Never said it was a whole in the wall. And I thought the picture gave it good favor. Actually its very nice place, and the owners also are very nice as well, have great coffee and desserts. The wife and I, since her semi-retirement, go there periodically. One time a while back, maybe 7 years ago, we got to know them somewhat, and they were into salads and natural foods, so I asked them if they would like some Jerusalem Artichokes which I grew. Usually see these at Organic or Natural food stores. Wegmans sells them as well. They call them Sunchokes at Wegmans. Word actually got twisted in translation from the Italian word girasole (geer - ah- zol- eh). They said they knew of them and would love to have some. So I gave them a bunch to use in their salads or whatever.

I did comment to Holly on another thread, that parking is a premium, especially on Saturdays,or for that matter any day. I felt it should be somewhere in case a number of people come, would have more ample parking. There are 3 other businesses there with a very small parking area. Street parking is very limited.

I posted the picture as a reminder of past meetings there. That's all.

The MINIONS are a likable bunch actually. Some of us first meet each other in person at the Phoenix Cafe, so the relationship with goes way back. From there some lasting friendship emerged. Some of us have been in each others houses, had dinner there, or drinks, or just visit and shoot the breeze. Holly once had a summer picnic inviting minions to her new house. Oh well like I said we are a good group of people who at times come on and raise hell with each other. If I am not wrong, I believe the Phoenix cafe advertised in Steve Poyzers on-line newspaper that he started and had running for some time. And there is where we got the idea of going there and meeting.

-Aj

There's room to meet, but as Aj has noted, parking can be an issue. If you turn down Chapel St., there's a lot on the left behind that first building.

I would not hold a big dinner there, but a meeting is fine.

Has anyone let the Phoenix know that we are coming?

10 AM, Saturday, Right?

Saturday at 10 is correct.

Yes, there is parking on Chapel Street, and along the side of Main Street. I usually park in front of the Granger Homestead and walk down, though tomorrow my hubby will just be dropping me off. He's taking our daughter to see the new movie at the Planetarium.

The Phoenix is small, and if we had more than 20 people show up, we might have an issue, but I believe in the past we've had as many as 10 or so minions there at one time.

I just called and spoke to an employee - he said he'd leave a note for the opener to expect us.

Our Secret Holiday Pre-Kickoff meeting went very well, and it was nice to see everybody!

Don't forget, to Secretly make a donation, go here!

http://www.the-minions.org/?p=68

Picked up two donations - I'm sure Mama will update with our current total once she gets a minute.

We have $70.00 cash money and a promise for $100.00 more.

I heard back from our social worker friend today, and she is happy to forward families to us again this year!

After 3 days of trying I finally was able to talk to the President of the Arctic League in Elmira, Bernadette.

First of all, she invited us down to see their operation, serves 5000 kids under 12 years of age, full time office staff, buys directly from manufacturers, their own facilities, etc. I'm game for a road trip if anyone else is.

There is a group similar to ours in Watkins Glen called Seneca Santas. We might be able to call on them for info for a smaller organization.

First of all, Arctic League is incorporated as a Not For Profit. They can usually carry a little forward each year but due to high demand last year, this year "the cupboards are bare." They expect another high demand year.

They get a lot of referrals through their Board of Directors which includes a rep from the Dept of Social Services, the local Sheriff, the local police chief, Catholic Charities, county Crisis Manager, etc. A letter is sent to each school's principal each year for referrals through the school nurse who usually knows more of each families unfortunate situations. Citizens can also call the Arctic League office to suggest someone in need.

Bernadette is not too concerned about screening. Of the 5000 cases per year she estimates that no more than 10 are scams. When you have that cast of characters like that on your Board, the community knows that life could become very difficult for anyone trying to scam them.

If we have any more questions, I would be more than happy to act as a go-between. Bernadette even gave me her cell number so I can reach her more easily. And, as I said before, I'm game for a road trip. They want to show off their charity.

Thank you for following up on this TomsDad. I'm very impressed with what these folks do.

$120.00 in hand, thanks.

TomsDad wrote:After 3 days of trying I finally was able to talk to the President of the Arctic League in Elmira, Bernadette.

First of all, she invited us down to see their operation, serves 5000 kids under 12 years of age, full time office staff, buys directly from manufacturers, their own facilities, etc. I'm game for a road trip if anyone else is.

There is a group similar to ours in Watkins Glen called Seneca Santas. We might be able to call on them for info for a smaller organization.

First of all, Arctic League is incorporated as a Not For Profit. They can usually carry a little forward each year but due to high demand last year, this year "the cupboards are bare." They expect another high demand year.

They get a lot of referrals through their Board of Directors which includes a rep from the Dept of Social Services, the local Sheriff, the local police chief, Catholic Charities, county Crisis Manager, etc. A letter is sent to each school's principal each year for referrals through the school nurse who usually knows more of each families unfortunate situations. Citizens can also call the Arctic League office to suggest someone in need.

Bernadette is not too concerned about screening. Of the 5000 cases per year she estimates that no more than 10 are scams. When you have that cast of characters like that on your Board, the community knows that life could become very difficult for anyone trying to scam them.

If we have any more questions, I would be more than happy to act as a go-between. Bernadette even gave me her cell number so I can reach her more easily. And, as I said before, I'm game for a road trip. They want to show off their charity.

Thanks, this helps reinforce the ideas that our objective is to help a few. What we need to do is help get the word out that we also need to those who help the many.

I once passed a guy on the street. I did not give hm money because I thought he would use it for booze.

Later, I realzed it did not make any difference what he did with the money if it was my intent to help him.

On the other hand I met a guy in San Francisco who walked up and said "could I have $5? I like a very dry Martini!"


Mike Royko pegged it. You either part with street money for sorrow or entertainment.

When you help someone in their home, you help them do better things for the ones that they love.

We are coming away from a tough year. I think that Christmas and the long term objectives of the "Ordinary Citizens" have the same roots but bear different fruits.

Huzzah TomsDad!

I have spoken to a few stores, I need to follow up, along with going to some more main street stores. As it is right now I have NO VOICE. Hopefully will gain it back soon.
Spoke with a reporter from the Messenger, will be hearing from him in about a week.
Semper Fi

4mrbam wrote:I have spoken to a few stores, I need to follow up, along with going to some more main street stores. As it is right now I have NO VOICE. Hopefully will gain it back soon.
Spoke with a reporter from the Messenger, will be hearing from him in about a week.
Semper Fi

Get healthy!

Many of the organizations in the Rochester area use a similar form for donations.

Chains are most likely limited to company policies with minimal discretion.

Single owner stores may have greater discretion.

Thanks for your efforts.

Let us know if there needs to be another meeting.

By the way, "ragtag" may have come from:

"Fleeing from the Cylon tyranny, the last Battlestar, Galactica, leads a ragtag, fugitive fleet, on a lonely quest—for a shining planet known as Earth."

"

I think that a "rag tag collection of independent, charitably minded and Ordinary Citizens" is sufficiently different from any copyright or service mark on the close phrase for Battlestar Galactica.

The word "ragtag" was around LOOOOOOONG before Battlestar Galactia. It even preceded Star Trek.

TomsDad wrote:The word "ragtag" was around LOOOOOOONG before Battlestar Galactia. It even preceded Star Trek.

What? Who? There was life before Star Trek?

Mama Loca wrote:

TomsDad wrote:The word "ragtag" was around LOOOOOOONG before Battlestar Galactia. It even preceded Star Trek.

What? Who? There was life before Star Trek?

Yes, I can remember the term "ragtag" being used to describe our troops when I fought in the Revolutionary War. FYI Valley Forge is no vacation paradise.

Found a little piece on that Seneca Santa I posted about earlier so I thought I would post the link:

http://www.hazlitt1852.com/seneca_santa

TomsDad wrote:

Mama Loca wrote:

TomsDad wrote:The word "ragtag" was around LOOOOOOONG before Battlestar Galactia. It even preceded Star Trek.

What? Who? There was life before Star Trek?

Yes, I can remember the term "ragtag" being used to describe our troops when I fought in the Revolutionary War. FYI Valley Forge is no vacation paradise.

You must have been a trendsetter, back then. I can only trace it to the 1800s (and a British telly show).

Was ragtag your clothes or your torn bedsheet shoes?

ragtag and bobtail (1865)
n.
The lowest social class; the rabble.

Brits:

Rag the Hedgehog, Tag the Mouse, and Botail the Rabbit

ragtag and bobtail 
–noun the riffraff; rabble: The ragtag and bobtail of every nation poured into the frontier in search of gold.

Also, rag, tag, and bobtail; tagrag and bobtail.

Origin:
1810–20

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ ... tail?jss=1

Here's an older one:

ragtag

1820, from rag (n.) + tag; originally in expression rag-tag and bobtail "the rabble" (tag-rag and bobtail is found in 1659), from bobtail "cur," 1619. Tag and rag was "very common in 16-17th c." [OED]

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ragtag

Tarkus wrote:
You must have been a trendsetter, back then.

Yes, we were. I can remember some of my compatriots being on the cover of GQ.

TomsDad wrote:

Tarkus wrote:
You must have been a trendsetter, back then.

Yes, we were. I can remember some of my compatriots being on the cover of GQ.

I remember that cover. Flag, fife and drums. (The guy with the flag is not in the picture.)

More info tomorrow, but we have a family! Single mom, currently in school, with 3 kids, one of whom is disabled. They've had some losses in their immediate family and consequently their support network is thin.

Now waiting to receive their wish list - please donate now if you haven't yet!

sounds like a good choice.