And the first one can be donated to a school in Topeka. make it big ol’ news:D
Do we have any journalists or other newsmedia people in or near Tokepa who can . . . ah . . . alert the general public as to the existence/idea of this website and its ideas?
We need a treasurer volunteer! Gaudere? Polycrap? Trish? anyone?
Merciful God. :o My kingdom for an edit button. I’m very very sorry, Polycarp.
I live in Topeka! What do you want me to do? I’m not in the media business though, but my second cousin is an anchor on one of the local TV stations. I could give Amy a call. Let me know! And I already wrote two letters to the editor, and one of them was this charity idea, although, to my shame, I did not mention the Straight Dope. However, if they call me about printing that letter, I’ll add that info. Anything else you want? How about sending emails to all three stations? Would that help?
I’ve been lurking lately, but I’m in. I can code, write, donate, whatever.
Btw, the books idea is a tough one; donating is different from guaranteeing that it gets in the collection, and libraries have often been targets of thefts and reprisals for collection items like this. You’d have to confirm that each individual library was willing and able to be involved.
My suggestion: pick a nationwide group that fights Phelps or the people who think like him. The Human Rights Committee? Or a rotating group of national gay and lesbian organizations? Make sure to talk to them first about this idea - not only will it guarantee good publicity, but it is only fair to them. And that way, we will be able to use their name and link to them and so on on the website.
I like this idea - turning hate to good.
I had some technical difficulties that prevented me from getting online and checking on this thread.
This is great! Checking his counter instead of monitoring the site is a much better idea.
As Libertarian mentioned, we still need a treasurer…
I have 20 mb of web space coming from my ISP which I am not using, so I could put the web site there. I’ve never made a web site before, aside from an incredibly lame personal page a few years ago, but I have a friend who does some web design so I was going to see if I could enlist his help, but he doesn’t seem to be answering his email this weekend…
I like the idea of donating to the Topeka AIDS Project.
Um, not to toot my own horn, Mishell, but the angelfire page I have still has about 95 percent of its 50 meg alottment to play with. So we could use that for something, I hope:)
Might it be a good idea to set up an email list for planning and discussion?
Why not just make it REALLY simple and have folks post here the addresses and names of worthy organizations? Folks could then just give as they saw fit. About the only worker we would need would be someone to validate the organizations, someone to check yellow pages and such to make sure that the group is really there. I already posted about the Topeka AIDS Project, you can validate that in our phone book. Then we wouldn’t have to worry about delayed snail mail, checks, or the security of credit card numbers. Oh, and to send your notice to Fred, his address is Fred Phelps, c/o Westboro Baptist Church, 3701 SW 12th, Topeka, Kansas 66604. Let us know if Phreddie sends YOU back a response! And be sure to reference the Straight Dope when you make your donation.
Looks like someone else has started a similar site.
http://www.godhatesphelps.com/Fundraiser.htm
(you gotta LOVE that URL :D)
The pure genuis of donating money in Fred Phelps’ name & church is that the “junk” mail (future donation pleas) will go directly to his church.
Allow me to be the first to say, " HA!"
Did anyone see, Phelps has started http://www.godhatesamerica.com ? He is pure evil. He writes:
That has got to be the most blasphemous thing I’ve ever read. He also suggests displaying the American Flag upside down.
This man is pure evil, on so many levels.
Okay, Mishell, whassit gonna be? Time to gell everything together and issue marching orders!
I read a short bio of him . . . turns out that in a way he lied in his “interview” (the question-answer part of his becoming a priest) in becoming a pastor . . . he believes that if you don’t get approval of your pastor before leaving your church, you’re banished to Hell.
Or he believes that it’s a mighty convenient way of making people stay with you.
I also found out that in a way he’s worse even than my grandfather, though I don’t want to be the one to do the comparative essay.
The guy is nuts. I no longer take anything he says seriously. Probably for the best.
Fred Phelps is as crazy as a shithouse rat. He’s also as gay as a lord, it seems obvious to me. (Not that those two things are connected.) If ever you needed evidence that homophobes are really closeted homosexuals, Fred Phelps is it. I’m certain that in the dark recesses of his mind, he loves the Village People, Babs, and professional wrestling.
I’m very sorry, but something came up this weekend with my family that will not allow me to spend as much time on this as I’d hoped.
I apologize, it was very, very unexpected, and I’d feel I was doing you all a disservice by continuing to attempt to organize this when I unfortunately don’t have enough time to devote to it.
I still would like very much to be involved and contribute money if we do get this up and going, though.
Once again, I’m very sorry.
If this does get off the ground, I can treasure. I have safe deposit boxes at work and can set up an account to hold the funds in etc. Just let me know.
Will anyone volunteer to lead?
I know only a small handful of the people here, especially in this forum. Perhaps we can have a nomination process, and someone with the time will step forward.
This is too important to let it slide away. If we drop this ball, we should shut up about Phelps forevermore.
It was your idea, Libertarian, so probably you should get first refusal at leadership. If you won’t or can’t, then we need someone who is committed, organized, energetic, and who has a little time. (The organizer will have lots of help, seems like, so lots of time shouldn’t be necessary.) I’m not very organized, so I’m out, but I do really want to see this go forward. It’s so nice to have a chance to do something.
I will happily provide the organizer with information about and help with non-profits and the like, since that is my field, and we have people who know about finance, web design, writing, all that. We just need someone to put it together. Takers?
When I originally brought it up (due to someone saying “I wish there was something we could do about Phelps”) I waived off leadership due to time constraints. Our company is not doing well, and I’m pretty much working around the clock to help save it.
We all can help in some way, but we just need a person to oversee it all. Maybe the thread just isn’t prominent or popular enough for whoever would be the leader to see. Then again, maybe it’s something else…