2012 Year End Report

The most effective way of 'asking' per se I think is to simply remind people. I think people are willing to donate, they just don't think about it. Month, bi-monthly or quarterly account announcements would remind people that the big yellow button is up there...

But I also agree that we should always and forever have a policy of full account disclosure. That is required in the UK of all charitable organisations, but not in the US and I think it is to the detriment of religious and social institutions and breeds ground for dubious financial practices...

Akkarin wrote: The most effective way of 'asking' per se I think is to simply remind people. ...

Nope. Unless the furture of this church is up to chance. Trusting the force is one thing having a plan is another.

but not in the US

Disclosures are available upon demand. If you"re nit given one that is the first warning sign of stay away.

MCSH wrote:

V-Tog wrote:

MCSH wrote: Next time just call "Sajjad," and I'll do it ASAP...

Do what ASAP?

These small time killing things... I have a headache for them:D

I could have made a post incredibly long...

But, I cant cover every base, besides, I like for others to comment on TOTJO in review, what else I missed, the good (V-Tog), the bad (Ren), and the ugly (Jestor)...

Sometimes, when people joined, they feel like outsiders...

And dont want to disrupt "our" temple, 'our' meaning 'not theirs', when it really is all of us that make totjo special...

Yea, a few of us have a bit more say-so, but only because if everyone had equal say-so, nothing would get done...

It would be like everyone voting for whoever they wanted for president, and everyone voting for themselves, lol...

50 directions does not make a good organization...

So, I was really hoping to see more stuff posted here honestly...

@ Rickie, as far as the donations go, I have gone to Council with your last post...

It does make us uncomfortable, we do discuss it in Council, usually with us making up the differences... John and Ren I think bearing the brunt of the burden... Mark as well...

But, maybe we can comeup with something, someway to gently remind... honestly, idk, this is a new experience for me... lol...

I cant even keep my lights on at home all year, lol...

I will just leave this here ...

[quote="Jestor" post=93580@ Rickie, as far as the donations go, I have gone to Council with your last post...

It does make us uncomfortable, we do discuss it in Council, usually with us making up the differences... John and Ren I think bearing the brunt of the burden... Mark as well...

But, maybe we can comeup with something, someway to gently remind... honestly, idk, this is a new experience for me... lol...
...[/color][/quote]

Again, lets us decide if we want to donate. Don't make that decision for us. Make a plan, we just need to know what you need. If we feel good about it we're in. No plan, no goal, then finances just drift.

Metsu Desal wrote: I will just leave this here ...

I get what you are saying...

But raising awareness doesnt necessarily mean support... If people come here and we are asking for money, it looks like we are just in it for the money...

Look at it from a new persons perspective...

I hear you Ricky, and I have gone to Council, as I said...

We will figure out how to implement something...

[quote="Jestor" post=

If people come here and we are asking for money, it looks like we are just in it for the money...

Look at it from a new persons perspective...

.[/color][/quote]

Dude. You're missing my point. You are already asking for money. You have a donation button! All I'm saying is to share you're plans and give us a reason to contribute.

I'm done. Peace

But raising awareness doesnt necessarily mean support... If people come here and we are asking for money, it looks like we are just in it for the money...

Look at it from a new persons perspective...

If people are coming here, I would hope they are intelligent enough to understand that hopes and dreams do not pay the bills, if we show that we are putting it to good use I.e. paying for hosting/other bills...they will have nothing to say...and in a sense is that not what all religions do? Just a simple brief statement saying "We have raised $X out of our goal for $X" is not demanding...how about some shiny perks such as a photograph of Ren with an autograph...I often forget that the donate button is even there...demanding or asking is different from advertising people can donate...

Yes, I understand... lol...

I will stop here on this topic, i have gone to Council, and we will discuss it..lol...

Thank you...




But....

i for one would donoate if i could offord to donatei have snice found ohter ways to contibuate to the jedi way of life hence obtain buliding materails and investing my time and efforts in the construction plans for a temple or a place of gathering it can also act a a place of bisness for like minded people like us

How about this for a fund raiser?

How much for picture of Jestor in a Princess Leia gold bikini? :ohmy: :laugh:

i dunno, i think we may end up having to pay others to take pics like that :woohoo:

Rickie The Grey wrote: How about this for a fund raiser?

How much for picture of Jestor in a Princess Leia gold bikini? :ohmy: :laugh:

Whoa!!

Gimme a minute to do a few situps!

...

...


......


Ok, ready!

Rickie The Grey wrote: How about this for a fund raiser?

How much for picture of Jestor in a Princess Leia gold bikini? :ohmy: :laugh:

I can't get the image out of my head!!!!!

All I'm saying is to share you're plans and give us a reason to contribute.

The plan is to pay the hosting bill. The day people donate too much we'll consider going beyond paying for hosting.

Oh, Zeus.... I can't find that link where Br. John (was it?) who quoted the server-hosting-per-year price. With tax returns due in soon for some people, this is a good time of year to revive this conversation.

Metsu Desal wrote: Just a simple brief statement saying "We have raised $X out of our goal for $X" is not demanding...

This works on poor people like me. If it's an open-ended donation scheme, then I feel like less compelled [reasoning too voluminous to even attempt here]. But if I see "We're 90% (450.00$) of our goal (500.00$)," then I can justify 10$. (That just jumped us another 2%!) Now, only 4 people @ 10$ can help us make our goal!

Point being: when it's broken down, "our fair share" doesn't seem as large; it's a psyche game, but it DOES work. How many places have you driven by that have that big "thermometer" for fundraising? Notice how those almost always "burst over" (with the red liquid drops bursting forth)? There's a reason: 50 people see that "they're so close~~!" and donate what they think is 5% (maybe 10$~50$), but they don't know they're one of 20 people who did the same thing. Surplus.

Just my 2¢ (pense).

Unsticky..