The Wounded Warrior Memorial Celebration

On Sunday May 30th, from 5 to 9 PM SL time, the US Military Veterans Group in SL held a live music event to help the Wounded Warrior project, a program to assist hurt soldiers. The event took place at the Veterans’ Center in the Patriot Island sim, with the crowd in front of the stage numbering over a few dozen residents.

Fingerstyle guitarist Frets Nirvana, US Military Veterans Group of SL, and Symbiotic Productions announced the fourth in the series of benefit concerts for the Wounded Warriors project. ... All proceeds collected ... will be paid out directly to Wounded Warrior Project, (WWP). WWP provides services and programs to the more than 30,000 troops that have been injured in recent conflicts to ease their burdens and aid in the transition back to civilian life.

About Wounded Warriors: Wounded Warrior Project began when several individuals took small, inspired actions to help others in need. The resulting objective was to provide tangible support for the severely wounded and help them on the road to healing, both physically and mentally. What had been initially viewed as a small contribution (compared with what the warriors had sacrificed while serving our country) has become WWP’s signature program: “WWP backpacks delivered beside to wounded warriors.”

Wounded Warriors program has developed significantly over the last several years to include advocacy, benefits counseling, caregivers retreats, coping/family services, peer mentoring, warriors to work and many other programs for the benefit of United States wounded veterans.

Despite being a bit gray from lag, those attending the event enjoyed themselves and the music. Frets Nivarna was the third musician playing, from 7 to 8 PM SL time. There were some schedule changes, and von Johin took over to sing last, “playing live from Nashville Tenn for you.” He noticed not everyone in the audience was from the US, “probably not Memorial Day for you in London, but thank you for participating.” He went on to play past the hour he was scheduled to, going not to 9 PM SL time but two, to 10 PM.

Votslac Hax was among those who helped organize the event, “This is the fourth concert. And I believe the sims been here for quite some time.” He explained in the three previous concerts, there were notable musicians such as Craig Lyons, Maximillion Kleene, “This was the largest longest event (we held). It was designed to celebrate Memorial Day worldwide.”

Approximately 31,000 Lindens were raised for the WWP that night. During normal times, the Patriot Island sim welcomes veterans of all branches to come by and relax, to enjoy activities such as skydiving, helicopter flights, boating, games, and shopping.

To learn more about the Wounded Warriors Project, visit https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

BobbiJo Jonson, “The Responsibility to remember is ours. And a way each of us can do this is to support the Wounded Warrior Project. Thank you all. A most glorious day of remembering.”

Bixyl Shuftan

"The Pocket" Raises over 106K Lindens in Flood Relief Benefit.

Last week, “The Pocket” hosted a benefit fundraiser (Link) for Cypress Rosewood, whose house and office suffered flood damage, which his insurance did not cover. A number of noted musicians, plus Tony Dyson (Azar Shelman) took part.

Delinda Dyrssen, who manages the Pocket, later announced that the event at her club had raised a total of 106,660 Lindens. While not enough by itself to pay for the damage, it helped. Cypress was able to find an apartment to move into until his family could find a house.

Cypress thanked those whom spent time and Lindens, “The generosity of ... Second Life friends was amazing. ... The compassion, help, and generosity is as over the top as the water was.”

Bixyl Shuftan

R2D2 Creator Makes Appearance at Flood Relief Benefit

On Saturday May 8 from 4 PM SL time to Midnight, “The Pocket” hosted a benefit concert. Their goal was to raise cash for Cypress Rosewood after his home and office in Nashville were hit by the flooding the previous week. Numerous personalities from the SL music industry such as CraigLyons Writer and OhMy Kidd were there to perform.

At 7:45 PM, a special guest appeared. He wasn’t a musician, but someone known for what he did for the motion picture industry in real life: Azar Shelman. In real life, he is Tony Dyson, a noted special effects artist, his most famed accomplishment being the designing of the droid R2D2 in “Star Wars.”

Azar took questions from the audience, which were IMed to an aide of his first. He did not use the sim’s radio to speak, but the voice function. Some couldn’t hear him, and some others had trouble doing so.

Azar was asked a number of questions, the majority concerning R2D2. Asked where did the idea for the droid come from, he answered that George Lucas wanted a robot that in contrast to the classic mechanical man of science fiction didn’t look human at all, so he designed something “turned into a practical object.” Asked how many robots were used in “Star Wars,” he answered there were “eight different R2s in a set,” each designed to perform different moves. He was asked if he had any movies in Second Life under development, and when they would be out. Azar responded, “Good question,” saying it was still “hard to say” what date his project would be ready.

At the event was an R2D2 unit anyone could pick up a copy of. There was also an unique R2D2 which was “signed by Tony Dyson.” The bidding continued for an hour until a winner was declared. Sanne Brune placed the winning bid of 12,500 Lindens.

Eventually, Azar bid farewell to everyone, and took his leave, and the benefit continued on with the next few musicians.

“Second Life ... this is the future.”

Bixyl Shuftan

Flood Relief Benefit for Cypress Rosewood

Cypress Rosewood (Tony Gerber in real life) was on his way home in Nashville Tennessee after a real-life music performance when trouble struck. Nashville was hit hard by terrible flooding, Cypress hearing it called a “five-hundred year flood.” He was unable to get to his home. Fortunately his wife and daughter were able to get out, but his home and shop were flooded and when talking to Progressive Insurance he was told his policy had an “exclusion clause ... for water damage.”

As a result, friends of Cypress have been organizing to raise cash. One such benefit will be this Saturday May 8 at “The Pocket.” Beginning at 4 PM SL time, various musicians will be performing until Midnight. The musicians include OhMy Kidd, Keiko Takamura, and CraigLyons Writer. Also there will be Azar Shelman, whom in real life is Tony Dyson, the man who designed and built R2D2 for the “Star Wars” movies. He will be taking a few minutes to answer questions and pass out a few gifts.

Another event was held Friday at 2:30 PM at the French Quarter sim. Cypress’ “Twitter” has the words, “Everyone making donations, thanks so, so much. We are blessed and we are humbled.”

Earlier this year, Cypress Rosewood was the subject of real-life trouble when a burglar broke into his home while he was performing. Not unlike now, friends raised cash to help make up for the loss of valuable equipment stolen.

The Pocket is located in the Freestar Bay sim at: 216/32/24.

Bixyl Shuftan

Sources: Delinda Dyrssen’s Blog

Autism Awareness at Tiaopia Island

From January 3rd to the 9th, the Tiaopia sim will host the Autism Awareness Project. The week-long event has poetry readings, art auctions, storytelling, and over 40 live music artists to help raise funds, and attention to those with the illness. Each day will have a different theme, from romance to Madi-Gras. The dedicated team has the goal of raising a record amount of cash, and have plenty of fun for themselves and everyone else.

Continued in Community