Yes, I know you're all dying to know --

This site is a labor of love for the people who write for it and do the tech support.  Those of you who read it can help out.  Yes, this is going to be one of those Public TV/Radio begging-for-support things, so please bear with me.  It's Fundraising Friday.

Over the 4 years we've been here, most of the financial support for the site has come out of my own pocket.  I'm not complaining about that, but what with the economic downturn and all, my pockets have been pretty empty lately.  And there are a lot of projects to work on and fund.  Some of you have been just great about this, writing for the blog, giving financial support, giving moral support, and I want you all to know how much this is appreciated.

However

Keeping  a progressive infrastructure going needs more volunteers, and it needs money.  So, in no particular order, these are things you can do to help out the progressive world in Wisconsin, and Uppity Wisconsin in particular:

  • Write.  I'm serious, this is the most important thing you can do.  Pitch in.  Sign up for a blogger account (just click on the Register To Blog button on the top of the site) and tell us a little about yourself, and we'll be happy to give you a blogging account (at least until you prove that you shouldn't have one).  The more people who write here, the more eyeballs come to the site, and the more we get linked to, read, etc.  Bloggers come and go, some write a lot, some very rarely.  But if you have something to say about Wisconsin politics from the progressive viewpoint (and I'm pretty flexible about that) please write.

  • Chip in some other way --- I'd love to start having cartoons again, for example.  If you have any graphic arts skills, etc. and would like to contribute your work, that'd be just great.

  • Ideas - If you have any great ideas for things that would improve the site (and I don't care if they seem off the wall - send 'em in anyway) please send them via the contact us form.  It'd be a nice relief from the Viagra ads, etc.
  • Send us a huge sum of money.  Huge sum being anything over $2. (Because anything less than that just gets eaten up by processing fees).  You can do this online and it's easy and simple.  There's a Donate button at the top of the site. Use it.  Make your mom proud.  Help pay our hosting costs.  Help us to grow.
  • Advertise with us.  If you're a business, or group, or - - well, most anything that wants to be seen by a progressive audience, we'd love to talk.  We can run online ads in a number of formats.  The easiest way for you to do this is to just take out a Blogads ad with us.  Click here.  It's cheap, it's easy.  We can also do display ads, and I'd personally be really glad to replace some of those banner ads with some ads from people we actually care about.
  • Kachingle Us (really, I know this sounds like something they're going to outlaw in Mauston, but it's not dirty) Use the handy Kachingle box on the top right of the site, and sign up with Kachingle.  Spend $5 per month and distribute among the web sites you visit.  It's a growing system to help pay for journalism and opinion web sites.
  • Help Me Pay the Bills by Hiring Me - I run a web hosting and design company.  I specialize in progressive and nonprofit groups.  Need Hosting?  Need a Domain Name?  Need some web consulting?  Need an interactive Web Site?  I'm the guy.
  • Support the progressive causes in some other way - the easiest way is to contribute to your favorite progressive candidate right here on the site -- you can give money to the Uppity Fund candidates by putting in money on the box on the right side of the site -- the money goes through ActBlue, and goes directly to the candidates.  Again, easy, quick, and more fun than watching Glenn Beck.  
  • Come to Netroots Wisconsin.  I know I've been promising this for a while, but I'm hoping that real soon now we'll be able to tell you more details.  In the meantime, come sign up on the site, so we can know you're interested.

Okay, the pledge break is over, and now we can go back to The Best of Doowop, starring the 3 tenors, Peter Paul, and Mary, and Roy Orbison.