Robert Reynolds wrote:You know it's possible to ship olive oil anywhere, right?
I know you're joking, and certainly lots of "olive oil" has been shipped. We also understand that while I might be willing to take a chance sending my lot somewhere where it might not be quite clear of the legalities, a different situation prevails for those who make their living from wine. I wouldn't ask Steve or Mary (and maybe Pat from his post might be a retailer) to do anything they're uncomfortable with.
Once the drawings start, I'll make sure each lot's donor and winner have respective contact info. If a good shipment option can't be found, please contact me and I'll try and work out something. This is for a good cause, paired with having some fun, and lots of people will be willing to help. For example, If a winner is in Alabama and shipping is hard, we'll see if someone goes to Atlanta periodically. If someone in BC won, I might ask Jenise to be receiver. If Matilda wins, we'll figure out something!
A few other thoughts:
Currently there are 67 donors. So there's a one-third chance that some number might come up with no corresponding winner. I plan on re-entering my prize as #11 in that case, but there is
no obligation to do so. We originally said unmatched prizes revert to owner, and we shouldn't change rules, and no one should be pressured to do so. This is supposed to make us feel like a community, but not a cult.
I wish everyone could win, but in any case odds are a lot better than most raffles. I hope the winners enjoy their prizes. Again, no pressure, but if one wanted to extend the giving, one option is for the winners to use prize to raise a little more money. Last time a few winners held dinners- I won a 75 Lafite generously donated by Howie, and we used it as a centerpiece of a Bordeaux centric dinner we charged our friends $100 donations to charity for (and when one person heard the story of how its was Howie's anniversary wine, and how his late wife would have been happy for it to go to a good cause, chipped in double). That might not be doable for everyone, but it's just a thought.
There are quite a few people who signed up who have been lurkers in the past, and others who found this forum as this raffle was emailed and tweeted. I hope some/most of you stick around and participate in future. Welcome!
I have to recheck spreadsheet, but I believe we're at a little over $5,000, not counting the people who preferred to pass along partial receipts w/o amounts (and I'm guessing from past experience that includes some larger donors). In the face of such enormous need, that's just a drop in the botte (much bigger than a bucket, and more appropriate for this forum). But it's money that wasn't there before, and so many peoples lives will be saved/improved. I've been blessed to be the one who has read the great notes that accompanied these confirmations, there's a lot of good people in this community. Thanks all.
And hey, more than 2 days to first drawing, and couple weeks till final drawing, we've got room for more donors!