Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I have come back to make this appeal, to all of you here who enjoy the games, camaraderie, support, advice, and content of this site.

You are about to lose it!

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcointrackers.com%2Fimg%2Fcoins%2F1938-mercury-dime.png&hash=43913f37f0bbaabb31b29b39b3aadbe26e029f89)

In 1938, President Franklin Roosevelt, a victim of polio, started a National Charity called the "March of Dimes."  The idea was not only to help treat those who suffered from the disease, but to fund research to find a cure, and educate the public about the issues.  By 1955, the battle had been won with the introduction of the Salk vaccine.

The call was made to every person who was able to donate one dime - ten cents - to the cause.  When I was a schoolchild, we would canvass the neighborhood collecting dimes which we put into a punch card, and turned at the end of the drive.  In those days, I recall the cards held 20 dimes - two dollars.  Not a whole lot, but when hundreds of thousands of children participated, it added up.

What could a dime buy in 1938?  A loaf of bread.  One-half gallon of gasoline.  A quart of milk.  A can of condensed tomato soup.  Two rolls of toilet paper.  Five pounds of potatoes.  Two bars of soap.

The minimum wage was 30-cents per hour, so that equated to 20 minutes work.

Susan can not support this site on her own anymore.  She needs my help.  She needs your help.  If you don't get off your duff and help out, not only will the site not grow, you might very well lose it altogether!

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fhtnp.net%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F01%2Fpenny.jpg&hash=060adc540a6cd7797a1439664042a79ee86babb0)(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fen%2Fb%2Fbb%2FNew_1p_2008.jpg&hash=9aa650650d17c529c41a9a1d8e08ec9ca429001b)(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.ucoin.net%2Fcoin%2F16%2F161%2F16192_2%2Fgermany_1_deutsche_pfennig_1950.jpg&hash=1ba53e8f4b9877d797bc78747eaac8305746da8e)(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmuseumvictoria.com.au%2Fcollections%2Fitemimages%2F177%2F205%2F177205_large.jpg&hash=f0c092faa510c5d012cdba98e56c406b5a2f65d8)(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fen%2Fc%2Fc5%2FCanadian_Penny_-_Reverse.png&hash=a5a1d6a9eda26a68066ce45e14632d7b6e5f0e10)(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.freepik.com%2Ffree-photo%2Fone-euro-cent_2191162.jpg&hash=57b58313cfe53b3b59cc03b1b83117f829636d6f)(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fassets.catawiki.nl%2Fassets%2F2011%2F3%2F12%2F0%2F3%2F0%2F030c4010-2f03-012e-953b-0050569439b1.jpg&hash=ab91673a3dbf1f73a5f9404fb8a7636c3f1eab8c)(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.colnect.net%2Fimages%2Ff%2F843%2F665%2F10-Yen-%25E6%2598%25AD%25E5%2592%258C---Showa---Plain-Edge.jpg&hash=624235b9e7c95a8fea658bc0ff34f7f40ef1fab4)

I want each and every one of you to look at the number of posts you have made this year and make a one time donation of a penny per post.  If you have 500 posts, that is just $5.  That's about a loaf of bread.  A gallon of gasoline.  A combo fast food meal.  If you made 3300 posts, that's just $33.  Do it!!

Fast for a meal and donate the amount you might have spent.  Walk to the store instead of driving, and donate the gasoline savings - it will be good for you.  There are many, many ways to conserve and help out.

Hell, even 1/2-cent per post would help!!  When you think about the cost of therapy, having people listen to your problems for free must be worth a few dollars, don't you think?

I know some of you are entirely strapped.  It is the nature of this crummy economy.  And we are looking at gigantic health care increases.  I get it. 

I have donated in behalf of others and will do so again.  If you need some help now, let me know.  Tell me the number of posts you made.  I'll cover you.  Paying it forward.  When things improve, please remember Susan and the site she created to help YOU ... if it still exists.

Now I am going to crawl back under my rock.  Carry on.

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg101.imageshack.us%2Fimg101%2F3813%2F25686kevinfederlinewzm5.jpg&hash=4eba8f7a0d388abea25448f20a56d24a41cd7512)

I'll donate a dime a post once I graduate. This place has been a big help for me, and I intend to show it once I get a steady non-student job.

Donated this month any fully intend to donate more next month.

I moved in and unpacked my bags, and now I call this place home. I'll contribute where I can, here and there, over the course of my stay. :)

In for a penny, in for a pound.

I have it on the best authority that a Canadian member of some notoriety has made the "Penny Pledge," and then some!  She is a good egg.

Quote from: J on November 21, 2013, 03:04:13 PM
I have it on the best authority that a Canadian member of some notoriety has made the "Penny Pledge," and then some!  She is a good egg.

Perhaps only until she hatches?

There's a reason I subscribed.  Susan's is important to me; it's my home on the internet.  It's as vital a part of my transition as HRT or electrolysis or therapy.  It's worth a recurring investment of $10/month to help keep this place going.

I'm hoping enough people subscribe or donate to help it start *growing* even more.   More services, greater outreach, a brighter beacon to the lost and hopeless.

*hugs*

I like the Penny per Post idea. Turns out I already donated this month appriximately a penny per post of mine, and now I just pre-paid for some more. I'll try to keep it up.

Quote from: Willow on November 20, 2013, 04:06:46 PM
I'll donate a dime a post once I graduate. This place has been a big help for me, and I intend to show it once I get a steady non-student job.

You have nearly a thousand posts.  I will throw in for you now, if you do so for someone else in the future.

Deal?

Let's see...I have 4040 posts, so that'd be...$40.40.

Ok, deal.

:)

WAIT!! Now I have 4041 posts!! That's $40.41!! Good thing I hadn't done the PayPal thing yet...

:o

OMG!!! It keeps changing!!! Now I have 4042 posts!!! When will it stop!??!!

???

Oh, I get it now...every post I make, the post count goes up one...golly, that's a swell idea!! Who'da thunk!

8)

Quote from: Beth Andrea on November 21, 2013, 11:37:53 PM
Oh, I get it now...every post I make, the post count goes up one...golly, that's a swell idea!! Who'da thunk!

8)

Only 2269 since 01 January 2013  ;)

Rounding is permissible!

Quote from: big head horsey-face aka marsh monster aka Jaime aka JRD on November 22, 2013, 07:04:38 PM
I'm almost up to .50 cents.

If we combine the post count of your earlier accounts, your share is approximately $85,248.00

We accept checks.  ;)

I'm only a fairly new member and Susan's has helped me a lot and I hope it continues to even though I'm only on disability I will donate $5 next week.

Emily.T xx

Quote from: Emily.T on November 22, 2013, 09:03:04 PM
I'm only a fairly new member and Susan's has helped me a lot and I hope it continues to even though I'm only on disability I will donate $5 next week.

Emily.T xx

You have a good heart, Emily.  Thank you.

Quote from: big head horsey-face aka marsh monster aka Jaime aka JRD on November 22, 2013, 09:53:07 PM
I think you might be "rounding up" a bit much there.

I was never really good at math.  ::)

You are a sweetie, you know that?

OK, I just threw in $45 which should cover my posts until about...Monday or so, I'd think.  ;)

Take a look at the score now:


We've only got 6 more days, and $1300 to go...about $221/day.

Thank you, Beth Andrea, and thanks to all who have donated their time and money this month to making Susan's a better place.

While I understand some people can't afford even a penny per post, I was just thinking how sad it is that I am on the first page of the "Donators hall of fame", I made only like $5,000 last year and not much more this year.

Yes, I would like to extend a thank-you to those who do donate!

But like I said in the subscriber's forum, I wish I had more money to go around... I already give quite a bit of money to other organizations. :\

I will donate again later in the week when I have time to get a visa gift card.  At this point in time, I'm really only able to donate 5 bucks a month until I am more certain of things in my personal life.  If things continue to go on as I expect, I will start a subscription.  Also, keep in mind, some here use the anonymous function, so there may be more people stepping up than it may appear. 

As for the penny per post, I'm not able to do that at the moment, but I will make up for it when I can. 

When people use anonymous, their contribution still shows up in the ticker. I think I calculated before that if every visitor over a month donated $1 (ignoring Paypal fees) we'd more than exceed the goal.

edit to add: opps, sorry, $5, my bad. https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,144361.msg1256423.html#msg1256423

Quote from: LearnedHand on November 25, 2013, 07:11:07 PM
When people use anonymous, their contribution still shows up in the ticker. I think I calculated before that if every visitor over a month donated $1 (ignoring Paypal fees) we'd more than exceed the goal.

edit to add: opps, sorry, $5, my bad. https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,144361.msg1256423.html#msg1256423

We have as many as 700 members each day sign in, usually around 500-550.  So let's go with 500 as a conservative basis.  That works out to about more that 15,000 unique member log-ons per month.

Is keeping this site up and running worth 10-cents each day we log in?  That would be about three dollars per month per person.

Quote from: LearnedHand on November 25, 2013, 07:11:07 PM
When people use anonymous, their contribution still shows up in the ticker. I think I calculated before that if every visitor over a month donated $1 (ignoring Paypal fees) we'd more than exceed the goal.

edit to add: opps, sorry, $5, my bad. https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,144361.msg1256423.html#msg1256423

That's also true.  I just think the badges may create an illusion that some are the only ones that have contributed.  Still, we are short and I am way past due.  I haven't given anything since the beginning of October, so I will make sure to reach this month's donation cycle before the expiration period.   

As for 5 dollars a month for every visitor, I think that is a bit unrealistic.  Every site has visitors and expecting them to pitch in is not a sustainable model to maintain a website.  I won't question to the current model as it isn't my site and Susan is free to do what she wants, but I do think there are extra ways that can generate revenue and allow a more long term solution.  The fact is you are not going to get every one of the members here to give and that is especially true with visitors.  Either the goals are too high or the planning involved to reach the current one isn't working.  How do we solve it?   There are many ways that it can happen, but I'm really doubtful that the current model will be successful without some sort of revision.  But that's only my opinion and I will leave it at that.   

Well, I wasn't saying everyone has to or should donate. Its not expected. Its just to show that not much is needed in order to make a positive impact. :)

 :embarrassed:

Quote from: learningtolive on November 25, 2013, 07:40:12 PM
That's also true.  I just think the badges may create an illusion that some are the only ones that have contributed.  Still, we are short and I am way past due.  I haven't given anything since the beginning of October, so I will make sure to reach this month's donation cycle before the expiration period.   

As for 5 dollars a month for every visitor, I think that is a bit unrealistic.  Every site has visitors and expecting them to pitch in is not a sustainable model to maintain a website.  I won't question to the current model as it isn't my site and Susan is free to do what she wants, but I do think there are extra ways that can generate revenue and allow a more long term solution.  The fact is you are not going to get every one of the members here to give and that is especially true with visitors.  Either the goals are too high or the planning involved to reach the current one isn't working.  How do we solve it?   There are many ways that it can happen, but I'm really doubtful that the current model will be successful without some sort of revision.  But that's only my opinion and I will leave it at that.

I have provided the Forum Administrator with a comprehensive list of ideas to increase the visibility and cash flow for the website - and it has mostly to do with revamping the content, and creating new content in the subscriber section, unlike anything we have had on the site before.

We have about 2,000 reasonably active members, with at least several visits per month.  A several hundred members who are here almost every day.  This month we have fewer than 30 donors, and just a handful of regular subscribers.

Every little bit helps.

But it comes down to love.  Do you love Susan and your fellow members enough to pitch in?

Quote from: LearnedHand on November 25, 2013, 07:44:56 PM
Well, I wasn't saying everyone has to or should donate. Its not expected. Its just to show that not much is needed in order to make a positive impact. :)

No, I realize what you were saying.  It could very well solve all the problems if everyone did donate; however, the likeness of that is very slim.  I'm just looking at it with a skeptical rather than optimistic view.  I want the site to be successful as well, but I think that requires more planning and additional sources of revenue.  Having said that, the penny per post strategy is a good idea.  It could really encourage more to give and I hope it will work so the site remains.  I think Jamie is on to something here. Still, I'll have to make up for the totality of my insane post count within the next few months. 

Quote from: J on November 25, 2013, 08:03:58 PM
:embarrassed:
I have provided the Forum Administrator with a comprehensive list of ideas to increase the visibility and cash flow for the website - and it has mostly to do with revamping the content, and creating new content in the subscriber section, unlike anything we have had on the site before.

We have about 2,000 reasonably active members, with at least several visits per month.  A several hundred members who are here almost every day.  This month we have fewer than 30 donors, and just a handful of regular subscribers.

Every little bit helps.

But it comes down to love.  Do you love Susan and your fellow members enough to pitch in?

I see what you mean and I'll give what I can before this donation cycle expires (and will continue with 5 dollars a month until I can subscribe).  However, I don't know if the model of love will solve the economic woes of the site.  It may convince someone like me and other members here, but I'm really doubtful it will be the successful plan we all hope for.  And I'm not saying Susan's isn't important.  It is and I will give.  However, I don't know if we will be able to reach the goals as we are and that concerns me if that means the site won't be here.

But that is only my opinion and that is all.   

Quote from: learningtolive on November 25, 2013, 08:13:54 PM
No, I realize what you were saying.  It could very well solve all the problems if everyone did donate; however, the likeness of that is very slim.  I'm just looking at it with a skeptical rather than optimistic view.  I want the site to be successful as well, but I think that requires more planning and additional sources of revenue.  Having said that, the penny per post strategy is a good idea.  It could really encourage more to give and I hope it will work so the site remains.  I think Jamie is on to something here. Still, I'll have to make up for the totality of my insane post count within the next few months. 

I see what you mean and I'll give what I can before this donation cycle expires (and will continue with 5 dollars a month until I can subscribe).  However, I don't know if the model of love will solve the economic woes of the site.  It may convince someone like me and other members here, but I'm really doubtful it will be the successful plan we all hope for.  And I'm not saying Susan's isn't important.  It is and I will give.  However, I don't know if we will be able to reach the goals as we are and that concerns me if that means the site won't be here.

But that is only my opinion and that is all.

I recognize your ideas as having value!

Some people donate out of the kindness of their heart.
Some out of gratitude
Some will pay for content
Some because they believe in the cause

There is a certain psychology related to giving.  It is finding what motivates people.

The Penny-Per-Post idea was just one suggestion.  Some people provide "sweat equity."  Some others help out when they can, a little bit at a time.

I am working on "content" right now.  I am also working on outreach and collaborative fundraising with other segments of the LGBTQ community.

Quote from: J on November 25, 2013, 08:34:38 PM

I am working on "content" right now.  I am also working on outreach and collaborative fundraising with other segments of the LGBTQ community.

Additional planning and alternative revenue to help the site is a good thing.  If you guys already have things in the works, then I am happy to hear that.   

I have 912 posts now, which is £9.12. When I get paid at the end of next month I will round it up to £10 (although it could be at that amount by then). £10 converted is just over $10 dollars so I hope it will help. I will do my best once I have an income.   :)

Donated today glad to help out from January I'm looking at getting a regular subscription.

Emily.T xx