Auction on Facebook

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

Hope you all don't mind a mass mailing, but it's just easier for me this way.

Some of you know that I have a son (, now 22) with Autism/Asperger's

Syndrome. I know many of you from my Autism lists. Some of you have received

donations from me for auctions for your wonderful causes. Some of you are family

and friends. I'm hoping you won't mind my sending this request to you.

Over the last few years Steve has been through some troubling times. His best

friend from public school died back in 2009 and Steve hasn't been the same

since. He's gone through some extreme anxiety issues for quite some time now.

He's just not interested in much of anything anymore. He used to love to go

fishing with his Dad; he hasn't done that in three years. He belongs to a Train

Club where he would bring all of his engines and cars to shows/exhibits and run

them with the other members. He hasn't done that in three years nor has he

attended any meetings. At one point he was going to attend ITT for computer

science but that has fallen by the wayside. He's built several computers for

people but just isn't interested any more. He doesn't even enjoy driving

anymore. His only interests are weather and his ham radio now.

He is a licensed ham radio operator and has a couple of hand-held radios and a

base unit. He's recently done extensive research and found that there is no

SKYWARN out here in Northwest Indiana. SKYWARN is a registered trademark of the

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Weather

Service. He's taken the tests necessary to become a member of SKYWARN and

wants to become a partner organization. He has applied and received the okay

for his corporate name from the government (SKYWARN of Northwest Indiana). He

has applied for and should be receiving his EIN number. We're not sure when but

were told it could take a while. He then has to file for exempt status. That's

a much lengthier process (which is frustrating him.) Here's some information on

what SKYWARN will do and why Steve is so interested:

The effects of severe weather are felt every year by many Americans. To obtain

critical weather information, NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS), part of the

U.S. Department of Commerce, established SKYWARN with partner organizations.

SKYWARN is a volunteer program with nearly 290,000 trained severe weather

spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing

timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

Although SKYWARN spotters provide essential information for all types of weather

hazards, the main responsibility of a SKYWARN spotter is to identify and

describe severe local storms. In the average year, 10,000 severe thunderstorms,

5,000 floods and more than 1,000 tornadoes occur across the United States. These

events threatened lives and property.

Since the program started in the 1960s, the information provided by SKYWARN

spotters, coupled with Doppler radar technology, improved satellite and other

data, has enabled NWS to issue more timely and accurate warnings for tornadoes,

severe thunderstorms and flash floods. The emphasis of the effort is often

focused on the storm spotter, an individual who takes a position near their

community and reports wind gusts, hail size, rainfall, and cloud formations that

could signal a developing tornado. Another part of SKYWARN is the receipt and

effective distribution of National Weather Service information.

SKYWARN storm spotters are part of the ranks of citizens who form the Nation's

first line of defense against severe weather. There can be no finer reward than

to know that their efforts have given communities the precious gift of

time--seconds and minutes that can help save lives. SKYWARN spotters are not by

definition " Storm Chasers " . While their functions and methods are similar, the

spotter stays close to home and usually has ties to a local agency.

Volunteers include police and fire personnel, dispatchers, EMS workers, public

utility workers and other concerned private citizens. Individuals affiliated

with hospitals, schools, churches, nursing homes or who have a responsibility

for protecting others are also encouraged to become spotters.

To help him raise money for his non-profit organization, I'm having an online

Auction at Facebook. The items will mainly consist of awareness jewelry. There

are other jewelry items, some books and other miscellaneous items. Opening bids

range from $1.00 to $4.00. All proceeds will go toward funding the equipment

purchase for SKYWARN®. To be able to bid, you do have to have a Facebook

Account. If you don't have an account, you can still see the items, you just

can't bid on them. If you're not on Facebook and see something you like, you

can email me at G@... and let me know what you'd like to bid on

and the amount. Please make sure you put SKYWARN AUCTION in the subject line.

I have items in 2 Photo Albums. The links for the auctions are:

Photo Album One:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150855338866733.405169.624431732 & type\

=3 & l=01ca1c1fcd

Photo Album Two:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150882709501733.407976.624431732 & type\

=3 & l=716e8a83c8

Simply log in, scroll through the pics, read the descriptions and type in your

bid in the " write a comment " section. Any questions, please feel free to email

me. Once the auction is over, should you have won any items, you will be

contacted and advised what the total will be (total of items plus shipping).

Payment will be easiest through Paypal.

I would greatly appreciate your sending this info to others so we can get the

word out. Steve is really excited about this venture and I'd love for it to be a

success for him.

Thanks so much!