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I had an idea that I want to bounce off the Dakka community. The local radio station here in Kansas City is hosting a bike ride for the March of Dimes called Bikers for Babies. Even though I won't be able to attend I donated money to the cause. But I had an idea that the Gamer Community might be able to do to help out. The idea is to hold an annual 40K charity tournament called Bolters for Babies. This is a funky name I know but it works. I need to know what the Dakkaites think about this idea before I approach the my FLGS owner, GW legal, Federal and State Government and most importantly the March of Dimes with the idea. I don't see any problem with the idea but if enough people approved this will give me an idea on how I would need to design the tournament. Plus, I want all proceeds to go right to the March of Dimes and I would cover the cost of terrain and tables.

So, please answer the poll and leave some C&C so I can start to get this idea off the ground. Thank you for your time and attention.

p.s. Any person that does not know what the March of Dimes is they are a non-profit orginzation that provides funds for research for the prevention premature births and medical care for premature babies.

Link to the March of Dimes: http://www.marchofdimes.com/

Cool idea, I honestly don't see why there would be a problem with it.

The only issue I see is GW Legal not letting me use Bolter in the title or a picture of a Bolter for local advertising (Poster in the front window of FLGSs) for the tournament. Since no one is making any profit for the use of the IP I hope they will just sign off on it.

Well, it really depends on the charity. Let's say someone picked a pro-choice group as the charity - Planned Parenthood, for instance. Some people might have a problem with that, if they were anti-choice.

Personally, I cannot support any charity dedicated to keeping more people alive. The world is already seriously overpopulated, and there is no reason to support even more people. I would not attend a tournament where the proceeds went to the March of Dimes. I understand my position on this is probably unusual, but looking at the world from a larger perspective, maybe we need less babies, not more.

Great idea, I wish you all the best with getting it up and running. The name is brilliant, although I have some crazy images in my head for publicity posters.
I think charity tournys are a great idea. I attended one run by GW themselves in July last year. It was officailly the Scottish Conflict, although when we got there we were told that the money we paid to participate was being donated to a campaign called 'Naomi's Fight' and was to raise money for a Cystic Fibrosis charity (Naomi being the baby girl of one of the organizors and she suffers from the disease). All those who took part recieved a special pink dice which had the words 'Naomi's Fight' in place of the single dot for a 1.

Again I wish you all the best and you'll have to post a review of the tourny at some point with some pics.

A great idea for a charity tournament I heard on these boards was that players could buy special extra re-rolls by donating something like a quarter to charity for every re-roll.

Redbeard wrote:Well, it really depends on the charity. Let's say someone picked a pro-choice group as the charity - Planned Parenthood, for instance. Some people might have a problem with that, if they were anti-choice.

Personally, I cannot support any charity dedicated to keeping more people alive. The world is already seriously overpopulated, and there is no reason to support even more people. I would not attend a tournament where the proceeds went to the March of Dimes. I understand my position on this is probably unusual, but looking at the world from a larger perspective, maybe we need less babies, not more.

Dude, I respect your views, but the charity is for the prevention of premature births, not a charity for actively encouraging explosion population. Also perhaps this is one of those opinions which might be best kept to oneself, it's quite inflammatory.

Nurglitch wrote:A great idea for a charity tournament I heard on these boards was that players could buy special extra re-rolls by donating something like a quarter to charity for every re-roll.

That could net a fair amount of $$$!

Charity Tournament sounds like a great idea!

As for Legal/IP issues, contact GW etc and let them know your ideas. They may be fine with it.
It is probably worth contacting local Games Stores, as they might be willing to donate prizes (which will encourage more people to pay their entry fee), and provide terrain, tables etc.

I like the idea of buying re-rolls.
We did this at the UK Student's Role-Playing Convention. Was very popular and raised quite a bit of cash

Good Luck with your fund raising!

Depending on the charity, I'd definitely be down for some charity gaming. Most Irish conventions have a big charity event in the pub- be it an auction, or table quiz, or what have you. Often a portion of any profits will go to the same charity. I've been at (and helped run) conventions for Suicide Prevention, Children's Hospitals, Cancer Research...and a few others aswell.
There are some charities I wouldn't be keen to support, obviously, but the concept of gaming for charity is a great one. Have fun!

I think the problem is more of scale. It's very expensive to fund enough tables and terrain for a tournament, if you're thinking of having enough people come to make any money. If you do a small tournament over, say, three tables, with maybe 15 people, you're not going to make that much....

Redbeard wrote:Well, it really depends on the charity. Let's say someone picked a pro-choice group as the charity - Planned Parenthood, for instance. Some people might have a problem with that, if they were anti-choice.

Personally, I cannot support any charity dedicated to keeping more people alive. The world is already seriously overpopulated, and there is no reason to support even more people. I would not attend a tournament where the proceeds went to the March of Dimes. I understand my position on this is probably unusual, but looking at the world from a larger perspective, maybe we need less babies, not more.

Isn't EVERY charity, in some way, dedicated to keeping more people alive? From Water Aid to Cancer Research to Oxfam? Oh, I guess you could participate if it's for a Dog's home or something...!

Wannabe Writer wrote:

Redbeard wrote:Well, it really depends on the charity. Let's say someone picked a pro-choice group as the charity - Planned Parenthood, for instance. Some people might have a problem with that, if they were anti-choice.

Personally, I cannot support any charity dedicated to keeping more people alive. The world is already seriously overpopulated, and there is no reason to support even more people. I would not attend a tournament where the proceeds went to the March of Dimes. I understand my position on this is probably unusual, but looking at the world from a larger perspective, maybe we need less babies, not more.

Dude, I respect your views, but the charity is for the prevention of premature births, not a charity for actively encouraging explosion population. Also perhaps this is one of those opinions which might be best kept to oneself, it's quite inflammatory.

That's right, Wannabe Writer. I'd go to such a tournament, but perhaps it isn't such a good idea to actually have one when it leads to unnecessary rage and infighting among the 40K playerbase. Especially on the internet, where fights tend to get out of hand rather quickly, and where a large amount of 40K players is "at home". I also think that's why there will probably never be any Charity tournaments.

ArbitorIan wrote:Isn't EVERY charity, in some way, dedicated to keeping more people alive?

Actually, no, they're not. I make a regular donation to Final Exit, a pro-euthanasia group, as well as to several environmental charities, which are dedicated to the wellbeing of the planet, not just people. And, as mentioned above, Planned Parenthood isn't exactly about keeping people alive either, and they're a charity.

Wannabe Writer wrote:Also perhaps this is one of those opinions which might be best kept to oneself, it's quite inflammatory.

This is a discussion forum. I didn't raise this topic, but I do believe that those opposed to an idea should be allowed to present their side of it. I was asked if I'd donate to the March of Dimes, and I stated no, along with my reason. If that's inflammatory, then this whole topic is inflammatory. I think someone's being a bit too sensitive.

While I may disagree with his choice of Charities, I do agree with his underlying statement. I would be willing to attend and/or support a charity war-gaming tournament as long as I agreed w/ the Charity.

There has been a charity tournament here in Northern Atlanta to benefit Toys for Tots every year for several years now. It's quite popular, and I believe there are battle reports from it posted here on Dakka.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/219239.page

Couldn't find any information about this year's event in a cursory search. If 40kenthusiast is around, maybe he can tell us if there's another event coming in November.

Toys for Tots is another Charity I can get behind

Who knows, if this goes well I can do another tourny for Toys for Tots but one thing at a time.


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Well, the FLGS owner is in for the idea and will let me use all his tables for free. Just now need to get prize support which should not be hard. I was thinking of registration grab bags from sponsors for everyone that signs up and shows up. Also, one of my in-laws owns a cateering company and is willing provide catering for the event for free (tax write off).

We have a couple of groups in our area that do charity tournaments a couple of times a year. The last one I attended was for the Lukemia and Lymphoma (sp?) society. It was a 16 person tournament and charged like $12 entry fee, and would take donations. I think they ended up raising around $800. Everyone got a T-shirt donated by the local chapter, and they gave some prize support to the winners.

Big suggestion though. Since your doing this for charity, and expecially since you'll be handeling money get yourself incorperated as a non-profit organization. This protects both you and the charity from any liability should something go wrong. People get funky with money and prize support, and you'd hate to get sued over something stupid and suddenly find your house/car etc. at risk. It will make tax season a little more complicated, but it will also keep Uncle Sam out of our pockets.

I have been thinking about that. I am thinking of contacting the march of dimes and asking them how to handle the money and tax possiblity because I do not want anything to go wrong. I already know that I will have over 20 people showing up. I was thinking between $15 to $20 entry fee, but that will include the entry gift bag chock full of stuff, catered lunch and dinner and prize support:

Random Drawing 1: AoBR or equivalent USD at the FLGS
Random Drawing 2: NIB FW Ork Warboss on Bike
First Prize: $100 USD at the FLGS
Second Prize: $75 USD at the FLGS
Thrid Prize: $50 USD at the FLGS
Best Sportsman: $35 USD at the FLGS
Best Painted: $35 USD at the FLGS

Is this ok for prize support of a local tournament. I do not mind offering these up out of my own pocket since it is for a good cause and I can get all this together since it will take awhile to set this up.

The FLGS can handle 15 games at one time before spilling outside so I will have to run a sign up weeks before hand. Also, I have access to about 3 more tables and terrain before I will have to produce more. I am wanting my own tables for my own home so I can produce these without them going to waste. I would love to hold it this fall but I do not if I can get everything together by then since it just me right now putting this together.

The club I'm part of ran a charity tournament, of sorts last year, and is looking to do the same in a few weeks. The "entry fee" is a certain amount of canned/non-perishable foods, and by donating more you get tickets that are usable to buy a re-roll, or force an opponent to re-roll. After the tournament, the foods are donated to the local food bank. Last time a very good amount of food was raised, and we're hoping for the same results.

Nice I would join!

Wannabe Writer wrote:

Redbeard wrote:Well, it really depends on the charity. Let's say someone picked a pro-choice group as the charity - Planned Parenthood, for instance. Some people might have a problem with that, if they were anti-choice.

Personally, I cannot support any charity dedicated to keeping more people alive. The world is already seriously overpopulated, and there is no reason to support even more people. I would not attend a tournament where the proceeds went to the March of Dimes. I understand my position on this is probably unusual, but looking at the world from a larger perspective, maybe we need less babies, not more.

Dude, I respect your views, but the charity is for the prevention of premature births, not a charity for actively encouraging explosion population. Also perhaps this is one of those opinions which might be best kept to oneself, it's quite inflammatory.

His opinion, he's entitled to it, as are you (yours, not his :s) tbf I agree, but only slightly, I don't dislike it for what it does, I just have a terribly morbid outlook, I would prefer to support other charities first, premature births rank lower than cancer...but I'd still support them if I got to go to a tourney...

Sarrazon wrote:The club I'm part of ran a charity tournament, of sorts last year, and is looking to do the same in a few weeks. The "entry fee" is a certain amount of canned/non-perishable foods, and by donating more you get tickets that are usable to buy a re-roll, or force an opponent to re-roll. After the tournament, the foods are donated to the local food bank. Last time a very good amount of food was raised, and we're hoping for the same results.

I've heard one of our FLGS did the same thing hereabouts a year or two ago with great results. I'd be happy to participate in a charity tournament. Since my gaming club has become more active recently I might propose the idea to an officer for review at our next meeting.

That sounds like an interesting idea. I would totally donate an entry fee or something to play in Bolters for Babies.

Sorry - have I been taking crazy-pills? I could swear that there are people on this board opposed to the treatment of prematurely-born infants... How can you oppose that on the grounds of over-population? If you where opposed to immigration on that basis, then whatever, it's your party.
But premature babies must make up a minute percentage of the general population, surely. By that logic, do we stop treating all sick people? I know you're American Redbeard, but still...
That has got to be the least controversial charity I've ever heard of - Well, apart from 'The Derek Zoolander Center for Kids Who Can't Read Good and Who Want to Learn to Do Other Stuff Good Too', of course

How about 'Battle for Babies'? Avoids legal problems.

I'm not going into this further to avoid offending sensitive people.

And I'm not American.

While I do not currently agree with Redbeard's method of choosing charities, I do agree with him or her that there are various charities which I would not want to support, even indirectly. Given limited resources to donate, a person has to make a choice and a person has the right to make that choice according to his or her understanding of what is best.

In a completely detached, 'I haven't talked to anyone who's tried it and it sounds like a lot of work' sense, I'd be concerned about any rules about costs for the charity. Is the store donating the prizes, or is that coming out of the donations, and are there any limits and regulations about that sort of thing? I'm pretty sure that my boss's advice would be "Hire an accountant."

Bolters for Babies! I like it!

I think the idea is a great one.

Redbeard wrote:Well, it really depends on the charity. Let's say someone picked a pro-choice group as the charity - Planned Parenthood, for instance. Some people might have a problem with that, if they were anti-choice.

Personally, I cannot support any charity dedicated to keeping more people alive. The world is already seriously overpopulated, and there is no reason to support even more people. I would not attend a tournament where the proceeds went to the March of Dimes. I understand my position on this is probably unusual, but looking at the world from a larger perspective, maybe we need less babies, not more.

Infanticide all the way! You get the Burma Rebels, I'll get villagers' children, we'll meet at a Chicago park of your choice and bash their heads on trees!

/sicksarcasm

Anyhoo, I see no reason as to why people wouldn't like it.

Rico.