Alan Niederland Memorial Mandolin Give Away

[JimKo]

I have decided to give away one of my mandolins in honor of my friend Alan Niederland. Many of us have been touched by his generous nature. Personally, in addition to much music, Alan introduced me to mandolin camps, custom builds, good picks, etc. Things I probably would not have dreamed of doing in my own but have brought much enjoyment.

The mandolin is a Ratliff A model in very good shape. Pictures will follow later.

I live in an isolated rural area and really would appreciate some help from the Café Community finding a deserving recipient. Looking for someone who is showing serious potential as a player and could use, but not afford, an upgrade on their current instrument. It could be any style of music anywhere in the country. For practical shipping purposes, will limit it to US only. The only string I will attach is that when the recipient is ready to move on from this instrument, it is not to be sold. Instead it should be passed on , in Alan's memory, to another deserving person.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments.
Thanks
Jim Koweek

[FLATROCK HILL]

Very nice and generous idea you have there Jim, in honor of a very nice and generous man.

[Skip Kelley]

very nice and generous idea you have there jim, in honor of a very nice and generous man.

x2

[Kenny]

A Ratliff A model is going to kickstart somebody nicely! Audey Ratliff builds mighty nice mandolins. I have a Ratliff F model and a plan, once I sell off some guitar gear, to order a Ratliff A (oval hole) for my old time pursuits.

Bravo to you, JimKo!

[JimKo]

[QUOTE=Kenny;1902098]A Ratliff A model is going to kickstart somebody nicely! Audey Ratliff builds mighty nice mandolins.
Agree with Kenny about Ratliff mandolins being "might nice" but want to add that Audey seems to be very good person too. I contacted him about this idea before I posted. it. He offered to do "anything he could to help out and gave me tips about getting the word out. Sure appreciate that.

[Joe Bartl]

The only string I will attach is that when the recipient is ready to move on from this instrument, it is not to be sold. Instead it should be passed on , in Alan's memory, to another deserving person.

A stellar idea! Perhaps someday when I am past hope, I'll do the same in honor of [to be determined ... Neil Gladd? ... Raffaele Calace? ... Vito Sinisgalli?] !

Thanks very much. I have to give this serious thought.

Joe

[JimKo]

Just thought I would put up a photo of the mandolin that is going to be donated. Kind of surprised I haven't had anybody interested yet.

[JimKo]

[Ranald]

Your original message was a mite unclear. Are you asking Forum members to nominate someone? Or perhaps asking Mandolin Cafe (Scott & co.) to suggest someone? I'm not in the USA, so I don't have anyone to suggest, but if you make clear what exactly you want from Cafe members, I think you'll get more response to your generous project.

[JimKo]

Thanks for the responses. Just to clarify, looking looking to the Café members for help finding a deserving person. If you know someone to nominate , please contact me. Don't be shy. A choice will be made sometime in towards the end of May. My wife, and some friends, will help me sort though the suggestions. I am sure there will be several that will be deserving. Wish I could do more.

[Simon DS]

Have you had a look around locally?
In Arizona there are at least five schools that I know of that need help.
Music can be very healing.

[Jairo Ramos]

Can one self-nominate? I am very interested in being taken into account. Thank you!

[Simon DS]

I'll nominate you Jairo, as well as Ranald.
You both deserve this lovely mandolin.

Is there a limit on the number of people we can nominate?
I'd like to nominate the guys who post vids and share TAB on the MandolinCafe Song a Week Social group.
And the guys who take time to share their thoughts and feelings elsewhere on MC.

Share the love guys!

[Jeff Mando]

post #1 states, "for practical shipping purposes, will limit it to US only."

[Ranald]

Thanks, Simon, but I'm asking that I not be nominated for a couple of reasons. First, I'm outside the US. Next, I'm seventy years old, and my "serious potential" is wearing thin. It's past time for the potential to start showing itself as skill!


From the OP:
"Looking for someone who is showing serious potential as a player and could use, but not afford, an upgrade on their current instrument. It could be any style of music anywhere in the country. For practical shipping purposes, will limit it to US only."

[addamr]

Maybe you could reach out to Ken Ratcliff of Silver Angel. He recently did a similar give away. May some of the runner up contenders on his list would be good candidates.

Adam

[Simon DS]

post #1 states, "for practical shipping purposes, will limit it to US only."

Love has no limits Jeff!

Thanks, Simon, but I'm asking that I not be nominated for a couple of reasons. First, I'm outside the US. Next, I'm seventy years old, and my "serious potential" is wearing thin. It's past time for the potential to start showing itself as skill!

From the OP:
"Looking for someone who is showing serious potential as a player and could use, but not afford, an upgrade on their current instrument. It could be any style of music anywhere in the country. For practical shipping purposes, will limit it to US only."

I live in France, Ranald but for practical shipping purposes I can be in Tucson tomorrow.

[Drew Egerton]

Wonderful way to honor our friend Alan. I've got one young fellow in mind if I can convince him he doesn't need a F style as his next upgrade...

[Jairo Ramos]

Thanks Simon!
Note: I don't live in North America, but I have people in the USA who can receive it for me and forward it

[Jeff Mando]

Love has no limits Jeff!

I agree, but the post office charges a premium to send love internationally...

[Simon DS]

https://youtu.be/k9sf7C7D3nk

[JimKo]

Just wanted to update the memorial mandolin situation. Heard from a bunch of deserving folks and wish I was in a situation where I could donate a handful of mandolins to worthy people.
There was one person in the high country of Colorado whose story was particularly moving. Out of a resect for privacy, I won't go into details, but music, especially the mandolin was helping getting them through some very hard times. I believe that this is the kind of situation that Alan would have helped out with himself.
Thanks to everyone for their help on this project. Lets remember and keep Alan's generous spirit alive.
Jim Koweek

[Mark Gunter]

A fitting tribute to Alan, Jim

[Skip Kelley]

A fitting tribute to Alan, Jim

A nice tribute to a wonderful fella.