I have just had a long chat to Smokie on the phone. He is obviously very busy not only with the immediate CA funding problem, but also with the small matter of earning a crust. I have therefore volunteered - on a purely temporary basis - to begin the logistical business of setting up a fund-raising commitee. Smokie and the "Big Cheese" are obviously concerned, particularly in view of the huge and heartwarming response to this thread, that everything is seen be clear and above board; also that the members have a proper input into current and any future funding - how we go about it, how the money is spent etc.
To this end, you will shortly see another sticky thread entitled "Fundraising Committee." Initially, all we want are volunteers to kick the thing off. We would like the commitee to be in place in time for the race so that they can begin to sort things out once everybody is back home. Rather than nominating others, we have taken the executive decision of asking you to nominate yourselve, as much depends upon the time, enthusiasm and expertise which you are able to bring. "One volunteer is worth ten pressed men" as they say!
We would also be very interested to hear from anybody who has any financial expertise. In view of the Pay-Pal problems which we are already experiencing, our own gut feeling is that it would be better if we could ultimately start our own bank account and have a credit card payment link on here, but our own expertise in this field is - shall we say - limited.
Thanks on Smokie and Dave's behalf for all you have done so far.
I would stress again, that I am not taking this over, I am just here to start the ball rolling as I have, shall we say, a little more personal time than some.
