[sudoroom] July Rent: Inversion of a Ponzi Scheme?

[Eddan Katz]

Thanks for the immediate offers to help out - on and off list. I'm sorry if the intended tone of my suggestion didn't come across. I was actually a supporter of postponing the decision to use existing funds until we have a better sense of how we work and what we're about. I'm very glad to hear people think we're at a critical mass and are impatient to move forward. 

Given our current status as an unincorporated association of people, a proposal for voluntary contributions seemed to make the most sense. To clarify, I was hoping to use the occasion for paying July rent to expand our base of people who are connected and feel involved in Sudo Room. I am hoping that this would be incentive to get more people on board. It was not meant to be a suggestion for another fundraising campaign for Sudo Room. By suggesting that everyone give an equal amount, I think we can demonstrate how small that amount can be. 

For example, if 12 people go in together (including me) - then it will be less than $50. If split by 77 (the current number of email subscribers to the list) - it would be $7.50 each. If divided by 142 (number of likes on Facebook), we would each pay $4.

There are many ways to cover mutual expenses without necessarily using a membership dues model. I think we should give ourselves the opportunity to try them out - at least in the interim.


sent from +1(415) 728-5800

On Jul 2, 2012, at 7:01 PM, "mattsenate at gmail.com" <mattsenate at gmail.com> wrote:

> Eddan,
> 
> I wish we were in a better position to have sorted this out before July, I am happy to kick in some cash, and I think we could get art murmur donations easily too.
> 
> Tracy,
> 
> I'm very much interested in establishing, very soon, a way to contribute regular dues, and to take donations from people who use and appreciate sudo resources infrequently.
> 
> However, it would be smart to establish what paying dues means. To me they should carry reasonable weight and an articulated benefit to the duepayer. This of course must cherish a commitment to access and participation not contingent on funds. I believe that is hat underlies this whole governance discussion.
> 
> I plan to explain this position in more detail on wiki and with more resources! 
> 
> Join me http://hackerspaces.org/wiki/Sudo_room/Governance_Structure
> 
> - Matt
> 
> ----- Reply message -----
> From: "Tracy Jacobs" <kinetical at comcast.net>
> Date: Mon, Jul 2, 2012 5:51 pm
> Subject: [sudoroom] July Rent: Inversion of a Ponzi Scheme?
> To: "Eddan Katz" <eddan at oaklandlocal.com>
> Cc: <sudoroom at lists.hackerspaces.org>
> 
> 
> Sorry Eddan,
> 
> I can give you fifty dollars for July when I next see you or  by  
> paypal if you prefer.  I don't understand the politics here or why we  
> are not deciding to pay some dues for rent.
> 
> Tracy
> 
> Tracy
> On Jul 2, 2012, at 5:32 PM, Eddan Katz wrote:
> 
> > At the decision-making in-gathering last week, it was decided not to  
> > make a decision about existing Sudo Room fund-raising income to be  
> > used to pay rent at 2135 Broadway, at this time. The rationale being  
> > that we've had a hard enough time making a decision about how to  
> > make decisions that the process should probably not be complicated  
> > any further. I applaud our resilience of deliberation, but then  
> > there is the matter of July rent.
> >
> > I would like to propose something not on behalf of Sudo Room  
> > officially, but that I hope will help us accomplish our goals, at  
> > this time. The rent due for July for the "Box Office" and "Orange  
> > Closet" amounts to $575. Since the "box office" will be central to  
> > our Art Murmur happening and the "orange closet" continues to be  
> > filled in our obsolete technology drive, I wanted to ask the good  
> > Sudo folk on this list to pitch in for that amount. Tracy already  
> > gave me $40 last week and Marc publicly announced his willingness to  
> > give me $60 on-list. I want to make sure that everyone is clear  
> > about the fact that if you would like to give me money at any time,  
> > you are most welcome to. I have accounts with most mobile and online  
> > payment providers, if that makes it any easier.
> >
> > But in terms of the $575 for July rent at 2135 Broadway, I wanted to  
> > continue in our straw poll practice of gauging how many people would  
> > be willing to chip in. If you're willing to go in together on rent  
> > for the space in July, please reply to this email with a +1 (to me  
> > and/or the list). By 6pm on Friday (the start of Art Murmur), I will  
> > ask these voluntary contributors to give me $575 divided by the  
> > number of people willing to volunteer. Needless to say - the higher  
> > the number of people contributing, the lower the contribution  
> > amount. If the number of contributors results in a sum too steep for  
> > any volunteer in particular, the Art Murmur event could be an  
> > opportunity to draw in others to cover that amount.
> >
> > This contribution does not constitute membership in Sudo Room, nor  
> > does it enable special voting power, the use of a shelf, or a free t- 
> > shirt. I was hoping though to get some help to display a running  
> > list of the names of contributors against one of the walls at 2135  
> > Broadway on Friday. If someone objects to the use of this list to  
> > solicit July rent for and/or to the display of the names of this  
> > group on the wall, please speak up and/or use the anonymous Sudo  
> > pages to voice your concerns.
> >
> > -Eddan
> > [self-appointed exchequer]
> > _______________________________________________
> > sudoroom mailing list
> > sudoroom at lists.hackerspaces.org
> > http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/sudoroom
> 
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> 
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