UPDATE: Linda (as in Raycon and Lindacon) Needs a Van
Mollie and Mark Hemingway and a dozen or so of us Colorado Ricochet members have had the pleasure of meeting Mr. and Mrs. Raycon – Ray and Linda Terrill – in person. The rest of the Ricochetti have undoubtedly noticed Raycon Ray’s powerful and wise voice on the site. Ray’s spirit is, as my daddy would say, “strong like bull.” Linda, although confined to a wheelchair, has a spirit which soars with joy, and a heart which will not be denied the recognition of her full human dignity. They’re great Americans, willing servants, and have inspiring life stories to show for it.
Mr. Chauvinist and I know this about them because we’ve had the great blessing of being served dinner in Ray and Linda’s grace-filled home: Linda’s and Ray’s collaborative English Brown Stew served in homemade bread bowls (ah, you shoulda been there!). We first became aware of their location in our shared hometown of Colorado Springs during the Waldo Canyon Fire. Ray and Linda were in the evacuation zone and had to stay with friends for three days while the fire ravaged surrounding areas of the city. Thank God, their property wasn’t damaged.
Colorado has a way of imposing Nature on you when you’re least prepared for it, though. Three hundred and fifty burned homes were only the first assault. The wildlife displaced by the fire has since become concentrated in more populated surrounding areas. When I visited my cousin in Ray and Linda’s neighborhood several weeks after the fire, I had to drive at the speed of the deer trotting down the middle of the road in front of me. Well, Ray had a deer encounter too while driving their handicap van, but the outcome wasn’t a leisurely drive through the neighborhood. I’ll let him tell the story of why, as we’re calling our effort, “Linda needs a van.”
Read Ray and Linda's story here.
Be sure to read "Linda's Biography" too.
That’s the story. We want Linda to be able to get back out into the world and shine her light without paying such a steep price in pain and recovery time. Her new live-in wheelchair is a godsend in that regard, but now we need the means to get her and her wheelchair from place to place. The Ricochet community is so diverse and talented, we thought, “Who better to ask for ideas and resources?” Who better to appeal to than a group of center-right Americans, Canadians, and others, all of whom believe that voluntary action through voluntary associations will solve problems more directly (and with far greater efficiency, not to mention love) than the heavy hand of government? Linda and Ray have a need. Our idea is to identify within the Ricochet community one of de Tocqueville’s “little platoons,” a voluntary association formed by willing participants, to fill that need.
Do any of you know someone in the auto industry who would work with us on price? Do any of you do fundraising for a living? Do you have $25 or $1,000 that’s been sitting around gathering dust (we know it hasn’t been earning interest)? We can’t promise you dinner with the Obamas at the White House, but Ray and Linda would love to be your hosts if you can make your way to Colorado Springs. Let's be honest, you'll enjoy the company more at Ray and Linda's place anyway. And if you can contribute something, you’ll feel great because you saw a need and helped meet it.
We’re seeking local help from some of the dealerships, and we’re trying to set up something with a non-profit to handle the account and to provide donors with receipts for tax deductions. However, we wonder if it isn't time for conservatives to do good things with our resources, even when government imposes taxes on us. Are we going to stop being charitable if (when?) the charitable tax deduction window closes? In any case, we’d be very grateful for you to step up and help in whatever way you’re able.
Please leave a comment or send a private message to Western Chauvinist.
Our thanks to tabula rasa for his help in this effort.
UPDATE:
We're going to proceed without tax exempt status. It just isn't worth the hassle.
A second vehicle used to transport Linda in her wheelchair is exempted under Colorado State Medicaid eligibility in Ray's experience. So, we're not going to imperil Ray and Linda's status as long as we give them a vehicle, and not money.
We have one missing person we're still trying to locate. Ray and Linda have the story to tell and they're going to keep at it at lindaneedsavan.com for now. Tabula rasa and I are the Ricochet connection helping to get their story told through Ricochet. Now, we need someone with the technical competence and the willingness to set up the fundraising mechanism. We're searching for that person locally, but if anyone reading this feels called to step up, please contact me through private message. I'll put up a new post when we have the mechanism in place.
Finally, for most of us here on Ricochet, last week was a tough week on the reputation of humanity generally, and a little more than half of voting Americans particularly. Ray, Linda, TR, and I just want to thank you for restoring that reputation for us through the outpouring of love and generosity we've experienced over the last couple days. You're good people and great Americans! And we'd be remiss if we failed to express our gratitude to Rob and Peter and all the good people at Ricochet who make this community possible, and who have taken care to attend to this effort. By their love you shall know them.
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Comments:
Jun '10
Re: UPDATE: Linda (as in Raycon and Lindacon) Needs a Van
Put me down for $20 when you find a suitable vehicle.
May '12
Re: UPDATE: Linda (as in Raycon and Lindacon) Needs a Van
When you set up an entity and way to fund it, I hope you will post it here. I will contribute.
Thank you for looking out for them. This is how things ought to work.
Mar '11
Re: UPDATE: Linda (as in Raycon and Lindacon) Needs a Van
Same here. If a van does become available, I think a PayPal-style donation box might work well for Ricochet members.
And if everything works out with the van, we expect a nationwide Ray & Linda tour!
May '10
Re: UPDATE: Linda (as in Raycon and Lindacon) Needs a Van
I agree. Also, if we can have had the NRO Deal sticky at the top of the member feed, can we get this one as well????
Re: UPDATE: Linda (as in Raycon and Lindacon) Needs a Van
BrentB67: When you set up an entity and way to fund it, I hope you will post it here. I will contribute.
Thank you for looking out for them. This is how things ought to work. · 1 hour ago
Indeed. When the mechanics of how to contribute are worked out, please let us know. I'd be honored to help.
Dec '10
Re: UPDATE: Linda (as in Raycon and Lindacon) Needs a Van
I know I said Ricochet members were diverse and talented, but did I mention how beautiful you all are? I could kiss you! /On the cheek, of course. Five bucks each. Hey! We're trying to raise money here!
Aug '10
Re: UPDATE: Linda (as in Raycon and Lindacon) Needs a Van
Hey, if I can give the RNC $50 for that disaster of an election I can give at least as much to something that will actually get some positive results!
Dec '10
Re: UPDATE: Linda (as in Raycon and Lindacon) Needs a Van
Exactly, Frozen. I'm through with lousy "investments."
Jun '10
Re: UPDATE: Linda (as in Raycon and Lindacon) Needs a Van
I'm in.
Apr '11
Re: UPDATE: Linda (as in Raycon and Lindacon) Needs a Van
I'll chip in too!
Jun '12
Re: UPDATE: Linda (as in Raycon and Lindacon) Needs a Van
Count us in too.
Mar '11
Re: UPDATE: Linda (as in Raycon and Lindacon) Needs a Van
BrentB67: When you set up an entity and way to fund it, I hope you will post it here. I will contribute.
Thank you for looking out for them. This is how things ought to work. · 3 hours ago
I couldn't agree more. As Mr. Carter stated, it would be an honor to contribute.
Jun '12
Re: UPDATE: Linda (as in Raycon and Lindacon) Needs a Van
WC, if you set up a non-profit entity,
(1)we can start a silent auction on ebay. We can donate certain memorabilia or "old treasures" and open for public auction. We can state the purpose for fund-raising and all of us can notify our friends via email to go to the ebay site to bid.
(2) We can organize a movie night. If ricochet Management approves, we can open live chat while watching the movie. We can pay for a ticket to include maybe $5-$10 more per virtual ticket allocated for Linda's van.
(3) Maybe you can add a Tip Jar button to their sites so we can Donate and refer our friends to the site.
Jun '12
Re: UPDATE: Linda (as in Raycon and Lindacon) Needs a Van
Christmas is around the corner. Maybe we ladies can have a bake sale. Bake cookies and ship them according to orders and all proceeds can go to the Van.
Jul '10
Re: UPDATE: Linda (as in Raycon and Lindacon) Needs a Van
I'm in.
Whatever I can for Our Family Here.
Jun '12
Re: UPDATE: Linda (as in Raycon and Lindacon) Needs a Van
Just let me know who to make check to and where to send it.
Jul '10
Re: UPDATE: Linda (as in Raycon and Lindacon) Needs a Van
Just adding....
Jul '10
Re: UPDATE: Linda (as in Raycon and Lindacon) Needs a Van
.....more comments....
Jul '10
Re: UPDATE: Linda (as in Raycon and Lindacon) Needs a Van
.....to get this post....
Jul '10
Re: UPDATE: Linda (as in Raycon and Lindacon) Needs a Van
....on up the "Most Popular" Feed.