Please Donate To The Pet Talk Fund! (updated) [Archive]

gini

03-15-2008, 06:11 PM

PLEASE SEE POST #17 FOR CURRENT INFORMATION.

Last year we all talked about setting up a Mayor's fund to assist in the expense of running this site. I wouldn't imagine that it has gotten cheaper to run.

Please, I don't mean to embarrass our Mayor - but couldn't we get this going?

When she writes her book about Pet Talk and all she has gone through - and gets that hefty $$ advance then we can reconsider:D

jenluckenbach

03-15-2008, 06:14 PM

On with the fund!! :cool:

Laura's Babies

03-15-2008, 06:38 PM

Get 'er going!

lizbud

03-15-2008, 06:48 PM

Consider me in. :) I'm terrible about organizing but a cheerful giver to
a good cause like this.

Catty1

03-15-2008, 07:19 PM

Taz_Zoee

03-15-2008, 07:22 PM

I was just thinking of this the other day. I have NO problem donating for such a wonderful thing. Honestly, I think I would be completely lost without PT. LOL

gini

03-15-2008, 07:42 PM

I am thinking maybe the advertising was brought in to fund PT so we wouldn't have to pay anything - although many of us are more than willing! I suspect Mr and Mrs Mayor wanted to keep supporting US. :)

How would we set this up? PM everyone?

I don't think the advertising brings in that much. I am not sure about that. And the advertising was in place before we sent any funds. What we did the last time, was just send them a check on our own. There is no specified amount. No one person was in charge.

However, if you want, I would be happy to be the organizer and send the funds to them.

There are 12,000 or so members - if every one of them sent in $5.00 - well you do the math -

Cinder & Smoke

03-15-2008, 08:32 PM

Last year we all talked about setting up a Mayor's fund
to assist in the expense of running this site.
I wouldn't imagine that it has gotten cheaper to run.

A word of Caution ~

**WAIT** for Instructions on How to send a Donation via PayPal!!

I sent my donation at Christmas - and used an "incorrect" address ---
Paul & Karen went through a serious ordeal with PayPal before they saw my donation! :eek:

Be VERY careful when you fill out the PayPal form -
pay extra attention that you spell the Name or E-mail address properly -
and fill it in EXACTLY as Paul or Karen advises.

;)

Karen

03-15-2008, 11:14 PM

We will post something about this tomorrow. We greatly appreciate everyone's support and all of your wonderful contributions that make this community the special place that it is.

smokey the elder

03-16-2008, 07:49 AM

We could contribute to the "faster and more stable server" fund. :D :p

gini

03-16-2008, 08:33 PM

Bump!

anna_66

03-16-2008, 08:44 PM

I'd be more than willing to donate. After all, I'd be lost without PT...it's my second home:D

gini

03-16-2008, 08:51 PM

O.K.- to follow through - I think we need some minimal input from Karen and Paul.

We can agree on an amount that would really help - but not put anyone in a financial bind. Some could give more - some could give less.

P/M's could be sent to encourage everyone to donate - and at the same time tell them exactly how to do it - a personal check mailed to their home address or a paypal payment - whichever is easier.

Absolutely no pressure on anyone!

But we are all family - so we can be honest and direct about this.............

Since this is a second home for most of us - the giving is the easiest part.

The whole point would be for this site to continue with the best server available and the speed we all seem to want without it being a huge financial burden on Karen and Paul.

I want to be able to run amok again without it shutting down their site:D

Cinder & Smoke

03-16-2008, 11:02 PM

We will post something about this tomorrow ...

"Tomorrow" must not have been Sunday.

Wonder if Monday will be "tomorrow".

We NEEDS a good PayPal address to *send to*!
;)

Catty1

03-17-2008, 12:36 AM

Karen - What you and Paul might do is send the correct PayPal address (and snail mail one too) to one person - Gini has volunteered - and she can post on each forum that this is happening, and ask interested parties to PM HER for the payment info.

Perhaps she alone should know the amount 'required' - and can say if we are 'almost' there. Just in case no one wants to attach an exact number to it.

Just a thought. :)

(Sorry, Gini - just speak up if you don't want to get flooded! :D )

Cinder & Smoke

03-17-2008, 01:16 AM

Karen - What you and Paul might do is send the correct PayPal address
(and snail mail one too) to one person - Gini has volunteered - and she can post ...
and ask interested parties to PM HER for the payment info.
(Sorry, Gini - just speak up if you don't want to get flooded! http://petoftheday.com/i/our_smilies/biggrin.gif )

Just Maybe you should have ASKED Gini, *BEFORE* you offered her time and efforts.

And WHY is a middle-person needed?
Karen & Paul can easily create and register a unique E-mail address to use for
accepting PayPal donations - and then POST that donations only address.

NOTE: There's some reasonably effective ways to "hide" an e-mail address
from would-be auto retrievers and scammers ...
Instead of posting the address as [email protected] ([email protected]) ...
HIDE the address by writing it as name AT domain DOT com ...
Mosts address miners won't "find it" that way.

For snail-mail donations, the potential donor can easily PM Karen ... what's the need
to involve a Donor Coordinator?? There's no secrets involved here.

Karen

03-17-2008, 02:26 AM

Thanks again, everyone. We appreciate you thinking of us, and yes, it does cost us money to keep the servers up and running. You can mail a check to me, and use my name, or click here (http://petoftheday.com/fundraiser.html) for other options. You can use the link for PayPal, or the link for donating through Amazon, but the Amazon donations don't tell us who they are from, so you'd have to PM us if you don't want to be anonymous.

Karen Watts
69 North Street
Newton, MA 02459-1737

And please, please include a note with your username, so we are sure to know who it came from, so we can thank you!

Randi

03-17-2008, 06:38 AM

That's a great idea, and I'd love to help with a donation! I can't afford much at the moment, but when I get a job....

I believe Paul is in the process of changing servers, so this is a perfect time. :)

I will send it directly to Karen & Paul.

lizbud

03-17-2008, 10:29 AM

I will send it directly to Karen & Paul.

I will mail directly too. :)

gini

03-17-2008, 10:36 AM

And there you have it folks.............several donation options have been provided by Karen.

I will continue to bump this thread up to reach out to as many of our members as possible and hopefully they will respond.

Any amount will be helpful to Karen and Paul.

krazyaboutkatz

03-17-2008, 11:42 AM

I'll be sending a donation by snail mail. I'm very happy to donate because I'd be lost without PT.:)

pitc9

03-17-2008, 11:56 AM

Count me in too!

The check is in the mail! ;)

cassiesmom

03-17-2008, 12:25 PM

I'll be sending a donation by snail mail. I'm very happy to donate because I'd be lost without PT.:)

Me too and also because I know there are some who might like to donate but can't right now. Thank you, Gini for starting this!

Grace

03-17-2008, 12:32 PM

Me too with the snail mail - going out tomorrow.

dukedogsmom

03-17-2008, 01:58 PM

I will donate but I already told someone I'd donate for their law enforcement torch run right now. I should be able to give in about a month.

Taz_Zoee

03-17-2008, 03:03 PM

I will definitely donate. I have to check my funds right now. But if not now, then for sure by next week (I get paid Friday!). :D
I will be sending a check directly, same as last time. :)

gini

03-17-2008, 03:16 PM

Thanks everyone for your kind response.

We have 12,772 members - and 13 members so far have said they will send something for this worthy cause (us).

Hmm, maybe I should add a poll.

Cinder & Smoke

03-17-2008, 04:33 PM

Where's the choice of
"We already GAVE at the office" ??

:D
The FurKids agreed to skip one Christmas Prezzie each - and
we sent that gift to Karen & Paul at Christmas.

Give Early ~~~ Give Often

:)

lvpets2002

03-17-2008, 04:41 PM

;) Thats right we did this last year.. Yup count me in.. I will snail mail a check to cover My donation & Uncle Gary's donation.. Karen just like we did last year ok..

Killearn Kitties

03-17-2008, 05:23 PM

I'm more than happy to donate something towards the cost of Pet Talk. I think it is a wonderful facility and life would be much poorer without it. :D

I have sent something via PayPal.

Karen

03-17-2008, 07:01 PM

We love you all! Thanks, everyone!

Scooter's Mom

03-17-2008, 08:15 PM

If your address stays up, I will donate via snail mail as soon as my taxes come in.

cyber-sibes

03-17-2008, 11:58 PM

Just saw this, a check will be in the mail tomorrow! :D

Karen

03-19-2008, 02:33 AM

Thanks, folks!

Laura's Babies

03-19-2008, 01:59 PM

It is US who should thank you Karen. Pt is such a part of our lives that I hate to think what we would do without it! Where else can we go to learn so much, to brag about and show off our babies and make such GOOD friends? I have been a member here longer than any other place on the web and spend more time here than anywhere else. It is US that owe YOU!

wolf_Q

03-19-2008, 04:40 PM

I honestly have no idea how much it costs to run a website like this, but I made a paypal donation...hope it helps at least. :) I would have a hard time living without Pet Talk. ;)

Karen

03-19-2008, 07:58 PM

Thanks, Amy! Belly rubs to the huskies from me, and a kiss on the noggin for Sydney, okay?

slleipnir

03-19-2008, 08:05 PM

I don't have a lot of money right now...but I'll definitely donate a little later! Thanks for keeping up such a great site Karen :)

anna_66

03-20-2008, 08:43 AM

Mark and I said how different our lives would be without PT, and we can't imagine not having all the friends we do now.
Thanks Karen and Paul!
The checks in the mail:D

cyber-sibes

03-20-2008, 10:40 AM

Mailed the check this morning. Thanks for all your loving work on Pettalk, I know my life would not be the same if I didn't have PT in it!

Karen

03-20-2008, 05:03 PM

Thanks everyone! Hug those huskies for me, and Anna, give Bon a BIG hug for me, a Huney a kiss - just don't tell her it's from me, because we all know she love Momma best!

Laura's Babies

03-20-2008, 05:04 PM

Watch you mail Karen, I finally got to the post office today!

phesina

03-20-2008, 08:08 PM

I just made you a donation through amazon.com Honor System. I don't know how it will show up at your place. My name, which is on my amazon account, is Patricia Murray, but I don't know if they'll put it there. It's transaction #700123634142, according to my account record on amazon.com.

Pat

Karen

03-20-2008, 08:24 PM

Thank you both. And thank, phesina, for letting us know, as Amazon tells us absolutely nothing about donors, just a total amount!

krazyaboutkatz

03-20-2008, 11:47 PM

I just mailed my check to you this morning so you should either get it by Sat. or Mon. at the latest.:)

Karen

03-21-2008, 12:07 PM

Thank you! :) Kisses to the kitties!

I wanted to add that, for those of you who are sending things through the mail, I will send you a PM when I get it, so you know it arrived safely! :)

Karen

03-21-2008, 01:45 PM

Of course, an hour after I posted that, we got the first "snail mail" check today, thanks again, everyone!

Laura's Babies

03-21-2008, 03:27 PM

:( I may be gone when you get mine.. Time to go back to work but I will try to get on and check now that we have internet out there.

Cinder & Smoke

03-21-2008, 04:39 PM

Time to go back to work ...
but I will try to get on and check now that we have internet out there.

WHAT?

You've got I-net on the Boat, now?

Are you allowed to PM the Address to use - or is it restricted to Company Business only?

Freedom

03-21-2008, 04:47 PM

Hey Laura, that's great news! Even if we can't email you direct, you can still check in now and then to keep up with stuff. And even better, you can keep in touch with what is going on at the kitties' house! (We all know you just pay the rent / mortgage on that place, te hee.)

My check went out this morning in snail mail.

Let's see, I joined PT and had 5 cats. Thanks to one PT member, I learned about bichons, another member put me in touch with Small Paws Rescue. It was a PT member who put me in touch with PawsWatch for the feral cat TNRM program. All of which results in today's count: 10 cats, 4 bichons. Hmm, I THINK I have something to be thankful for?? :p Te hee.

chocolatepuppy

03-22-2008, 08:43 AM

Check going in the mail today. ;)

Karen

03-22-2008, 12:30 PM