January 23, 2005
(Updated) 'Give Guide' Contributions Give 'Communique' A Boost
No Long-Term Solution Yet, But Slow Progress
Note: This post has been updated. Any and all updates appear at the end of the original post.
At some point, I believe that I became ordained in the Universal Life Church via the Internet. While I won't make any of you call me The Reverend One True b!X, I humbly request that Hillary cut my check or money order ASAP.
That's the text of the email we sent early this morning to Oregon Crossfire, as they were discussing whether or not faith-based initiatives are a violation of the separation of church and state. The Hillary in question is Senator Clinton from New York, who recently came out in support of such initiatives in a speech she gave.
Which isn't the point of this item, although it serves as a nice introduction to the matter of finances. Late this past week, we received our check representing the contributions to Portland Communique via our listing in the Willamette Week Give Guide.
All told, from a total of twenty-nine contributions, we received $1,280. In addition -- and as was reported in this week's edition of the paper but not on their website -- we received the highest number of contributions of $25 or less and therefore were awarded an additional bonus of $1,000.
Of course, we would be remiss if we didn't note that as we were about to approach a bank teller to deposit said check, we suddenly and at the very last moment realized it had been made out to our longtime pseudonym and not to our legal name. A hastily-arranged sidetrip down to the offices of Willamette Week late Friday afternoon to have this corrected means we should have a usable check sometime tomorrow.
Notwithstanding that bizarre and amusing snafu, our deepest thanks to all who contributed through the Give Guide process while it was underway. Combined with our current level of regular monthly contributions, and Portland Communique should be able to continue as our full-time endeavor at least through February and potentially (maybe, possibly), depending on how well we manage and juggle, though March as well.
That at least gives us the room to try to find the final workable design solution which will then allow us to make the final workable ad rates decision. If that comes together properly, it is not at all inconceivable that ad revenue could fill the remaining monthly gap.
Again, our sincere thanks to our Give Guide contributors, as well all of the others who have contributed either when they were able to squeeze it in or on a regular monthly basis.
As we've been telling people who have been asking us about our situation, we're are at this point, in essence, lurching from one two-month period to the next, but that's better than not lurching at all, and is a better circumstance than we thought we'd be in at this point.
Updates, as ever, will follow, when they arise. In the meantime, expect a report from yesterday's Burnside Bridgehead public workshop later this afternoon.
Update
For your amusement and ours, hear the Randy Leonard reads our email remix (mp4, 1.2MB).
Comments (3)
Randy Leonard on 23 Jan 2005
Now I can add "rapper" to my resume'...
Bob R. on 24 Jan 2005
I hope you were able to make a copy of the pseudonymous check so that you could frame it next to your award. :-)
- Bob R.
Melissa on 24 Jan 2005
The remix made me laff so hard I nearly peed. Good to laff that hard! And the check copy idea was a great one! Wish I thought to tell you to do that.
And finally, a hearty congrats to the success of the donations! I am so very glad to see this continue yet a little longer, and perhaps longer than that.