SKEPPERSON TELETHON '03

[UnrepentantSinner]

No, it's not to early to start this especially if we're going to get enough donations to help more than one person this time (though Luciana is still top of the list dependant, of course on the dollar/real exchange rate).

If you can pony up $10, $15 or $20, contact Girl6, who's the most trustworthy atheist I know (besides myself of course) and let's get the account building throughout the year. That way we can help the most people and earn some interest to boot.

(Note to girl 6, if you place the money in a CD, make sure it's not one with a maturity date after Jan '04);)

I will be bumping this thread periodically...

[Girl 6]

Thank you, UnrepentantSinner for starting this up! :D

G6

[Lisa]

Okay, but a few questions first:
Can I specify where my $ goes? Personally, I rather it go to a forum member. Remember when we had our forum pic taken at TAM? There were a lot of folks in the audience who weren't members. Call me petty or mean, but it's my cash, and I want to have a say.
Secondly, how is the pay out decided? 25%? 50%? 100%?
And can I send a check earmarked for "$100 for help with airfare"?
It's a great idea, and since I've met her, I'd trust Girl 6 with my life. I'm just saying that some guidelines need to be established.

[SkepticScott]

Originally posted by Lisa
(snip)since I've met her, I'd trust Girl 6 with my life.(snip)Since I met her, I'd trust her with your life too.:) Seriously though, I'll contribute again, but Lisa has made some good points. How do we decide who gets a scholarship?

[Luciana]

USA:

The thing is, I want to be able to donate too! I can't do it right now, but I'm trying to save for next year's; if people start making pledges, I might get lazy. :) Seriously, I also think that somebody should get their chance this time.

Last year the sudden currency plunge (53% in one year!) caught me unprepared - I thought I was going to pay x, but it became x+50% within a week). But if things stay like this, not only I'll pay my own, but I'll try to help somebody else. I just can't promise anything... I'm not trusting my country's economy, that's why.

Maybe we could do this Telethon in a more informal way? Some people might want to indicate who will be the recipient of the donation. Others might not care.

Now, why should some people get help and others not? Well... the criteria can't be formally established. It's nearly impossible to determine who really needs it. So I'd vote for a very biased indication: if, personally, I think somebody deserves it, than that's it. We can't do better than that, I think.

Anyway... I still can't believe that a group of people gathered to send money to someone they never saw, on the other side of the world, based on trust alone. :) I haven't ceased to be amazed to this day. :)

[Lisa]

It amazed me too Luciana, and I was so grateful. It was a blast getting to meet you. A 53% drop is like ack ack ptooie ptooie.
I'd like to see a huge sh*tpot of money put together. Someone could say "I would like to attend, but my only choice is to fly. My ticket is going to cost $xxxx and I can't do it"
Response: "Would 45% off the ticket price help?"

[UnrepentantSinner]

1. The one thing I don't want to do is put any undue accounting burden on Girl6, so if money is to be earmarked, we need to keep it simple.

2. We can do money collection in 2 ways, direct money to Girl6 that she keeps until next year (I plan on mailing her a check periodically) and pledges that the individual keeps and settles up at TAM '04.

3. It goes without saying that any collection efforts should go to forum members. I'm assuming that since we're the only one's who'll be aware of it, members will be the only one's applying for assistance. Specifically I'd like to see assistance first go to those who couldn't make TAM '03.

4. Earmarking of funds for specific persons or conference costs should be kept to a minimum (see 1. above) but also goes without saying that it's a great idea.

5. Luciana, great to hear about the stabilization (currently) of your currency. I've had a recent severe cut in pay and my contract is up in July so I don't know what the hell to expect over the next year, but, as long as I can, I will set aside what I can to try and help someone make it.

Now, let's make this happen...

[kittynh]

totally cool! I am so glad this is happening...
maybe we should post something about this in banter, or one of the other sections too.

I'm fine with anyway that Girl6 wants to do it, offering to pay maybe registration fees? But I think some people may need a little more help than that! Let's just not make it a "write a 10 page essay on why I should go to the TAM"...for one thing, someone would have to read those essays....zzzzzzz

[Girl 6]

Hey... I'm okay with doing the accounting stuff. Remember, this is Ms. "Get Randi over to California" you're talking to! :D When I didn't quite reach the goal, I did send everyone back their money. Linda can testify to that! :D

So, just drop me a PM and I'll let you know where to send it. I'll also start keeping an accounting of how much we are raising and so forth.

This is what I have technology for! It's to help me keep track of stuff like this. So, it's really not a big headache.

thanks!
G6

[UnrepentantSinner]

Originally posted by Girl 6
Hey... I'm okay with doing the accounting stuff. Remember, this is Ms. "Get Randi over to California" you're talking to! :D When I didn't quite reach the goal, I did send everyone back their money. Linda can testify to that! :D

So, just drop me a PM and I'll let you know where to send it. I'll also start keeping an accounting of how much we are raising and so forth.

This is what I have technology for! It's to help me keep track of stuff like this. So, it's really not a big headache.

thanks!
G6

Cool.

I will be sending you checks bi-weekly except in months with 30 days when I'll send them to you on the 1st and 15th unless it's a month were I have 3 paydays and then I'll send you a third check that is to be earmarked 33% for registration fees, 33% for hotel 33% for airfare with the 1% to buy dinner. The 99% of the possible third check is to be divided among 4 people chosen at random by you, Linda, Lisa and Tricky while the remaining 1% will be distributed by drawing to be held at the meeting. This applies only to any 3rd checks of a 3 check month, unless it's a 30 day month when I'll only be sending you checks on the 1st and 15th. The 2 check months are to be allocated 45% for registration fees 55% for airfare and 10% for car rental or taxi fares. The sum amount is to be distributed on a sliding scale amongst 5 people with 30% to the first, 25%, then 20%, then 15%, then 10%. This allocation will be need based and who get's what percent will be based on the average of their income for tax year's 1999-2002.

Got it?

[SkepticScott]

Originally posted by UnrepentantSinner


Cool.

I will be sending you checks bi-weekly except in months with 30 days when I'll send them to you on the 1st and 15th unless it's a month were I have 3 paydays and then I'll send you a third check that is to be earmarked 33% for registration fees, 33% for hotel 33% for airfare with the 1% to buy dinner. The 99% of the possible third check is to be divided among 4 people chosen at random by you, Linda, Lisa and Tricky while the remaining 1% will be distributed by drawing to be held at the meeting. This applies only to any 3rd checks of a 3 check month, unless it's a 30 day month when I'll only be sending you checks on the 1st and 15th. The 2 check months are to be allocated 45% for registration fees 55% for airfare and 10% for car rental or taxi fares. The sum amount is to be distributed on a sliding scale amongst 5 people with 30% to the first, 25%, then 20%, then 15%, then 10%. This allocation will be need based and who get's what percent will be based on the average of their income for tax year's 1999-2002.

Got it? What you're saying is "Girl 6, use your own judgement as to what to do with my money", right? ;)

[Girl 6]

Originally posted by SkepticScott
What you're saying is "Girl 6, use your own judgement as to what to do with my money", right? ;)

Nah... He just wants me to buy another pair of stilettos to tease him with... ;)

G6

[kittynh]

hey, look! I'm doing free publicity! But only for a little while.

It's a little boring...

[Girl 6]

Hey Everyone!

I got kittynh's check! She's the first person to establish the fund! :D I'll be adding my amount shortly.

Anyway, I want to thank kittynh for starting us off.

I will periodically mention this thread and try to get other people to contribute.

We're off to a good start! Thanks, kittynh!

G6

[kittynh]

Glad to do my part and I'll be sending off more checks as I'm able!

thanks for Girl6 for taking this on!

[Baker]

Originally posted by Girl 6
Hey Everyone!

I got kittynh's check! She's the first person to establish the fund! :D I'll be adding my amount shortly.

Anyway, I want to thank kittynh for starting us off.

I will periodically mention this thread and try to get other people to contribute.

We're off to a good start! Thanks, kittynh!

G6

Where do we send these checks?

[UnrepentantSinner]

Originally posted by Baker


Where do we send these checks?

PM Girl6. She's very trustworthy, but if either of you don't want to contact each other IRL, I'm sure we could work something out with Hal or Linda.

I worked a bunch of OT so I should have another $20 heading Girl6's way soon.

[UnrepentantSinner]

Bump, now that we have a date.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Originally posted by UnrepentantSinner
Bump, now that we have a date.

Who is this "we"? I don't have a date. :(

[UnrepentantSinner]

Originally posted by The Central Scrutinizer


Who is this "we"? I don't have a date. :(

"We" is the members of the forum. And the date, is the date of TAM2.

You need to get laid bud. All your posts are about women...

[Girl 6]

I'm bumping this up to say that....

WE GOT MORE CONTRIBUTIONS!!

Please contact me if you want to send money. Oh... Those of you that benefitted from last year's fundraising event, please consider giving back to the community in some way!

We are off to a good start and we have a lot more time! Any amount of money you send me will help your fellow skeptics that may not be able to make it otherwise.

:D

G6

[UnrepentantSinner]

Girl6, I finally got my new checks. $25 is on the way!

[Girl 6]

And, I got the money from UnrepentantSinner! YEAH!! :)

Once again, contact me if you are thinking about helping your fellow skeptics!

G6

[Girl 6]

Bumpity, bump, bump, bump!!

I got another donation!!! {ring, ring, ring} It's an anonymous contribution, so I can't give out the identity of the generous person. Keep it coming, though!

:D

G6

[UnrepentantSinner]

Since the holidays and final prep for TAM2 are coming up and Girl6 is making distributions, it's time to lower the curtain in Skeperson Telethon '03. Since I was remiss in making sufficient donations this time around, I want to thank those of you who ponied up. It's great that a bunch of "cynical skeptics" and "heartless atheists" can step up to the plate and help their fellows who might come up just a bit short.

There's still funds left so if you're "this close" to being able to attend, contact Girl6 and don't be proud. Those of us who donated it did it because we want as many of us to attend as possible. TAM2 will be a success. It will be an even greater success the more of us who show up.

Thank you all, and look for the Luciana Nery Skeperson Telethon '04 come February.

:)