Ok folks, I hate to say it, but the pace of $100 at a pop lifetime sub gifting is slowing down, probably because the folks who managed to scrape up $100 to donate is sadly finite, and those who could afford to give more than 1 $100 subscription an even smaller pool. But we've still got a lot of folks on both lists who would really be grateful to be able to experience the site in a sleeker, faster way but simply can't afford to, whether just at this time of year, or in general, thanks to the Bush Depression.
But I would bet there are still plenty of us who can give $5 or $10 or even $20 towards gifting a few more lifetime subs to those going through wrenching life experiences (and I'm counting myself lucky that I let Onomastic deal with that list, cause I'd probably be crying my eyes out to hear what some of our fellow Kossacks are going through.)...
So, because the tech staff wasn't able to cobble anything up fast enough, and because Nurse Kelley won't take 'no' for an answer...I give you Small Donor Saturday!
Here's the deal. As many of you already know, and I alluded to above, there are 2 lists. The list that everybody has seen for most of a week now, and the 'secret' list that Onomastic is running. Both lists contain people without lifetime subs, both lists contain some folks who are coming to the site from crankier connections, older hardware, or simply could stand to be able to use the new photo uploaders, but can't afford a lifetime subscription at this point in time.
The 'secret' list though, contains those folks who are going through seriously tough times, but for their own reasons would rather not necessarily be seen on the outer list. I can respect that, but you have to also admit that has limited the number of potential donors to those willing to simply step up to the plate and gift whatever name Onomastic has given them, rather than maybe gifting a friend or confidante, or simply someone whose writing you like.
Small donors, this is where you can make a difference. Today, we're going to start by focusing on Onomastic's list. KelleyRN2 has a paypal account at KelleyRN2@gmail.com in which she will be collecting small donations. (Nurse Kelley says to check your spelling - it's Kelley with an 'e'. If you make a contribution and you don't get a return email from her thanking you, your money might have gone astray.) She will monitor this account throughout the day, and, each time the account hits $100 or more, she will sweep $100 off to buy another lifetime subscription for a name from Onomastic's list, and then wait til another hundred is hit to buy the next.
If we should be so lucky as to clear that entire list, we'll start working on the open list in what will probably be a random fashion, although that might change if folks offer other ideas.
So if you've been wanting to get in on the give-a-thon, but there was simply no way you could ever afford $100... this is your chance. Toss a fiver, a ten, a twenty in and join with your fellow Kossacks in being a donor, and help another Kossack have a better Christmas and a better new year.
4:07 PM PT: Woah, caught me by surprise. We've got matching funds to start things off. plf515 will be matching the first $100 in donations that KelleyRN2 collects.
Also, once we clear off the secret list, I'll post a copy of the latest outer list, but until then, it's still available at Cedwyn's Diary
4:22 PM PT: We've whipped past the first $100 at breakneck speed, and are chugging along! Nurse Kelley drops in the paypal link and I'll add that you can choose 'send money' from the list on the left hand side of that page to get to where you can type in KelleyRN2@gmail.com
(And what, nobody agreed with me that that was the perfect video for the drive?)
5:04 PM PT: Last comment from Nurse Kelley would seem to indicate that we've knocked at least 3 names off, and a fourth counting matching funds pledged :) You folks are rocking the joint :)
5:11 PM PT: Several folks have asked about checks, or suggested that they might be able to contribute later on. Unfortunately, Nurse Kelley has a procedure this coming Thursday, and will be out of commission for a few weeks after that. My thanks again to her, and let's all keep her in our thoughts for the coming week.
5:38 PM PT: Nine names down, small donors are tearing through that list like little drops running together into liquid mercury terminator pools!
6:13 PM PT: Ack! I've stepped on Vetwife's fundraising diary for vets!
Please drop by her diary and tip and rec it up for eyes, whether or not you can donate there as well.
7:39 PM PT: We're doing fantastic folks, and I'd like to thank you all. One quick comment on a small contretemps below. I think perhaps some things were possibly misunderstood, and then, as is wont to happen on a site full of active types, tempers flared a bit. I'd ask that everyone involved simply step back, and remember that we all want to help people, and keep focused on that, rather than how or who individuals want to help.
8:01 PM PT: Deep breath and refocus, folks. I'd rather you simply not add to the comments in the fight below, and not tip any of them. We shouldn't be fighting at all, and I don't want to 'chase anyone out' or tell anyone 'they're not welcome'. And, as always, adding even more comments to a thread only lengthens it, and makes it more of a distraction.
8:24 PM PT: Back on track! We've now paid for 11 new subs, thanks to 41 donors :)
You people humble me.
9:07 PM PT: My last update for the night. It's midnight for me, and it's been a long day. As many folks as want to keep donating, more power to you, and you don't need me around to do it. We've been at this for 5 hours, and even if you don't get any more updates on progress for now, that doesn't mean we aren't still progressing. I think betson08 might be publishing a dairy tomorrow, and if we've got more updates, we might just let folks know then.
Good night, and thank you all, wholeheartedly.
Sun Dec 18, 2011 at 8:24 PM PT: One final update in what I assumed was a dead diary. I'm disappointed that folks came back to this diary simply to continue the pointless attacks on each other, and to tip the comments from people 'on their side' in the humongous threadjack that pointless fight became. At the very least, I hope people can learn from this, and simply walk away in future, not dig in and defend their particular position to the death.