Help The Power of She Road Trip and RV
Donation protected
Hello, my name is Tracy – and I am respectfully and humbly coming to you via Go Fund Me to help me fulfill a dream and help Small Business Owners at the same time.
For nearly ten years, I've had this idea come and sit lightly on my shoulder: to buy an RV, have it branded with my company’s slogan, THE POWER OF SHE, and drive across the U.S.: discovering, buying from, promoting and sharing the stories of women business owners as a way to help them make more money and shrink the Gender Gap.
I believe that by sharing these women's stories with the world, we’ll all be inspired and uplifted by their strength, ingenuity and resilience. I know that women sharing their stories is always important --- but it seems even more necessary now, when our country feels so divided.
I’m an Event Planner, and when covid19 hit in early 2020 -- my business was immediately dead in its tracks for the foreseeable future. I thought to myself: since I can’t host events (which means, I can’t earn a living), why not do this Power of She Road Trip NOW?! Buy that RV, get it wrapped and hit the road and meet these women business owners (following covid safety guidelines of course).
I took months searching for RVs, and finally found one that I thought was to become my dream mini house on wheels. I was doing all this myself. I didn’t think I needed to bring a friend with me to help buy and negotiate. Although I’d never owned a home or an RV. I watched a few videos and trusted the dealership.
I put down a hefty down payment and financed the rest, and drove off into the sunset to begin renovating. My heart sank, as I ripped out the entertainment center over the cab, and found WATER DAMAGE & BLACK MOLD! $3,000 later and that was fixed.
Next step was to get the RV wrapped in The Power of She branding – but before I did that, the seams and roof needed to be sealed to prevent leaking, and more mold. I had never gone up on the roof before I bought the RV. That had never occurred to me, nor had the dealer suggested it.
My heart sank once again, as I watched the serviceman walk along the roof and see it buckle under his weight. I’D NEED AN ENTIRE NEW ROOF, he said! The roof was toast. Extensive water damage. We went inside the RV and parts of the ceiling had fallen down inside under his weight on the roof.
I took the RV to two other dealers to get their opinions and bids, and they all said the same thing: YOU NEED A NEW ROOF!
They also said, that the dealer who sold it to me, should have never sold this RV!
They also showed me where some of the ceiling tiles were a different texture from the rest, and how someone had replaced them to hide and temporarily fix the extensive water damage. This was clearly evident to these other dealers --- but the dealer I’d purchased the RV from never mentioned any of this.
I still owe $8,000 on the RV and have paid an additional $3,000 to repair the water damage and mold in the front cab. A new roof will cost $12,000 to $13,000.
I paid $18,500 for the RV – and will have to put in an additional $16,000 just to get it livable. $34,500 for a 2001 RV whose blue book value is $6,500!
I called the dealer who sold me the RV and suggested that he forgive the rest of the loan (about $8,000), so I can use that money to pay for a new roof and he said:
“Oh hell no!”
…and hung up on me.
This entire awful experience has been a very hard and valuable life lesson. Why do “life lessons” often times have to cost so much? LOL
I created this Go Fund Me at the urging of many friends and followers on my social network.
It’s a funny thing, this business I have called: The POWER of She. The teacher often teaches that which they most need to learn.
I have definitely not felt powerFULL during some of this journey already. While at the same time, I’m being reminded of my power --- the power that I have in using my voice. Sticking up for myself. And the power I have in my friends, connections and network I have built over 25 years.
I have been “nice” and calm to the dealer – but I know that time is over. I'm investigating other legal avenues I might be able to take with them. But who knows where that will go and how much more in legal fees it will take.
So....I'm stepping into this role of leading powerfully – and sometimes, leading means asking for help. And ACCEPTING that help. Which I’ll admit – is hard, humbling, embarrassing and also very heart warming.
If you believe in The Power of She mission (you can find out more here: www.ThePowerOfShe.com -- I appreciate your support with whatever amount you can give. The money will be used to further fix and renovate The Power of She RV!
I personally know first-hand how difficult this year has been for so many of us – particularly small business owners like myself and the ones I plan to meet and promote throughout The Power of She Road Trip. If you are unable to give, please send positive energy and love my way. That is also greatly appreciated.
This is one of my favorite poems, and how I attempt to live my life – and what The Power of She Road Trip will be enveloped in:
“If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain.
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again.
I shall not live in vain.”
~Emily Dickinson
If you’ve gotten this far – THANK YOU.http://www.thepowerofshe.com
For nearly ten years, I've had this idea come and sit lightly on my shoulder: to buy an RV, have it branded with my company’s slogan, THE POWER OF SHE, and drive across the U.S.: discovering, buying from, promoting and sharing the stories of women business owners as a way to help them make more money and shrink the Gender Gap.
I believe that by sharing these women's stories with the world, we’ll all be inspired and uplifted by their strength, ingenuity and resilience. I know that women sharing their stories is always important --- but it seems even more necessary now, when our country feels so divided.
I’m an Event Planner, and when covid19 hit in early 2020 -- my business was immediately dead in its tracks for the foreseeable future. I thought to myself: since I can’t host events (which means, I can’t earn a living), why not do this Power of She Road Trip NOW?! Buy that RV, get it wrapped and hit the road and meet these women business owners (following covid safety guidelines of course).
I took months searching for RVs, and finally found one that I thought was to become my dream mini house on wheels. I was doing all this myself. I didn’t think I needed to bring a friend with me to help buy and negotiate. Although I’d never owned a home or an RV. I watched a few videos and trusted the dealership.
I put down a hefty down payment and financed the rest, and drove off into the sunset to begin renovating. My heart sank, as I ripped out the entertainment center over the cab, and found WATER DAMAGE & BLACK MOLD! $3,000 later and that was fixed.
Next step was to get the RV wrapped in The Power of She branding – but before I did that, the seams and roof needed to be sealed to prevent leaking, and more mold. I had never gone up on the roof before I bought the RV. That had never occurred to me, nor had the dealer suggested it.
My heart sank once again, as I watched the serviceman walk along the roof and see it buckle under his weight. I’D NEED AN ENTIRE NEW ROOF, he said! The roof was toast. Extensive water damage. We went inside the RV and parts of the ceiling had fallen down inside under his weight on the roof.
I took the RV to two other dealers to get their opinions and bids, and they all said the same thing: YOU NEED A NEW ROOF!
They also said, that the dealer who sold it to me, should have never sold this RV!
They also showed me where some of the ceiling tiles were a different texture from the rest, and how someone had replaced them to hide and temporarily fix the extensive water damage. This was clearly evident to these other dealers --- but the dealer I’d purchased the RV from never mentioned any of this.
I still owe $8,000 on the RV and have paid an additional $3,000 to repair the water damage and mold in the front cab. A new roof will cost $12,000 to $13,000.
I paid $18,500 for the RV – and will have to put in an additional $16,000 just to get it livable. $34,500 for a 2001 RV whose blue book value is $6,500!
I called the dealer who sold me the RV and suggested that he forgive the rest of the loan (about $8,000), so I can use that money to pay for a new roof and he said:
“Oh hell no!”
…and hung up on me.
This entire awful experience has been a very hard and valuable life lesson. Why do “life lessons” often times have to cost so much? LOL
I created this Go Fund Me at the urging of many friends and followers on my social network.
It’s a funny thing, this business I have called: The POWER of She. The teacher often teaches that which they most need to learn.
I have definitely not felt powerFULL during some of this journey already. While at the same time, I’m being reminded of my power --- the power that I have in using my voice. Sticking up for myself. And the power I have in my friends, connections and network I have built over 25 years.
I have been “nice” and calm to the dealer – but I know that time is over. I'm investigating other legal avenues I might be able to take with them. But who knows where that will go and how much more in legal fees it will take.
So....I'm stepping into this role of leading powerfully – and sometimes, leading means asking for help. And ACCEPTING that help. Which I’ll admit – is hard, humbling, embarrassing and also very heart warming.
If you believe in The Power of She mission (you can find out more here: www.ThePowerOfShe.com -- I appreciate your support with whatever amount you can give. The money will be used to further fix and renovate The Power of She RV!
I personally know first-hand how difficult this year has been for so many of us – particularly small business owners like myself and the ones I plan to meet and promote throughout The Power of She Road Trip. If you are unable to give, please send positive energy and love my way. That is also greatly appreciated.
This is one of my favorite poems, and how I attempt to live my life – and what The Power of She Road Trip will be enveloped in:
“If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain.
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again.
I shall not live in vain.”
~Emily Dickinson
If you’ve gotten this far – THANK YOU.http://www.thepowerofshe.com
Organizer
Tracy Klinkroth
Organizer
Seattle, WA