Meander's HVAC Fund

[kgdlg]

Ok so I am not the type of person that just likes to complain online and do nothing to change things.

So here is the challenge. Meander’s is a local gem but honestly, their venting sucks. I am going to give Miranda a check for $25 towards this problem. If everyone who reads this and loves the place too would do the same, or whatever they can afford, I believe she would be able to pay for new venting through donations sooner rather than later.

If you are in please comment here and spread the word.

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[Jo]

bump

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[Libra]

Really???? Don’t you think that donations to NW Harvest, Food Lifeline, West Seattle/White Center Food Banks are more deserving? If Meander’s is so great and needs new venting, they should raise their prices…..it’s called capitalism!

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[JanS]

Libra…I’m betting that same people who would help out this fellow community member already donate to food banks, etc. West Seattleites are very generous..I have been on the receiving end, have firsthand knowledge :)

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[Libra]

My point is, simply, that we’re all continuously asked for donations for many different causes, and I really do my best to contribute as much as I can. I’ve always lived by the motto that I would rather be on the giving end and, believe me, Jan, if asked, I would give to you as well. I just find it offensive to ask people to contribute to a for-profit busines when there are so many non-profits struggling to provide basic services. If people love Meander”s food so much (and I admit I have never been there and probably never will), then they should be willing to pay a higher price for the wonderful food they enjoy.

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[JanS]

fair enough….and you don’t have to donate to anything, really. People who want to, will, those who don’t want to, won’t…no need to castigate people for putting this out there…just a humble opinion :)

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[Libra]

“Castigate” is a really harsh word, and I think it’s an unfair accusation since my intent was only to redirect the thought. I think you need to be more kind in your responses…people would like to be able to share their thoughts without being attacked when you disagree with their opinion.

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[miws]

Really???? Don’t you think that donations to NW Harvest, Food Lifeline, West Seattle/White Center Food Banks are more deserving? If Meander’s is so great and needs new venting, they should raise their prices…..it’s called capitalism!

Although everyone knows it’s hard to read “tone of voice”, and intent, in the written word, that right there sounded pretty harsh to me, even before I got to the later posts.

Jan’s reply in #6, sounds nowhere as harsh as your OP that I quoted above. (And I’m not just “sticking up” for Jan, because she’s my friend.)

kgdlg started this thread, with the intent to help Miranda/Meander’s out, after a discussion on another thread that was turning a bit heated.

kgdlg, had made a comment about the lack of ventilation at Meander’s, and how that was keeping her(?) from patronizing the place, and thought that Miranda should be making it a top priority.

Other’s came to Miranda’s defense, as I was strongly considering doing. I was tempted to jump on kgdlg, myself. I believe another poster suggested some type of fund.

So, instead of continuing the argument on that thread, and letting it get more heated, kgdlg made a very noble, IMHO, move, and started this thread.

Many other people would have taken the comments in such avid defense of Miranda as personal attacks, and go stomping “out of the room”, never to come back to these forums.

Instead, kgdlg chose to take the high road, and pretty much make lemonade out of lemons. She has my respect for that.

The rest of this all boils down to the old whose business is it what people contribute their own money to? Miranda is a small business owner, trying to build her business up slowly, instead of trying to go out full bore from the get go, as many others who have the capital on hand may be able to do. I’d be right there with you, if somebody was trying to set up a donation program for Rite-Aid to re-stripe their parking lot. And people are donating to campaign funds for the Presidential candidates, at least one of which has more money than any of us could ever dream to have.

And don’t get me started on sports stadii! ;-)

Miranda has become a wonderful, beloved, (and sassy!) member of the WS community, and it shows, when that community wants to support her in any way possible.

Mike

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[JoB]

Libra,

I have to tell you i am struggling with this post.. because i want you to know that i understand your concerns.. even though i disagree with the point you made.

I applaud you for doing what you can. I struggle myself nearly every day with where the dollars we can donate could do the most good… because no matter how much any of us have to give, it is never enough.

there is no doubt these are hard times and that means donation requests are going to increase.

JanS is going to need more help. After getting out of the hospital for a very nasty pneumonia, she just got some news that will send her in for another hospital stay…

and not for the kidney that she needs.

she won’t be able to work for some time and her social security barely pays the rent.

and she is not the only one.

She is just one who shares her story here with us.

The lines at the food bank are hard to miss and it’s pretty difficult to ignore Nickelsville at the bottom of our hill.

In the past the community that is the forum at WSB has done fundraisers for individuals, the food bank and small businesses in trouble so a virtual fundraiser for Miranda here is not out of line.

I am betting no-one has asked Miranda how she feels about this ..

but I am in. I will drop my check by this week.

I am in because i really like Meanders and don’t go there as often as i would like because of the ventilation

but i am also in because i happen to know that in addition to running that business of hers, Miranda also feeds the homeless…

so in this case i am pretty sure that my gift to Miranda will grow.

it’s difficult when so many causes are competing for our limited pool of funds.

i can understand how easy it is to see one as being more frivolous than another…

but we need to remember that the cause we might think frivolous is important to someone else.

I am thankful there are so many generous people here in West Seattle who are willing to work so hard and donate so much to help those around them.

thanks for being one of them.

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[JanS]

Libra..didn’t mean it to be “harsh”…and didn’t look in my thesaurus at that late hour :) I am usually a bit cranky late on Sat. night , after I get home from dialysis…kinda does me in.

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[kgdlg]

I was simply trying to help a beloved small business person out. In the prior thread it was made clear to me that my complaining could have a negative impact on Miranda.

I could list all the quality non profits I donate to but it doesn’t matter because people can do what they want with their money and as soon as you start “prioritizing” which is more needy than the next, you lose, because there are so many quality and deserving places out there to give.

Give if you want. I cannot eat there because it make me uncomfortable so instead I am choosing to send her a cash donation, that is my choice.

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[datamuse]

I think this is a wonderful idea, kgdlg. I’m all for capitalism, but also for community. Meander’s is part of our community. (And really, if I solely believed in capitalism, would the White Center food bank get a donation from me every month?)

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[suzanne]

It never ceases to amaze me how many well meaning posts on this blog turn into full blown debates/ arguments.

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[katman]

Suzanne yes so right,,,I am very new to this blog thing and find it informative/humourous or what’s next?? Sometimes I have to go back to the top to remember what the ORIGINAL subject was.

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[catlady]

JanS is right. I’m willing to help Miranda out because that is what community does. I also help others is our community with donations – Furry Faces (of course), WS Food Bank, McGinnville, etc.

I’m also tired of all the comments getting off topic and harshin’ on our blog.

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[katman]

Keyword: OUR

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[CMP]

If the ventilation is so bad, she should read her lease, as I imagine she doesn’t own the building? If she does rent, make the landlord fix the problem!

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[miws]

I’m having trouble loading Parcel Viewer, but, IIRC, the building is owned by Wah Wong, the Proprietor of the pre-Meanders Jade West Cafe.

Mr. Wong, and his family’s live were severely damaged a couple of years or so back, when a drunk driver crashed into their car, causing severe injuries to Mr. Wong’s Son, and to Mr. Wong himself. I don’t recall the level of injury that Mrs. Wong sustained.

This resulted in Mr. Wong making the tough choice to not restart the restaurant himself.

So, no matter who would be responsible for installing a better ventilation system, I think it would be nice for those in our community that are willing and able to help out, to do so, if the help would be welcomed.

Mike

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[kgdlg]

Miws thanks for doing that research. And thanks to everyone voicing support for Miranda here.

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[miws]

You’re welcome, kgdlg.

And once again, thank you for trying to come up with a positive solution to this issue.

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[WSB]

I’m sorry that no one has flagged us to this, which I just noticed because somebody posted a link on FB and it came up in my personal feed (not directed to me, directed to someone else who also is in my personal feed).

This looks to be EXTREMELY rulebreaking. Someone please let me know if I am missing this complaint having been brought up to the businessperson in question and her having responded to it. Otherwise this is so out of here. There was a horrifying situation on FB this week, not involving a West Seattle business, that reminded me again why I am glad to have the rule that rants/complaints MUST include how they were brought to the businessperson’s attention first AND how they (manager/owner) responded to it. Even if it is a roundabout complaint such as the start of this entire string.

Tracy

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[JoB]

WSB

while the original topic may have been out of line if considered a rant

how is a topic starting a virtual community fundraiser out of line?

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[kgdlg]

TR there was no bad intent meant here. There was a prior thread where I complained about the venting at meanders. Since Miranda addresses this on her menu and I have had conversations with servers there about it, I considered this common knowledge that the owner is well aware of. So I volunteered to send money since I cannot comfortably eat there. If this constitute rule breaking and warrants removal I understand.

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[miws]

TR, I know that time is at a high premium for you, and you don’t have the time to sift through every comment with a fine tooth comb, but would it be possible to just edit parts of this out that won’t severely affect the continuity?

I think kgdlg had only the best of intentions in posting this, and that it was quite honorable of her to do so, after taking a bit of a beating on the other thread.

I think this thread only took a negative-ish turn after Libra’s first couple of comments.

Mike

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[johnnyblegs]

I agree. kdglg hijacked the thread “Ye another reason to love the food and folks at Meander’s” with complaints about the vent system. It was a well intended conversation praising the generosity of the people that frequent Meander’s but very quickly turned to complaining.

Then in an ironic twist, kdglg started a well intended thread to help Miranda out. I love the people of West Seattle :)

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