Randy will undoubtedly clarify this at some point but let me add my two pesos worth here.

The original suggestion from Cherokee Lady was a simple, heartfelt, unsolicited idea for you to auction the flag through eBay or on your own.
Had the conversation stopped there, I don't think we would have needed any OK from the HOM's.

But as this idea gathered some legs and escalated into more of a traditional charity event, I suggested we contact Randy before proceeding any further. But then I also had the knowledge that TB was considering this very topic.

The TB motion in Post #1 above is really not a change in the TOS. It's always been policy to have prior approval from the HOM's for all charitable events. What we declared was that even long-standing charitable events on TB would not be grandfathered and would now have to submit for approval from Randy in the future.

So, as this particular case was handled, it didn't violate the new or the old policy, IMO, as it never got out of the planning stages.

Once it looked like a charity and smelled like a charity it was put on hold pending Randy's approval.

TB's intention here was not to quash all discussion on charities but instead to take the moderator judgement calls as to what is and what isn't a qualified event and transfer that entirely to the HOM's.

Charity hasn't suddenly become a bad word around FT and I doubt Randy will ever add that word to the censorship filter.

We are just clarifying the process for gaining approval for all charitable events going forward.

Guess that was a bit more than two pesos.