Many of you are not going to like what I have to say and I really don't care what you think, but the more I think about it, the stronger my feelings about what a >cheap mean bunch< many of you are. A few over 700 List Members at the time of this event! I am recalling the story of Gary Ford and his $20,000 loss. A young man trying to start out in commercial beekeeping who had his hives destroyed by some idiots driving a four wheel drive and who then tossed diesel fuel over what was left. Let me just state some facts to justify my opinion! Dave Green reported a little while back that the cash contributions amounted to $235.00.(See Below). I gave $5.00. I recently met a fellow beekeeper in my travels who donated $50.00. I know of about four other members of this List who gave $5.00. So do your math! That totals 6 people who gave a total of $75.00. Subtract that from $235.00 and you get $160.00. Assuming that the balance of contributions were no more than $5.00....that would mean $160 divided by $5.00 equals 32 other folks who contributed out of over 700 of you. A cheap bunch in my opinion! I hope that I am never drowning and some of you are standing on the shore. I might just as well swallow sea water and get it over with before I wasted my breath hollering for help from many of you! Even if each of you contributed $5.00 I wouldn't consider some $3500 a money making scheme when you consider Gary is out $20,000 ! Some of my $5.00 was spent by Gary's wife to send me a personal note of thanks! Think about it !!!! You are enjoying some WORLD CLASS FREE ADVICE on this List and you can't even contribute the equal of a couple of jars of honey to try and help out a fellow beekeeper.... a young man with a family trying his best to make it ! Do you get that I am damn Peed Off. YOU ARE CORRECT! I hope that those of you who didn't contribute never experience the disaster that hit Gary. So much for your feelings for your fellow man or woman beekeeper! One member of this List (who shall remain anonymous) thinks that most of you are "Grumpy Old Men". He is being kind! I have said my peace and I can take the heat if you have the guts to throw it my way! ---------------- Qoute of Dave Green's Message Below----------------------------------- Gary and I want to thank each of you who helped to encourage Gary by your generous gifts. About 235 dollars was received and some bees and brood were also given, so he has gotten close to $400 in aid. All your snail mail notes and copies of the e-mail comments were also turned over to him. He will be in contact with many of you, as soon as he can, though some gave anonymously, so he cannot. Gary was much encouraged by your evidence that there are a lot of caring people in the world yet. He is back in New York right now, preparing an old truck which he will bring to get the bees he still has. I am glad he's not going to try to truck bees in the old school bus. There is no way to get adequate ventilation. I looked at some of his nucs yesterday, and they are doing very well. He hopes to split again, and I think he'll be using the contributions for queens. He should have enough brood to make some more hives up. Frankly, I am surprised (pleasantly) to see how well these nucs are drawing foundation. He could even have a little honey to harvest before he leaves South Carolina. I had delayed this note, in hopes that I would have some good news on the police investigation, but I have been unable to get any information, so that item will have to wait. Thank you again, good folks! Dave Green -------------------------End Of Quoted Message------------------------------------------------------ By the way....Terry Ford said in her note of thanks to me that they are using the money to buy nucs. Al, Al Needham--Scituate,MA,[log in to unmask] Author Of "The HoneyBee"--An Educational Program Check Out " The Amazing BeeCam " At: http://www.xensei.com/users/alwine/