Memorial Fund for Elliott Graham

[Ed Harrow]

I emailed Kathy asking if she would like the WBF to donate funds in memory of Graham. Below is her reply.

"Ed, thanks for your kind message.Elliott was a member of the Barrie Rowing
Club, a sport he loved so if you wished to collect donations that's where
I'd send them. Kathy"

I've also checked in with Scot Bell to see if WoodenBoat would again support such an event. A man of few words, his reply, "Certainly."

What say you? Ed

[Donn]

I'm in.

[Mr. Know It All]

A great idea Ed. I'm all for it. smile.gif

[Paul Scheuer]

Certainly.

[J. Dillon]

Yes.

[Gresham CA]

Of course.

[Garrett Lowell]

Agreed.

[Garrett Lowell]

Is there an address or POC?

[Matt J.]

Keep us informed.
-Matt+Jenny

[Wayne Jeffers]

Yes!

Wayne

[htom]

Of course.

[Roger Stouff]

Sure thing.

[Alan D. Hyde]

There's more spirit and sentiment in a wooden boat, than there is in mere dollar bills.

Why can we not donate to the WoodenBoat School, with the understanding that a boat they build in the near future will bear a plaque commemorating Elliott, and will be donated to his rowing club in his memory? Perhaps for a young rowers program they may have?

Does this make sense to you and to the family, Kathy? If so, is this something you can help us to arrange, Scot?

Alan

[ 07-22-2003, 04:45 PM: Message edited by: Alan D. Hyde ]

[Donn]

Barrie Rowing Club (http://www.barrierowing.org/)

[Concordia..41]

We're game and will do so directly to the rowing club or through the WBS if Scot sets something up.

- Dave & Margo

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

I'm in
Time to give some back, glad to do it let me know where to send.

[Dave Williams]

I'm in.

Dave

[Rich VanValkenburg]

I'm in.

Rich

[Frank Wentzel]

Great Idea!

/// Frank ///

[paladin]

I are here also.......

[Scot]

I have heard from the folks at the rowing club, and they would indeed be receptive if we were to set it all up.

Although there is a suggestion of involving the WB School/building a boat, I believe we will want to instead make the donation to Elliott's rowing club, as Kathy thought that's what he would like.

That said, we will get the ball rolling, although give me a bit of extra time, as I have a few deadlines that I'm in danger of missing.

This will be a similar set-up as with Das/Lymphoma. We create an area on our site, give a link to it on the forum, and have Visa/Mastercard/Discover available for payment. We would set a deadline, and have several donation levels. One could also mail us a check. At the end of the period, we will tally it all up, and send a card with each donor's name, along with the donation of the final amount. WoodenBoat will cover all admin costs, and credit card tranaction fees.

Assuming this is the route we would like to take, we will proceed.

Thanks to all for taking the iniative.

Scot

[Mr. Know It All]

Sounds great Scot. smile.gif
What address do we send checks to?
Peace---> Kevin in Ohio

[Concordia..41]

Thanks Scot - another example of why this place is the best!

- M

[Donn]

Cheers.

[rbgarr]

Thank you, Scot. That's very generous and helpful of you for all concerned.

[Leon m]

I'm in

[LisaS]

Thank you Ed, for initiating this. Thank you Scot, for administering it.

Lisa

[Matt J.]

We're in, happily. WB, you all are a standout. Ed, I wonder if you've heard how Kathy's doing?
-Matt

[ 07-25-2003, 08:15 AM: Message edited by: Matt Joyce ]

[Paul Griffin]

As a past member of the Barrie rowing club and a friend of Elliott, I think a donation to his club would be a great way to keep his spirit alive. Count me in!

[ 07-24-2003, 08:36 AM: Message edited by: Paul Griffin ]

[km gresham]

smile.gif smile.gif smile.gif

[Ed Harrow]

Thank you, Scot. Finest kind. (You and WoodenBoat.)

[Tar Devil]

Is this not a great nation!! (The Nation of Wooden Boat Forumites!!)

Count me in.

Later,

Phil

[Jamie Hascall]

Thanks Scot and WB! I look forward to the final setup.

Jamie

[Jim H]

Count me in.

[Wild Dingo]

Perhaps... gawd sometimes I wish my mind would just stop for a bit... okay so I was thinking... Ive got some credit with WB store... being as the Barrie Rowing Club could maybe need a new boat... what about we use that and some others chip in and buy them the plans for a new Kingfisher from the store... and maybe some closer members could get together with the members of the club and build it with them... at the end of the day they could have a memorial boat with the tags "built in memory of Elliot Graham for the sport he loved"... that way we support both Elliots club and the WB store?... another thought perhaps?

Id like to offer that anyway Scot if it can be done it would be easier to do than my sending a cheque up.

[Paul Scheuer]

Anyone got a link to the accident report or press coverage ?

Wed. July 9, 2003, Whitestone Lake near Barre, Ont.

[Donn]

Run down by a 79 year old.

Link (http://www.simcoe.com/sc/barrie/story/1203221p-1433548c.html)

[Scot]

We now have the donation site set-up. Just go to the Forum homepage to see the link, or click:

http://www.woodenboat.com/elliott.htm

-Scot

[Paul Scheuer]

Thanks Scot.

[rbgarr]

Thank you Scot, WB and Donn for the links to the newspaper account and boatclub website. I will contact the boat club directly to see if they want my sculling oars.

While rowing in my (recently stolen) single shell I've had a few close calls with powerboaters. A friend had a collision with a (fortunately idling) aluminum outboard with a couple of fisherman intent on their lines. Scullers favor early morning or late afternoon hours for the calm water, but so do fisherman in their rush to get out or home from the fishing spots. And nobody looks out for scullers, if they even see them. It's kind of like motorcycles on the roads. Drivers sometimes just don't recognize them, because they are in the habit looking only for other cars and trucks.

Still a tragedy about Elliott. :(

[Alan D. Hyde]

Here's the portion of the article about Elliott:

In another fatal incident, a 52-year-old Innisfil man died after his rowing scull was hit by another boat last Wednesday afternoon. Elliott Graham was on Whitestone Lake, near Parry Sound, in the late afternoon, on July 9, when his craft was hit by a runabout driven by a 79-year-old Parry Sound man. His body was recovered the next day. The cause of the death was determined to be drowning.

The OPP continues to investigate the incident.

(Credit: The Barrie Advance.)

A dangerous world we live in, and not, so far as we can see, a fair one... :(

Alan

[ 07-29-2003, 11:28 AM: Message edited by: Alan D. Hyde ]

[Ed Harrow]

Bump.

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

Done. I'm still shaking my head over this.. very sad. I hope WB forum makes a good showing for this (know we will)

[Johannah]

Done. May these gifts bring good times on the water to many, in Elliott's name.

[Ed Harrow]

bump

(Thanks folks.)

[Donn]

Another nudge:

"As of August 6, we have 10 donations, $305.00."

[Ed Harrow]

Thanks Donn. smile.gif

Maybe what we need is a goal. Let's say we need $500 in the kitty by Thursday at 5PM or this site goes down. You know, like NPR...

What do you say, folks. I think we can do it, it's only $195.

[Rich VanValkenburg]

What I found as being my delay in doing this was that my wallet and credit card was upstairs on the dresser, or the phone was ringing at lunch and had to be answered. The way to do it is to just push back from the keyboard, retrieve wallet and card, put the phone on 'send', and have at it. Print the nice page that shows up in the WB store so that when swmbo asks what the charge was for, just hand it to her and say he was a friend. It was easy and worth it.

Rich

[LisaS]

Rich -

You will also get a receipt in the mail for your records.

Lisa

[Ed Harrow]

Way to go. $500 is in sight, what say you to $750? Ed

[Bayboat]

Done. Thanks to Ed, Scot and others working on this.

[Paul Scheuer]

The front page tally dated Aug 6 must be way off by now. At least I hope so.

For some reason that I don’t completely understand, this hit me particularly hard. Maybe I opened the original “bad news” thread thinking it was going to be another “Homeowner on the Hudson” episode, or similar entertainment. Just the thought of someone writing that message was almost too much. Then some part of me connected with the memories of my own cool, calm, peaceful outings when the world was perfect. Then to the several close calls I’ve had while pursuing my low-impact endeavors in boats, canoes, and bikes, and how lucky I’ve been All in a very short time span, but with lasting effects. .

I don’t have many real good tools to deal with this sort of thing. I’ve been coached to do the next right thing and it usually works. Sometimes not right away, however. I made my comments in the original thread, tried to keep Ed’s thread cooking, made my most meaning store “purchase” and made several resolutions about how I will deal with hazardous situations that I see in the future.

Paul S.

[Ed Harrow]

Bump.

Scot, how are the numbers looking?

[Alan D. Hyde]

Bump again.

Scot, an update on the numbers would, I trust, be a positive thing.

We're heading toward the deadline, people... :(

Alan

[Dave Williams]

Just sent my donation. Come on you guys, get with it! There are thousands of us here and a little from each could add up to a lot. Talk about money well spent!

Here's to kindness,
Dave

[ 08-18-2003, 06:22 PM: Message edited by: Dave Williams ]

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

If each of us made a very small donation twould really add up. It's for a good cause, and for Elliot's memory.

[Alan D. Hyde]

What happened to Elliott Graham could have happened, at one time or another, to most of us.

Treating others generously benefits not only them, it benefits everyone.

Only $615 so far?

Come on, people, the WBF's 7,000+ members must spend far more than that on beer or pizza on any given night.

Surely we can break $1,000, at the very least.

Alan

[Ed Harrow]

Geeze Alan, you sound like an NPR person during pledge week. Didn't know you had it in you. ;)

Step right up folks... $10/head is short money.

[Concordia..41]

Just a litle bump, because the end of the month deadling is fast approaching.

[Ed Harrow]

Yee gads, but she gets up early...

There is STILL time to sneak in under the wire! Step right up, it won't hurt. Another 15 at $10.00 each and we'll make $750.

All you Canadians chipped in?

Thanks all.

[imported_Daniel]

I cant speak for everyone, but my contribution went in a while ago. C'mon people, it doesnt have to be too much, just kick in something.

[Dave Williams]

HELLO!

So, there are over 7000 of us here. The total contribution is six hundred something dollars. You do the math. This is sad! I expected better things from this bunch.

Here's to kindness,
Dave

[Donn]

Bump. $720 and only a few days left.

[Ed Harrow]

TICK, TICK, TICK Do I hear $750... Come on folks, we can make it.

[Paul Scheuer]

Is there a way to make an anonymous contribution in the store set up ?

[Donn]

Paul..I imagine if you phoned in your donation (1-800-273-SHIP (7447)) and requested that your name be left off the list, they could probably handle it.

[Ed Harrow]

Nice job folks. A BIG Thank you!" to Scot and WoodenBoat.

[Tar Devil]

Thank you, Ed, for initiating this.

Later,

Phil

[Scot]

Hi Folks:

You've done good. I just received a very nice note from Kathy Graham:

"We thank everyone for the donations and have talked about setting up an award for
'Best Improvement' in boat maintenance skills as The Rowing Club has already named a touring 4 the 'Elliott Graham'. I'm very appreciative
for all the messages of support from you guys; my sons and I thank you all. You're a great bunch and Elliott enjoyed your antics and discussions.
Thanks again."

[Ed Harrow]

Thank you, Scot (and Woodenboat of course) for acting, most graciously, as the funnel.

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

Thanks Scot.

Thanks for your inspiration Elliot, we know you're watching. Godspeed and safe harbor to you. ;)

[ 10-07-2003, 11:26 PM: Message edited by: Peter Malcolm Jardine ]

[Nora Lee]

Karen & Boys...

He's gone on ahead, he's not dead. he'll see you in a little while.

He is watching, you all, while you finish your own course, and he will meet you on the other shore, with a smile!

Wooden Boat, again Scot, you have done a spectacular job,

God Bless this forum, Everyone!

Nora Lee