Extra Frequent Flyer Miles anyone?

Working a steady part-time during school and full time in the summer and paying for it when mom can't would be the solution.

quote:

Originally posted by zombywoof:
Working a steady part-time during school and full time in the summer and paying for it when mom can't would be the solution.

Good stuff...

Begging for handouts to attend a baseball showcase hardly seems appropriate.

Playing summer ball can make it tough to get a job... here are some ideas to raise some coin and not soliciting on the website.

1) Mow lawns or do yard work
2) Detail (wash cars)
3) Odd jobs labor around peoples homes
4) offer to "clean" your parents garage/basement/attic and hold yard sale
5) If you are more rural, go to farms and ask to work, summer has plenty of work on farms

If you are in a neighborhood the first three should be readily available, hang some signs.

Get creative man, how bad do you want it!

Lately, we've seen increasing numbers of teenage kids from sports teams "begging" at street corners in wealthy parts of town. They are asking for money to buy new uniforms, attend a camp, travel to a tourney, etc., and their coaches are even there to "supervise." Whatever happened to bake sales, car washes, candy sales, raffles, etc.?

Let me say two things:
1. Good advice to the young man who started this thread - earn the money yourself. There are always plenty of odd jobs you can do for people who would be happy to pay for the help.

2. As for whatever happened to fundraising - it still exists, but the cost of playing for some of these teams exceeds $3000 per year. I guess panhandling is considered the next best thing! In my opinion, the whole thing has gotten way out of hand. Parents have to start just saying no - which brings us back to the original post. Good for these parents who recognize their limitations and say "enough". I know a few families who spent themselves into the poor house for junior, with nothing to show for it.

quote:

Originally posted by Infield08:
Lately, we've seen increasing numbers of teenage kids from sports teams "begging" at street corners in wealthy parts of town. They are asking for money to buy new uniforms, attend a camp, travel to a tourney, etc., and their coaches are even there to "supervise." Whatever happened to bake sales, car washes, candy sales, raffles, etc.?

Whatever happened to getting up early for work so you can get out early? The "I can't work because of baseball" excuse gets old. My son works at a bagle shop from 7am to 2pm Monday through Friday. Yeah it kills some of his summer social life. He can't stay out late when he has a game the following night. It's about choices. I could cover all my son's expenses, give him an allowance and let him play all summer. But what would that teach him? When I was a kid I worked in the sun for eight hours before playing baseball at night.

Today's kids are called the Millenium generation. Soft and whiny generation might fit better. There's no entitlement. Get off your rear and earn it.

quote:

Originally posted by kt333:
Family is not in the best shape financially.

I was invited to join SSK's national team for the USA Labor Day Cup this September in NC. This can open a lot of doors.

Mom does not want to spend another dollar on something that is not a necessity.

Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks

How badly do you want it? How much does the bus cost?

Our old team always had a team wide garage sale to get cash to offset the team costs. It is amazing what kind of stuff you can get from people if you offer to haul it away from their garage/basement/attic/back yard. We always ran a 50/50 raffle and sold water and soda at the garage sale. Usually made enough to support the team for 6 months or so.

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Originally posted by RJM:

quote:

Originally posted by Infield08:
Lately, we've seen increasing numbers of teenage kids from sports teams "begging" at street corners in wealthy parts of town. They are asking for money to buy new uniforms, attend a camp, travel to a tourney, etc., and their coaches are even there to "supervise." Whatever happened to bake sales, car washes, candy sales, raffles, etc.?

Whatever happened to getting up early for work so you can get out early? The "I can't work because of baseball" excuse gets old. My son works at a bagle shop from 7am to 2pm Monday through Friday. Yeah it kills some of his summer social life. He can't stay out late when he has a game the following night. It's about choices. I could cover all my son's expenses, give him an allowance and let him play all summer. But what would that teach him? When I was a kid I worked in the sun for eight hours before playing baseball at night.

Today's kids are called the Millenium generation. Soft and whiny generation might fit better. There's no entitlement. Get off your rear and earn it.

Good points RJM, HOWEVER, with the unemployment rate as high as it is and the current state of our economy; it is getting very hard for kids to find the part time summer jobs; especially those without flexible schedules.

I am all about hard work, I grew up on a large Dairy farm, but times are different.

As I said get creative and how bad do you want it?

If a kid advertised he needed to raise X dollars to attend a baseball showcase there are probably people who would give him work. Someone like myself who understands the cost might overpay him if he works hard and does a good job.

Agreed RJM; these days kids may have to work a little to find work. Get after it!

FMS


You are right. My son had to give up his job becasue the place did not have a lot of kids working. So when he had to have some flexibility in his schedule, (rain make up schedule on his work night), there were not enough other kids that could switch with him. So he took a month off and was lucky enough to find another job that has flexibility in scheduling. But you are right in today's economy it is tough enough to find a job much less one that will give you the needed flexibility.

Good ideas given here for this player to raise the money...I hiope it works out.

.

quote:

Originally posted by fsmjunior:
I am all about hard work, I grew up on a large Dairy farm...

How tough could that be?

How tough am I? I wouldn't hire my son. I told him he'd tick me off and I'd have to fire him.

I would be livid if I knew son was on the internet begging for FFM.
Every serious event or team son played for had an opportunity to raise funds through magazine subscriptions, ads, etc if you didn't want to do that you found a job, which son did all through HS.
I know times are tough and it's hard to find a job, but I always believe where there is a will there is a way. If not, then the best option is to find a really good team that stays closer to home.

As far as begging on the street corner, that's a big thing here now with younger travel teams. months ago the same team was out at a grocery store every weekend, trying to "raise" money for trip to Cooperstown. I say if you can't afford it don't go. Is a trip to play in Cooperstown all that necessary?

JMO.

I lifeguard part time.

I posted this discussion to see if anyone had any extra frequent flyer miles laying around.

I didn't mean to come off in a "begging" manner.

It is tough with the economy, as well as having flexibility.My son worked three baseball camps last summer, two were MON-Thur 9-1 he made 200.00 a week for 2 weeks.Then his hitting coach wanted him to be a counselor at a week long camp he runs.He made 250.00 for the week but was there for 4 days, day and night.Wasnt enough , but it was really a little bit of returning some time back to a guy that has helped him much over the years. He got free meals and room for week and was allowed to hit and do some fielding as well as counsel younger guys.
So three short weeks he made almost 700.00. it was a good enough amt. for gas and entertainment for the summer.As well as just learning to work.
When my son was younger and didnt have ability to work with schedule, we found some volunteer, community stuff he could do.I felt even though I was giving him money for what he needed, he was at least helping out in the community.he worked in food kitchens, and habitat for humanity.Just a few hours a week but felt it was a good thing for him.

It wasn't begging, kt3333. Don't worry about it. Good luck.

obviously i want it badly when i get to the point of asking for people's help on a forum.

I didn't think asking for spare frequent flyer miles would be inappropriate.

I work. I work hard on and off the field. So please don't be so quick to make assumptions about me being "lazy". I find it offending. Especially when some of you associate me with someone begging on a streetcorner of a high class neighborhood. Wow.

Maybe I shouldn't of asked for spare frequent flyer miles. I didn't think this type of response would've occurred.

quote:

Originally posted by Tx-Husker:
It wasn't begging, kt3333. Don't worry about it. Good luck.

I know. Thank you.

kt333,

I did not see it as begging kt333.I think as a young man you have to understand older peoples mind set.Right now the economy is tough for everyone and many people are sacrificing expensive things not absolutely needed , just as your own mom stated why she couldnt pay for it.
Our own family isnt even taking a family vacation this year, and my husband is working 6 days a week 10 hours a day as a 60 year old man.its tough times son thats all.
My own son had a 50% scholarship to an expensive D1 last year, he had to back out and go to a junior college.He was gracious about it and its ended up being a good decison after all.
I believe if you cant go to this showcase, something else will work out for you. Not everyone gets recognized at showcases, there are other ways.
Sorry if you felt the adults were to harsh with their words, but your dealing with a generation of people who have been asked to give out their money for a vast majority of reasons and many are just strapped.

quote:

Originally posted by TPM:
I would be livid if I knew son was on the internet begging for FFM.
Every serious event or team son played for had an opportunity to raise funds through magazine subscriptions, ads, etc if you didn't want to do that you found a job, which son did all through HS.
I know times are tough and it's hard to find a job, but I always believe where there is a will there is a way. If not, then the best option is to find a really good team that stays closer to home.

As far as begging on the street corner, that's a big thing here now with younger travel teams. months ago the same team was out at a grocery store every weekend, trying to "raise" money for trip to Cooperstown. I say if you can't afford it don't go. Is a trip to play in Cooperstown all that necessary?

JMO.

What's wrong with fundraising outside of a grocery store for Cooperstown? I may be blind but I don't see a wrong in that? I see kids coming together as a team, this time off the field, pulling for something that they want.

"IF you can't afford it don't go?" I highly disagree. That's just like saying "if your not good enough, than give it up".

Who knows. A trip to Cooperstown could be something the kid will cherish for a lifetime.

By the way, I wasn't begging!

I get letters every year from guys who played for me from their college programs requesting donations. I've never looked at those as "begging"... Organizations at school write letters to corporations (along with doing myriad fund raising from brownies to bingo) and I never saw that as begging either.

I will say this... I took a Greyhound Bus trip when I was a senior in high school and it was good for me; I saw a lot and learned some things. Maybe you should look into the Bus Schedule.

The best fund raiser we ever did when I was a kid was the Legion team would go around town and ask businessmen if they wanted their car washed inside and out. They would just hand over the keys and we would drive it over to the carwash; give it a good going over and then return it. It was a blast because we got to drive guys' cars and we earned some money. It was a small town... I highly doubt this would fly in many towns of today.

good luck.

My guys found jobs in air-conditioned movie theaters for summers and vacation time during HS and college---they made good money in great conditions and the hours worked with their baseball needs---sometimes you just need to be innovative

Well, one of the definitions of begging is to ask someone else to give you something that they have that you want or need but have not earned - food, money, FFM...

I think what's wrong with "fundraising" outside of a grocery store (if you were homeless we would call it panhandling) is that you are simply asking people to give you something and you will give them nothing in return. "Fundraising", IMHO, should at least involve some effort on the part of the fundraiser - earn the money, don't just ask for it. Rake leaves, wash cars, walk dogs, sell candy bars - whatever. Just don't expect something for nothing, because that is in fact the very essence of begging. You may not be on your hands and knees, but you are asking for a handout.

Don't take any of this too personally - you probably hit a sore spot with a lot of people. You said things are tough for your family right now... welcome to the party. This conversation has really developed into something more essential to the question of how much all these things are really worth to players and their families. "If you can't afford it, don't go" is what most people call reality. It's not about giving up, it's about accepting what is and moving on.

And one more additional note - I am entirely OK with people standing on street corners collecting donations to benefit causes... the Lions Club collecting for the blind or the Kiwanis collecting to help the mentally handicapped for example. I give to those folks all the time.

But that's a whole different animal than you standing on the corner asking me to give you money to pay for your trip to Wherever, USA.

You guys are unbelievable. There are lots of people that travel for a living and get more free tickets they can ever use, or ever want to use. Most of those have an expiration date on them that if not used are worthless. All kt333 was doing was checking to see if anyone on this board is in that situation and had frequent flyer miles to burn. I give him a lot of credit for having the guts to ask if anyone happened to be in that situation....and recall he said he has a job. That's more than 10% of the population can say right now. I say kt333 is on top of his game, working all angles and trying to help his family. He's going to have a successful life in front of him. Keep it up kt. Don't let the old f a r t s out here get you down.

TX

Watch where you go with the "old farts" stuff---you will be one one day in your life

Why hould anyone give away free miles to someone they do not even know

I'm already there TR. You clearly don't work with the kind of people I'm talking about. Some people travel a million miles a year...tickets come in 35-50k pieces. I've done it in the past and if I were in that same situation now, I'd help him out. Unfortunately, (or fortunately as I hated that much travel) I'm not.

You're right TX - I forgot we've become a nation of askers, not doers. Go through life with your hand out and good things are bound to happen. I really must be old.

my3sons, you need to go back and read his posts. He's not sitting there with his hand out. He's working all sides of the equation to get something done that he values that his family can't afford. He's working and he's looking for something that's valuable to him but not to someone else. That, my friend, is arbitrage. That's a sign of a young man with a successful future in front of him.

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Originally posted by Tx-Husker:
working all angles and trying to help his family.

I must have missed something. How was he trying to help out his family?

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How was he trying to help out his family?

Let's see, when you go to an event like that you have some sort of registration costs, transportation costs (to get there and then local), lodging and food at a minimum. He's got a job he's already working to help pay and contribute to the overall costs. He's looking to see if someone has excess frequent flier miles to cover just the transportation to/from costs, again contributing to the overall costs. You still have local transportation, lodging, meals that he's not asking for help on.

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Originally posted by Tx-Husker:

quote:

How was he trying to help out his family?

Let's see, when you go to an event like that you have some sort of registration costs, transportation costs (to get there and then local), lodging and food at a minimum. He's got a job he's already working to help pay and contribute to the overall costs. He's looking to see if someone has excess frequent flier miles to cover just the transportation to/from costs, again contributing to the overall costs. You still have local transportation, lodging, meals that he's not asking for help on.

So he is helping his family by going to a baseball showcase? I don't think so. Tx, you pretty much tried anointing this young man for some sort of medal, claiming he's hard working, helping his family out, on top of his game and then deduce that he is going to have a successful life in front of him...all this from asking for a handout to go to a baseball showcase.

I think you've stretched things a bit past the breaking point. The only thing unbelievable here is your characterization of the situation.

Just trying to balance the scale a little bit. I don't see why everyone went glass is half empty on him. If I couldn't afford something like that and my son really wanted to do it to the point where he got a job and took the initiative to get the transportation to/from covered, I would be proud of him.

Tx. I appreciate what you're saying. I do strive to succeed, not only for myself but for my family as well.

All in all this got blown way out of proportion. Like Tx said, I know there's people out there that do have extra FFM that they may never use. I simply started a discussion hoping that some of those people may be on here. This being a friendly environmental place where everyone shares pretty much the same interest, the love of the game, I thought this would be one of the best places to search for help, especially something relating to what the whole site is based upon: Baseball.

No I was not expecting anything. I just thought it couldn't hurt to at least ask.

KT333, I wouldn't be too concerned if you cannot go to this event. It depends on what your future plans are with baseball. In our son's case going to school to play ball was his motivation, not the other way around. He does not work at his game judging from his time laying around and playing X Box. From our experience, if you are invited it may be to be a roster filler, someone who plays little while the future D1 stars are showing known skills. Our son did many events, Area Code, etc and you know what, Jack Squat is what came of it. Many of the parents and players who post on this site have been drawn into the "baseball rat race", attending events hoping Mr. D1 comes calling. If you truly believe you are true prospect material going to one event can be beneficial. If hanging out with friends, watching tv, or playing X-Box is your passion, no use in going. At the college level and above you just about have to live and breath baseball just to stay in it.

Since everyone is entitled to their opinion, I agree with TX-Husker's take on things. The thing that swayed the balance for me is that this young man also works.

I am waiting for someone to chime in with a back in the day story. You know, the story where the childhood was so rough they had to walk two miles one way to school or they only had one set of clothes to wear etc, etc. We have had other members ask for donations that far exceed what this young man has asked for and no one said a word.

Maybe we should have a policy where no one asks or solicits our members for anything?

quote:

Originally posted by Pop Up Hitter dad:
KT333, I wouldn't be too concerned if you cannot go to this event. It depends on what your future plans are with baseball. In our son's case going to school to play ball was his motivation, not the other way around. He does not work at his game judging from his time laying around and playing X Box. From our experience, if you are invited it may be to be a roster filler, someone who plays little while the future D1 stars are showing known skills. Our son did many events, Area Code, etc and you know what, Jack Squat is what came of it. Many of the parents and players who post on this site have been drawn into the "baseball rat race", attending events hoping Mr. D1 comes calling. If you truly believe you are true prospect material going to one event can be beneficial. If hanging out with friends, watching tv, or playing X-Box is your passion, no use in going. At the college level and above you just about have to live and breath baseball just to stay in it.

I don't know KT333 from Boo; but this post by Pop Up offended me!

- How do you know he would be a "roster filler"?
- When did KT333 ever say "hanging out w friends, watching TV & playing X-Box were his passions?
- What does your son's time laying around playing xbox have to do with this discussion?

Does any of Pop Ups rambling make sense to anyone else? I just don't get your points to KT333?

I am beginning to see the "Grumpy Old Man" take ring true here.

.

quote:

Originally posted by Tx-Husker:
You guys are unbelievable. There are lots of people that travel for a living and get more free tickets they can ever use, or ever want to use. Most of those have an expiration date on them that if not used are worthless. All kt333 was doing was checking to see if anyone on this board is in that situation and had frequent flyer miles to burn. I give him a lot of credit for having the guts to ask if anyone happened to be in that situation....and recall he said he has a job. That's more than 10% of the population can say right now. I say kt333 is on top of his game, working all angles and trying to help his family. He's going to have a successful life in front of him. Keep it up kt. Don't let the old f a r t s out here get you down.

Yep.

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