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JoshLowry
03-10-2011, 06:57 AM
RonPaulForums.com will be celebrating its four year anniversary in a few weeks. Through our efforts over the last 46 months, we have made a profound impact on political discourse in this country and around the world. This forum has been instrumental in helping to raise tens of millions of dollars for the campaigns of Ron Paul, Rand Paul, and many others in the liberty movement. We are the epitome of grassroots. I could try and personally thank each and every one of our members who has done so much for the message, but even that would be inadequate. Your activism has changed the world.

It's come to a time when RonPaulForums.com is requesting your support here at home. I am not one who likes asking for money and I have done my best to keep the forums going with minimal donations. However, with site traffic already on the rise, there are several expenses I’d like to cover in anticipation for the fast approaching campaign. Every penny that is raised will be stretched as widely as possible over the next 10 months. The opportunities that this next election cycle can provide for our country should not be overlooked based on limited financial resources.

The fundraising goal post is set at $30,000 which will help us meet our objectives through December 2011. Our past efficiencies, results and objectives are in-line with this goal. You can chip in by mailing to the address at the end of this message or using our chipin widget.


http://i.imgur.com/zydVT.gif (http://ronpaul.chipin.com/april-2011-goal)


RonPaulForums.com has become a mission critical hub for the liberty movement. Our site has served over 250,000 visits in the last 30 days (1). We are amongst the top 5,000 trafficked websites in the US (2).

Our members are particularly good at push starting viral campaigns. A large number of the initial sparks that set off the Ron Paul Revolution back in 2007 came from the activists on these forums, tireless in their dedication to the cause of liberty. Much of the initiative, planning, and discussion for ThisNovember5th.com and TeaParty07.com was done at RPFs. We were also instrumental in supporting the Revolution March on DC. We’ve made large strides since those early days.

In the 2010 campaign cycle, our members once again took leadership in making a difference for liberty with many successes. One of our very active members was even elected to the NC State House. Numerous fundraising events and other projects were organized. Our greatest efforts have come about by joining together and pushing as a team.

One notable forum success was born when Mitch McConnell and twenty-three US Senators planned a $500 per plate fundraiser in DC for Rand Paul's main primary opponent, Trey Grayson. Seventeen of those Senators had voted for the 2008 bank bailouts. Our forum members were angry and we struck while the iron was hot. The forums collaborated on the formation of www.KentuckyFight.com (http://www.kentuckyfight.com/), gained national attention and helped raise Rand Paul nearly $200,000 on the same day as the DC insider fundraiser. This turned the tables on the GOP as they expected to appoint their next “yes-man” without a fight. Because of our concerted efforts, we helped frame Trey Grayson as the DC insider candidate in an anti-establishment year. The election of Senator Rand Paul in 2010 allows us to continue building our Tea Party movement, one that many were trying to co-opt.

In 2011, we’re once again showing them what we’re made of.

I feel I owe it to all of you to keep the site up and running smoothly. Whenever you decide to turn on RonPaulForums.com, it is like water from the faucet - always there, always on. This is not an easy task and the pressures closely follow 24 hours a day, 365 days a year -- since May 2007. The administrator responsibilities can be overwhelming, and they continue to add up. It doesn’t matter if I am with family, at a political event, my real job, or fast asleep in bed. If problems occur with the site, I immediately shift my focus to repairing the problems. Many site tasks turn into multi-hour research projects. Server upgrades and software updates can easily become 72 hour marathons. Great sacrifices have been made to maintain RonPaulForums.com.

Now our future also rests upon your shoulders, the reader and activist. We don't get any contributions from governments, foundations, or big corporate "sponsors" -- we're a bit too independent for that. But that independence comes at a price, and we need your individual support to help pay for it. If you value RonPaulForums.com, please donate. I hope you will help me keep this engine of liberty running.

I feel honored to be a part of such an amazing community that produces real results. Your donations are greatly appreciated, and will help us reach our maximum potential over the next number of highly critical months.

Thank you for all that you do.

Please donate today at ChipIn.com (http://ronpaul.chipin.com/april-2011-goal)

In Liberty,

Josh Lowry Manuel
Senior Administrator/Owner - RonPaulForums.com

(1 (http://i.imgur.com/8qgcX.png)) per Google Analytics. (2 (http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/ronpaulforums.com#trafficstats)) per Alexa.




P.S. As a token of thanks, if you donate an amount of $20 or more we will upgrade your account with extra perks for one year. Donors of $50 or more will also receive one of the remaining Rand Paul “Randslide” posters that were printed by RPFs to commemorate his Senate race in Kentucky, supplies are limited. The top two donors will also receive a program from Ron Paul’s 2008 “Rally for the Republic”, a true liberty collectors item. Please include your username and address with your donations. If you forget or didn't read this far the first time around, I will personally make sure that you are taken care of.

P.P.S. If you can’t use PayPal, please send a check to:

Josh Lowry Manuel
19215 Cactus Rose Dr
Houston, TX 77449

We’ll be just as pleased if you send fiat currencies or precious metals as alternatives. :)

The_Ruffneck
03-10-2011, 07:12 AM
Just sent 5 bucks.

JoshLowry
03-10-2011, 07:15 AM
Just sent 5 bucks.


I appreciate the site support. Thank you.

sevin
03-10-2011, 07:16 AM
I get most of my news from this forum so I'm happy to contribute.

JoshLowry
03-10-2011, 07:22 AM
Thanks sevin.

Fire away if you would like to support the continuing development of RPFs.

tangent4ronpaul
03-10-2011, 07:48 AM
Just sent you $100 bucks.

Might send you one of these, but there would be OCH strings attached if I did....

http://www.lenovo.com/shop/americas/content/img_lib/products/thinkserver/RD240_md.jpg

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/special-offers.workflow:ShowPromo?LandingPage=/All/US/Landing_pages/ThinkServer/Products#rackSer

-t

amy31416
03-10-2011, 07:48 AM
Will get on it as soon as possible...

This is a great way for our foreign members to donate to a liberty cause without violating any of our FCC laws.

ItsTime
03-10-2011, 07:49 AM
If I send 20 can I get an upgraded account?

PermanentSleep
03-10-2011, 08:18 AM
In for $20.00, and I'll try for more later.

I appreciate all of the hard work. The only other thing that could beat the value of this site for the liberty movement is the secret billionaire ;) But then again, I think RPF is a gift that money couldn't by anyway. Thank you all for everything, and here's to a bright and hopeful future. Cheers!

olehounddog
03-10-2011, 08:31 AM
Sent 50

Bobster
03-10-2011, 08:39 AM
In for 50. I'm a sucker for that Randslide poster, what can I say.

JoshLowry
03-10-2011, 10:24 AM
Thanks for the donations and kind words.


If I send 20 can I get an upgraded account?

Yes, I mentioned it in the P.S.

Danke
03-10-2011, 10:31 AM
Would love to help out, but until my Prince shows up, I have an old wardrobe that needs updating...

Chieppa1
03-10-2011, 10:31 AM
Just sent $100. Payday baby.

ItsTime
03-10-2011, 11:41 AM
Thanks for the donations and kind words.



Yes, I mentioned it in the P.S.

Ha ok, It was early and all I saw was "we need money" and a wall of text lol.

amy31416
03-10-2011, 11:45 AM
Would love to help out, but until my Prince shows up, I have an old wardrobe that needs updating...

If you donate, I'll send you something frilly. :)

JoshLowry
03-10-2011, 11:56 AM
Ha ok, It was early and all I saw was "we need money" and a wall of text lol.

Read the words! ;)

In summary, if you support what RPF has done and wish to give keep her fueled, please do. I am at a fork where I either need to concentrate on this next campaign cycle and doing what I think is best for this community, or concentrate on something that I can earn money in the old fashioned way. Juggling my two workloads has been manageable the past 3 years, but I remember how busy I was in 2007.

I want to be able to plug in and give everything to this community that it needs in 2011. That's up to my members to decide. I understand this wasn't promoted before 6 hours ago so I'm already very encouraged by the donations that have come in thus far. This will keep me going and motivated. Every single donation goes further than you would think. Thank you!

Ekrub
03-10-2011, 12:00 PM
Hey Josh I just want to say thanks for the site and I'll talk to my wife when I get home and see what I can do this month.

Matt Collins
03-10-2011, 12:05 PM
Josh,

You should put the Chip-In widget at the top of every page. We need a counter to help drive us!

speciallyblend
03-10-2011, 12:11 PM
josh once i can get settled and have some extra $$$$$ i will do what i can to help RPF!!! thanks josh and your mossad friend:)

qh4dotcom
03-10-2011, 12:25 PM
I just sent 5 bucks :)

Transaction ID for this payment is: 75227804PV9077503

JoshLowry
03-10-2011, 12:40 PM
I just sent 5 bucks :)

Transaction ID for this payment is: 75227804PV9077503

Thanks for donating!

Vessol
03-10-2011, 12:45 PM
Little short currently, but I'll make sure to add a bit next paycheck :D

ClayTrainor
03-10-2011, 01:04 PM
Just threw in $20 :)

TCE
03-10-2011, 01:13 PM
Can you bring the ads back to generate some extra revenue?

newbitech
03-10-2011, 01:48 PM
So here are some interesting observations from that alexa page.

The number 1 "you might also be interested in" is.......

SMOKING!

and number 4 on the "high impact search queries" is.......

GRADE B MAPLE SYRUP WALMART!

huh?!

CharlesTX
03-10-2011, 02:26 PM
I've learned a lot off of these forums to win debates. It's the least I could do. :)

Thanks Charles!
You contributed $20.00 to RonPaulForums.com

Payment Details
Save or print this page for your records3/10/2011
Receipt ID 81b054a8fb5333fd

Acala
03-10-2011, 02:33 PM
In for $50. Thanks for the good work.

Amy, don't bother sending anything frilly. Unless you are in them. And you don't mind them being torn.

ForLibertyFight
03-10-2011, 03:19 PM
bump

Acala
03-10-2011, 03:33 PM
I blame only myself....

Ahhhhh . . the refreshing scent of individual responsibility. Yet another reason people should donate to support RPF.

Cowlesy
03-10-2011, 03:51 PM
I can only donate if the Calendar Button is moved to the left side of the New Posts button. I do not know how many times I've clicked on the calendar today!

Kotin
03-10-2011, 03:59 PM
I can only donate if the Calendar Button is moved to the left side of the New Posts button. I do not know how many times I've clicked on the calendar today!

Hahahah me too!!!

Thomas
03-10-2011, 04:01 PM
Hahahah me too!!!

same! will send $20 soon

freedoms-light
03-10-2011, 04:14 PM
Just sent $50.00

you just completed your payment.
Your receipt number for this payment is: 2281-4371-5120-9707.

JoshLowry
03-10-2011, 04:23 PM
:D

Kotin
03-10-2011, 05:38 PM
bump

speciallyblend
03-10-2011, 05:46 PM
bump

bump

MozoVote
03-10-2011, 06:03 PM
Done

Transaction ID: 5Y9215788V2349915

You sent a payment of $30.00 USD to Joshua Manuel

Kludge
03-10-2011, 06:18 PM
Hahahah me too!!!
Haha, I was going to make a post about it earlier, but I thought I was just losing my mind and it'd always been like that.

reduen
03-10-2011, 06:24 PM
Gotta love RonPaulForums!! Thank you Josh...

3/11/2011
Receipt ID 513c74361b164d89
Paid By: Chris Romero
For: RonPaulForums.com
Method: PayPal
Total: $75.00

Bergie Bergeron
03-10-2011, 06:40 PM
15$ sent.

ID: ce0e944ebb0a2531

JoshLowry
03-10-2011, 06:49 PM
Thank you all. I'm going to start upgrading accounts. Will ship posters out tomorrow.

amy31416
03-10-2011, 07:57 PM
We're all gonna get banned....

Anti Federalist
03-10-2011, 07:59 PM
We're all gonna get banned....

I know, I know, I was just thinking that.

We all better donate, quick.

ARealConservative
03-10-2011, 08:06 PM
$50

Your transaction ID for this payment is: 64L20094NF789211M.

keep up the good work Josh!

speciallyblend
03-10-2011, 08:21 PM
If people do not donate asap. I will call your local dealer and have them cut you off from marijuana:)

Thomas
03-10-2011, 08:54 PM
bump!

Nate-ForLiberty
03-10-2011, 09:36 PM
I just resubbed last month, does that count?

Koz
03-10-2011, 10:21 PM
I'll send some cash when I get paid next week.

GunnyFreedom
03-10-2011, 11:35 PM
One for the Spirit of '76

$76 sent

Thanks for all that you do.

speciallyblend
03-10-2011, 11:53 PM
a suggestion can a richer ron paul supporter please close out this chipin out asap?:) reasoning is this, if you can close this chipin out. Then more supporters can donate to the moneybombs which have donation limits!! make sense to me:)

jdmyprez_deo_vindice
03-11-2011, 01:59 AM
Josh I am tapped at the moment but as soon as I can count me in for between $10-$20 a week until we can get this filled. Thanks so much for all the hard work you put into this.

tangent4ronpaul
03-11-2011, 02:08 AM
I count $736 so far...

Philhelm
03-11-2011, 03:43 AM
As a token of thanks, if you donate an amount of $20 or more we will upgrade your account with extra perks for one year.

Not to sound like a cheapskate, but I think that a donation of $17.76, or perhaps $20.12 (As in Ron Paul 2012), would be a better sum. Of course, $37.88 could work too... :D

squarepusher
03-11-2011, 03:54 AM
Not to sound like a cheapskate, but I think that a donation of $17.76, or perhaps $20.12 (As in Ron Paul 2012), would be a better sum. Of course, $37.88 could work too... :D

i see a future in marketing for you ...

Philhelm
03-11-2011, 03:56 AM
One for the Spirit of '76

$76 sent

Thanks for all that you do.

+76
Even better than $17.76 or $20.12. Count me in for $76.00.
Your receipt number for this payment is: 1893-8191-2459-1661

ForLibertyFight
03-11-2011, 04:00 AM
Couldn't donate much... just a measly 3 dollars :(

Philhelm
03-11-2011, 04:05 AM
i see a future in marketing for you ...

Haha! Maybe to add to the theme, JoshLowry should demand (well, in a voluntaryist manner) that all donations be sent in cash via mail, so he can wipe his ass with worthless Federal Reserve Notes when the economy falls into shambles. :D

Mani
03-11-2011, 05:10 AM
No Poster necessary, no need to waste postage on shipping while I'm still overseas.

ChipIn Event Title: RonPaulForums.com
ChipIn Event Organizer: RonPaulForums.com (josh.manuel@gmail.com)
Transaction ID: b3c5f4537892ae29
Contribution Amount: $100.00
Contribution Date: March 11, 2011 10:47 AM UTC

I was a lurker on this site for a month or so, then started posting back in the day. IMO this site was bigger than the phenomenal success of the Meetup Groups, the current Facebook usage, the DailyPaul (although that was great and still is) and any other site. This was the central hub for us to generate, express, and create ideas and plans of action. So many amazing ideas were founded in many of these threads, and those ideas took off into some amazing projects. I think it was and still is by far the most important asset to the grassroots movement.

I also remember feeling lost when I started doing some exploration on my own in 2006, and actually discovered RP back then and met him at a conference. I did some reading and exploring and was freaked out by some many things I discovered.

And beyond 06, but into 07, and 08 at times I felt I was ALONE, like I was the only sane person in a world of insane people, or MAYBE I WAS the crazy one, and everyone else normal, or even maybe I knew something and the rest of the world around me was completely IGNORANT, and this forum was MY SAFE HAVEN!!! I found some people who saw the same things I did and felt the same way, and of course we all didn't agree on everything but it was VERY COMFORTING realizing I wasn't the only one who saw these issues, there were others like me!!!

So RPF also kept my sanity in check, and made me feel like I'm not some crazy nut after all.

For that $100 to help keep this site up and going is a drop in the bucket. I will help out again when I can, we'll try to get you the cash you need for what I believe is an invaluable place on the internet! Let message of freedom continue to be heard!!!

reduen
03-11-2011, 09:29 AM
Why is this thread not stuck at the top???

Eric21ND
03-11-2011, 09:36 AM
I will donate come payday. This forum and MMA.tv are the two sites I most frequent.

TomtheTinker
03-11-2011, 09:55 AM
+20

MelissaCato
03-11-2011, 02:47 PM
I donated 20 yesterday.

JoshLowry
03-11-2011, 02:50 PM
Got a lot of accounts upgraded last night. Upgrading more now... Message me if I missed you.

Just got back from work, so posters will have to wait to be shipped til tomorrow. Printing labels, rolling, and end capping will be done tonight.

Again, thank you for your support.

MN Patriot
03-11-2011, 08:38 PM
Chipped in 20. Help prime the pump.

steph3n
03-12-2011, 02:04 AM
Thanks for the site not that active of late but reading :)

LibertyEagle
03-12-2011, 08:42 AM
3/12/2011
Receipt ID d5e514d8a8a4243a
Paid By: Nancy
For: March 2011 Goal

Total: $20.00

The website is looking really good, Josh. :)

ronpaulhawaii
03-13-2011, 10:04 AM
looks like $825 away from the goal

Thomas
03-13-2011, 06:44 PM
+2012

ronpaulhawaii
03-14-2011, 08:08 AM
~$700 left to finish this :)

MN Patriot
03-14-2011, 12:15 PM
~$700 left to finish this :)
:confused: Why does the chip in widget only show $1095.72 raised so far? Only 3%.

civusamericanus
03-15-2011, 08:36 AM
Contributed $20 :)

I'm seeing 78%, $2362.89 of $3000 on the above widget.

muzzled dogg
03-15-2011, 10:57 AM
chipped

Nate-ForLiberty
03-16-2011, 05:48 PM
blimped

ronpaulhawaii
03-19-2011, 09:40 AM
$382 more and this one is done...

LukeP
03-20-2011, 09:53 AM
Can you bring the ads back to generate some extra revenue?

Yeah, ads are like free money, I don't see why you haven't added them to the new site yet. These donations will just be taking away from future money bombs. Besides, most of you were so adamant about the Gay ads that used to be posted here when I and others complained.

hugolp
03-20-2011, 10:07 AM
$20 donated.

Why does the donation keeps chaning from $3,000 to $30,000?

madengr
03-21-2011, 09:20 PM
$25

RileyE104
03-21-2011, 10:22 PM
Users active in the past 24 hours: 778 members

March 2011 Goal: 78 contributors

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

I'm going to donate before the end of the month, but damn, come on!
If all of the (active) members of this forum (or at least the 778 who logged on in the past 24 hours...) donated a simple $5 (like I was going to do before I realized only 78 other people have donated) we would have well OVER the funds needed for the forum.

Thomas
03-24-2011, 12:52 PM
chipped $20

ronpaulhawaii
03-24-2011, 02:58 PM
$178.01 left ... Onward!

trey4sports
03-24-2011, 08:34 PM
Paid By: Trey XXXXX (trey4XXXXX.com)
For: March 2011 Goal
Method: PayPal (trey4XXXXXXX.com)
Total: $100.00





Happy to contribute. This is a great place!

brandon
03-24-2011, 08:36 PM
I'm broke until the end of the month, but if this is extended a little I can chip in in April.

TER
03-25-2011, 12:55 AM
Should be hitting 3000 any minute now...

JoshLowry
03-25-2011, 01:45 AM
Thank you folks...

I appreciate your inspiring support of this site with your donations and knowledge. It was a tough decision for me to make, but the RPF testimonials sealed the deal.

2011 is going to be a hell of a year for politics.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

:)

DXDoug
03-25-2011, 01:50 AM
Thank you for Ron Paul Forums!!! seriously :) thank you

trey4sports
04-15-2011, 07:23 PM
When is the next chipin widget going to be on the website?

sailingaway
05-10-2011, 08:35 AM
When is the next chipin widget going to be on the website?

Look at the OP if you click on the donate button you get a chip in. I just figured it out, myself.

civusamericanus
05-15-2011, 12:18 PM
I see the Chip-in for April, but none for may? I thought this was going to stay on the main page? Josh are you bringing this back or did you win the lotto?