Teamwork, Charity and Accountability

April holds my record for running estate sales. Our team conducted 4 sales from set up, organization, conducting 3 to 4 day sales through property clean up and housecleaning on several of the projects. 

From the last weekend of March, holding a "divorce" sale, through rain and snow through the last weekend  in April the weather was in the high 70's.  On last day of the month, my final clean up day and the drop-dead date to be out of the property, we had torrential rain storms. 

Habitat for Humanity RESTORE, arrived during a lull in the storm and picked up half of the donations, and took a hike, when it started raining again, leaving behind the best pieces of furniture and boxes of donations. I had scheduled 3 weeks prior and was counting on them to do their job. Not only did they not have rain gear on board their truck, they refused to work under anything less than optimal weather conditions. 

The truck driver, a paid position at Restore, vs. a volunteer, let me know that in his opinion, he was "doing me a favor".  I was incredulous...I told him the way I look at it, it goes both ways. Teamwork is key in my business. Obviously charity needs great donations and I give them. The week prior, on my client's behalf, I had donated 9 pieces of furniture and a dozen boxes of decor. I've donated thousands of objects to charity over the past 14 years. 

Regardless, of the let down by this entitled charity, and two changes of clothing, we persisted...Thanks to my stalwart help, the landlord's cooperation, and my client's daughter, who removed a lot of the better glass and furniture that had not sold, we made it out by evening. 

I took 10 loads to the Goodwill in my Ford Transit, where I was assisted by a large man who at the receiving entrance had to step across a very large puddle many times.  He also didn't wear a rain coat, or hat or boots and seemed waterproof.  He was cooperative and considerate.  He didn't say he was "doing me a favor". 

I got my job completed on time for my client, and made money for them in the process; the landlord was the benefactor of several very nice pieces of furniture that should have gone to charity and I stopped by the Restore and told them they would never, ever again, be asked to pick up any of my donations. Ungrateful and unprofessional is what I consider them to be. 

I need a new charity who will do what they say they'll do, on time, and not leave me and my client stranded because of adverse conditions and circumstances. Please send them my way. 

Rare Lincoln Pardon of Adam Law, African American Soldier. Who owns it?

The National Archives wants me to donate this document to them.

The government gave up 'title' to this document in 1865. Where were these Civil War documents stored,( if they were,) or were they thrown away, given to this soldier, did he arrive in DC and work for my client's ancestors... how did it arrive on the closet shelf, sandwiched in the book, for 160 years, where I found it?  


Who was Mr. Adam Law?  What did he do after his pardon from court martial by President Lincoln? Was he discovered by my client's ancestors in Freeman land and hired to work for them? I have no proof of this. I know they went there on a three day pass. That pass is also at auction. 


To accomodate the Archives request I am seeking a buyer to pay me a reasonable market value for the document, with the understanding and agreement to give it to the Archives  as a donation for a tax write off. 


I do not itemize so that is of no use to me. I do have a mortgage to pay.I am a small woman owned business, struggling to survive in a very lackluster economy. There are many people in the world who need the tax deduction.


As my attorney said...if it belongs to the Archives how can they accept a donation from the "owner".  And they did say that to me. 
So, I have asked them to provide me with a donation form or letter for my use when selling to whomever eventually buys it.  


My business is in part, cleaning out junk, organizing, discovering, preparing, marketing and selling objects of art, furnishings, documents and other items.


 This is one of those items. I came by it legally. I salvaged it from being tossed into the rear end of a garbage truck.I found it and am responsible for it's appropriate disposition.  


The Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution states
" Right to just compensation for private property taken for public use."


If the National Archives can not pay for this document, then perhaps they can assist in locating a benefactor who will. 


I am alive. This soldier is not. A. Lincoln lives on through our struggle for a just democracy. I think he would agree with me on this one.