Subscribing and Donating to Susan's. Thank You and please....

[Cindy]

Firstly may I offer my heartfelt thanks to the subscribers and donators who support the site. Your generosity and help is magnificent and your contributions are most welcome and most needed.

We have 13 Gold Subscribers, 39 Silver subscribers and 52 donors. Thank you each and everyone of you.

This year we have had 1,522,716 unique visitors and there has been 15,000,000 page views.

So I think it is fair to say we fulfill a need in the world.

However the site continues to run in a financial deficit each month.

We are very keen to add enhanced features to the site, but they cost money.

May I please ask that anyone who can subscribe or donate think about it and make a commitment to help our community.

I fully realise that some are living with financial problems themselves and I neither want or need financial help from people who are struggling. To the contrary, I wish I could reach out and help you.

If you can help, please consider it. The details of how to contribute are in the area above the index.

You will not only help yourselves by creating a better site, but also our family for whom we are often the only place of comfort, help and support that we all need.

Thank You

Cindy

[Cindy]

No Ads.

[Cindy]

Simple. Susan does not want Ads on her site. She doesn't like them.

It is that simple.

Sorry I will modify that. My Australian nature comes through at times. I tend to be quite blunt. It isn't rude or at least not meant to be.

Here it is quite simple. No is No. I'm sort of not use to saying why in every circumstance.

And yes it gets me in trouble on my international sites.

My apologies.

She doesn't want Ads as they are invasive and unpleasant. We wish to enhance for subscribers rather than detract for none subscribers.

[Eva Marie]

Whether the fee is worth it to you is a matter of perspective, and of course is also a matter of your personal economic situation. Some of us don't have the resources to support the site right now and that's fine.

I was on Susan's for a number of years, hanging out in the androgyne forest and was feeling pretty content about it. I liked Susan's, but I could certainly live without it if I had to.

3 months ago my transsexual bell rang hard, and things changed dramatically for me. One of the big changes is how I now feel about this place. It went from being a nice place to visit to an absolute necessity to help keep me mentally in a good place through all of the pain that's now happening.

For me the subscription fee is absolutely worth it 100%. I don't know of anyplace else where I can share the worries, the pains, and the successes that I encounter on this journey, while making new friends along the way. Its cheesy, but the theme song for Cheers just popped into my head:

Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name.

Susan's is that place for me, and I'll continue to support her site.

~Eva

[DriftingCrow]

I'll donate again as soon as my check clears.

[Xhianil]

If i had any money i could spend I'd gladly spend some on Susan's, i don't think i could live without this place.

[ZoeM]

I'm doing as much as I reasonably can. Sadly it may take more than a few of us to make enough difference.

[Lauren5]

If I come into a large lump of cash, I'll be sure to think of Susan's first.

[Valerie]

A few things to ponder:

1)  If you already donate to other charities, would you be willing to forgo those to make Susan's your charity of choice?

2) Are there donators out there who have the ability & desire to do a dollar-for-dollar match up to 'x' amount on contributions made to the site, therby doubling the donations that do come in?

3) If you are part of a transgender support group or other trans* friendly group, are you willing to see if any members there would donate to Susan's?

4) What about social networking?  Would you use your FaceBook, Twitter, etc, account to encourage folks to donate?  Perhaps in lieu of holiday or birthday gifts?

People don't need a Susan's account to donate via PayPal.   What else can you come up with? 

xo,
~Valerie

[Susan]

That's just it, large lumps are great, but a lot of small lumps work just as well. $5 a month is a sandwich at subway, $10 a month is a meal deal at McDonalds. It's not a lot of money until you consider that if just 1% of the people here did it, then the funding deficit goes away. While some people are truly unable to afford 5$ a month as a donation, or 10-20$ a month as a subscription; for most of us it's simply a matter of priorities. The question to ask your self is do I spend more than 1 hour a month on this site? If the answer is yes, and you are you are financially able to; you should consider donating or subscribing.

Just the little we have been getting in so far each month has helped reduce the extreme financial pinch I have been under. Thank you to everyone who has made that possible.

[Jill F]

Its cheesy, but the theme song for Cheers just popped into my head:

Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name.

Susan's is that place for me, and I'll continue to support her site.

~Eva

Did you ever hear the entire song?  There's something you should know...
Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.

Wouldn't you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go

Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name.

You wanna go where people know,
people are all the same,
You wanna go where everybody knows
your name.

Making your way in the world today
Takes everything you've got;
Taking a break from all your worries
Sure would help a lot.
Wouldn't you like to get away?

All those night when you've got no lights,
The check is in the mail;
And your little angel
Hung the cat up by it's tail;
And your third fiance didn't show;

Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came;
You want to be where you can see,
Our troubles are all the same;
You want to be where everybody knows your name.

Roll out of bed, Mr. Coffee's dead;
The morning's looking bright;
And your shrink ran off to Europe,
And didn't even write;
And your husband wants to be a girl;

Be glad there's one place in the world
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came;
You want to go where people know,
People are all the same;
You want to go where everybody knows your name.

Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came;
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came...

source: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/tvthemes/cheerslyrics.html

Just had to throw that out there.  Hope I didn't drive my wife to drink...

Cheers,
Jill

[KelsieJ]

Just brainstorming here, not sure how realistic these would be but maybe selling some Susan's merchandise or having a transgender related product page where referrals to the company's website gives Susan's a kickback of some sort, that way it's kind of like advertising but it would be contained within one section of the website where people would go specifically to find things to buy (packers, STPs, women's shoes in large sizes, gaffs, etc).  These probably would be commercializing Susan's more than she would like, but I thought I would throw the idea out there anyways.

I agree with you OC The current model of voluntary contributions is probably not sustainable in this day and age. I like your idea of a product page, but I don't know Susan or anyone else involved in the site, so I obviously couldn't comment for them.

Kelsie

[Eva Marie]

Did you ever hear the entire song?  There's something you should know...

- snip -

And your husband wants to be a girl;

Wow.... just wow...... no wonder they never played the entire song on TV 

[suzifrommd]

Did you ever hear the entire song? 

Yes I did. That ONE LINE from this ONE SONG caused me shame about my gender identity. I actually think it's of worst example of humor at our expense that I've come across. I actually posted about it last year (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,126168.msg991310.html#msg991310)

Though I do get Eva's sentiment. It is nice that people here know my name.

[Jill F]

Yes I did. That ONE LINE from this ONE SONG caused me shame about my gender identity. I actually think it's of worst example of humor at our expense that I've come across. I actually posted about it last year (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,126168.msg991310.html#msg991310)

Though I do get Eva's sentiment. It is nice that people here know my name.

That was nothing compared to what Phil Donahue and Jerry Springer did to me.  Every time I saw transfolk on a talk show I cringed bigtime and all I took away from them was, "Stuff it down even harder- this is the kiss of death for all who dare go there and be glad you can just die with this secret intact."  One time Phil Donahue had transwomen who liked women exclusively, and my conservative nutjob boss at the time saved it on VHS just because it was "the most idiotic thing ever", and spent an inordinate amount of time ridiculing them from every angle he could come up with.  I had to take this for a few days.  I'm sure he had NO idea that I was like that as well.  Maybe he done did protest too much? 

But yes, hearing that entire song when I was a teenager sent another very negative message to me about my nature.

Thread officially derailed.   I guess I should probably send some cash, huh?

[Ms Grace]

Thanks for the nudge, Cindy. I've been thinking about donating for the last week now... and now I have! As I mentioned elsewhere, there's a lot of great things about a site like this... but more than anything it has helped me find other wonderful people, make friends, share stories, give and receive support and - most importantly - realise for the first time ever that I am not alone in all of this.

[sarahb]

Thanks for the nudge, Cindy. I've been thinking about donating for the last week now... and now I have! As I mentioned elsewhere, there's a lot of great things about a site like this... but more than anything it has helped me find other wonderful people, make friends, share stories, give and receive support and - most importantly - realise for the first time ever that I am not alone in all of this.

Yes, thanks Cindy for the nudge! I've been a member of this site for going on 7 years and I feel honored to help Susan keep it going. It has been nothing short of amazing in helping me discover myself, be honest with myself, and eventually lead me to where I am today...a happy and very fulfilling life as ME! This goes hand-in-hand with all the members here and the support, company, insight, and conversation they provide as well. This really is the best site out there for the trans* community, in my opinion.

Thanks Susan! Keep it going!

[Robin Mack]

I signed up as a subscriber to this site (silver, hope to upgrade soon) because I realized it was vital to me.  I have met more than a few trans women who have transitioned in a near-vacuum, without feedback and help except for occasional meetings with therapists (and a couple without even that).  Some of them never even had CIS-women friends to teach them the ropes.

While I have all CIS female friends, a CIS-female fiancee (yes, I am blessed), and a good therapist, Susan's has often been more helpful to me than any one of the others.  So much wisdom and support are stored here I am surprised the server doesn't suffer from an overload.  I *could* stay on as a non-paying member (thank you, *thank you* for that option, Susan et al.).  I don't, because to me this site is a very necessary part of my transition plan, and worthy of contribution.  I don't balk at $90 for an electrolysis session.  I certainly won't balk at paying my fair share to keep the site online.

*hugs to all*

PS- Despite my offers being met with silence, this girl is an excellent programmer and systems admin, and will be happy to help if the site ever needs her services.

[Valerie]

So hey, how do the subscriptions work?  Do you pay a year in advance, month-by-month, autodebit?

[Ms Grace]

...trans women who have transitioned in a near-vacuum, without feedback and help except for occasional meetings with therapists ...

That was me first time round, and it sure wasn't pretty. I'm not suggesting a site like Susan's would have helped see me through that bumpy attempt at transition - I couldn't be told much that I wasn't prepared to hear at that age, positive or otherwise. But it might have helped assuage some insecurities, confusion and isolation. I did have the support of some wonderful cis girl friends but I couldn't talk to them about my doubts, etc. Of course the internet didn't even really exist then, let alone a site like Susan's. I'm so glad it does now!