As many of you know, I started the Clad for Kids program two years ago with the best of intentions in mind. It was a small idea that has grown into something bigger and is very special to me and many of the forum members that have contributed to its success. We have done some really great things with the program and helped out some very special kids and families in the last two years. I'm proud to say that in the two years of doing this program we have not had a single problem with its operation or its success... Pretty rare in my book..HOWEVER, the program has hit a small speed bump this past weekend. I have always been as transparent, open, and honest with this program as I could possibly be to allow the donors access to how everything works and where the donations go via pictures and videos. I have worked hard to preserve the trust that you all have placed in me to be able to do this program. I wanted to fill you in on what this speedbump has been over the last weekend.
I, like many others who put detecting videos on Youtube have been private messaged from a fella that goes by Grizzlygroundswell on Youtube about an interview for his Temerity Magazine or possibly doing a hunt together for his websites. I admit that I don't check my messages on Youtube nearly enough, and these messages occured in December. He complimented me on the program and asked to do an interview... I had no knowledge of this till this past weekend. As I scrolled through other messages that I had not seen, he had told me that he purchased the domain rights to w ww. cladforkids.com and w ww. cladforkids.org. He has the legal right to do so since they were not purchased by me or anyone else. He offered me the chance to have him host these websites and have it affiliated with his large blog/forum/and other websites. I graciously declined. I looked into what this affiliation meant for me and the Clad for Kids program. I have always maintained this program as APOLITICAL and free of prejudgment of recipients. His websites do not follow with my APOLITICAL visions for this program...Therefore, I declined. I kindly asked him not to use the websites with the name of the program, but he has chosen to go ahead with them anyway adopting his own program with the name Clad for Kids attached. Once again, his legal right to do so...but morally questionable to me.
So, What does this mean for the future of the Clad for Kids program? I had to do some real soul searching to figure out exactly how to handle this and I have summoned the advice of friends on how to proceed. I was considering scrapping the entire program because I felt it has been soiled and I let down my donors. Thanks to some good advice and some heartfelt words by forum members... I keep in mind, not this speedbump, but the good that we have done and the smiles we have created. I want each of you to know that I value your friendship, trust, and support. So going forward I make these statements and requests...
THE WEBSITES CLADFORKIDS.COM OR CLADFORKIDS.ORG IS IN NO WAY AFFILIATED WITH ME, MY PROGRAM, OR MY VISION FOR THE CLAD FOR KIDS PROGRAM.
DO NOT DONATE ANYTHING TO ANY CLAD FOR KIDS PROGRAM UNLESS MY NAME IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROGRAM AND YOU SEE A POST FROM ME PERSONALLY.
Now, I can't force your not to, but I prefer to protect the interests of those in this hobby that have participated in the past and those that may participate in the future.
My and OUR Clad for Kids program only runs in the months before Christmas and Any other requests for donations at other times should be disregarded unless you see my name personally attached.
Once again, I don't know what the motives were of this individual to do the things on my behalf without my consent, but they are what they are... We will move on.
I want to thank each and every one of you... Those that donated...and those who have not. Your friendship, trust, and support for me during this has been appreciated more than you will ever know. Do not let this dark spot on this program bring us all down as it nearly did to me... We'll continue to do great things each year and make a difference one kid at a time.
Love you all...
Brian
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Originally Posted by Snowy
