Some of you have probably already heard the Peter will be shutting down VFE for good in the near future. This is due to some personal medical issues with his newborn which will require a lot of his time. And, money. You can find more details in his video on the front page of the VFE site.
Peter is also running a GoFundMe to help defray some of the medical expenses he is incurring. So, let's do our part and help out. We're going to help meet that goal!
Starting tomorrow and going through at least Monday (possibly longer) afternoon - All VFE projects will be on sale. 100% of the sales (minus shipping charges) will be donated directly to the GoFundMe at the conclusion of the sale. I will also be adding to that my own personal donation.
I emailed Peter a couple days ago to run this by him first but I haven't heard from him. So, I'd rather barrel ahead and ask forgiveness later in case he objects. In any case, let's help give back to a great guy who has supported mbp and the DIY community so much! I'll post in the forum tomorrow afternoon once the sale is live.
That's great, I just read about it on TGP. Very kind of you to organize that. He's such a great designer and builder, and seems like a super nice guy.
Hope he gets what they need and more!!
I saw the GFM link on pedalpcb and have donated.
Without turning this political, I have no idea why in western society a family should go broke because a baby needs surgery to fix a cleft palate. This would have annoyed me 2 years ago, but now that I have my own baby, I'm fucking furious. It shouldn't even be an issue. Good on you Brian and BuGG.
Thanks for the heads up. Just donated to the GoFundMe.
When is the US gonna get a real health care system that doesn't rely on gofundme like the rest of the industriaized world?
Sale is live. All projects marked down to $10. Patreon bundle is $25 (only have a few of those left).
Just ordered the bundle and a white horse. Thanks for setting this up and taking a bit of a hit to help a friend.
Just a white horse for me too, it seems my thirst for good compressors is neverending. :D
Thanks a lot!
Donated to the GFM directly. That stuff is hard to watch. My son is now 7 months old, had surgery when he was 3 weeks old (and doing fine). No bills (for us). It's insane that a new born baby does not have a standard right to health care. This stuff is hard enough as it is. Wishing Peter all the best, might order a pedal actually.
Great idea Brian. I'll order something and throw it in the backlog pile.
I won't even get into the current political/financial/medical situation here in the US but it's super sad that it EVER has to come to this. I'm happy to donate but will pass on the boards. Bean, I know this is close to you and I'd rather pay for boards I need than make you dig deeper. You've been very upfront about your support. I'd like to think there will come a time when we as Americans won't have to beg for mercy to provide for our families.
Sorry I can't let it go. I spent over 20 years in the medical field in many different positions from high to low. I cannot begin to relate to you all of the horror stories I have witnesses due to the lack of what should be a basic human right.
There is an insane amount of profiteering that goes on in our medical system from drug companies and device manufacturers to the insurance companies themselves and none of it benefits the patient, and only lines the pockets of those who are already rich.
All right stepping down off of Soapbox.
-Mike
Typo'd from my iphone
Well, I think it's inevitable the the US will go to single payer or universal healthcare within a few more years. The current for-profit model is just not sustainable. Insurance industries and health care providers have been able to rig the system well enough over the last 25 years to keep it from imploding but there is a course we are on that has a predictable outcome. And, of course, America's leaders do the right thing after all other options have been exhausted.
Quote from: madbean on November 01, 2018, 08:54:46 PM
Well, I think it's inevitable the the US will go to single payer or universal healthcare within a few more years. The current for-profit model is just not sustainable. Insurance industries and health care providers have been able to rig the system well enough over the last 25 years to keep it from imploding but there is a course we are on that has a predictable outcome. And, of course, America's leaders do the right thing after all other options have been exhausted.
Goodness, I hope this is true. Single payer would be an improvement, and it would go a long way to keep people from declaring bankruptcy because they needed healthcare. I'm just concerned that we can't get together to do big things anymore.
Just ordered a Triumvirate, a White Horse, and the Bundle! That should keep me busy for awhile, and I'm happy to contribute to a good cause!
Ordered a White Horse and an Alpha Dog.
Thanks Brian (and, of course, thanks Peter).
Have to say that I'm with others who are amazed a family in a western, industrialized country needs to raise funds for a basic surgery. Very thankful for the system where I am. Still, feeling for Peter and happy to have offered a small contribution.
Thoughts and prayers with Peter and his family, hope all the operations and recovery go as well as possible!
Will definitly get some boards, will sort out a US based shipping address for this.
Great and very kind of you Brian to offer and organize this!
Quote from: brucer on November 02, 2018, 04:06:23 AM
Have to say that I'm with others who are amazed a family in a western, industrialized country needs to raise funds for a basic surgery. Very thankful for the system where I am. Still, feeling for Peter and happy to have offered a small contribution.
This.
Ordered a few boards to support the Rutters. Prayers for the welfare of the whole family.
I don't keep up with the other forums much. Could somebody please post the direct link to the GoFundMe?
Quote from: Matmosphere on November 02, 2018, 12:36:05 PM
I don't keep up with the other forums much. Could somebody please post the direct link to the GoFundMe?
https://www.gofundme.com/baby-nate-cleft-fund
I didn't realize he lives very close to me. I donated what I could.
-M
Typo'd from my iphone
We are already at $450 as of this morning. You guys are killing it!
As my workshop unfortunately was demolished a few months back and I don't have anywhere to build right now, I'm going to probably donate directly.
Quote from: madbean on November 02, 2018, 12:51:13 PM
We are already at $450 as of this morning. You guys are killing it!
Hey that's great! And the gofundme thing is going pretty well too.
How lucky we are in France to have such a good healthcare system.
Peter deserves a lot of credit for being able to make this huge shift now to adjust to this situation. Also seems like he has been planning some longer term changes to the instruction he provides in the high school to broaden the subjects.
Flicked a few bucks on gofundme. He's a good person (with good sub-people and fellow-person, too :) )
Just ordered Pinball, Pale Horse, Merman and a Dragon, every bit helps I guess and what better reason to build some more pedals based on Peter's excellent work.
Closing in on $750!
Quote from: madbean on November 03, 2018, 03:35:19 PM
Closing in on $750!
Awesome! It's really amazing that you did that.
Very cool. I have many VFE projects in the backlogj .... will keep me busy for quite some time.
Thanks to Mr and Mrs VFE!
Quote from: madbean on November 03, 2018, 03:35:19 PM
Closing in on $750!
Would be great to crack a grand...
Good on ya for getting this going, Brian!
Quote from: cooder on November 04, 2018, 12:55:26 AM
Quote from: madbean on November 03, 2018, 03:35:19 PM
Closing in on $750!
Would be great to crack a grand...
Good on ya for getting this going, Brian!
It's slowed considerably today. Which is totally fine: we did a lot more than I expected and even hoped for! I'll let it go until tomorrow to see if we pick up anything more. If I can, I'll top it off to 1k but I may not have enough in my PP to do quite that much. Anyway, I'll post the final take tomorrow night. You guys just crushed the shit out of this. Thank you.
I ordered several - having procrastinated on VFE projects, there were several I was interested in. But I procrastinated too long and the Mobius Strip sold out! No matter, I have way more than enough to keep busy. Thanks Brian for doing this.
The current total on the GFM site is over $6500 so not too shabby.
I have a sister-in-law I love dearly that has stage4 lung cancer and is caught in the middle of making too much money for medicaid/care but not being able to work and makes too little to live on and pay for insurance. So medical expenses is a cause quite close to me.
Okey doke. We did $830 from the sales. I topped it up to $940 which brings the GFM to an even $7500 as of now.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. You guys did awesome! Cheers to all of you!
Excellent! Glad to be a little part of shipping in.
All the best to Peter and his family!!!
PS The donation was made under my name since I already have a GFM account, but I wrote in the message to him that is was from the entire mbp community. Next time I talk to him, I'll let him know just how many people participated (update: all this from 38 people!)
Oh no! Sad to hear this, but great to see the outpouring of generosity!
Quote from: madbean on November 01, 2018, 12:51:16 AM
Starting tomorrow and going through at least Monday (possibly longer) afternoon - All VFE projects will be on sale.
What happened to going through at least Monday afternoon?
Thanks Brian -- that was really great to see and Peter will know that folks are happy to give something back to him for all he has done for us. I also made a contribution to Peter's gofundme.