Open Thread - Wed. June 15, 2016 - Time to Support Caucus99%
Good Morning, 99%'ers! I am traveling this week and may not be able to monitor this Open Thread in real time. So it is a REAL open thread! But even more importantly, this is a reminder asking each of you to support Caucus99%.
In the last three months, Caucus99% has exploded in membership from about 200 members to more than ten times that number. With the sudden and massive increase in the number of people participating, many of our resources have been severely strained, not the least of which is the amount of work it has created for our technical administrator, JtC.
This site has had to make several technical upgrades to accommodate the volume and the response for enabling that to happen has been excellent in the beginning. However, the amount of donations has fallen recently while the amount of work for maintaining this site has continued to increase. What began as a labor of love nearly two years ago, has become a full time job for JtC. What goes on behind the scenes here is massive and JtC is the primary person who vets all new membership requests and addresses every technical problem that occurs. Add to that, the headaches of moderation, that automatically increases with a larger membership.
Until now, JtC and the founding members have avoided selling ads to raise enough funds to ensure that we can provide you with a quality site that meets your needs and keeps the original intent of the site as one in which we can feel free to discuss issues as adults without excessive dictatorial influence from the site's owner. We wish to continue to do this but it is not possible without you, the members and users of this site continuing to provide the financial support for doing so.
JtC has made it very easy for anyone to donate via PayPal, credit cards, or even snail mail. The links are located in the upper right hand corner of this page. Please consider donating and/or making a recurring donation. This is one way that you can ensure that Caucus99 will remain an independent site and free from advertising.
Thank you for you support of Caucus99%. Nancy aka gulfgal98
Comments
Quick bit of math
If every member donated $5 per month:
= approx $10k per month $120k per year.
That would allow for JtC to be paid something for the hours he puts into this and something towards IT and server costs.
$5 per month for the content here is a bargain and there is no other place on the web like it.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
Great idea!
The idea is that if everyone who regularly contribute just a small amount, then we can continue to provide the kind of quality site that benefits us all without annoying ads. Until the great migration, we were small enough to operate without a lot of extra work in the background and we did not upgrades like we have had to do multiple times since mid March. I think that those of us who benefit from and use this place owe it to our administrator to help maintain it.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
Couldn't agree more
I think that there is a bit of a misconception about running websites and that is that it is always a cheap and easy thing to do.
I have set up many websites that function well (and I don't even claim to be a developer) for very little money. I pay for some shared hosting (a small fixed cost for me) and my only extra expense is a domain name which costs around $10 per year. I can have a functional website up and running in a matter of minutes and something a little more polished in a day but -and it is a big but:
This approach works great for basic low traffic sites without very busy forums attached. The moment traffic goes beyond a certain point expenses and expertise required go through the roof. The change from a small scale (say up to a thousand visits -little interaction a day to a site where comments are being placed at a rate of one a minute and much more during busy times cannot be overstated.
From what I can observe this website crossed that threshold a while back.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
Siriusly
I received my car radio subscription renewal. Two years ~$600! And call before renewal date to cancel.
I called. 99% of the time, I listen to an iPod anyway.
I get way more from C99 than Sirius.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Since my exodus from TOP sometime in late March
I have donated $20 twice, so I am in line with stevej's calculation. I never donated money OT, except to humans. For 13 years.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
Thank you . Appreciate it.
If we all pay our fair share, it doesn't take much.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
Thank you so much, riverlover! (n/t)
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
Thanks GG!
I agree one skipped designer coffee or craft beer per month.
Funk yeah!
I don't know how JtC does it, he has an old school job too!
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Thank you, Tim!!!
This! I do not think that many folks here know this. Thank you for reminding all of us.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
This
really puts it in perspective.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
Ponied up. ('Cuz I've been told I like ponies)
But since this is an open thread and there's not much other place to explore this without writing a diary . . .
IF one entertains the idea that there's been hanky-panky in the primary and general elections in this country, engineered by TPTB, is it a stretch to think that they could do it elsewhere?
I ask, as there is a lot of polling in the UK that voters want to leave their European neighbors, in the so-called Brexit vote next week. Ranging from within-the-margin-of-error to flat-out crushing preferences to leave. And yet, . . .
http://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-06-15/will-the-u-k-vote-agai...
The article goes on to cite similarities when Quebec held a secession plebiscite, when Scotland had its vote to leave the U.K., when Greece had its vote(s). The markets -- supposedly "savvy" sorts, we're told -- keep betting against any change to the system that rewards them. Is this coincidence that they keep winning those bets, or have they been playing with votes for a long time?
I'm not one given to CT, but there's no harm in exploring patterns.
Hear, hear for the ponies!
Thank you for contributing both financially and with your comment.
IMHO, regarding CT...if there is a grain of truth, who is to say that it is CT? Not me. We are very sure that votes were manipulated in the primaries in favor of Hillary Clinton. Do we have actual proof of that? No, but we have very reliable evidence in the form of exit polling, which has proven in the past to be extremely accurate, that the result of the Democratic primaries in multiple states were manipulated in some form. The exit polling for the Republican primaries closely followed the actual results while the exit polling for the Democratic primaries was off and very far off in a number of cases, all of which showed that vote totals were manipulated in favor of Clinton. The oligarchs are not even trying to hide what they are doing any more.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
Good to see you here
Hello DYM, I haven't been around much and had not sensed your presence. It is good to see reliable progressives coming around.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Hiya!
Sorry I missed this this morning, but I've been out all day. I'm an old-timer here (meaning a member for all of a year) and was around for the more primitive forms that preceded c99%. I don't comment all that much, since I don't have to push back as hard here as I did elsewhere, but I stop in regularly to read and see what's what . . . and to see all you others who make this place home. I agree it's good to see the good company. Glad you're around here, too.
Already done, GG.
What do you think of pedaling "lifetime memberships"? 'Cause I'm already there.
Btw, didja see my new garden waterer?
Improve the Resilience Resource Library by adding your links.
Vote Smart - Just the Facts - 40,000 politicians by name or zipcode
thank you AB
I have been traveling the last couple of days and have not been on line except for a few minutes here and there. I hope to catch up this evening and will check out your essay tonight.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
Hey GulfGal, are you involved in fundraising for the site?
or are an admin?
The reason I ask is I had mentioned once before in a thread that we should consider setting up a "Crafting for the Cause" program where those of us that lack money, but have skills could donate items to either be auctioned or raffled off?
I would be happy to donate some of my woodworking stuff for the cause.
If C99P needs someone to take point on this initiative I would be happy to do so, I got lots more time than money.
"I used to vote Republican & Democrat, I also used to shit my pants. Eventually I got smart enough to stop doing both things." -Me
That's some beautiful work, Alpha!
Great idea, too. A silent auction site where members can put things up for sale with the proceeds going to c99p, just might work.
Thanks for the great suggestion, too, GG! I've donated twice since March and will definitely give some more starting in July. Right now, I'm paying off a huge tax bill, but that will be over at the end of the month.
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
Hi Alphalop!
I am not an administrator here. I absolutely have zero technical skills to be an admin. However, I am one of the founding members here and am also a moderator. As such, I am very aware of the issues involving the funding and administration of this site. Donations have dropped off in the last month while the actual time and costs associated with running this site have actually increased. Another member who is neither an admin nor a mod contacted me and asked if I would be willing to post an essay reminding people here as to our needs for covering these costs.
I understand that many folks have tight budgets. I have been there myself in the past. We had not considered doing a different kind of fundraiser at this point. However, speaking for myself only, I LOVE your idea and I think you would be a great person to take charge of a different type of fundraiser.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
Well, if/when you guys talk about it let me know.
in the meantime I will start jotting down ideas to run by you on options and whatnot for your review in the event we go forward with this.
"I used to vote Republican & Democrat, I also used to shit my pants. Eventually I got smart enough to stop doing both things." -Me
Hey GulfGal - a question!
I know you guys don't want to set a donation amount, because not everyone can afford the same level of support, but it would be great to know perhaps a recommended amount? At one point someone recommended a recurring $3 monthly donation. I did that, but it seems a little low.
Would $10 monthly be more appropriate if we can afford it?
I think people would probably be willing to give, but its hard to know the right amount.
Setting 'gift levels' part of fundraising, haikukitty
I used to work in small-shop fundraising(a hospital and a convent, back in the days of paper mailings), and their are certain practices that are part of making fundraising work, whether for a one-time campaign or basic-survival ongoing fundraising.
I've written about these points in a previous thread, but I'll bring them up again --
People need to know what Org's goal is. I've suggested that c99 post a stable fundraising info page that shows the needed amount for one month, as well as suggested giving levels (with each level showing what, say, one year of $X will 'buy').
Yes, encouraging regular monthly gifts matters a lot -- because knowing you can expect $XXX/month gives you the opportunity to plan. But it's important to set LOW-enough levels (so the poorest can manage to be involved) as well as higher levels for those who are better-off can aim for.
Someone above mentioned a $5/mo 'low' level gift as something poorer folks can afford by not buying one cup of designer coffee each month. This shows a misunderstanding of poverty. I am officially poor, living on $736/mo Soc Sec Retirement. I have subsidized housing and $72/mo in Food Stamps. There's a diner within walking distance, and last month I decided to make a leap and 'live large' by walking over and treating myself to a half-serving of biscuits & gravy (ie, a meal I didn't have to cook, therefore a huge luxury). That meal -- with coffee plus tax, but before the tip -- came to $4.74, so that meal cost me $5.00. The month before I had made a similar test-run at Subway, and a half-sandwich of their cheapest filling (no drink or sides) also cost me $5.00. I made these experiments thinking that, if I could afford them, I might treat myself to one such outing/month, just to get out of the house and be around people for a while. Walking home from each outing, I had to conclude that $5.00 was too much to commit to each month, that I could do that, at best, every 3-4 months. (so if your life allows you to buy designer coffee frequently, thank your stars.)
I've been wanting to begin donating here, and to Progressive candidates, and I don't feel like I've puzzled out that math sufficiently to commit myself to any regular donations yet. For example, I want to offer some support to the 39 Progressive candidates running for Congress, but even only sending $1/each would be $40(!), a huge chunk for me. I've been tossing around the thought of $3/mo to c99, the 39 candidates, and BrandNewCongress --$9/mo could be possible for me. Then there's LD's new TPW, and the upcoming Progressive events that may very well generate new programs that will need funding.
So, for now -- I'll try to send a bit soon, if I can
CroneWit, I think it's only fair that those who can make up
for those, like yourself, for whom $5 is a once-monthly treat. If you can spare $3 - that's wonderful and commendable.
But no one should be going hungry or missing bills due to donating.
I'm not wealthy, by any means (sigh... I wish), but I'm certainly comfortable enough to buy myself a drive-through Starbucks a few times a month without worrying too much about it. (I'm constantly reminded how lucky I really am when talking to people here, and I do thank my lucky stars, believe me!)
But it can still be hard to balance my donations without knowing what is really needed. I have a whole list of monthly donations to various causes (for small amounts) that come out of my account. But C99 is important to me, so if I knew they needed more, I could shift some donation funds.
I really like your idea of a page that lets us know what is needed monthly or yearly, or if a certain amount needs to be raised in order to keep the site going for the next 6 months, and also provide some compensation for those who invest so much time keeping it running, we could have a funding thermometer so we know how much is still needed.
Thanks, and I agree, haikukitty.
(And btw, haikukitty, I just *LOVE* your pic! Wild 'n' feisty kitty yowls her Song of Domination -- 'Yes I CAN dominate the universe, if I wanna!' and the windblown blond wig makes me hear her 'RrrroOOOWl! Makes me grin every time.
Of course you can, darling! Here, let me give you some tuna!
Ha ha - she makes me smile every time too
I've used other avatars, but I always go back to her because she just makes me HAPPY.
If you can afford and give $10/mo
You would be right on target. As a fundraiser, dkos charges 100/year to "get rid of ads" that also pay him. $10/mo or 100 a year would be perfect.
Crone wit should not pay what she can't afford.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
1 yr sub at DK is $40. nt
I think the $100 charge was for lifetime subscriptions
And those are no longer offered (for some time now) if I recall correctly.
Yes. nt
I am not sure I can answer this properly
But what I do want to say is that Caucus99% was never started as a business. It was begun by a group of us over two years ago who were tired of not seeing and discussing the pressing issues that face the 99%. Many of the founding members had been involved as activists in groups such as the peace movement or Occupy movement. We wanted a site that would go beyond partisan politics and allow people to delve into the issues that face the vast majority of people, regardless of their political party registration.
While we thought that we might eventually grow organically, we never thought we would be inundated by a mass exodus of people from another website. This caused enormous growing pains which not only included the costs of providing technical upgrades, but the tremendous amount of time spent vetting new users and moderating this site. The single greatest burden of all of this has fallen upon one person who is our primary administrator, JtC. Until now, JtC has not been a paid administrator. It is not fair to continue to ask him to provide what has become a full time job for free.
We now have a choice. We can continue down the same path, barely covering our hard costs and not covering the costs of the expertise and time invested by our administrator. This means you will still have this site but you will probably have advertisements to help cover the costs of administration, whether by JtC or by someone hired to do so. Or we can continue to have the freedom we now have and donate whatever you can to help maintain this site like it currently exists.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
I appreciate your explanation, gg
and I seem to be familiar with much of what you say from some earlier discussions not long after the Big Influx.
I agree that JtC does the work of at least three people. IMO, even if he becomes a paid admin, the best focus of his time and talents would be to be the primary 'tech person'. If I were 'the Decider' (which I know I'm not!) I would delegate the New Member duties to capable (and trained!) volunteers. I would also diminish JtC's workload re: moderation and distribute those duties among a greater number of people, whether paid or unpaid.
But these are decisions for the Founders to make, unless they choose to involve users in the decision-process.
As for my suggestions above re: fundraising: I think most of us who came in during the Big Ingress in March understand that the sudden arrival of such a large number of people increased your operating expenses. I think most users here are willing to support the site according to their means. My suggestion are merely about adding a few of the businesslike practices I learned while dong small-shop fundraising in 2 not-for-profit settings.
Here's how I see c99's fundraising situation, in a nutshell (I admit I may be lacking information).
--C99 needs to to receive enough in voluntary donations (not paid memberships) to cover operating expenses (each month, or quarter, or year).
-- C99's current fundraising method appears to be that, when someone(s) get nervous about money, they post a request along the lines of 'Hey, folks we need some money to keep operating expenses covered' and the people who read that post do what they can at that moment.
IMO, based on my professional experience, C99 would benefit by introducing some standard fundraising basics such as:
-- Informing users about how much it it costs to keep up with standard operating expenses each month/year, so users can asses their cashflow and make decisions about how much they can manage to give, and how often.
-- Recognizing that, for generating a steady inflow, encouraging donors to decide on a possibly lower, but *regular* gift amount that they can comfortably maintain (with monthly donations encouraged and supported by the donation software).
Those two suggestions cover basically everything I mentioned above. There's one thought-practice I found useful, that I'll share --
When the Nuns told me that as their Director of Fundraising and Development I had to raise $250,000 in less than six months to bring the nuns' Nursing Home up to condition to meet Fire Safety Code (which would allow the nuns to admit citizens to bring in revenue after the few 'young' nuns (40s-60s) got too old to work), I must admit I gulped. Then I did the 'How Many Donors' exercise: How Many Donors did I need to reach $250k?
I needed 1 donor at $250,000.
Or I needed 250,000 donors at $1.
Or I needed $X donors at $5, $XX at $10 -- you get the picture.
If c99 Founders (or Core Group, or whatever you refer to yourselves as) woud do nothing more that (1) let your users know how much you need for operating expenses by month & year; and (2) give them some info from the Now Many Donors exercise to play with (For Example: To reach $XXX/month, we could do it if we could count on receiving $X in $3 donations, $X in $5, $x in $10, X in $20, $X in $35, $X in $50, $X in 100; (3) let your users play around with those numbers and consider how much they could comfortably commit to, I'd be willing to bet (a small amount!) that they'd have a steady income stream before too long.
Thanks so much for this perspective
I just want to say thanks, yet again, even though it is so not enough for all the work you guys are doing. I think it would be great if you can determine a baseline monthly amount that would cover costs and technical upgrades and at least one or two paid staff to maintain and oversee the site, and then have some kind of "thermometer" or whatever on a fundraising page so the community can see how much is needed at any given time. You might get a few large grants and some monthly commitments, and a lot of small donors, and everyone can and should give according to their budget and the site requirements. There are many who cannot afford cash donations; there are some who can and would step up with larger amounts if needed. And there are some who have skills to donate, and time, and products for a benefit sale. We will find ways to support the site and keep it ad-free, I hope!
Hi CronWit,
I really like this idea. If we, the frequent users of this site want to keep it commercial-free, knowing what it would take to keep it going on a monthly basis, including compensation for JtC and, I believe, joe, it would definitely make it easier to know how much to give monthly. I've given sporadically.
Also, please do not strain your budget. I'm in a difficult position myself, but nothing compared to what you describe. I am happy to include you in my monthly gift to the site. Ah, another example of the benefit of having a giving chart, etc. A really great suggestion.
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
Gorgeous work, Alphalop [edited]
I'd like to help you out but the sad truth is I couldn't sell water to someone whose hair was on fire.
[edit] I must have been having a brain spasm. I'm so embarrassed confusing Bisbonian with Alphalop.
Alpha... you should look into setting up an Espy shop. A friend has and does very well with her crafts.
Improve the Resilience Resource Library by adding your links.
Vote Smart - Just the Facts - 40,000 politicians by name or zipcode
Wow - those are beautiful
FWIW - I think that the idea is great too.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
Thanks! I enjoy doing those quite a bit.
I'm thinking that the worst that can happen is we only raise a little money, but a little is always better than none.
"I used to vote Republican & Democrat, I also used to shit my pants. Eventually I got smart enough to stop doing both things." -Me
Cool
Nice work. JtC and Knucklehead are accomplished woodworkers too.
I have been in the market for a wooden box or a wooden box.
Spending my days around the house, and not drinking beer, yields budget relief. I put my money where my mouth is.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
I could probably make a shaker box pretty easily. :)
I just gotta get my replacement ShopSmith shipped from Nevada first. (My father in law inherited his fathers so he is passing one on to me.)
Don't know when that would be but it is something I have considered as several other friends have requested both those and "Stash" boxes.
Thanks for the compliments as well.
I am thinking about setting up an e-commerce site of some sort for my stuff once I get around to figuring out how to do so and build up a decent supply of inventory.
"I used to vote Republican & Democrat, I also used to shit my pants. Eventually I got smart enough to stop doing both things." -Me
Not in need of roach clips chez moi
I have a gram scale with a clip and a spoon attached for I don't know what. I use it to weigh outgoing postage.
Do you make wood surrounds for laser pointers? Yuuuge market. I'd be in, good gift for daughter (and my dog/god).
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
My own view on lifetime memberships
is not positive for a couple of reasons. A lot of bad feeling was caused at TOP when it took its right turn after people had gifted life memberships to others. At least with a monthly donation the donor can just cancel if the place goes in a weird direction. The break would be cleaner and the rancor less.
From a purely pragmatic point of view a monthly donation keeps the donor invested in the site and the owner(s) know that there is money coming in every month.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
I am OK with weird, but that right turn crap not so much
I bailed when C99 first formed, when it was only a right drift.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
I see strategic issues with lifetime membershipt. I have
a few organizations where I plunked down for a lifetime membership. Over the years I have tried to still give a little bit every year, though I often miss a year or two with some. The effect on their finances is not for the better. Over the term of my membership to date, they have received significantly less money than if I had continued with annual renewals. In theory, they could've invested my lifetime membership in high yield securities and set up a sinking fund and bah, blah, blah, but that is crap. The kind of funds in question are far too paltry to play such games, and most organizations never have enough funds, let alone enough extra to command substantial returns.
In short, I think it short changes the organization unless they are huge and lure movie star donors.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
AB, garden waterer - -
Very nice!
I wasn't being serious, stevej.
I certainly didn't mean to bring up bad memories. The internet is rather fickle. More like "lifetime of the blog" would be truth in advertising. Or participation therein.
I do 2 monthlies purely by accident. Got here. Liked it. Made a $10 recurring. Then a couple of weeks later, liked here even more and decided I could spare a little more.
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Vote Smart - Just the Facts - 40,000 politicians by name or zipcode
heh
I think lifetime subs are a valid suggestion- TOP just happened to serve as an object lesson in what could go wrong (as it seems to with lots of things).
As far as fundraising goes I think anything that makes above zero dollars is all good.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
We were born with lifetime 99% memberships
Words and actions can make one persona non grata, but only the morally and ethically challenged can cross over to the 1%.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
True that
Great pic
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
Yech.
Just went over to GOS to read the BNR. There are all kinds of little trolls shitting all over it. And, may I just say what a little prick Markos is?
“Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires.” - John Steinbeck
I guess this is as good place as any to mention this
I have a PayPal account. But I don't like to use it. It takes them nearly a week to complete a transaction.
I tried donating with a credit card and got the message that I cannot use the same email address as the one on my PayPal account. I only have one email. So for the first time in over a decade I used my PayPal to make a donation.
I'd really rather donate with a credit card.
The people, united, will never be defeated.
Nevermind. I deleted my PayPal account
and now my I can donate via Credit Card. So thanks for inadvertently encouraging me to dump my decade dormant PayPal account. WIN/WIN!
The people, united, will never be defeated.
Thanks, gg, great idea for an OT.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
How much needed now for current expenses, and
when do you need it by?
(If you want to look at now as a discrete fundraising event while you're establishing your long-term fundraising model?)
Having a place to write and read without ads is priceless. So..
the real-world cost for 2k users should (perhaps) work out to be 5 usd per month. If half of us can afford 10 usd monthly as a subscription, we can fund the caucus in a people-powered way, feeling that we are supporting both our own and some less fortunately placed fellow members' right to fund our own voices. I'll go so far as to suggest we consider ongoing monthly commitments/subscriptions as our primary source of maintenance funding, with fundraising calls to handle extra necessities, such as the recent expansion. If the subscription rate is kept at exactly double the cost-per-member-per-month, there won't be any psychological pressure on new signees to immediately subscribe. Going to the membership with specifics of expansion/upgrade costs as special funders will keep everyone vested in the site. Just my thoughts; please pick them apart if necessary. Meanwhile I'm in, ongoing monthly, for 10usd.
Thanks, JtC, Gulf Gal, and all the admins/mods for all you are accomplishing.
Please consider subscribing monthly, to help keep c99 going.
I am locked into a life membership of sorts
Somehow set up the auto-monthly subscription two or three months ago, but I can't access it from PayPal or c99. So I am locked in, y'all better not go GOS-side on me now! Lol
"Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change." Stephen Hawking
NEW: http://www.twitter.com/trueblueinwdc
P.s. Updated my image...
to reflect the old, new, and in between.
"Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change." Stephen Hawking
NEW: http://www.twitter.com/trueblueinwdc
Thanks for the reminder GG
It's fantastic that there are no ads here, such a relief. I'm glad to be able to pitch in another $25.00 for the cause. Done! I'm very grateful for this site and for all of the work and time you all put into it. --
Thank you gulfgal...
and a yuge thank you to all that have donated, it's very much appreciated.
Edit: Sorry I wasn't around earlier to acknowledge the thank yous. I've been on vacation for almost a week now and today was the first day that I was actually able to get away from the site long enough to enjoy a little vacation time. Thanks again everybody!!
Please...
Consider in your comments that some people may feel guilty that they do not have the means to donate. Many here are doing okay; others are just barely getting by; some are sinking fast. All, in spite of income differences, have something to contribute. Please don't make those without funds feel unworthy.
I know it is not intentional...Just saying.
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.--Aristotle
If there is no struggle there is no progress.--Frederick Douglass
Time, Talent, or Treasure
I know it sounds quaint or trite, but it's true: all three are needed. This is particular appeal is for treasure, because we're blessed with lots of folks wanting to be here and it takes resources to support that.
But there have been other appeals for time (co-host Caucus Critters, start some kind of a Creative Corner group) and for talent (write more original content and analysis).
Right now, I have very little time or talent to spare because my work is demanding and I am crispy fried when I get home. So, I make a modest monthly donation. When my schedule slows down, then I would like to contribute more talent.
"Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change." Stephen Hawking
NEW: http://www.twitter.com/trueblueinwdc
Thank you. I understand that.
However, the suggestion was the if everybody pitched in $5/mo... Some people will feel guilt or other uncomfortable feelings over not being able to do that. It is a separator.
I am very glad that so many have the means, but there are those who don't. From each according to his/her ability....
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.--Aristotle
If there is no struggle there is no progress.--Frederick Douglass
Nobody should feel compeled or shamed. How many
non-contributors listen to NPR or watch public TV? From each according to their ability I think I read somewhere.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Exactly!
The purpose of this essay is not to shame but to educate folks here.
No one should feel compelled to contribute if they cannot do so. Thank you, EL!
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
I am not suggesting that shaming is the purpose.
All I am saying is that things be worded in such a way as to not make someone feel like a "taker." Hate that term.
The cause is excellent, and it should be advertised. People just need to be aware of wording as such things can serve to divide. I know that was not the purpose, but we are in a particularly sensitive time right now, and thinking of other people's feelings is never out of place.
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.--Aristotle
If there is no struggle there is no progress.--Frederick Douglass
Uh, I think I know where you read it. = )
What people should or should not feel is not the point. Some will. No one can tell a person how to feel about anything. Feelings do not need to be reasonable to someone else.
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.--Aristotle
If there is no struggle there is no progress.--Frederick Douglass