golf course.


Hey Sam, is there any chance you can repost the fire truck photo onto post #5. It's a beautifull fire truck; almost like a showpiece with all the decorative lettering and the American Flag radiator grill. The photo is a nice way for folks all over the internet to take a peek at it. Why not.....just leave out that laughy face?

Meredith can look at that truck photo and feel good about what their prop taxes have bought!

[Yosemite Sam]

Sure thing, I'll be happy to volunteer some time grooming the golf course.


Hey Sam, is there any chance you can repost the fire truck photo onto post #5. It's a beautifull fire truck; almost like a showpiece with all the decorative lettering and the American Flag radiator grill. The photo is a nice way for folks all over the internet to take a peek at it. Why not.....just leave out that laughy face?

Meredith can look at that truck photo and feel good about what their prop taxes have bought!

I'm glad that you are going to volunteer some of your valuable free time to help take care of the golf course. I never knew that private businesses could get volunteer help from the whole community. Laconia should feel proud that their citzens will pickup grass, spread tons of sand, and now groom the golf course all for free. Maybe Laconia should talk to the owner of this business and get some tips on how to get their citzens more involved with volunteering some of their time to do things that will lower the tax rate.

I would like to put up the fire truck photo again but there are some members here that like to call me a troll and a Dude. So I guess I'll put that photo in my archive of expensive items that towns buy that they really don't need.

I am only responding to a question that FLL asked me so please don't think that I am looking for a fight.

Thank You!

[jmen24]

You guys are rediculous!!!! Why not start you own thread and talk to yourselves for a while, no one else wants to hear it here!

Baygo, post the info on the golf tournament and I will be there. I can always find an excuse to swing the clubs, especially when a charity is involved.

[Argie's Wife]

What do you have against the lakes region kids and why did you have to intrude with that big time consuming graphic of a fire truck? Did you deliberately attempt to kill this forum? You are case in point for why people should not be able to hide behind an alias.

The natives get a little restless in the winter... and I think there was a new moon this week... bad-hair days all-around, I'm afraid.

In the meantime... you have a very worthy cause and I wish you best of luck with your fund-raising for the B&G Club... I wish we had something like this in my area, but it's probably too rural to sustain such a group....

[Janet]

Where is the ignore button?

[mrportjeff]

Where is the ignore button?

I hit it a long time ago!

[baygo]

What caught my eye was the fact that the Lakes Region Boys and Girls Club volunteered their time to help a profit making business. Why would they volunteer to remove grass clippings and spread tons of sand for a profit making golf coarse. Is this golf coarse going to be a non-profit organization and the money will go to help the needy in Laconia? Maybe Laconia doesn’t need volunteers to help in other ways to benefit the people who really need assistance and can’t afford it, i.e., the elderly.
Just realized that you have me confused with someone else. "profit making business" ??? we acquired this property in early July. It was in disarray and far from condition worthy of a green fee. I have much more work to do before we can label it "profit making business". I must admit that the smile on these teens' faces when they hit a golf ball well is a reward worth more than profit for me.

It all started when I hosted a free golf clinic for the LRBGC teens. Soon after that, the teens started showing up to help. They'd say the were "paying it forward". It was touching to learn that they recognize the value of golf to our community. I encourage you to research the value of golf to the elderly. Sam, If you help the boys and girls club, I'll establish a free play policy for the low income elderly.