Announcing the TarValon.Net 2013 Annual Summer Fundraiser

[Manon Lumen]

I'm not disagreeing to the fact that donations keep the site operational (note that I never even suggested that), but more to the way these "real, honest, and frank numbers" are presented, especially with a tagline like that; it's misleading. They make all sorts of red alerts go off in my head - they make me feel like I'm being fooled.

 

[Ubahsur Kindellaer]

Yeah, I see your point that we aren't saying that the expected tech costs this year are $1,171.61 (about as close as I have it based on numbers right now) but instead are saying "over $1,000." However, there are a few reasons for this. The first is that it technically is propritary information - it is giving away our "secrets" to other organizations. The second is that based on the fact that a lot of things are future purchases, just because I budget for $1,500 (actual budget for projected costs) in awards and prizes - we still haven't finished out the year and thus I don't know what the exact amount will be.

The numbers Tree provided above are rough estimates. They came directly from our budget. It's the best we can do right now. After the year closes, we can be more clear when we put the information in the Library. But until then? We simply don't have that level of detail to provide you. Trust me, I personally would be very happy to do so if I had it. (See my example of tech above. I chose tech because it is an easy category. )

This year our numbers are much higher than normal - we had a lot of debt to settle up, and still do (to the tune of $5,280) , if now it is just one person. We also have a backlog of things, such as member gifts that need to be caught up on. There are 5 year olds out there that we are ashamed we never sent a onsie to the Tower member.

Additionally, there are future things that the bill needs to be settled right now. For example, we are currently looking at how to fund the deposit to secure the BI and Anni event locations - which combined could be over $4,000 and wipe out our current account! Thanks to circumstances our cushion is GONE and we need to pay off debt as well as rebuild that cushion.

In all fairness, I would not be comfortable until we had over $20,000 in the Tower bank account and Paypal. Why? Because then we would have the minimum required to not get hit with a monthly banking fee, and allow us to make that $4,000+ deposit for an event that we won't even open registration for for another 6+ months! (Note, said event is the most expensive of the bunch, so it is an extreme example.)

Also, I cannot strongly emphasize enough that for those living in Europe, even if you do not utilize the Euro personally, if the exchange rate is cheaper for you to PLEASE send the funds in Euros rather than USD. I say this because we NEED those Euros, frankly, towards an unexpected expense for this Euro Party; that was why I asked Tree for some of our fundraiser to specifically be in Euros. And it will both save you money by sending it in or at a rate that is cheaper and it will save the Tower in exchange fees. That and my grand master plan is I'd LOVE to build a savings JUST IN EURO for the purpose of our putting a deposit on future BI, Euro, and SP events (see example above) without exchange fees. Having the Tower have less fees also will help in reducing ticket prices, if only by a tiny amount.

I hope you understand better why we gave round, estimated numbers rather than exact to the penny amounts. I hope you better understand that, yes, right now we technically have enough in the bank to pay for our normal expenses not including events - but that event expenses can occur months before we start collecting from y'all for the ticket prices that would then cover said event expenses.

While we are currently liquid, that could easily and quickly change until we have our debt paid off and a cushion built back up. And our liquidity is for bare basics - not for the "fun" things that would make our community even MORE awesome such as SSL, a back up server, and upgrading the version of the boards when the new version is less buggy.

So, I've probably said too much. I have a bad habit of that. :\ But, it's genuine. I hope you can't fault me for my passion and being my blunt self.

 

[Natalya Laragan]

Blah, I totally missed the part of donating in Euros.

 

[Ubahsur Kindellaer]

It's ok!

Btw, the above is not angry. I'm short on time and wanted to get it out so I haven't vetted it for tone.

I'm also working on 3 hours sleep a night for the past 6 weeks and huge amounts of stress. I've asked Execs to feel free to edit it if it needs it.

 

[Sabriane Diamodred]

Reading this has made me hungry!

 

[Lilli O' Neeus]

Ubah, thank you for the information. The more concrete explanation has actually made me a bit more comfortable, too, and I was fine with the vagueness.

 

[Tree]

Thank you Ubah for adding great detail to the outlined numbers provided in the original post.

Really excited to see what we can begin raising in Euro's to build up that fund- its some very forward looking thinking on the behalf of our lovely Shaytan.

 

[Ubahsur Kindellaer]

Btw, Tree only had the budget to work with so imho she rocked it without the actual numbers.

Thanks, Tree! Ambition is one of my middle names. As is "make a dolla holla." I hate paying fees that could be avoided with some planning and effort.

 

[Manon Lumen]

Thanks a lot Ubah, I appreciate it! If there were a like or +1 button I'd have used it

 

[Ealandrelle Melyma]

OK before I go and donate I've got a quick (well, hopefully quick) question

I'm in the UK, and right now the pound is stronger against the dollar than against the Euro - it's 1.5 USD to the pound as opposed to 1.15 Euro to the pound. Which means that if I donate in dollars, you'll get more bang for my buck, so to speak. However, being in Europe, I'm happy to donate to the Euro fund - I just didn't know which would benefit the Tower more overall? So thought I'd ask Equally I don't mind donating twice and kinda splitting it between the two currencies, but I didn't know if that would end up with more fees being incurred or something?

Any guidance greatly appreciated The Tower will get the donation either way

 

[Ubahsur Kindellaer]

Glad I can help explain things a bit!

Eala, thanks for asking! Due to needing the Euro sooner/more right now, I would prefer that currency for the Tower coffers from you please. But the choice is yours in one way or splitting it. Thank you so much for donating!

 

[Onis O'Leia]

How long will this fundraiser last?

 

[Cassie Dainar]

Made my donation, it's a LOT smaller than usual, but Soro and I are on a shoe-string budget for a change. Funny how buying a house comes with all sorts of sudden expenditures.

 

[Ealandrelle Melyma]

Eala, thanks for asking! Due to needing the Euro sooner/more right now, I would prefer that currency for the Tower coffers from you please. But the choice is yours in one way or splitting it. Thank you so much for donating!

Thank you for the reply, Ubah Sedai Euros it is

As I didn't see anything saying to use a separate Paypal address, I'm just sending it to PAYABLE@TarValon.Net but selecting the currency as Euros. Hopefully that's the right thing!

 

[Tree]

Onis- we are scheduled to run the Fundraiser till August 25th. 4 weeks in total.

Eala, Ubah got in the answer for your tough question- but yet, the paypal is the same, just selecting the currency you'd like to choose is perfect!

Cassie... :trout You know that any and all donations are accepted, appreciated, and invaluable! The amount is not as important and just having your (and Soro's) continued support! Thank you and congrats on the new house!!!

Thank you to all our donors, as I told Cassie, they are appreciated and invaluable! We could not do all this without your support.

 

[Ubahsur Kindellaer]

I hope to have updates for everyone on Tuesday but chocolate is very much in the lead! Thank you everyone for your donations. As Tree said, every dollar/euro is appreciated no matter its size.

 

[Ilissa al'Nari]

Nomnomnom chocolate

 

[Onis O'Leia]

One more question: If we donate in Euro, what exchange rate is used to decide what prize drawing one is entered into?

 

[Ubahsur Kindellaer]

The rate paypal tells me it is. Do you have any suggestions? I am open to any and all.

Great question, Onis, thanks for asking it!

 

[Onis O'Leia]

The question then is how I and others who are going to donate in Euro can figure out what rate PayPal uses. I'm naturally converting from NOK to Euro, not from USD.