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Comments:
Laura - 2004-12-08 13:08:15 Yep, seems OK. * * * * * * * * * * * * Bethany Schultz - 2004-12-08 17:26:04 Stay tuned for the Freighhouse website... takes time & money...We could use your dues to pay for the domain!!! Feel free to attend our meeting Saturday 12/11 at 3:00pm at the Senior Center located on Congress and become a member! It is a great way to be involved an be included on the membership email blast. Thanks for your thoughts! -Bethany 734.945.7442 PR Committee* * * * * * * * * * * * lynne - 2004-12-08 20:48:43 Hmm. I am kind of broke at the moment but maybe I'll see about going to that meeting. I really really love the freighthouse. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-12-08 22:29:15 Daer Ms. Schultz: Thank you so much for flattering me by stopping by. I love the way this tiny blog can actually reach people in the community. Despite my vinegary words, this is a Freighthouse-loving blog, and I've bought many a fundraising item--one little red bag is on my desk as I speak. May I ask, where is the Senior Center located on Congress? Also, what are the dues, and is it possible to mail a check? (if I can't make the meeting--I might have to work). Thank you Ms. Schultz for your informative reply.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-12-08 22:38:13 Also, Ms. Schultz, if the Friends create a little PayPal account for Freighthouse donations (which takes just a minute to do), I will post a link to the PayPal account on the front page of my blog, for whatever that's worth. Other Ypsi blogs might post the link, too, and you'd have, ideally, a steady stream of revenue from blogreaders around town.* * * * * * * * * * * * brett - 2004-12-09 00:21:03 http://comnet.org/ They provide free webspace for non-profits in michigan. Laura's suggestion about the paypal acct is a good one too, as you don't need much of a website for people to donate who already are wanting to do so. The senior center is up the hill on your left, if you're traveling west after michigan ave. splits off at the chicken place. There's a park there, with a swimming pool, and I think she's referring to the small building that's there. I'm curious about what the needs really are right now. I understand that they're raising funds for the repairs, and eventually operating expenses, but I just wonder about the whole "2-year" agreement part. Could the city then decide to retake control, after it's been fixed up, and then sell it to starbucks?* * * * * * * * * * * * Bethany - 2004-12-09 02:26:08Hey first of all,please drop the "Ms."... Just B. or Bethany...you make me sound like an old lady!!! =] So, the Senior Center is located at 1015 Congress in Ypsilanti. [yes, West of Michigan ave, East of Mansfield]. Thanks Brett! WE may do a splash page there since it is free, but we already have a host: Local sustainability! Providenet. Yes, Yes, of course we'll have Paypal available after we're live. We'll connect then. So in the meantime snail Mailing: FOYF PO Box 970111 Ypsilanti, MI 48197 I don't know the answers to some of the other questions...not my bag! I know the numbers get tricky. For example, there are the amounts from estimates from 1996 and then there are the real-costs to do repairs in 2005. It is actually very complex... Membership can also vary. But someone said they don't have a lot of money, come help anyway...it is NOT just about money. We need an ARMY of help! We do have a great team and the common goal is to preserve this as a cool space [not corporate]. I'll stop back by when our website is up so you all can critique and tell me what you think...I'm sure you'll all have opinions on it. Oh, and thanks for having me...nice chatting with everyone! Ciao! -B. PS. C'ya at the Elbow room January 20th! * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-12-09 09:13:54 Thank you for all the information Bethany--that is very helpful. I can picture the Senior Center now. I was wondering if it were bikeable (it is). I'm glad to hear that a website is in the works. Hopefully not just a Starbucks but also a Jimmy John's can be lured to the Freighthouse site. (Like Brett, I'm kidding--Quizno's is bad enough). So just to reiterate what Bethany said, the meeting is December 11, 3 p.m., Senior Center, and the info phone # Bethany very kindly supplied is 945-7442.* * * * * * * * * * * * Lesley - 2004-12-09 09:52:06 Glad to hear the FOYF may have more new faces at the meeting on Saturday! The group has been going through HUGE transitions during the last months, so bear with us as we get ourselves together. You are absolutely right to bemoan the absence of a website, but the good news is we will have a "draft" to demo on Saturday. We have an e-mail list that we use to keep people updated with minutes and other bulletins. As soon as the website is up, that will all be posted there, too. Bethany's right - there are plenty of ways you can help, if cash is short. We need people to organize & participate in a work party to clean out all the junk from underneath the porch and other parts of the building - spelunking right here in Ypsilanti! We need someone to research farmers and craft vendors in the area and start getting lists together to market to them, so that we will have a thriving market in the spring. We need creative people to put together displays about the history and current use of the building. All KINDS of ways to chip in! Look forward to meeting you soon... * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-12-09 10:01:11 (pricks up ears, at full attention) Junk underneath the porch? What sort of junk? Historical flotsam? Ancient change? Broken pocket watches? Dishes? Old photos? Old...somethings? Will there be a protocol in place to channel anything historical directly into the museum? God forbid some sticky-fingered spelunker make off with a bent teaspoon or something. Lesley, I'm very happy that you stopped by--thank you. It sounds like there are enough opportunities to help with the Freighthouse that everyone can find a way to contribute. I think junk-rummaging/cleaning up just might be my niche. I like to clean/tidy up in general, my house notwithstanding (and, it must be confessed, I want a close look at that junk in case you hadn't guessed).* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-12-09 10:04:51 (falls into a historical reverie wondering what sorts of treasures may be hidden away in Freighthouse nooks)* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura again - 2004-12-09 10:07:54 (realizes that with all the foot traffic over the years in the old-depot area, with hurried people dropping change and all, Ypsidixit would be well advised to take her metal detector down there & sniff around, at the risk of looking like a...you know, metal-detector geek).* * * * * * * * * * * * Liz - 2004-12-10 15:04:26 About the two year term of the contract: Technically, the city could decide to re-take it after two years, but it would be very difficult to justify since there are terms for renewal for up to 10 years in the contract and the Friends would have to be an abysmal failure not to get it renewed for all 10 years. And, in order for the city to sell it to a private business or even lease it, there would have to be a public hearing (for a lease) or it would have to go on the ballot (for a sale). If that were to happen, the Friends would use the political process, get the troops motivated as it were, and make sure that doesn't happen. Not really any big worries there, I hope. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-12-10 15:06:30 I hope it works out for the Friends.* * * * * * * * * * * * brett - 2004-12-11 00:50:21 thanks for the clarification about the lease, liz. I'm glad to hear that you're certainly aware of the possibility as well as a planned counter-attack. I'm definitely going to try and be there tomorrow- I mean today- I better get some sleep.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-12-12 11:57:00 Ypsidixit ended up working, and today (Sunday) too. So if Brett or anyone else would like to sum up the meeting, that would be very helpful.* * * * * * * * * * * * brett - 2004-12-12 16:30:27 well, they pretty much just elaborated on the basic short- and long-range plans for the renovations, which are basically due to the city insurance company's safety complaints. They briefly discussed the new website, and some planned fundraising events in January, but I'm hoping to learn more about that on monday at the sidetrack when the p.r. committee is meeting. They also clarified the organizational structure of the group, how the treasury and finances are being dealt with, and some other logistical things that probably won't be of much interest to general audiences. The clean up of the area under the porch was discussed, but they haven't set a date for it yet- there were a number of people from the S.C.A in attendance, who offered volunteer manpower for whenever it is scheduled (I personally think they might want to bring their armor, considering what might be down there). In related business, they talked about how membership used to require a $20 fee but now that they need so much labor they'll be working a lot towards "In-kind" donations of time and energy, to qualify in lieu of cash. Finally, yours truly introduced himself at the beginning of the meeting and used the "H" word when explaining my interests, so when it came to the matter of electing a chair to head the Historic Committee I was the one they nominated. What that means, exactly, I suppose I'm going to figure out soon. Immediately I'm looking for any freighthouse history I can lay my hands on locally to start developing an archive, and when they get the keys in January I'll go through and document the structure with photographs. Beyond that, I have some loose plans for assisting with the P.R. efforts as well as, of course, finding others to be on the committee with me. If you have any more specific questions, feel free to ask. * * * * * * * * * * * * Bethany - 2004-12-13 02:13:11Hey, Sorry we missed you Laura!! Thanks for your posting Brett!...and the website, is up. We will get the membership live asap, we need to work out some logistics with the Treasurer. If you can't make it to the meetings, the website is the perfect place to find out what's going on when & where...-B* * * * * * * * * * * * Bethany - 2004-12-13 02:14:29 Hey, Sorry we missed you Laura!! Thanks for your posting Brett!...and the website, is up. We will get the membership live asap, we need to work out some logistics with the Treasurer. If you can't make it to the meetings, the website is the perfect place to find out what's going on when & where...C'ya later.* * * * * * * * * * * * add your comment: |