$25,000 pledge for BORG2 . . . wow!

[jimmason]

the guardian article has rustled up lots of new interest in the BORG2 effort and we are getting a rather steady stream of $10-$100 donations. About $2,000 in total at the moment.

But we also got a whooper 2 days ago. An anonymous donor came forward and pledged 10% of total art fund goal of $250,000 as a challenge grant. that's right, a $25,000 pledge.

what this means is they will match other people's donations, dollar for dollar, essentially doubling the donations of others, up to $25,000. but we have to raise at least another $25,000 to get this full pledge.

i'll set up a little donation tally site soon, but i thought yous might be interested in this somewhat stunning news. we are a week into this and already over 10% of the way to 250k.

hopefully more generous art minded souls will continue to step forward to help in the near future.

and a sincere thank you to all who have stepped forward to help already.

j

[sfscribe]

Can to share who the borg2's big benefactor is, Jim?

Scribe

[Cardinal]

I would offer a bet but it's a sin to gamble.

[jimmason]

as the first post said, this donor wishes to remain anonymous, as is often the case with local creative types who also happen to have a reasonable amounts of financial resources. they don't want to distinguish themselves amongst friends with money. that can create discomfort. but they do want to help in ways they uniquely can. so this usually results in an anonymous donation.

many such donations and loans have propped up the borg1 over the years. very few of these angels were ever even annuonced, but know that there have been many. we would not be here today if it we not for many of them and many points during hte last 17 or so years.

jim

[TheJudge]

A "pledge" doesnt mean shit. Show me the money.

[jimmason]

A "pledge" doesnt mean shit. Show me the money.

it is a matching pledge. we only get it when we raise the $25,000 match. this is how a challenge donation works.

i do lots of non-profit fundraising in my day job. i have done this for years. donors often like to do this cause it makes them feel like their donation is doubled, and it encourages others to donate, cause they feel like their donation is doubled. it's really quite simple. and usually effective. ever listen to an NPR fund drive?

you eplayans continue to be stunning in your desire to find nefairious, devious and conspiratorial actions amongst a bunch of people just trying to improve the art on the playa. the tedium of discourse here continues to astound.

one would think we were proposing to build a nuclear power plant next to your house or something.

again. jeeezzzzz . . .

so i think the time has come for me to follow chicken's lead and make my exit from the eplaya. we have lots of work to do. and i would like to do it with people and an environment more creative and productive than what i have found here.

so good luck. and may the best borg win.

j

[Cardinal]

Salaam, Waliki, Fins Aviat, Kíhtwám ka-wápamitin, Jumalaga, Aloha 'oe, Itte rasshai, Paketeinlei, Vidaaya, Ratukama, Nabadey, Tica naga.....

Goodbye Jim. You'll be back. It doesn't take a divine revelation to see you're addicted to the eplaya.

so i think the time has come for me to follow chicken's lead and make my exit from the eplaya. we have lots of work to do. and i would like to do it with people and an environment more creative and productive than what i have found here.

Nice hit and run tactics Jim. You use the eplaya as a defacto mouthpiece and then after you get what you want you drop us like a $20 whore at 4 am. Unless you want to be saddled with the charge of being an elitist art snob you need to encompass all groups into your new collective BORG2. Not everyone will agree with you. Not everything will come up roses. But turning your back on the critics leaves your group vulnerable to falling victim to it's own rosy views on things which could leave your group blindsided on the playa. Think about it before you bail on us. Why limit your view to your yes men and women? Add some diversity to the mix. Read the eplaya and you'll get some needed reality checks to supplement your fundraising drive.

[III]

jim has certainly represented himself here more than the llc members, or even senior staff.

since he's going to have the opportunity to speak through the jrs, i don't really see him as neglecting his responsibilities on this. and i can't blame him for having gotten tired of all the negativity here. after all, the gang of five (however the hell that is) is well known for making this an unpleasant place to be.

[Simply Joel]

I would offer a bet but it's a sin to gamble.

i concur