RPGNow

Sunday, December 13, 2015

The Gygax Memorial Fund Lost Over $1,000 in 2014

So, I've basically been told that only positive interviews are going to happen with Gail. She will participate "only in interviews focusing on the positive aspects of gaming and positive news of Garys legacy."

This post is about a negative aspect of the Gygax Memorial Fund which I guess makes in a negative aspect of Gary's legacy. More accurately, a negative cash flow issue for the Fund in 2014. Yes, the Fund lost money in 2014 and compared to 2015 the website was a font of activity. Just imagine how 2015 will shake out.

Look down below. The fund took in a mere $421 in 2014. It's obvious that 2012 and 2013 numbers were from the sales of the AD&D 1e reprints (Thanks WotC) and 2010 and 2011 were probably mostly corporate sponsors.

Again. $421 in 2014. Someone has dropped the ball on their fund raising efforts it seems.


Actually, it's worse than that. See the page below. That a "Schedule O". It's missing from the first few years of tax returns posted, but it's important, as it gives a breakdown of expenses.

Office Expenses:             $1,129

Filing Fees:                     $     10

Conferences / Meetings: $   653

Total: $1,792

Less   $   421

The Gygax Memorial Fund LOST $1,371 in 2014. How do you spend more in a year than your raise?



Now I know why the Fund is a sensitive topic. It's actually moving backwards now. There is apparently little support from the gaming community as a whole, and that's a damn shame.

26 comments:

  1. How much do they realistically need?

    Maybe they need a more humble objective.

    ReplyDelete
  2. One of the nice things about operating under a pseudonym is that the odds of anyone deciding to set up a foundation for my "legacy" are effectively nil. B-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Well, there is a reason that they aren't getting support and it is Gail herself. She never intended to be open or transparent, she just made that claim so as to try to worm her way free of the negative attention focused on her other activities.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I wonder if a swag at how many of those reprints sold could be made from these numbers?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Why would the gaming community support her? She's not doing anything with his legacy. She could work with C&C and reprint some of his popular books and adventures he did with them. She could stop screwing over his biological sons.

    If she is planning anything, she could share it. If it's a secret, let us know she is working on something big.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Why would any company enter into agreement now that a bad precedent has been set? (That precedent being Gary's IP pulled from the company on a whim.) Would Troll Lord Games give Mrs. EGG a second chance? Should they even consider it, were it offered? Would any company enter into agreement with Mrs. EGG without a lot of protective clauses -- or rejecting demanding clauses of her own?

      Delete
    2. Any sensible businessman would, yes. But this industry is not known for good business sense....

      Delete
    3. TLG wouldn't touch Gail with a 10 foot pole. Her actions nearly put them out of business.

      Delete
    4. You hit the nail on the head, Zudrak. Gail burned a lot of bridges over the last few years, thinking that she's going to make a zillion dollars by someone turning Gary's IP into a computer game.

      She's so focused on making the "big score" and consolidating the IP in preparation for it (like the flurry of trademarks she recently filed) that she's completely alienating the people who would happily keep the fire burning at a low but steady level for years.

      And in the end, she'll end up with nothing because of her short-sighted policy. She's been badly used by her advisers.

      Delete
  6. The gaming community would support this if Gail & Co. did something visible to promote it. If they came up with a plan and threw together a Kickstarter or IndieGoGo with actual rewards of some kind, I bet they would easily raise the funds.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would suggest that anyone that contributed anything to any entity run by Gail Carpenter (maiden name--She is not fit to be called a Gygax)is pissing their money away.

      Delete
    2. If we're going to start attacking her as "unfit to be married to Gygax" then I want the fuck out of this nonsense. A woman's inability to manage the fund is not retroactive basis for deciding that the 21 years she and Gary were married was a fucking sham.Jesus fucking christ that pissed me off. When I die, if someone spoke that way about my wife...even if she'd just robbed Fort Knox, I would find a way to come back and haunt you. God damn.

      Delete
    3. Nicholas - Tim is from the pre-Gail Gygax days, when she did the books (if I recall my info correctly) for TSR as Gail Carpenter. I have noticed a distinct difference of opinion on Gail from those that knew her as "the other woman" and those that only knew her as Mrs. Gygax.

      All that being said, we are not here to comment on Gail Gygax but the Gygax Memorial Fund. There are other venues where opinions of the person (for good or ill) are more relevant.

      Delete
    4. Ah, well...information does make all the difference. I agree though that it is better to keep to the subject of mismanagement, bungling and even the shadow of fraud....those seem like more than adequate subjects.

      Delete
    5. Well, as a small publisher and player I'd happily volunteer my time and effort in some way to the creation of a book (module, or whatever) that honored Gary's legacy and contribution to the industry we all love. Unfortunately, it seems that doing so now, even with the best of intentions, would likely fail to gain support from the gaming community. It seems much of what could have been done is forever lost.

      Delete
  7. It's really quite pathetic. Shady really.

    ReplyDelete
  8. It's too bad the real Gygax legacy is piss poor attempts to wrangle a payload from his name.

    ReplyDelete
  9. How different is this than everything else associated with E. Gary Gygax and his name? There is a history of legal b.s., bad feelings and down right backstabbing through out the history of D&D, right up to this. I'm grateful that Mr. Gygax (God rest his soul) saw fit to drop this game and hobby onto our tables, and will always be grateful for the inspiration that comes with it. I guess my real question here is "Are you surprised?".

    ReplyDelete
  10. The community gave over $220 K of support. In return, the fund has sat on their hands. For seven years. The median home cost in Lake Geneva is $176,600; which means that they have a fairly nice house worth of money to throw around and still can't figure out how to erect a fairly small project. I'd say that their issues are not related to lack of dollars or lack of support so much as sheer lack of management capability. I'm not accusing her of anything, just stating that she has demonstrated a complete lack of ability to make progress. More money won't help.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's my feeling. If they were actually going to erect a memorial they would have done it years ago.

      Delete
    2. It does seem a little odd that no memorial can be put together for $200k. Could there be other problems, for example does the city take years of convincing before they let you put it into a public park?

      Delete
    3. Actually, the fact the Lake Geneva City Council and LG Planning Commission have been as much a roadblock as anything. They have specific demands about the size of the monument, where it would go in the park, and how future upkeep would be paid. I believe Gail has specific ideas about the memorial also. So a lot of it depends on when both Lake Geneva and Gail can work things out. http://www.lakegenevanews.net/Articles-Lake-Geneva-News-i-2014-12-04-255143.114135-Work-on-Gygax-memorial-slowed-but-not-stopped.html

      Delete
  11. With all due respect, sounds like you're full of shit, Gail. You're also shitting all over the Gygax name. Please stop. Please.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Why is there no investment income? Even a pretty crappy CD would generate enough interest to offset $1,800 in expenses when you have $240k to work with.

    ReplyDelete
  13. It has become painfully obvious that Gail has no interest in making a memorial for Gary if she can't in someway leverage it to personal gain. I was happy to buy the WoTC reprints but I can't ever see giving this Fund money directly.

    ReplyDelete

Tenkar's Tavern is supported by various affiliate programs, including Amazon, RPGNow,
and Humble Bundle as well as Patreon. Your patronage is appreciated and helps keep the
lights on and the taps flowing. Your Humble Bartender, Tenkar

Blogs of Inspiration & Erudition