Quote from: cynthialee on July 12, 2012, 02:09:36 PM
I understand the desire to maintain equality but let me interject some of my opinions here,
If you want folks to donate regularly there needs to be ome form of incentive. Sure there is a core group here that will be willing to do their part when they can but I doubt it will be enough to maintain the site.
If you have a section of the forums available to only dues paying members you will get more folks paying.
I know I know....this feels somewhat dirty, but I know human nature. If there is no motivational factor tied to the act of paying dues, then it will fail in the long run.
You can probably pony up a nice amount of funds for the site with an initial "please donate to save Susan's' campaign but I just can't see it being sustainable.
And thank you cynthialee for your well thought out response. However, I must respectfully disagree with most of your points. From my experience, alone; Susan's family goes beyond human nature. It goes beyond the motivational factor. It goes beyond the 'core' membership. In fact, it goes beyond what most would consider a natural phenomenon.
For the past 16 years, Susan, and her dedicated team have been responsible for creating a ripple effect that surpasses all known social and sociological norms, to create a family that is second to NONE. You think Facebook has created an international phenomenon. You haven't seen the power of Susan's yet
In the mid 90's, after being classified as a 'write off' by the professional psychiatric industry, I found the original Susan's. It was a ray of sunshine. I must have read those resources and information a hundred times over. Foolishly (and immaturely) I left, but persued that information. It manifested, it grew, it produced good fruit. Through it I was able to broaden my horizons and mature. By sheer accident (fate ?) last year I fired up an old server, looking for some old, yet productive software. In the process of looking for the software, I found a copy of old Inet Explorer bookmarks. Susan's Transgender Place stood out. For the hell of it, thinking it would return a broken link, Susan's appeared. Curiosity got he better of me, and low and behold I saw members who had been there all along and I read of their achievements. The rest is history.
My transition started THAT day. Because of Susan's family that had persisted for soooooo long. And IT will continue to persist and grow, exponentially for the millennium to come, regardless of where Susan, herself , is. Perpetual motion HAS been created.
Susan may die tomorrow (and god hope she doesn't) BUT her presence, her spirit, her ambiance, her ethos, her perseverance, her nuances will not only survive her, but they will grow exponentially after her, like any ripple. Susan's ETHOS has empowered others to rise to the occasion. THAT cannot be stopped, destroyed, manipulated, changed, altered, diffused, modified or otherwise interfered with, in any way, shape or form. In other words, the group dynamic HAS been created. Scientifically it has to promulgate. And promulgate it will, irrespective of hearts, flowers, recognition, non recognition, subscription, gifts, annuities, bequests, one-off-donations, monthly subscriptions, PayPal, 'when-I-can's", "If-I-could's", Government subsidies, philanthropic intervention or tax relief.
Mathematically speaking, Susan's family HAS effected so many lives over the past, more than, 16 years, that the group dynamic has create the ground swell to ensure it's permanency. Like Einstein's theories are here to stay. So is Susan's.
An isolated incident perhaps? Just a one-off-experience? I think NOT. Just look at those that have returned, AND those that have recently returned. The unstoppable ground swell IS happening, just like Global Warming. Sure you can deny it, that's your prerogative. BUT, it won't stop it happening.
Love
Catherine
