Our Spring Membership drive will end on Monday, and we have only $1,639 to go to meet our goal. It's easy to become a Member; just go to the Donate page and join by credit card; you can elect monthly payments if you prefer.
There are lots of benefits for Membership, which starts at $35 a year and is tax-deductible. Parties, like our fourth birthday party last Thursday; ticket discounts; newsmaker events. If you donate at the $100 level, we have a long-sleeved Crosscut tee-shirt, in black or Navy, to thank you.
The grand prize, from a drawing of all who join or renew during this Spring campaign, is an iPad 2. You have a good chance to win this desired tablet, but you need to get your donation in by midnight Monday, May 2.
We have a drawing from those who joined or renewed Friday and Saturday for a pair of tickets to Book-It Theatre's "Border Songs," based on the acclaimed Northwest novel by Jim Lynch. (Here's a review by Crosscut writer Floyd McKay.) Winner is Lisa Kane, who's just moving here from Wisconsin. Today's drawing is for four tickets to Seattle Arts and Lecture's remaining shows for this season, and you can mix and match the four tickets as you wish.
Crosscut is a new form of online journalism: nonprofit, serving the public interest, depending on the generosity of Members and other donors rather than commercial interests. Your support frees us to do thoughtful, constructive reporting and analysis. Quite a few "next-media" ventures are embracing this model. (Indeed, this week KING-FM makes the transition from commercial to listener-supported, and we wish them very good luck in preserving this community treasure by turning to a grateful community of listeners and supporters.)
Public media is a kind of transfer of wealth, since it depends on the gifts of a dedicated minority of readers to make it possible for everyone to use the site for free. If you join, you are helping yourself, of course; but you are also helping a broad community. Government doesn't seem to be able to manage this kind of public spiritedness these days, so we need to pitch in!
I hope you consider Crosscut worthy of your annual Membership. Thanks very much.
