Take Jamie's money ;)
I'm not going shopping on "Black Friday," 29 November 2013. This is the day after Thanksgiving in the United States, and is reportedly the busiest shopping day of the year.
Instead, I am conducting a 24-hour moneybomb for Susan's Place. During that period, Eastern Time, if you make a new one-time donation to Susan's Place, I will match it, up to $200 in matching funds. My hope is to get some of our members who are not subscribers, to help the site with small donations of $5, $10, or $20.
I have a video in my blog if you want more details, but you need at least 50 posts to access it, and my blog is not crawlers by spiders.
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,154913.msg1294752/topicseen.html#msg1294752
There are a couple of exceptions:
1) There are no matching funds for current staff members.
2) There are no matching funds for anyone who has ever smited me.
3) If an aspect of this offer is edited or deleted, the offer is null and void.
Help me help Susan's Place.
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being 'round
Help me get my feet back on the ground
Won't you, please, please help me?
Susan's Place transforms lives.
Susan's Place improves live.
And in some case, Susan's Place saves lives.
Open your heart, please.
Absolutely!
I already posted on your blog just get ready to open your wallet ! Pat
Thank you very much, Jenny and Buddy. Let's see if we can't encourage a few more members to take "ownership" in the good work this site accomplishes.
I may have to up the ante. ;)
Until Friday, enjoy your holiday!
The donation match challenge starts in just 7 hours.
Come on!! Take my money and help out Susan's Place.
We have work to do!!
Okay, the clock has started.
Identifiable PayPal donations. 24 hours.
Take my money. And give it to Susan's Place.
Why Susan's Place is worth donating to:
People come to Susan's Place from all over the globe, people here vary in ages from teens to retirement. This variety of ages, experiences, cultures, and identities makes Susan's Place more rich than many local trans* groups. It's often faster and easier to get advice and ideas here at Susan's than to spend hours combing through the internet. If you need help figuring out which product is best for your body type, you can just start a post and ask away, and often in a short amount of time someone will answer and give their experiences. If you're not sure which doctor to get surgery from, you can ask away and people will tell you which one they went with and why.
You're able to get support in all walks of life. From receiving encouragement and help drafting coming-out letters, to relationship advice, to tips that will help with recovery from surgery, to fashion and make-up advice, Susan's has it all. You're also able to get good laughs over in Fun & Games, hugs when you need it in ARGGHH!, help in picking a major in Education, band recommendations in Music, and help with some recipes in Cooking. You're not just limited to trans* related stuff here, you can get everything you need here.
What makes Susan's Place special to many is the personal connections which are made here. Once you've been here for a bit, you can make great friendships that go beyond the corners of this website. Many people here become Facebook friends, share e-mails, phone numbers, mail each other letters and packages. Some here have even met in person. I can't always get this personal connection with other trans* people in my day-to-day life, since I am engaged when my local (which isn't quite-so-local to me) trans* group meets once a month. Susan's is available whenever I want and need it to be, unlike my local trans* support group. Because of Susan's Place, there's a few people who I probably know better than some of my "in real life" friends, and who I'd be willing to do a lot for.
When the Donation program was first started here, I thought "geez, I think I can only afford to donate $5, that seems hardly worth donating". But, if that's all you can afford, that $5 to Susan is like giving a million dollars. Anything counts, it all adds up, and it shows her how much you appreciate and enjoy all that she and the other admins and moderators have done over the years to help the community grow and prosper. She's been giving her hard-earned cash over the years to sustain the website, so anything is helpful. If you can't donate anything, that's fine too, your presence here in adding to the shared experiences is valued by all. People come to the forums for you, whether you're able to donate or not.
I am also not going out on Black Friday, one of the reasons is when I think of some of the people in my life, I'd rather buy a Christmas gift for Susan's Place than some of the other people in my life. Giving something here would be more appreciated than the Bath & Body Works basket or Dunkin Donuts gift card I'd get for someone else.
Good morning Jamie , We stepped up to the plate I hope others will do the same to help OUR community.
Kathy & Pat
Good for you. I donated $100 a while back.
For others: It's easy to post CC stuff & safe, it goes to a persons name & nothing is noted on your account about TS issues or Susan's Place website so no need to be scared about supporting our group.
Help out some if you can.
Quote from: Jamie D on November 27, 2013, 10:42:47 PM
Take Jamie's money ;)
There are a couple of exceptions:
1) There are no matching funds for current staff members.
2) There are no matching funds for anyone who has ever smited me.
3) If an aspect of this offer is edited or deleted, the offer is null and void.
Help me help Susan's Place.
While I love the idea of matching donations I have to disagree with two of your exceptions. There may be staff members who want to give money but really can't afford it and would like to get more for their money.
And the exception of not matching anyone who has ever smited you I find repulsive. I don't think that this is the time or place to be airing out your dirty laundry, nor do I think it is it in the spirit of how Susan's should be.
I'm sure we all want Susan's to be around for a long time. And I think we all want to make this the best place it can possibly be.
Having said that, If I decide to donate today. I will kindly ask that you that you do not match me.
Quote from: Bethany Dawn on November 29, 2013, 08:14:59 AM
While I love the idea of matching donations I have to disagree with two of your exceptions. There may be staff members who want to give money but really can't afford it and would like to get more for their money.
And the exception of not matching anyone who has ever smited you I find repulsive. I don't think that this is the time or place to be airing out your dirty laundry, nor do I think it is it in the spirit of how Susan's should be.
I'm sure we all want Susan's to be around for a long time. And I think we all want to make this the best place it can possibly be.
Having said that, If I decide to donate today. I will kindly ask that you that you do not match me.
Thank you for your comment Bethany.
The reasons for the two exemptions are simple.
1) Staff members assist the site through "sweat equity." I am not going to ask them to provide more than they already do, nor am I able to match their efforts. Each one is already going above and beyond.
2) The smites I have received in the past couple of months have been particularly hateful. As I said in the video, this fundraiser for the site was my parting gift. You can see two of those smites on the board right now. I see no reason the match a "donation" from a hater whose motivation may be to cause more pain. In the past two years I have issued only two smites, one to a troll who has since been banned, and the other ... well ... need I say more? Smites say more about the character of the smiter than the smitee.
As this fundraiser is my pledge and contract with the site, I had to state the exceptions up front. Because this has revolted you, I will gladly accede to your request.
As Buddy has already come through in great style, I am going to up the ante for today to encourage others to donate and get in on a two-for-one deal.
I threw $20 in. Wish I could do more. Thank you for your kindness Jamie D.
Hugs,
Cindy
My donation is in! $200!
May both of our monies live happily ever after. I'm sure they will!
Awesome, I think this is the most money ever raised so far. :)
Quote from: Jamie D on November 29, 2013, 11:00:14 AM
Thank you for your comment Bethany.
The reasons for the two exemptions are simple.
1) Staff members assist the site through "sweat equity." I am not going to ask them to provide more than they already do, nor am I able to match their efforts. Each one is already going above and beyond.
2) The smites I have received in the past couple of months have been particularly hateful. As I said in the video, this fundraiser for the site was my parting gift. You can see two of those smites on the board right now. I see no reason the match a "donation" from a hater whose motivation may be to cause more pain. In the past two years I have issued only two smites, one to a troll who has since been banned, and the other ... well ... need I say more? Smites say more about the character of the smiter than the smitee.
As this fundraiser is my pledge and contract with the site, I had to state the exceptions up front. Because this has revolted you, I will gladly accede to your request.
I just did not think that voicing that exception in such a public way was conducive to fund raising. How you contribute is up to you and I applaud you for matching gifts I honestly do. I don't care who you like or dislike for what ever reason. But seeing how that was aimed at one person, I think it would have been better left unsaid. This is just my opinion.
We still have about four hours for this challenge!
But let's see how the weekend pans out. :D
:eusa_clap: Thanks all who have donated or pledged during this fundraiser for Susan's, but also who have opened their hearts during the past four months. <3 <3 <3
My original idea was for a four-day drive. So here is what I will do for the rest of the weekend. If you donate $5.00 under your screen name, I will match it, up to one hundred more dollars from me. That's 20 17 more donations. (For those who donated on 28 November, I will toss in $5 for each of those as well!)
This applies to anybody. Can we do it? :icon_geekdance:
"Be excellent to each other."
Are you only matching $5 donations, or donations that are at least $5 but less than $100?
Henry, ideally I'd like to get 17 more brand new donors. That way they can get a badge and access to the donor area of the site.
If they would like to pitch in more than $5, that's great - I'll match the first $5 though, today (Saturday) and tomorrow.
Quote from: Jamie D on November 27, 2013, 10:42:47 PM
There are a couple of exceptions:
2) There are no matching funds for anyone who has ever smited me.
Jamie,
While I believe your fundraising efforts are a mitzvah (literally, good deed) and come from good intention, I'm also bothered by the above exception. It's your money, so you can obviously do whatever you wish, however I see a disconnect expressed in this message, especially coming from someone who says, "Be excellent to each other." I don't think that voicing this exception in such a public way was "being excellent". It instead came off as hurtful to fellow member/s of Susan's, which I don't believe to be in the spirit of a support site.
I know you'll likely disagree with me, however I feel it necessary to express my opinion, this has bothered me for two days. I'm not speaking as an Admin now, but simply as a longtime member of Susan's who deeply cares about everyone at this Forum, including you.
Shana
Please read Reply #17, highlighted for clarity.
Quote from: Jamie D on November 30, 2013, 07:21:17 PM
Please read Reply #17, highlighted for clarity.
Quote from: Jamie D on November 29, 2013, 11:28:44 PM
This applies to anybody.
Assuming
anybody truly means
everybody, then it might be good to edit first post to clarify this.
I really don't see it as intending to be hurtful.
Why anyone smites anyone on this site is unknown to me. It's kind of like public shaming in itself and is hurtful to the person being smited- as a constant reminder directly under a profile. It's a bit like hanging dirty laundry out to dry... but on the head of another person.
Thankfully it doesn't happen very often, but when it does I always scratch my head... Why?
:police:
If you wish to continue this discussion on smites and reasons for them, please PM each other privately, and with FA. This topic isn't the place for it.
Not to be the Devyl's advocate, but the topic started with talk about smites. >:-)
Hugs, Devlyn
I would like to thank the members for the 3 additional donations made on the 30th and today.
I am still matching, with $5 additional dollars, 14 more donations of $5, or more.
The moneybomb for Susan's Place was on the 29th. Still, this is the Thanksgiving weekend, and I am thankful for all those who have opened their hearts to help this great website and its Founder.
Thank you for all who have stepped up to the plate and contributed during this four-day Thanksgiving period. With the logged donations, and private pledges, we will have raised nearly $1,000 for the site.
Well done. :)
Final tally for the Thanksgiving Fundraiser
With matching donations we raised a grand total of ...
$1064 for Susan and the site.
I have a list of donors and other "contributors" in my blog HERE (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,154913.0.html)
It is never too late to contribute. Why not be a "Secret Santa" to Susan with a $5 donation?