Well, I must say Crosscut's "opening day" for our Membership drive went a lot better than the Mariners'. Thanks and welcome to all you new Members. The winner of the drawing for a $25 gift certificate at Elliott Bay Books (now on Capitol Hill, though ghosts remain in our building here in Pioneer Square), is Sharon Linton of Bellevue. Happy to give her the prize, and happy to give her a reason to venture into Seattle!
Today's prize, to be awarded to one of you who join (or renew) today, will be a $40 gift certificate to Tutta Bella, one of the city's most popular pizza houses and specializing in Neapolitan pizza. And speaking of prizes, the grand prize, to be picked in a drawing at the end of the Membership drive, is a new (how could it be old?) iPad2. And all who join at the $100 level and above will get a spiffy Crosscut t-shirt. Yesterday I said it was black, which is true, but you can also choose dark Navy blue. And did I mention long sleeves?
And did I mention a party coming up, free to Members, on April 28? We want to show off our new party space, fronting on Occidental Park, and raise some glasses to Pioneer Square (long may it revive!), and Crosscut's fourth birthday (long may we survive!). Members get invitations to these parties as well as special forums, chances to meet newsmakers, and some backstage special deals. Come be part of the Crosscut community, where all the readers are above average. Details on the Member page.
Crosscut is a nonprofit media institution that is based on community support from annual Members, grants, and underwriting. We have two Membership drives a year, so I hope you will think about how much you get out of Crosscut, for free, how important it is that quality journalism at the local level find new ways of sustaining this critical social need, and how much you'll enjoy helping out and meeting others. It's easy to join, and you can do so on our Donor page by credit card, or you can donate on a monthly plan. Annual Memberships start at $35 (9 cents a day). Donations are tax-deductible.
A few days ago, I received this testimonial from Thatcher Bailey, a leading figure in Seattle's civic and cultural life and the new executive director of the Seattle Parks Foundation. He said:
"I go to Crosscut every day and read pretty much everything that’s new. Start to finish. Even articles on topics I didn’t think I cared about or that run afoul of my politics. That good writing connects me to conversations about my hometown I can’t find anywhere else."
That sums up very well what we try to do, and many days actually succeed in doing. It sets a high mark of aspiration, and I hope you will help us get there by lending us your support. Thanks, and I hope to see you at our next party.
