Help for the Troops III

[mike55]

Fellow CC Members;

It's coming up to that time of year when our thoughts start to turn to the holiday season and loved ones near and far. As you may recall, I've organized 2 donation drives to raise money for the purchase of pre-paid calling cards for troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. They've been a great success.

This effort was meant to be an annual event falling around the winter holiday season; however, with the encouragement of several donors, a summer version was completed as well in July with great results. This version falls somewhat on the heels of that drive. However, I'd like to start this one now to give us enough time to get some of the calling cards into the hands of those over there in time for Christmas. The timing is purely symbolic, but it's always nice to open presents, no matter where you are.

So, in these extremely difficult times for many of us at home, I ask that you again take the time to think of those serving overseas, think of what they're going through, and make a donation of any amount to help out. You cand send a PayPal donation of any amount to troopcalls@ultrapatriot.com . As before, I'll post donor first names and last name initials and amounts for all to see. If you prefer to stay anonymous, just let me know. All donors will receive direct email notifications when purchases are made.

IF you can't donate at this time, that's OK. Maybe you can help in other ways. Maybe you can spread the word to others and let them know they can help.

Feel free to drop me a line with any questions or comments via PM. Let's try keep the thread on topic. Thanks again to Brent for the time and space that has made this effort worthwhile. All the best,

Mike

p.s. For those members/guests unfamiliar with what we're doing, here's a link to the last drive's thread:

Help for the Troops II



Donations in the order received:

Mike R. $100
Louis G. $100
Tim R. $75
Mark S. $50
Kevin R. $40
Mike M. $25
Mike Z. $50
Anonymous $300
Anonymous $25
Rick M. $25
Felix K. $10
John D. $100
Aaron R. $25
Mark F. $15
Anonymous $50
Michael S. $100
Noby T. $60
Kirk F. $20
Mitchell L. $25
Kirk P. $25
Mike P. $20
Nathan V. $25
Terry C. $40
Mark P. $50
Kirk E. $100
Wayne D. $50
Russell N. $25
Don T. $100
Paul G. $100
Vernon L. $25
Jason W. $50
Joseph R. $20
Jim H. $80
Daniel G. $25
Tom W. $100
George M. $200
Anonymous $300


Total = $2555

[vxurazz]

Mike,

Not quite sure what cards you are buying with the donations, but below is a link to the calling cards that everyone in my battery used while we were over there. I know with the AT&T cards, if you used them in country you only get a fraction of the minutes you would get state side. With the Spaware cards you get minute for minute...I used to reload it with about $25 and get 5 to 6 hours of actual talk time. Of course I've been back for almost a year and things change alot, especially with any kind of civilian communication.


http://oif.spawareurope.net/

jason

[mike55]

Jason;

Glad your back safe and sound and thanks for the reply. During the first drive I looked into several alternatives, including spawar and other voip based services. I settled on the ATT cards because they're easiest to order, pay for and distribute amongst the troops. They can be used on any landlines and most cell services as well.

While they don't yield as much air time as they would State-side, the ones we buy yield about 2 1/2hrs of talk time from Iraq/Afghanistan to the States.

All in all, it's the best I've come up with and the effort is manageable.

Mike

[mike55]

We're past the halfway point in this season's donation drive. With luck we'll meet and surpass last winter's total of $1853. However, we have about 3 weeks or so to do it and need all the help we can get. We've had 500+ views of the thread. So, I'd like to nudge those "lookers" to step up and give what you can. Again, any sized donation is appreciated, even the spare dollar in your Paypal account. Every bit will help.

At this point, I'd like to dedicate the effort of this drive to a fellow car enthusiast, and 2-time donor, Kirk E. His son Brennan Gibson was killed in action in Baghdad on December 10, 2006. A young man of 26, taken far too early. I can't imagine the loss Kirk and his family experienced. Surely he's already given too much; however, Kirk continues to support Brennan's fellow soldiers through efforts like ours and others. Let's show him, all military parents and the soldiers that we care as well. The cards we purchase will be donated in Brennan's memory on behalf of all donors.

So, let's add to the good work we've done so far and make a difference again this Holiday Season.....

Thanks again to all and let's kick it up a notch!

Mike

p.s. There will be a 20% price reduction on the pre-paid cards we buy starting December 15th. This combined with a substantial reduction in the shipping/handling costs will mean more cards in more hands for the same amount of money. Donors, more on this as we get closer to purchase time.

[mike55]

Here's a reply from the RL thread. It's worth sharing here and speaks to what we're all trying to do:

"I am writing this from my "Hooch" at Camp Victory in Baghdad.

Mike, I can tell you from recent experience these cards really are appreciated by the hard working soldiers over here. The USO at Camp Virginia in Kuwait handed out these phone cards and they came in very handy while traveling between bases during deployment training.

I have to tell you that I am humbled every day by the stories of the sacrifices the young troops down range make on a daily basis. I have it easy, I work in a comfortable office and rarely go outside the wire. Many of these troops go in harms way on a daily basis and these cards make it easier them keep in touch with loved ones at home...so its definitely a worthy cause.

Bravo Zulu!"

As an aside, with what we've raised in the last 2 donation drives and what we've raised so far in this drive, we will have purchased over 40,000 minutes of talk time for our soldiers. That is sure to put smiles on families faces and ease the hardship of separation. Let's keep it up!

Happy Thanksgiving to all, especially our troops serving far from home. Even in tough times, we have much to be thankful for.


Mike

[mike55]

This was posted on another site. I think it's worth sharing here as well:

I haven't posted on PP in quite awhile due to selling the 911 but now have an 86 BMW 535i and just haven't had the time to catch up with the boards. I received Mike's email concerning this year's donations and didn't think twice about donating again. I have my own personal reasons for doing this but the cause is worthy and benefits those soldiers that are a long way from home. It's hard to imagine the first timer (newbie), young soldier just out of Basic and AIT and going to Kuwait for orientation and then on to Iraq or Afghanistan for their first full tour of duty overseas as a soldier. Comfort zone is gone, new unit, new comrades to train with and develop and strengthen that trust factor that anyone in combat expects. The adrenalin has to be flowing, anticipation of what the next hour or day or week will bring. And you know what has to be a somewhat calming factor is a familiar voice from home whether it be a parent, wife, friend, the old goat down at the corner gas station that you worked for through high school....something familiar outside of what is reality that is being faced on a daily basis.
Guys, usually I don't say much about this subject due to personal nature of the subject and then again, there's times I can't say enough. I know its hard economic times (hey, I just got laid off on 11/30/08) but any amount that can be added to this fund is worthwhile. It's not seen or heard or touched by us the donors but this is something that will have a definite effect over the holidays for maybe that one soldier really needing a familiar voice to speak to.
I give Mike much respect for heading this over the past couple of years and to be honest I don't know if he has been directly effected by this war or not but whatever his reasons....he deserves a handshake and a stiff beer if I ever get to meet up with him.
Kirk Elliott
RIP son, SGT Brennan C Gibson, 12-10-79 to 12/10/06

[mike55]

OK guys and gals. I'm on a mission to improve upon what we've already accomplished and in order to do this, I'm going to sweeten the pot as it were......

Every donor in this season's drive will be entered into a draw for a $50 Pelican Parts gift certificate from me (personally - not from the Troop Calls fund). On December 15th, I'll randomly draw one name from the donor list and that person will receive the gift certificate. If you're one of the donors from a non-Porsche forum, I'll substitute it for a Finish Line gift certificate. There's no minimum donation amount - eveyone on the list is eligible.

So help me out folks. I'd really like to make these last few days the best so far.

Mike

[mike55]

I received a note from the Red Cross, addressed to all donors in the Troop Calls effort. Aside from the direct, and most important, feedback from families and soldiers, it's always great to get recognition from others that are helping as well. Visit http://ultrapatriot.com/Red%20Cross%20UP.pdf to review it.

We have 3 days left in this season's donation drive and donations continue to come in, pushing us past last year's total. Many thanks to the CC members that have helped.

For others that are able, please help if you can. Stop by the website (in my siganture) as well.

Cutoff date for eligibility for the gift certificate is December 14th. I'll randomly draw one name from the current donor list on December 15th.


Thanks again and best of the season to all,

Mike

[mike55]

This version of the Troop Calls drive is over. Collectively, we've raised $2473 (net), something we can all be proud of. Thanks to the CC members that have stepped up yet again to lend a helping hand. You're all special people.

Don T is the winner of the Pelican Parts gift certificate. Congrats Don!

The UltraPatriot.com website will remain active. Donations will be accepted throughout the year. At the beginning of the next winter holiday season, we'll revisit the drive. Hopefully the need will have diminished by then.

A special thanks goes out to the CC crew that helped make this drive a success.

Let's keep our service men and women in our thoughts this holiday season. Best of the season to all,

Mike

[mike55]

I'm happy to say that with the money raised, we've purchased 135, 80 minute pre-paid calling cards for the troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. We went with the lower cost card so that we could get them into more hands. That will mean more smiles this holiday season for the soldiers and their families.

Thanks to all donors and all others that sent words of encouragement. The UltraPatriot site will remain active and will continue to buy calling cards as donations come in. While the drive is over, and 135 men and women will be getting cards for Christmas, with luck we may be able to deliver even more over the holidays. It's never to late to give.

Thanks everyone,

Mike

[mike55]

I've had a few donations come in after the last purchase. For those that have anything left to give after a hectic holiday rush, please consider a donation. It would be great if we could deliver another pack of calling cards overseas for the holidays.

Best of the season to all,

Mike

[Torana Dan]

I wouldn't trust this "Mike" if my life depended on it.

This guy Mike is a CROOK. I paid him $2000 (aud) for a set of quad 48 IDA weber carbs. and he never sent them to me, HE KEPT MY MONEY AND THE CARBS.
He sent me a tracking number that didn't exist. and told me they would be insured incase they were lost on their journy to OZ. NONE OF WHICH WAS TRUE

This was months ago now and now he wont respond to any of my emails

Mike, Thanks for stealing my hard earned $ and ripping off a kind honest hard working person my self. Remember what comes around goes around mate.

DO NOT TRUST THIS GUY HE STOLE $1600 USD FROM ME.

keep your money people, Mike is a crook.

[mike55]

The only one screwed here is me. I sold a set of carbs to dan and he paid. Sent them via surface post to Australia, insured. They're lost. I have to wait for insurance to reimburse me. In the meantime, Dan has received credits back to his Paypal account, something he forgets to mention. He 's not out anything.

Mike

[tcrist]

Torana Dan,

It is too bad that you had some kind of issue with Mike. Maybe you could have posted it on a different thread or started a new one though.

This should not be posted on one of the "Help The Troops" threads. The only dealings that I have had with Mike is on the"Help The Troops" threads and he has always e-mailed the receipts for the donations so no one could even question him on it.

Hope that you and Mike can get this worked out without any more issues.

Take care,

[Torana Dan]

Originally Posted by mike55

The only one screwed here is me. I sold a set of carbs to dan and he paid. Sent them via surface post to Australia, insured. They're lost. I have to wait for insurance to reimburse me. In the meantime, Dan has received credits back to his Paypal account, something he forgets to mention. He 's not out anything.

Mike

Mike.
I am the one out of pocket. paypal found the case in my favour. BUT WERE UNABLE TO RETREIVE THE FUNDS FROM YOU. so don't make out that your the one out of pocket. You ripped me off.
You have both my money and you are going to get the insurance, that insurance money is mine.
So you will come out ahead and be paid twice for them.

Shouldn't I be the one getting the insurance ? I GOT NOTHING BACK FROM PAYPAL

I'M THE ONE COMPLETELY OUT OF POCKET,

[computerworks]

This is an old thread...resurrected.

It is now closed and so will any future threads until both parties resolve their differences, real or perceived, off line, and notify a Moderator with ONE message that it is resolved.

ron
ClubCobra Moderator