On Jan 17, 2019, at 7:55 AM, Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Is this about the expense or the transport?
Nope. Our policy is that we don't purchase artifacts. We only accept donations.
Has anybody reached out to him officially on behalf of VCF? I think "we're a nonprofit dedicated to... _mission_ that doesn't have a BeBox, and this would be a key part of our collection. It would be very appreciated." Is a compelling point to make for someone who clearly cares about his collection.
We did not reach out. Unfortunately, we've found that such requests fall on deaf ears. Once someone decides to sell, they see dollar signs not altruism.
That’s understood. I’ve been responsible for fundraising for two different non-profits for over a decade. Different circumstances as we aren’t typically looking for artifacts, but still. However, sending a Facebook message literally takes all of about 1 minute, a couple minutes if you wish to be lengthy. The worst that can happen is no response or a “no.” Not even trying accomplishes nothing, trying is not even a waste of time since we are actually talking 60 seconds. Additionally, since this person is apparently unloading a significant amount of valuable equipment, the tax break angle can legitimately come into play here. I am not on the board, so I cannot reach out on behalf of VCF. However, I would ask that those who can please do. Tony