Lois & Clark Forums Forums Fan Fiction Fanfic Related Any authors out there willing to help MKI?

Hey all, I posted in the off topic folder but Lab rat suggested I post here as well. Every year a group of fans that appreciate Dean for all different reasons, sponsor a charity for his birthday. This year we are doing Mending Kids International. You can find info about it here: mendingkids.org

Anyway, Dean was happy that we were doing this to honor him because it is a very good cause. The group, we call ourselves Friends Across Continents Together or Friends ACT, have a yahoo groups site here:http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/Friends_Who_Act/

It is new this year. Last year we had about 25 people participate and raised 2000 dollars for the USO and Make a Wish Foundation. We are still in our baby stages but we are hoping to expand and do some good with the friendships we have made on line. What the heck, we may as well raise money for a worthy cause while we are here having fun. So we were thinking about doing a fic fundraiser like you guys did a couple of years ago on these boards. Maybe with the help of some authors we can get donations for a CD of fics and maybe Art work to help the children in need.

If there is anyone willing to donate a fic for a charity CD or even donate to the charity, let me know. It is running from now until the middle of July to be ready for Dean's birthday at the end of July. We present him with the amount in a certificate and a card goes out with the donors names to him. There is more about it at this Yahoo site and on Zooms boards for anyone who might be interesed in helping a group of fans raise money for a worthy cause. You don't have to be a Dean fan to do it. You just have to be willing to either donate a story or cash to a worthy cause by January.

I'd appreciate any help and suggestions with this goal. Thanks. Laura

Wow how sad, not one person is willing to donate a story for a yearly fund raiser for Children in need?
How can that be? Any other suggestions to help? Laura

End of July? I can't promise anything, but I could prolly take a stab at writing a fic to donate. I'll let you know how it goes. ^_^

Laura, see my post in your other thread in Off Topic.

Tank (who is trying to think up something that might work)

Thanks Tank! Great suggestions. Any ideas for what would be good guide lines? You guys would know better then me. thanks again, Laura

Actually, Laura, I didn't even see the thread. I can't volunteer to write a story because right now I'm experiencing a serious dry spell. I have about five fics in the beginning stages and not one of them is cooperating.

However, I'll try to come up with something. That's the only promise I can make.

Nan

Nan that would be awesome if you do thanks! Laura

I don't think that no one is willing to donate, but that the boards are sooooo dead that you could fire a shotgun at it and not do any real damage!

I will try, that is all I can promise. I was thinking artwork, like avatars and wallpapers or maybe, (gasp!) an actual story...

Mid-July, right?

James

James said: the boards are sooooo dead that you could fire a shotgun at it and not do any real damage!

Word!

Where did everyone go?

James that would be wonderful and thank you! Laura

Just keeping this at the top

Laurach

I sent you a private message a couple of days ago. Did you get it?

James

The boards generally do get quiet January/February. It's the run-up to the Kerths and a lot of FoLCs' minds are on reading the eligible stories and planning their votes.

LabRat

I didn't get it James :-(

my e mail is LCME239@optonline.net

Hey James I got your artwork and it is very nice, I am sure the folcs will love it. Laura

Oh PS I got one story so far too and we raised 100 dollars so far. Laura

Is this going to be like the last fundraiser, where the authors are allowed to publically release the contents 1-1/2 years later?

Elisabeth

Sure what ever you guys want to do. You can release it as soon as you think is appropriate. The author's can decide that. Can be sooner if you'd like. The idea is to raise money for a good cause. Laura

Just my opinion, but I think it is best if you decided upon a release date. By allowing the contents to be released, you allow the authors/artists to have their work eligible for Kerths/alt-Kerths. By setting the date pretty far down the road you add value to those who donate money and are awarded the DVD--they get the added value of a sneak-peak.

Elisabeth

Ok anyone want to give me an idea of how long a good amount of time would be. I am open to suggestions? 6 months? A year?

Hmmmm.... the boards fundraiser isn't an annual event and I'm not sure how long they had on it - I think Elisabeth mentioned it earlier or someone out there knows. Dean, however, like most of us [unfortunately :p ] has a birthday every year. If you were planning on making it an annual fundraiser [which I think is what I read] then maybe... April? or something of the next year in time and it could be used as part of the next year's drive as well [See - this is what was on last year's CD/DVD so donate now and get this year's CD/DVD type of thing]. My other thought would be a year [this is the stuff from last year's birthday charity fundraiser to celebrate another year of successful money raising for charity type thing] - maybe July 1, 2009 or something.

Those are my thoughts. If you're not anticipating an annual event, that would probably change my answer to a year. I'm sure someone else out there has some thoughts too .
Carol

There was a year's embargo on stories for the Fundraiser. That's pretty much been the standard for all of the fundraiser projects we've held over the years.

When we had a paper zine of stories that was the 'added extra' for donations a few years before the DVD Fundraiser, it was the same then. The stories used in the zine were embargoed for a year after it's release to donors and after that year, authors were free to post the stories where they liked.

It seemed a reasonable period so that both donors and authors got a good deal. But, as Carol notes, the Fundraisers aren't annual, so it may not suit you as a time period if you are looking to organise an annual event.


LabRat

Since I haven't ever submitted stuff for one of these things, how does the submission stuff work out? Do we just email you stuff or should it go to someone else?

Should we send it to you as we come up with it, or wait until we have all the things we want to submit and send it together?

James

I am saving what I get in a folder on my desktop. Hopefully I get enough stuff by May to send out for July. Sending it via e mail is fine i am sure. Images at 5MB or under would also be fine to e mail but if they are bigger we can put it through my FTP site. I guess I am the person collecting the stuff. I think a year before the stuff can be released would be good. So if May 15 is the date, then next May it can be made public here. How does that sound? So far I have 1 story and an Art work by James. thanks again all of you for your input. I really appreciate the help. Laura

Hi all just bringing this to the top in hope of some more people participating. So far I have one story and one art work and 100 dollar donation for Mending Kids. If anyone has any new ideas on a story to write and would like to use it to help raise funds to help the kids please keep this in mind. Thanks again. Laura

Well, I've been kind of 'dry' of late, but I'll try a story.

Great! thank you! Laura

Bringing this to the top to ask a question. I've finished my contribution but now I need to know where to send it. Let me know.

Nan

I think I recall Laura posting contact details on her other thread on the subject, over in OT, Nan. Hang on...

Yes, here it is. She has a website url in her first post and if you scroll down to the end of the thread, there's her eddress.

LabRat

Thanks Nan! what a great little story, I am sure all will enjoy! I hope your enthusiasm to help is catching. So far we have 2 stories and one art work and as far as I know one donation. Laura

But we still have lots of time, right? I imagine things will pick up after Kerths are done. Also, FoLCs seem to work well with a 4-6 week deadline.

Elisabeth
who has an idea and some notes, but nothing resembling a story, yet

I still have something vaguely resembling an idea bouncing around in my head too... Hopefully, it'll get farther than that at some point in the near future...
Carol

I hope so Elisabeth. I am glad you guys are interested in helping. You have until May 15 to submit stories and art and you have until July 15 to donate money before we get final totals.Thanks again fir your interest in a worthy cause. Laura

Just bringing this to the top to remind people if they want to participate. Thanks to all who have already. Laura

Oooh I can try!

Any limit on how long the story has to be?

As long or short as you like. So far we have a couple of short ones so if you have a longer one great! And thanks! Laura

Bringing this to the top. May 15 is around the corner and we don't have enough stories to make a charity CD by May 15. Anyone want to help out? Any suggestions for what to do if we only get 3 stories and 1 art work? Who would buy it for charity? Any suggestions to make this thing fly? Laura

Well I am not sure what to do here. It seems I have only a couple of fictions and some maybe's and one art work. Do you think I should just can the idea and let those who want to do the yearly charity honor for Dean just donate to MKI on their own with a July 15 deadline? Or are there any last minute takers for the challenge? Laura

Does it have to be a 'new' fic, not posted on here? Sorry, I'm new and I'm clueless. I hate eing clueless

Yes it is with the understanding that it won't be posted on the boards for a year. this way people who purchase the CD have a new fic for their donation. Are you interested?