-efn--efn--efn--ef        Only 7 days left!
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 __| |__300       -efn--efn--efn--efn--e/ /-e| |/ /n--efn--efn
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QUESTION: Why exactly does EFN need money?

ANSWER: After expansion, EFN's projected costs for each month will be:

    $140.00 for electricity (approx. 4000 Watts 24 hrs/day)
     155.00 for eight basic dial-up phone lines. (currently just 4)
	  40.00 for one voice line (business rates)
     150.00 rent 
     425.00 for the 56k internet connection (not installed yet)
       5.00 banking charges
     ------
    $915.00 per month fixed overhead.

But, this assumes that we never buy any equipment, nothing ever breaks
down, we never hire lawyers or accountants, and, of course, we never
pay Clif a nickel.  Now, in order to get real about EFN, we will have
to allow some money for these additional expenses:

    $500.00 per month for Clif is a modest stipend for his expertise & time.
    $350.00 per month for new equipment and/or maintenance is reasonable.
    $100.00 per month for other business expenses is probably inevitable.
    =======
   $1865.00    Total expenses.

This may seem like a lot of money for what we currently offer, but
remember that this is a level of service about 3-5 times what we
currently provide:  double the phone lines, more computing power,
direct access to the internet, more modems, etc.  We'd like to raise
some of the funding from grants as well as from users, but to do that
it's customary to show that there is strong community support for a
project and monetary donations are the most often-used quantifiable
measure of how much the community supports a project.

That's why it's so important for us to go after donations and
contributions, now.  We need to prove to potential granting
organizations that we have solid community support.  We need to prove
to ourselves that a sustainable Free Net is financially possible.

So, that's the reason we're putting so much energy into fund-raising at
this crucial stage of EFN's growth, and it's why we hope each and every
one of you will contribute a certain amount of money every month.  At
EFN, unlike commercial services that charge a flat rate of $17-$30 per
month, it's okay to pay nothing if you can't afford more.  We want to
keep the networked community rich in diversity.  

In the past six days the donors who've allowed us to get this far are
notable in that many of them are contributing even though it may be a
stretch for them.  Unemployed people, self-described "starving
students", young families with small children have managed to send us
something.  If they can make a committment to supporting EFN, why not
each and every one of us?  The net is not a passive medium like TV.
(As stand-up comedians sometimes say, "we know you're out there we can
hear you breathing" :-)  Please get involved.  What you do *does* make
a difference, so

Please mail a check for whatever you can afford today to: 

                EFN
                c/o Clif Cox
                P.O. Box 1221
                Eugene, OR 97440

and send e-mail to me (marc) saying how much you sent, when you mailed
it and if you'd consider automatic monthly giving via VISA or EFT in
the future.

On behalf of all EFN, thanks...

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