UPDATE Meta: Let's fund c99p now to show solidarity;fund raise match

I want to give thanks to JtC, Joe, dkmich, gjohnsit, gulfgal and many others who have given their efforts.

Nothing comes easier to me than criticizing others and I despise that about myself. Arm chair quarterbacking about how good the site maybe acceptable because folks are trying to improve the site, however let's make sure we respect what has been built.

I failed to do this myself in my haste to want to make c99p the best I envisioned it could be, however I learned I need to dial it back(ty JtC).

These folks I have mentioned above have been working 18-20 hour days keeping this place moderated and that ain't easy work.

If we as a community want c99p to become everything we want it to be than we need to put our $$$$ where or mouth is (fully understanding that some of us can't budget it at this time)

I see the potential of c99p and I believe that others do also and that is why we all want to be apart of charting its course. The power is in the incorruptible spirit and that power has overflowed hear from dkos. In order to realize that power my belief is that we have fund c99p.

If we have suggestions let's understand they take time and $$ to implement.

We can't ask these folks to volunteer that much time to this site without compensation IMHO. I believe we need to make sure that they are compensated for their time and efforts.

Let's crunch some numbers:

We have 1000 members. Let's say we could get $8 dollars a month from each of them.
8x12x100= 96,000

We could use the $$$ to pay salaries and health care premiums for the admins and the left overs go to c99pAC. c99pAC is our PAC and we then vote on who we want to donate our c99PAC $ too.

Regardless if that ever comes to fruition I'm doing a fundraising drive match starting now.

I will match the first $100 donated to c99p, just leave a comment of how much you donated and I will match.

Sincere thanks and Go 99'ers go!!

p.s. I'm donating the first $8 on behalf of Raggedy Ann&Andy, so that means we are already at $16.

UPDATE: Thanks everyone for your replies. I was unable to get back online yesterday so my apologies for not responding sooner.
Good news - We hit the goal of 100 and therefore my match is on its way. We actually exceeded the goal! Thank you to everyone. I want to mention the $100 donation that I was notified of via message, the user didn't tell me to keep it a secret but they did send it in a private message so I won't mention the physician from Texas's name.

Also I do realize I have no business writing meta about finances, but JtC and I had messaged on the side and he explained how much time he was devoting and so I opened my big mouth.
I see no reason why the folks running this site should not receive just compensation, but that is their call :).

We have the power!

Go 99ers go!!!

Share
up
0 users have voted.

Comments

Szaephod's picture

Thanks for this - put my $20 in yesterday.

up
0 users have voted.

The spirit of party serves to enfeeble the Public Administration,
agitates with Jealousies and false alarms, and opens the door to corruption,
which finds access to the government itself through the channels of party passions.
George Washington

their thoughts. Clearly a well intentioned suggestion but may not fit with their current model and plans. Growing pains are inevitable, and if funding is one of those pains, I hope the "founders" will let us know and share their ideas of options for dealing with it.

P.S. I admire your candor in the backstory you put out there for this essay. Prickly pears have a place in natural communities. Wink

up
0 users have voted.

"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." --Jiddu Krishnamurti

up
0 users have voted.

Only connect. - E.M. Forster

Alison Wunderland's picture

Can I be grandfathered in? Ponying up $10/month already.

But! Act! NOW! and receive this limited time offer of not 20%, not 30%, no, not even 40% off, but 50%,

that's right 50% OFF!

Offer valid in all 50 Internets, Territories, and Subjugated Domains. Offer open to members of Homo Sapiens and their Familiars. Good while supplies last or the cows come home.

up
0 users have voted.
mimi's picture

so clearly in today's dreaded meta #2.

and even though we don't have a downrate (that could be implemented but we decided against it), an unpopular comment or essay will reflect any dislike or disagreement in the form of little to no uprates. It's an effective way to send a message without the negative aspect of a downvote.

Some positive aspects of having sensitive meta essays and comments.

up
0 users have voted.
mimi's picture

I do not want to discourage anybody from donating to this site, but I would feel more comfortable if the mechanism by which we would or could fund this site, be written about by Joe Shikspack and JtC in a special announcement or meta #xyz. There may be others, who have thought about such things. I think it's a matter to be discussed among those local old-timers here, who founded the site, and may be other old-timers, who are well known from over at TOP. Some of them are coming here and they have a long-term insider knowledge of how to monitor and provide a home blog for several thousands of members.

There are over 1100 members in the list, so things have changed. I once said in a comment to JtC that I don't like online slave work. That means that I am in support to fund those, whose labor of love turn unavoidably in slave labor when a site grows like this one is and when it's a stated goal to keep a certain quality standard and home feeling (of the kind Joe described in his meta #2) of a special flavor alive.

I remember well, when Meteor Blades at TOP took over a leading and huge work load trying to keep the community comments over there civil, fair and non-hostile as an quasi overlord (I can't remember the correct word right now for the role he had there). It's years ago. I remember too that I respected him greatly for those efforts, as it was a task that seemed to be very difficult to handle. And I thought he did a great job, considering that it is almost a job that nobody really can do well. Finally I remember him giving that task away and being clearly relieved to not have to put up with that kind of job any longer. I do not think that it is even relevant, if someone is paid for such a job or not. The job is just "a burden of a special emotional kind".

I would wish this would not repeat itself on this site for JtC or Joe Shikspack or anybody, who would be involved in monitoring the site and make the electrons run on time in the right direction.

I just would suggest for all of you to discuss that behind closed doors and come up with some result in a meta essay.
I think it's perfectly normal to ask for a regular contribution that would cover the costs and compensate the hard work of a couple of people appropriately, paid for by the people for the people. There are always those, who have more funds and are generous and willing to help funding and those, who have less, but would also participate in the effort. In order to not get dependent on the better off 99%ers, I think a small recurring fee for registered members is fair.

Just my 0.02 cents.

up
0 users have voted.

agree more:

I do not want to discourage anybody from donating to this site, but I would feel more comfortable if the mechanism by which we would or could fund this site, be written about by Joe Shikspack and JtC in a special announcement or meta #xyz.

dr

up
0 users have voted.

Only connect. - E.M. Forster

mimi's picture

my first comment was not misinterpreted.

up
0 users have voted.
TrueBlueinWDC's picture

This is my first couple of days here and I really appreciate having a place to contribute --- and I'm willing to put my money on it. I'm sure they'll find good use whether to build capacity or pay FP contributors. I'm signing up now for a $15 monthly subscription like contribution. Not sure how that factors into your matching proposal. Smile

up
0 users have voted.

"Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change." Stephen Hawking

NEW: http://www.twitter.com/trueblueinwdc

JayRaye's picture

I strongly agree with good funding behind C99. so thank you for doing this. I have advocated from start that JtC should receive some sort of compensation for all the work that he has done. He seems to be disinclined to accept any, but perhaps he could be convinced.

On paying someone to keep the site in good working order: I am definitely for it.

All of the greatest and most long lasting organizations have had paid staff. I'm thinking here of great unions like the IWW and UMW, etc.

This is something to discuss of course and may take some time to reach a decision. But we do need to think about it as the site grows. What works with a few hundred members, may not work with several thousand.

I imagine that it begins to take more and more time to manage the site, from a tech perspective, and that person should most definitely be paid for their labor. If those so chosen want a shop steward to bargain on their behalf, I will volunteer my services.

up
0 users have voted.

Never be deceived that the rich will allow you to vote away their wealth.-Lucy Parsons

Please check your messages.

up
0 users have voted.

Please help support caucus99percent!

Raggedy Ann's picture

I'm honored by your contribution on my behalf. I believe we need to support this site if it is meaningful to us. I did contribute when I joined, a couple weeks ago. I plan to kick more in as I can. When that is possible, I, too, will make a donation in your name, darkle! We are in this together. I love the community it has already engendered. Smile

up
0 users have voted.

"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

JMarks's picture

The writing/analysis is wonderful here. And for the people working so hard to make it work...equally as wonderful.

up
0 users have voted.
joe shikspack's picture

(editorial voice on)

we are officially delighted that you like the site and want to support it. we were kind of humbled by the sentiments expressed by people who respect what we've done here so much that they want to fund raise for salaries, we are deeply honored by your kindness, consideration and good intentions.

on the other hand, the c99pac thing is not going to work for the site right now. having a pac means getting involved in elections and partisan politics which is not the focus of the site. let's be clear that we are completely in favor of individuals participating in elections to the extent that they wish to and supporting any candidate that they think will move forward the interests of the 99%.

further, even if we wanted to (as a site) promote the fortunes of candidates, we do not have the legal talent or the people to set up and administer a pac, making sure that we are fully in compliance with government regulations, etc. - heck, right now we are scrambling just to keep up with the ramifications of having suddenly have 1000 people show up on our doorstep.

so, once again, thank you all for your kindness and the energy and enthusiasm that you are putting into building the community. we are constantly amazed and inspired by it.

(editorial voice off)

up
0 users have voted.
musicsleuth's picture

I appreciate the clarification. More than happy to support the site.

up
0 users have voted.
joe shikspack's picture

up
0 users have voted.

we are humbled by your kind and generous donations. Thank you very much.

Added edit: And thank you dakrle, it's much appreciated. See, I spelled your username right that time!

up
0 users have voted.
jiordan's picture

as soon as I get paid, C99 will get paid Smile

up
0 users have voted.

Thanks everyone for your replies. I was unable to get back online yesterday so my apologies for not responding sooner.
Good news - We hit the goal of 100 and therefore my match is on its way. We actually exceeded the goal! Thank you to everyone. I want to mention the $100 donation that I was notified of via message, the user didn't tell me to keep it a secret but they did send it in a private message so I won't mention the physician from Texas's name.

Also I do realize I have no business writing meta about finances, but JtC and I had messaged on the side and he explained how much time he was devoting and so I opened my big mouth.
I see no reason why the folks running this site should not receive just compensation, but that is their call :).

We have the power!

Go 99ers go!!!

Another UPDATE:
Paypal is not verifying my card. I went to paypal and tried to update my card but it would not take there either. Does anyone have any advice? I did notice that I created the paypal account as a business account because it was for a fundraiser do I need a personal account???

up
0 users have voted.
kharma's picture

Dr Houston?
Marcus Waco MD?
South Padre Surgeon?
Dr Joaquin and Mr Hideway?
Doctor Zavalla
Dr Latexo I presume?
Sam Sheppard Phd

up
0 users have voted.

There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties.. This...is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.--John Adams

progdog's picture

Austin Audiologist?

up
0 users have voted.

prog - weirdo | dog - woof