An amazingly altruistic thing to do.

Subject: An amazingly altruistic thing to do.
From: theleveller
Date: 05 May 15 - 10:40 AM

The superb folk musician, guitarist and poet, Bill Adair, is going to Kerala in India to spend time helping children from the slums. To help fund the trip he's raffling one of his beloved Martin guitars. Please support this incredibly selfless gesture. Tickets are £10 each and there are only 250, so get a move on.

Details are on his Facebook page here:

Bill Adair's Facebook Page

Subject: RE: An amazingly altruistic thing to do.
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 05 May 15 - 01:40 PM

I had a brief conversation with Bill this afternoon. I can only admire his conviction towards the children in Kerala and hope he duly raises enough money to fund this fantastic project.

Subject: RE: An amazingly altruistic thing to do.
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 05 May 15 - 01:49 PM

.. electric guitar, acoustic guitar, and now altruistic guitar...😎

I like the sound of that...

Subject: RE: An amazingly altruistic thing to do.
From: BillOC
Date: 05 May 15 - 02:09 PM

I've shared this on my FaceBook page

Subject: RE: An amazingly altruistic thing to do.
From: GUEST,kampervan
Date: 05 May 15 - 06:09 PM

Raffle ticket bought. Come on Mudcatters.

Subject: RE: An amazingly altruistic thing to do.
From: GUEST,.
Date: 05 May 15 - 07:02 PM

Be careful...

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2015/05/03/weisman-nepal-charity-scams/26755507/

Subject: RE: An amazingly altruistic thing to do.
From: GUEST,alex s no cookie
Date: 05 May 15 - 07:17 PM

Take no notice at all of the above post.
I know Bill, and this is 100% genuine.
Don't be careful, be generous.
If you have any doubts, go to his Facebook page or pm me for reassurance.

Subject: RE: An amazingly altruistic thing to do.
From: alex s
Date: 05 May 15 - 07:19 PM

Sorry, just realised you can't pm me as a Guest...
You can now though!

Subject: RE: An amazingly altruistic thing to do.
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 06 May 15 - 02:59 AM

Amazingly altruistic is when you spend your own money and don't tell people about it rather than passing the hat round.
An auction is a good idea if you want publicity for a cause - and a guitar ends up with someone who needs a guitar.

Subject: RE: An amazingly altruistic thing to do.
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 06 May 15 - 04:43 AM

Flora, in a word b*****ks

Subject: RE: An amazingly altruistic thing to do.
From: banjoman
Date: 06 May 15 - 05:43 AM

I am all for raising funds for cause like this. However, I question just how much that guitar is worth. It seems that £2500 could be raised. Some Martins are worth a lot more than that, so it could be a better idea to sell it on the open market and raise more money.
Not being critical, just asking the question.

Subject: RE: An amazingly altruistic thing to do.
From: theleveller
Date: 06 May 15 - 07:02 AM

FloraG, whatever your definition of 'altruism' is, I would have thought that someone giving up time to go half-way across the globe to help seriously deprived children for no financial gain and, in order to help cover the expenses, deciding to part with a much-loved and cherished instrument, would qualify as an adequate description.

I find your response churlish (def. rude in a mean-spirited and surly way).

Subject: RE: An amazingly altruistic thing to do.
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 06 May 15 - 03:15 PM

I do think its altruistic - just not amazing. Its not his only guitar - and I expect he will gain as much from the experience as the children.
Most people in their lives contribute to the wider society in some way in time or money. Its what we as humans do.
My local school regularly has students do a VSO type activity, where the students themselves raise the money -I know about it as I was asked to do a dance for them and the Dartford folk club provided a raffle prize. Its a seriously worthwhile activity - but normal people to do.
FloraG.

Subject: RE: An amazingly altruistic thing to do.
From: theleveller
Date: 07 May 15 - 02:55 AM

FloraG, I think it's sour and uncharitable to come on a thread designed to help someone to raise money by an extremely generous gesture and disparage their efforts. Why do you have a problem with other people's open-heartedness? Thankfully, most people are not as mean-spirited as you and the response to Bill's appeal seems to be going well.

Personally, I feel humbled by what Bill is doing and I'm sure that his efforts will bring pleasure not only to the children he will be helping but also to the person who is lucky enough to win this superb guitar.

Subject: RE: An amazingly altruistic thing to do.
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 07 May 15 - 05:42 AM

leveller - it was just the word amazing.
Its not amazing - its what most British people do in their lives - in one way or another - from those who gave their lives in a war - to those who pick up other peoples dog poo. We nearly all contribute to society in one way or another.
The VSO in Britain has been organising such trips abroad for a long time, and many 1000s have gone. In my experience, the students who go are not amazing - just normal.
I hope Bill enjoys his year abroad - and I'm sure the children will gain a lot.
FloraG

Subject: RE: An amazingly altruistic thing to do.
From: theleveller
Date: 07 May 15 - 11:26 AM

[Shakes head in disbelief at the utter pettiness.]

Subject: RE: An amazingly altruistic thing to do.
From: GUEST,Kampervan
Date: 07 May 15 - 11:57 AM

PLEASE don't let us turn this thread into an argument.

Let's just support a genuine guy who's trying to do a bit to make this planet a slightly better place.

K/van

Subject: RE: An amazingly altruistic thing to do.
From: GUEST,Pete from seven stars link
Date: 07 May 15 - 12:04 PM

Seems to be a disagreement as to what ....amazing....means, and perhaps it is just how the word is understood. The word ...awesome... Is often used, when really what is meant is being very impressed with something. But I wonder if doing such charitable ventures is really that normal, as there are an awful lot of people that go through life totally self absorbed ,it seems to me. But thankfully there are many that are altruistic, and many go that extra mile too. Maybe they are all..."amazing" !.

Subject: RE: An amazingly altruistic thing to do.
From: GUEST
Date: 07 May 15 - 12:07 PM

Shakes head in disbelief at the utter pettiness

No, theleveller, FloraG has a valid point. It's a very fine thing to do but describing it as "amazingly altruistic" and "incredibly selfless" is clearly over the top.

GUEST,Kampervan,

Since when does making a comment constitute an arguement?

Subject: RE: An amazingly altruistic thing to do.
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 07 May 15 - 12:08 PM

I don't often say this, but I find myself in total agreement with Pete 7*

Good luck to this feller.

Subject: RE: An amazingly altruistic thing to do.
From: GUEST,Kampervan
Date: 07 May 15 - 01:28 PM

Here we go. I didn't say that making a comment did constitute an argument. I merely made a plea that we should not let the thread turn into one.

Beyond that I will make no further comment in order to avoid the very that very thing.

In the meantime, 'Well done' to Mr Adair for doing something which is altruistic - i.e. giving away a very nice guitar; and amazing - in that he is going to use the money raised to enable him to go and help others in need.

Subject: RE: An amazingly altruistic thing to do.
From: GUEST
Date: 07 May 15 - 01:43 PM

Fair enough, Kampervan.

My apologies if I overreacted.

Subject: RE: An altruistic thing to do.
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 07 May 15 - 02:12 PM

Here I'd like to read about the guitar and the children and the project.

There is an AMAZING thread on BS.

Subject: RE: An amazingly altruistic thing to do.
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 07 May 15 - 03:26 PM

Pete - I think you are too cynical.

I did a barn dance on Saturday. The band were a scratch band - who came along when I explained it was a charity do - so we shared my calling fee to cover expenses. The band all bought raffle tickets.

The organisation itself is a walking group but they put some of their energies into repairing the local footpaths when for example a style is found to be broken.

The money made on the dance and the main raffle will go to a charity ( not yet chosen) but they also did a one prize raffle for a young girl who needs a special operation at a cost of £40 000 to help her walk properly. From the 70 people there they raised over £100 in addition to the main raffle.

That's my experience of people - giving generously of their time and money. Not amazing - just normal.

Ask me next week and I expect I will be able to tell you a different tale of generosity.

FloraG

Subject: RE: An amazingly altruistic thing to do.
From: theleveller
Date: 08 May 15 - 01:59 AM

OK, you've shot the messenger. Happy now?

Subject: RE: An amazingly altruistic thing to do.
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 08 May 15 - 03:48 AM

Flora, please just ask any guitarist (or any musician come to that)how hard it is to sell a beloved instrument. To some it's like having a leg amputated or worse.

To then use that money to travel half way across the world to the slums of an Indian city to work with the children there is amazing. It's not a hike down to the village hall to play for a barn dance for one night.

I am not decrying the value of what people did for the barn dance and the work of the walking group it's just that it's not quite in the same league.

Subject: RE: An amazingly altruistic thing to do.
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 08 May 15 - 03:52 AM

leveller - I think I was trying to say that lots of people do really nice things.

When you listen to the national news you tend to only get bad. I don't live in that world, and I don't think its just the ' folk world' that you get really kind people - although we are a generous lot.

Out walking the dog in the woods this morning and there were other dog walkers with plastic bags picking up litter. OK - its a small thing - but done every day it all adds to the quality of life.

I have not heard of Bill - so his raffle and your post has succeeded in making me look out for him.

Hugs and kisses

FloraG.

Subject: RE: An amazingly altruistic thing to do.
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 08 May 15 - 05:57 AM

Raggytash - of course its not the same - but its the same people.

When we started teaching a lot of colleagues had done VSO. Me - I applied for a job in Nepal - but they thought I ( being female ) would not be up to the trecking it involved. So I can't say I've done it - but our best man has done lots of work in third world countries.

The current generation of students seem to be more like our generation - more adventurous and willing to do VSO as a gap year.
FloraG

Subject: RE: An amazingly altruistic thing to do.
From: bruceCMR
Date: 09 May 15 - 06:10 AM

Getting this back on topic....

Bill was a guest on "Thanks Folk it's Friday" on Celtic Music Radio 95fm last night. He sang a few songs and spoke about his upcoming trip to India.

You can listen again for the next 4 weeks on

http://podcast.canstream.co.uk/celticmusic/index.php?id=15705 (first hour)
http://podcast.canstream.co.uk/celticmusic/index.php?id=15706 (second hour)

Subject: RE: An amazingly altruistic thing to do.
From: GUEST,Pete from seven stars link
Date: 09 May 15 - 06:32 AM

Well maybe, flora, and I am glad for your wealth of good experiences.   Thankyou spleen, gracious of you.