hey there, everyone... some things have been brought to my attention regarding the SOS Raffles...and i thought, with all the new people here, that maybe i should go over how certain parts of the Raffles are run.... the part that seems to be of concern is....should the ladies of SOS be allowed to buy tickets and possibly win... the answer to that is a resounding YES! let me explain why...for those new to the raffles...and for any others around who may have questions themselves... people buy tickets through Paypal [a transaction trail being left] or by check [a bank deposit trail being left] ...so there are records of EACH AND EVERY transaction... then go on to the fact that *I* keep no less than THREE kinds of records... 1) a computer record...a table with the person's name, address, e-mail address, dollar amt sent, mode of payment, and ALL the prize packages, with each person's numbers recorded along with the names and addresses...again...[showing the numbers going from # 1 on in order...] 2) a hand written record of the person's name and amt sent, mode of pmt, and prize pkg pages with each person's name and how many tickets they bought and what their numbers are... and 3) i e-mail each person their numbers...keeping a copy in my e-mail of each and every one of those... THEN...at the end of the raffle...i send the list of numbers for every prize package to BIG for him to put into his Random Number Generator Thingy... it is TOTALLY anonymous....he does not know who belongs to what numbers...he does not know who bought the least number of tickets for a prize package nor who bought the most... he then sends me the numbers back...i look up who won the prize and then i announce it...along with the winning number that BIG sent to me... everything we do has checks and balances...and that is how it is done...[i am anal this way!...i was a bank teller for 20 years... EVERYTHING must balance!!!] These raffles are fun for everyone...a fun way to help shelter ferrets across the country...and yes...the ladies of SOS like to not only donate their time...but participate in the fun also... So...that all being said....[you did not think i would just leave it at that...did you????] Go buy tickets!!!!! http://www.supportourshelters.org/SOS-raffle.html this is a DYNOMITE raffle....SO many great things!!!!! the raffle ends mid-march and that is sneaking up on us!!!!...last day to snail mail a check is Sat. March 7th...just about a week away!!!! paypal will be accepted through Friday night, March 13th.... i will send the numbers to BIG Saturday morning... all the proceeds from this SOS Spring Raffle go to the SOS Blizzard Memorial Fund...put in place in memory of "Blizzard Sonder"...to benefit abused or severely neglected ferrets turned in to shelters that need special medical care... if anyone still has questions about how the raffles are run...please feel free to e-mail me... HUGS!!! SOSkat -- My mind works like lightning, One brilliant Flash and it is gone. "Blizzard" products......profits to go to SOS http://ferretlover97.terrabox.com/blizzard/IMO-Blizzard.html The SOS Spring Raffle starts Feb. 1st, 2009 http://www.supportourshelters.org/SOS-raffle.html **"Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some people will ever read!" **Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. ... Leave the rest up to God. [Posted in FML 6256]