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Today – We launch our 2012 Membership Drive and invite readers who have just started visiting Firedoglake or have been with us for years to join our membership program for as low at $5/month or $45/year.
You can join at different levels, and each has membership benefits and gifts. More important, I can promise, after seeing it this year, you will learn something new, find a new friend who lives just down the street from you with the same interests, and feel a sense of accomplishment from your membership.
Help make year 2 of the FDL Membership Program even better – become a member today!
Last year at this time, I was just getting settled in. It was my first year with Jane Hamsher and Firedoglake. Without knowing my capabilities, everyone trusted me enough to head the project to start a membership program. I must admit, the task was daunting at first, and I was not sure if we would be able to get it off the ground.
We not only got the program off the ground, but reached over 1400 members nationwide within the founding year. I was amazed, joyful, and effervescent. I could not have been happier with the success of the membership program, and I have all of you to thank for that. I take tremendous pride in working for this organization and having a relationship with each and every one of you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for making this past year special.
Join the Firedoglake Membership Program and enter a new year of exciting activism.
This year we have had amazing educational webinars from Rob Richie and Krist Novoselic at Fair Vote, Joshua Koster, from Chong & Koster on online organizing tactics, and Stephen Lerner on occupying our homes and political action. These webinars not only help us learn, but bring us together forming lasting bonds.
I was fortunate to be able to receive most of the emails that came in over the past year about membership. What did people enjoy the most? Finding people who shared a common interest and who lived near them. In many cases we were able to link people together so that they could form small activist groups. This is something that not many membership programs can do, and I am so happy to be part of one who can offer that benefit.
In closing I wanted to talk about 2 very successful membership programs that began this year.
1. MET Program - The Membership Engagement team (MET) is a group of 5 amazing members who were in charge of reaching out to new members to thank them and offer help on writing posts and becoming more active on Firedoglake.
2. Occupy Supply Liaison Program - Started in the beginning of October 2011, this is a program containing over 105 member liaisons in over 70 locations. The program raised $205,000 and we have sent out nearly 20,000 pieces of cold weather clothing or supplies.
As part of the Occupy Supply Program, Jane and the supply team hold webinars twice a week with participation from FDL liaison members, guest speakers, and Occupiers from around the country. We exchange experiences, ideas, and insights; we also link up people with different expertise, and we find out what’s working (and what’s not) in various locations. These twice-weekly webinars have become extremely valuable to the whole occupy supply effort.
Please contact me anytime if you have any questions about membership. You can reach me at members@firedoglake.com.
20 Comments
Feel free to give me a call about membership if you have any questions: (202)506-3907 or you can email me anytime @ members@firedoglake.com
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Thanks Cynthia!
Ryan has put in many, many hours so that FDL can have some great programs that acknowledge and even support members. I think these programs make being an FDL member worth it.
Thanks Kevin. The membership program has allowed for many people across the country to meet with activists in their local towns and states. This is a really powerful thing and it will continue to grow as we continue to organize.
Should add that yesterday The Nation’s John Nichols, in a Book Salon chat, applauded FDL saying he was “impressed with the energy and innovation of Firedoglake’s coverage of Occupy.”
Part of our ability to stay on top of Occupy is a result of great FDL members, who have been reporting on Occupy groups in their area for months.
Ryan, we don’t have any extra money for a membership, but I’d like to believe that my hundreds upon hundreds of hours writing diaries for My.fdl can act as an in-kind contribution.
And to forestall any offers of generous benefactors paying for me, please let me decline in advance. I would not only feel like a charity case, but that my not inconsiderable labor were being devalued, and I value it very highly, as every worker/researcher/writer should. ;o)
Thanks so much, Ryan. Your tireless efforts have made a big difference to occupiers across the country. People probably don’t know the long hours you put in making sure shipments get out and people get the things they need, and the communication with liaisons you are constantly maintaining. You do an amazing job and we could not do this without you.
Ryan, thank you for the great post and for all you have done to make the first year of the FDL Membership Program a great success. I have talked and worked with a lot of the Members, they are tireless in their work with the Occupy locations. It is a privilege to know and support them.
Good Job Ryan!
Particularly since there’s sizes involved in a lot of the items like boots and such, with so many encampments I can hardly fathom how you keep them all straight.
Thanks all. Everyone commenting here has been a tremendous asset to Firedoglake and the membership program. I can only get these items out to occupations due to all your help and hard work.
I hope we can continue to keep working hard at this as a project of the Firedoglake Membership Program.
Truly an amazing anniversary, due in large part to your efforts, Ryan. Thanks for everything you do, and so well.
Folks taking a moment to read these comments: why not get out your credit/debit card and hit the membership page now? There’s more exhortation coming, and you’ll be able to skip it with a self-satisfied smile if you sign up today.
Join us! It’s fun1
Also recommended.
If I’m already a member, will I be automatically renewed or do I need to reaffirm my membership?
As one of the Membership Engagement Team, I have talked to many amazing FDL supporters. It feels great to actually do something that supports my values and principles. I also act as an occupy liaison.
It is so important that all of us do something, however small or seemingly inconsequential, to keep FDL going.
Become a member and maybe we’ll have a chance to talk. I look forward to it.
Wow, small number of posters to membership threads. People need to realize that culturally and politically productive people need to eat, too. You can’t just lurk and expect quality stuff to land in your lap indefinitely.
Echo bluewombat’s question. Already a member . . . is renewal handled differently from ‘new membership’?
Hey There. What do you mean about renewal being handled differently? Renewal is set up automatically after setting up the first membership. If you want some help with this or knowing when your renewal is I can help you out. Just send me an email at members@firedoglake.com
My checking account is scraping the barrel this week, but next Monday I shall proudly re-up!
What Otchmoson and I mean is: does our membership renew automatically each year or do we have to opt in again each year?
X2
I don’t have the $139 for a Stratfor membership, but if I did it would go to FDL.