December 13, 2014
Stone Quote No. 11
We are feeling kind of philosophical as the end of the year draws near. We are proud of our progress on restoring the bank and eager for what comes next.
From the Peace Chapel at the International Peace Garden near Dunseith, ND.
Yes. We are looking ahead with optimism to the next step in our project. In 2015, we WILL raise the back of the building and put the roof on. PERIOD. We are ready to go. Our greatest concern is hiring the help to do the heavy lifting.
Because of the oil boom in North Dakota, it has been excessively difficult to find the skilled labor (plumber, electrician and contractor) that we need to get this done. With oil prices down, the prediction is that oil exploration will slow. That could be good new for us — because some of the building trades guys might have time to work with us.
We also need to match a $20,000 grant from the Historical Society of North Dakota. That will go a long way to enclosing the building in 2015. (We actually hope to get the floor joists in place this winter — as soon as the plumber finishes his work in our brand new basement.)
As you make your charitable gifts at the end of 2014, please make a gift to the Stone Bank restoration. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so your gift is tax deductible. Your gift will move the Stone Bank closer to its new life as a working building on Bottineau’s Main Street! We are on the right road!
Learn more about the project, the bank’s history, make a contribution or dedicate a stone on our website.
As always, thanks for reading the Stone Bank blog!
February 17, 2014
A T-shirt for all occasions!
Have you ever noticed that some people have a knack for wearing just the right thing no matter what the occasion?
Our Stone Bank friend, Jeff, has that knack! He wears his Stone Bank T-shirt a lot.
Look! It’s Jeff, Up North and wearing his Stone Bank T! Great look, Jeff!
Be like Jeff! Order your Stone Bank T-shirt today. Your donation of $15 or more will bring the T to your closet, and your donation will help us continue the restoration of the beautiful Stone Bank.
We have got PayPal and Razoo for online payment — or you can send us a check. Then send us a photo wearing your shirt. We would love to publish it here.
It really is a T-shirt for all occasions. And the Stone Bank is here to stay. Help us finish the project with your donation. Check out the colors and sizes on our website.
Thanks for reading the Stone Bank blog!
November 29, 2013
Rockin’ Iowa in a Stone Bank T
Oh, it is so good to see people of good taste wearing our Stone Bank T-shirt. Why, here’s someone now!
Our friend, Jean, ordered a unisex T in periwinkle blue and showed it off near her
home in Iowa. Looking good, Jean!
Don’t stand in line at the mall this holiday season — order your Stone Bank T online today. They make a great holiday surprise, and every purchase of a Stone Bank T goes to help rebuild and repurpose the Stone Bank in Bottineau, N.D. We would love to publish a photo of someone wearing a Stone Bank T in all 50 states. Let’s get going. Order a shirt and then send the picture.
Jean not only follows this blog, but she has a blog — The Tuxedo Files. She ruminates on all kinds of things, but mostly it’s a writer’s blog, where she shares parts of her novels with us. Be sure to check it out.
It’s Day 29 of #NaBloPoMo and we are kind of happy to see the month drawing to a close. There’s always a lot to talk about — but life is busy, and daily blogging is really a commitment. See you back here tomorrow.
November 21, 2013
The Lucky Donation
Could giving to the Stone Bank bring you luck?
It did for your Stone Bank blogger.
Could giving to the Stone Bank improve your luck? Perhaps. Give it a try.
Here’s the story: On Give to the Max Day, my employer offered staffers a chance to win an extra vacation day for contributing to any nonprofit during the day of giving.
I gave.
I dropped my name in the basket.
I won.
I am now the proud recipient of a free day off with pay.
So. There you go.
It’s Day 21 of National Blog Posting Month, a great day to test your luck with a contribution to the Stone Bank project. Really, you can’t lose, because this project is a winner.
Thanks for reading the blog.
November 1, 2013
Block. Mortar. Progress.
Let’s face it. This is just plain exciting for friends and fans of the Stone Bank project. Stone mason Joe Whetter and his crew are putting a foundation up where none used to exist.
Here are photos of the first day of putting down the foundation. It’s amazing how quickly Joe could lay a row of concrete block — the hard part surely was the prep work.
Sharp corner at what will be the rear of the bank.
Joe and his crew made amazing progress in a single afternoon — and the weather (for once) was sweet and cooperative. Rock on!
Stone mason Joe Whetter placed horizontal reinforcement between the layers of block.
At the Stone Bank, we embrace challenge — obviously. So, we are taking up the challenge from WordPress to write a blog post every day during the month of November. It’s called NaBloPoMo — National Blog Posting Month, and you can help! Do you have a photo of the bank or a special memory? We would love to post your guest blog this month. So send us your ideas or your posts. Send us a photo of you wearing your smashing Stone Bank T-shirt. This is going to be fun. Join us. It’s all good.
As always — thanks for reading the Stone Bank blog.
January 14, 2013
2012 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for the Stone Bank Blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 3,300 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 6 years to get that many views.
November 15, 2012
It’s Time To Act
Four people used our online giving portals today to send some love to the Stone Bank.
Tag, you’re it!
There are 2.5 hours left in Give to the Max Day. We don’t need the max… We need a little.
On Razoo.com, search for zip code 58318 and you will find the Stone Bank!
Come on. Make my day!
November 4, 2012
Razoo to You, too!
Greetings from Stone Bank fundraising HQ where we have some news to report. But first, let’s pause for a lovely picture of the Stone Bank.
Stone Bank at dawn on a clear, cold October morning. It simply glows in the light.
We are pleased to report some incoming contributions for the Stone Bank Project. A list of recent supporters is posted on top of the Stone Bank homepage. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We needed that. And that. And that.
Also, to make things easier for online giving, we have opened an account with Razoo. Ra-what? You ask.
Razoo is a national company that works with nonprofits around the country to raise millions for great causes like ours. We have posted a Razoo “donate” button on this page and on the Stone Bank’s homepage. No need to find an envelope, a stamp and remember our address — just click and give! Nearly 100 percent of your donation comes directly to the Stone Bank. (For instance, a $100 online contribution will bring $97 to the Stone Bank. Very fair for the ease and accessibility of the service. Give it a try. There are several other great Bottineau nonprofits on Razoo, too. Just search for Bottineau’s zipcode — 58318 — to find other worthy projects.
Did you know that November 15th is Give to the Max Day? Nonprofits across the country work to get out end-of-year donations on the National Day of Giving. We hope when you think of charitable giving that the Stone Bank Project is near the top of your list. And then you take action.
This is a critical time for your support, because at the end of the month our stone mason will finish dismantling the back 20 feet of the building. Your donations create the matching funds we need for $25,000 in grants that support this project.
The stone wall at left in this picture and the remaining rear foundation will be dismantled in late November 2012. Rebuilding over a new foundation is planned for 2013 with your support.
This fall’s work will ready the project for its “rebuild phase” in early 2013. So, Razoo to you! It’s a great way to help the Stone Bank Project move ahead. Thanks for reading the Stone Bank blog. We appreciate your interest in our project. Here’s another early morning shot of the bank. Charming and pretty! It glows in the light — and you’ll glow, too, knowing your contribution helped bring this historic building back to life.
Dawn’s light glows in the front window of the Stone Bank.
As excited as we are to offer online giving through Razoo, we won’t turn down your check. Send it to: Touchstones, Inc., 524 Main St., PO Box 272, Bottineau, ND 58318
October 9, 2012
Stone Quote No. 5
For your Stone Bank blogger, it was disappointment for lunch, when the call about a grant came at about lunchtime.
As the Rolling Stones famously put it … “you can’t always get what you want.”
And no, we didn’t even get a little bit of what we wanted. A representative of AgriBank called to say that although the Stone Bank is an interesting project that they had decided against sharing their oil-lease riches with us in the form of a grant. Seems that even though the grant information said they were looking for projects of cultural and historic value that there were, uh, constraints on that.
Let’s just say that the instructions were vague. The result? In the short term, the Stone Bank won’t have the financial boost needed to help move the project along.
That brings us to (the very fitting) Stone Quote #5.
Inscribed at the International Peace Garden’s Peace Chapel — quite near the Stone Bank.
That Alexander Graham Bell was one smart cookie.
No regrets! We will just move along and keep working on this great building. A door will open — and it will ROCK!
In the meantime, tell all your friends, relatives and passersby that they can do what AgriBank didn’t do. They can support the restoration of the Stone Bank. There are lots of details on our website: StoneBank.org.
Chin up. Tally ho. Thanks for reading the Stone Bank Blog!
July 20, 2012
No flowers? No card? Our 1st Anniversary
Uh-oh. There’s trouble when you forget an anniversary — and your Stone Bank Blogger was so distracted by the clouds yesterday that a Touchstones’ anniversary went unmentioned.
On July 19, 2011, Touchstones purchased the Stone Bank from its owner of 50 years.
It’s been a whirlwind year and we’ve made a lot of progress. We couldn’t have made it without the support and thoughtful work of our architect, contractor and stone mason.
So let’s stop, draw breath and raise a “Happy Anniversary” toast to the Stone Bank — now in its 112th year.
And remember, the first anniversary is the “paper” anniversary. So, if you have some green paper (as in cash) you want to send our way. We won’t object.
After the first blush of love, our second year will be one in which we build a stronger foundation under the Stone Bank.
If you can help, click the PayPal link in the right-hand column, or send a check to Touchstones, 524 Main St., Bottineau, ND 58318.
Confetti! Rice! Air kisses! And thanks for reading the Stone Bank Blog.
