Charity Work

[JustROLLIN]

Well, the MNmazda staff was brainstorming and came up with some good ideas for events, cruises, etc. But, we also wanted to give something back to the community as well. We have decided to "Adopt A Highway." Basically what it entales is adopting a two-mile stretch of road which must be cleaned 1-2 a year. If we do this for a minimum of two years the state will errect a sign honorring the site and all of our work.

I am starting a thread to gauge interest in the activity. Not only would this be a great way to give something back to the community, but I honestly think we would have a lot of fun as well. The state provides all of our vests, bags, trash removal once bagged, and any other equipment we may need.

So, if you would take a quick vote and gauge your interest in taking part of the event, I would appreciate it. We have not yet chosen a date, but more just getting a feel for you folks and your interest. We would not be able to make this event happen without somewhat large numbers. So, if the turnout from this site is low, we may ask another car site to join us in the event. But, we would like to keep it a mazda event if possible. Also, any other family or friends are welcome, as always.

[AJ]

I got dibs on the first set of fake teeth we find!

[Hot Ice]

Strange you should post this up as I was driving to our event this past weekend, I thought of that. There is a section up here that is adopted by a local car group and I saw them cleaning this spring. I would be in for sure. As long as it is during a time I can be there, I will participate!!

[dmention7]

I got dibs on the first set of fake teeth we find!

Fine, as long as I get to keep all the mufflers. Maybe one of them will sound better than the one I currently have.

[Big Nate]

I think if we find money it should go to the site or the person who picks it up with there teeth and no brushing off the road grime.

[JustROLLIN]

Well I dont know about the rest of you, but 7 people is not enough for two miles of road. LOL. Hopefully we get at least a few more who are willing to help.

[dmention7]

Not enough? What makes you say that? I'm thinking 3-4 people on each side of the road could easily bang out 2 miles in about 4 hours.

I mean, we're only doing this twice a year, so even if it takes a full day I'm cool with that. Just my $0.02

[BLK.MP5]

id be in as long as i am here and not away at college.

[mndsm]

I'm in, but you knew that already.

[JustROLLIN]

Not enough? What makes you say that? I'm thinking 3-4 people on each side of the road could easily bang out 2 miles in about 4 hours.

I mean, we're only doing this twice a year, so even if it takes a full day I'm cool with that. Just my $0.02

Yeah, I suppose thats true. Maybe I can get some t-shirts from the state or something... Plus, I need to talk to the local news people once we set a date.

[dmention7]

Jess pointed it out already... but I used the phrase "Just my $0.02" like 3 times this morning! hehe... tiredness saps my ability to come up with new phrases.


You know what'd be better than t-shirts from the state? Awww yeah, mnmazda.com t-shirts!

[pingwin77]

I would be in for this as well.

[MazdaMINI]

I am game!! I think sometime in the year we should raise some money for the Minnesota Autism Society!!! I am a little partial as I work with kids with autism but I think it would be a cool thing to do!

[mndsm]

We could do something like that. Charity car wash featuring Meguiars products anyone? Seems as if Meguairs would probably like that kind of publicity as well.

[dmention7]

That's not a bad idea. Even Joe Schmoe is typically a bit wary of having his car washed by a bunch of fund-raising cheerleaders (however hot they may be), but I bet he'd be a lot more likely to trust his ride to a car club, especially if they're sponsored by a big name like Meguiars.

[mndsm]

And double especially if we have all the cars clean and shiny there..... sitting for everyone to see.

[Nekko Noir]

I'm in! As long as I don't have work or school to worry about on that particular day - but with advanced notice I should be good.

[mndsm]

Rockin. This could shape up to be a good thing. Meguiars, car wash, charity, and maybe....... a human interest story? We could be on the news!

[JustROLLIN]

I have also been slacking on this, but from the sound of it, we have enough people to move ahead.

I have been terribly busy with work and going back to school come this fall. Sorry all, but I will get back on the ball.

[Nekko Noir]

Excuses, excuses...

[JustROLLIN]

Yadda....yadda....yadda... I will get the info mailed in this week. I need to finish all my school info first though. :D

[mndsm]

You need someone to walk you to the mailbox? Is that the problem? Sacred of the boogeyman?

[Nekko Noir]

Careful, Tom, he might wanna hold hands. :)

[dmention7]

Poor Joe.... lol

[JustROLLIN]

Poor me.... :(

[Nekko Noir]

There, there. There, there.

[mndsm]

Let Nanami get you your juice box and your wooby.... make it all better.

[JustROLLIN]

OK. So all the info is filled out, but I am not sure how area assignment works. Are people cool with letting the state assign an area? I would imagine they wont send us too far seeing as the address I am using is out of Hopkins.

[mndsm]

Sure why not.

[dmention7]

Yeah, that's fine with me. I'd imagine if they assign us some horribly impractical site, though, it wouldn't be all that huge of a deal to get it switched.

[Big Nate]

Lets see what they come up with for us . This is going to be fun.

[ZoomZoom Diva]

Well, if we're allowed to take away any aluminum cans we pick up (I don't know the rules), those proceeds could go to a charity as well. Scrap metal is valuable.

[JustROLLIN]

Yeah, I guess we could... but they also give us bags for the trash. We just leave it on the highway and they come pick it up. We should be getting an assignment in the next 2-3 weeks I would imagine.

[dmention7]

Is it up to our discretion then, when we want to get out there and do it?

[Nekko Noir]

What about for sweeping and cleaning? Do we have to bring ANY supplies (brooms, for example)?

[dmention7]

Sweeping the side of the road with a broom??? OKay sweetie, time to turn off the Wii and let the oxygen return to your brain...

[JustROLLIN]

LOL. The state will provide all the materials we need... and brooms are not included.... They dont want us cleaning anything out in the median. The trash on the shoulder is ok, but nothing out in the median.

And I assume we pick the date for cleaning, we just need to notify the state so they can pick up all the garbage.

[Nekko Noir]

Sweeping the side of the road with a broom??? OKay sweetie, time to turn off the Wii and let the oxygen return to your brain...

Hey, now! It's not like I've done this kind of thing before. :(

[mazdamn02]

I'll bring Windex for the signs, me and Nanami can handle them :D

[dmention7]

lol

[mazdamn02]

I could go on but I don't want part of Jay's mod garage management to ban me, lol. :D

[WhiteSpy9]

I'd be in to help if I'm free that date.

[dmention7]

I could go on but I don't want part of Jay's mod garage management to ban me, lol. :D

Oh, you're probably safe as far as the mod garage goes... but if you ask the lady for a glass of lemonade, you'd better make sure it doesn't smell like ferret pee before you drink it.


Okay, I even grossed myself out there. Sorry. :(

[mazdamn02]

Ferret Pee FTL.

[dmention7]

Any updates Joe?

[JustROLLIN]

Negative. I would imagine it might be a while though. I dont think the state is exactly "quick" with responses.

[Nekko Noir]

Oh, you're probably safe as far as the mod garage goes... but if you ask the lady for a glass of lemonade, you'd better make sure it doesn't smell like ferret pee before you drink it.

Okay, I even grossed myself out there. Sorry. :(


:rollinglaugh: Great idea. Thanks!

[JustROLLIN]

Well apparently they never recived the paperwork. Soooo, they are sending another packet to resubmit it. Hope people dont mind doing it while the leaves fall.

[dmention7]

Nah... better to work outside in cool weather than hot weather!

[mndsm]

Aye.

[mazdamn02]

Aye Aye.

[Big Nate]

I MIND. I'M OUT.













































j/k its cool. I understand if the MNDot has other things to do. BRIDGE inspections and the like.

[mndsm]

You mean bridge? Cause the fuck if i'm getting married and letting them ''inspect'' my woman.

[Big Nate]

Fixed lol *blush*

[JustROLLIN]

I guess I didnt even think about the bridge in relation to this. Hmmm....I guess thats a pretty good reason to have excess mail and lose our info.

[dmention7]

sooooooo...... yeah.......

[mazdamn02]

Where is Joe? Is he still alive?

[dmention7]

dinno, but I want to pick up some trash!

[JustROLLIN]

Ah yeah, they sent the paperwork back out to me, but I failed to fill it out and send it in.... If people are still interested for this year I can re-fill it all out again. I was just thinking that at this point I would just wait until next year.

[Big Nate]

Sure lats wait till next year but can you send it in now, for then?

[dmention7]

Yeah, might as well start in the spring. But if you can get the paperwork done in advance, that'd probably be good.

[JustROLLIN]

Yeah, I can handle that. I am really sorry I dropped the ball on this one. I have been very wrapped up in other affairs lately.

[Nekko Noir]

You're having an affair??

[dmention7]

Not just one, but multiple affairs, apparently!

[JustROLLIN]

Well I got the paperwork all filled out again. I will send it in the next day or two here.

[JustROLLIN]

Well I have an update on the Adopt-A-Highway....finally. Sorry for the delay everyone, but school kept me very busy recently. So heres where we stand...

Apparently the AAH program is very popular and they have run out of local Hwys for adoption. But, as local HWYs open up, we will be on the list to get one. This can take 10days or 10 years. We may get stuck with a highway in the south, possibly up to 30mins away. Just wanted to give everyone a heads up. I am still interested in pursuing the idea, even if we have to drive a small distance for our HWY. But, if others veto the idea, I can let them know we are not interested when they call. Thoughts??

[dmention7]

Personally, I'd have no problem if the hwy was a bit of a drive. If we're spending a day cleaning shit up twice a year, driving a little ways is no big deal at all.

On the one hand, we'd get a little less visibility since we'd be off the beaten path, but on the other hand we'd probably be able to get away with a little more tom-foolery if we weren't on a busy road.... hehe

[mndsm]

Who you callin a fool?

[Jana]

I am still interested in pursuing the idea, even if we have to drive a small distance for our HWY. But, if others veto the idea, I can let them know we are not interested when they call. Thoughts??


I would be in for sure! I wasn't here for the originally voting, but you can count me in.

[JustROLLIN]

Excellent! I still think its a great image for the site, some possible positive exposure, and good for mother earth. Are others interested in the idea still or did we lose some folks along the way?

[Big Nate]

No we can still get it done. I am in for sure.

[mndsm]

I think if anything the influx of new members will give us more help on this.

[Workdawg]

I wasn't here when this idea came up, but I'd be down, especially if there are shenannigans involved...

[JustROLLIN]

OK. Well it sounds like we would be able to get enough people together. The dates will be somewhat open, but we will need to arrange pickup with the state. I will take care of that once we get something determined.

I will keep everyone updated on possible HWYs as the state notifies me. Thanks for the participation everyone!

[AJ]

I don't care if we'd have to drive an hour or so, I'd still do it.

[Bzkt49]

Count me in.

[JustROLLIN]

Will do. The nice thing is, if people are not able to make one of the sessions, there will be another. We have to clean the stretch twice a year to qualify for the sign status.

[JustROLLIN]

I just wanted to let people know that this is event is still hopefully a go. I sent the paperwork in quite some time ago, but still have not received any information. The information from the DOT stated that most highways are already covered so I dont know whether its an availability issue, or just a timing issue. Either way, I will let people know as soon as I hear anything.

[Tauni]

I'd like to help in anyway I can.

[JustROLLIN]

I'd like to help in anyway I can.

Yeah, the more the merrier. Not too mention, the more people we have the more we can mess around and still get our section cleaned up.

[Tauni]

Alright, well yah, just let me know when the dates and times are and if I'm not working I will definitely be there