Weekend Fundraising Challenge: Get the Green Bank Data Transport Package (and I'll pay half!)

I've always wanted to donate more to SETI@Home, but being a Canadian, I didn't think it would be tax-deductible. Amazingly I happened to stumble on this page and found I was incorrect. Yes, donations to SETI@Home are tax-deductible for Canadians if they are made through UC Berkeley.

So, when I later found out that the Green Bank SETI@Home project needs this I was motivated to finally donate.


What's this fundraiser for?

The Green Bank Project is set to start early next year, and will bring a new radio telescope's data online for us to analyze. A new SETI@Home receiver at the Robert C. Byrd telescope at Green Bank (which is, incidentally, one of the largest, if not the largest, movable terrestrial objects ever built) will search for signals from star systems with extrasolar planets discovered by NASA's Kepler mission.

As always, our help is needed to get this underway by providing one of the critical components for the project. The terabytes of data collected need to be transported safely to SETI@Home's Berkeley Space Sciences Lab for processing and distribution to us to analyze. Due to the prohibitive cost and/or unavailablity of bandwidth at this location preventing using the internet for this, we need the Green Bank Data Transport Package, an array of 20 x 2 Terabyte hard drives, and a rugged, waterproof case to transport them in.



Currently, the GPU Users' Group has collected $800 of the $2660 required for this, leaving $1860 left to raise.

In this weekend challenge, I will match other SETI@Home contributors' donations up to half of the required amount minus overage, so that the exact total of $1860 is reached. So, if donations are:

• $0 to $930, I will contribute the same amount in one donation.
  
• >$930, I will contribute $1860 - Donations, so that the total is $1860.
  

Why is this important?

Firstly, the Green Bank observatory may lose its funding due to proposed cuts. As the SETI@Home team has already booked time there and only a few components of the project are still required, it is vital that the project be able to start on schedule in order not to miss out on any observations. We don't know how long this facility may be available, as although the current proposal is complete defunding in five years, funding may be cut back severely before then. So, let's not waste any time getting started!

Secondly, I think that this project has a proportionately higher chance of succeeding than SETI@Home "classic" for the amount of observations and crunching, given that it is a targeted search, whereas the SETI@Home "classic" recorders perform a semi-random search and go "along for the ride" at whatever Arecibo happens to be observing. It could be listening to "nothing", ie no stars or galaxies or other point radio sources, such as when performing Dr. Korpela's neutral hydrogen survey. It could be listening to an object too far away (which the vast majority are) to receive intelligent signals from, or at a star without planets, or at an object that isn't a star at all... a huge amount of data must be collected and processed to have the hope of any with a possible life-bearing world in it.

In contrast, the Green Bank Project will be a directed search, listening to star systems that are nearby, confirmed to have planets, and whose planets are in the "Goldilocks zone" (not too hot, not too cold) ie the right temperature for liquid water to exist. Whereas Arecibo is a fixed-dish, the Robert C. Byrd telescope can tilt completely on its side, for a far wider field of coverage (120 degrees vs. Arecibo's 40 degrees.) Combined with Green Bank's more northerly latitude, and much larger area of sky coverage, a vast number of stars and their potential planets that were previously unobservable can now be investigated.


How can you contribute?

There are two ways to contribute. The recommended way, unless you are both donating from outside the U.S. and have confirmed that donations to UC Berkeley are tax-deductible is to donate though the GPU Users' Group (GPPUG). GPUUG is registered as a 501(c) charitable foundation, so for U.S. residents, or residents of countries that recognize U.S. charitable foundations, your donation will be completely tax-deductible.
This is the recommended way of donating because GPUUG is able to obtain discounts and specials on hardware purchases.

If, and only if, you are donating from outside the U.S. and donations to UC Berkeley are tax deductible for you (and you would like to take advantage of this) then you should donate to UC Berkeley through the SETI@Home donations page. This is the route I will be taking, as noted above, and I recommend other Canadians also take, as it has been verified that this donation will be fully tax-deductible.
Important info for donations through Berkeley::
1) At the end of the Berkeley donation form there is a text field called Special instructions or designations for this gift. Put GBTP in this field so that the funds are properly earmarked for this project.
2) Post a reply in this thread with your donation's confirmation number and amount so that I can track and update the totals. Slavac of the GPUUG will be updating me on donations made through there.


How long will this challenge last?

It will run from approx. 20h00 EDT on Friday October 8th until 23h59 EDT Monday October 12th. I'll monitor and update the totals as I can, while still trying to visit family and other Thanksgiving things! At the conclusion, I'll make my donation, as detailed above, matching your donations' total from $0 to $930 or making up the difference from $1,860 if you've gone over $930. I'm just a working IT guy in an apartment, so I won't complain about any overage. ;^)

I thank you for any and all contributions... no donation is too big or too small!
____________
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”
--- Margaret Mead

Just as a FYI we're fully behind this and are excited to work with Mr. Kevvy. Our newsletter on the subject should be distributed to those who have signed up http://www.gpuug.org to receive it.

Thanks for your consideration in helping us promote science!
____________


Executive Director GPU Users Group Inc. -
brad@gpuug.org

You just made a payment of
$100.00 USD
Paid to
GPU Users Group, Inc.
gpuugmain@gmail.com

(People, when you post your donation tags, please be kind and delete Brad's phone number!!!)

You just made a payment of
$100.00 USD
Paid to
GPU Users Group, Inc.
gpuugmain@gmail.com

Down to $680 to go from our donors before we hit our goal thanks to Angela, Fred and Mark S.

Thanks again everyone!
____________


Executive Director GPU Users Group Inc. -
brad@gpuug.org

MarkJ has just donated $500!

This is utterly amazing! Only $180 more needed and three days to do it in!
____________
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”
--- Margaret Mead

The goal has been reached, and surpassed.

In only 6 hours, we've gone $100 over requirement... there are some fantastically generous people out there.

Cumulative Donors + Totals.

GamerNetz - $60
MarkJ - $500
Mark S. - $100
Angela Korpela - $100
Minitor - $10
Fred E. - $50
Speedbump - $100
Paul - $50
Geyser - $10
Arvid - $50
-----------------------------------------
Goal for contributions = $930
Total collected for this fundraiser = $1030
Total Over Goal = $100

So if you want to keep donating, as detailed above, it will be only benefitting me by lightening my contribution which currently stands at $1860 - $1030 = $830

I certainly won't complain, but I want to make this clear. I'll keep the original timeline and make my donation Monday night.

Thank you to everyone who donated!
____________
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”
--- Margaret Mead

Cumulative Donors + Totals.

GamerNetz - $60
MarkJ - $500
Mark S. - $100
Angela Korpela - $100
Minitor - $10
Fred E. $50
Speedbump - $100
Paul - $50
Geyser - $10
Arvid - $50
Mark K - $30
Xael - $180


Goal for user contributions = $930
Total collected for this fundraiser = $1240
Total Over Goal = $310

_________________________________________

In keeping with Mr. Kevvy's wishes, we'll keep the fundraiser open until Monday. As of now we've reached the total we need for the GBT Data Transport Package Fundraiser.

So far, this fundraiser has been a resounding success with us achieving our goal in a scant handful of hours thanks to Mr. Kevvy's plan and the generosity of our donors.

Thanks very much everyone. If you'd like to continue contributing toward either this fundraiser or in helping us finish our Hydrogen Array / SETI Data Storage fundraiser please do so by visiting:

GBT Transport Fundraiser (General Pool) http://www.gpuug.org/content/setihome-green-bank-data-transport-package

Hydrogen Array + SETI Storage Array (General Pool) http://www.gpuug.org/content/setihome-hydrogen-survey-seti-storage-array-hard-drives

Donate a Drive (Both GBT Transport and Hydrogen Array) http://www.gpuug.org/content/cash-4-drive-hitachi-gst-deskstar-7k3000-hds723020bla642-2tb
____________


Executive Director GPU Users Group Inc. -
brad@gpuug.org

I will see if I can get anything from the PC Perspective crew. As opposed to money, are there specific drives you are looking for?

SETI@home - $100.00

Your confirmation number is:
98378

Totals thus far:

$1644.43 donated through GPUUG
$330 donated through Berkeley

Total: $1974.43

We've already overshot the total $1860 by $174 and I haven't had to donate anything yet!

So, anything over $1860 is going to this project: The Hydrogen Survey / SETI Storage Array
Please use that link to donate from now on for donations through GPUUG! If you're donating through the Berkeley donation page in the Special instructions or designations for this gift text field, please put HI so that it's earmarked properly.

x 40

This project will obtain 40 2TB drives, 24 for data storage for SETI@Home, saving $12-15 thousand annually in storage costs, and 16 for Dr. Eric Korpela's hydrogen survey project. Currently needs $1775, and I will contribute matching unless, of course, your donations go over 50% again!

Since there's no more to donate to for the Green Bank Data Transport project, I'll be contributing to this one instead. Try to leave me something to do. ;^)
____________
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”
--- Margaret Mead

Cumulative Donors + Totals for SETI Green Bank Telescope Package

GamerNetz - $60
MarkJ - $500
Mark S. - $100
Angela Korpela - $100
Minitor - $10
Fred E. $50
Speedbump - $100
Paul - $50
Geyser - $10
Arvid - $50
Mark K - $30
Xael - $180 (SETI)
Unknown - $19.23
GS - $10.00
Zerauth - $10.00
AppMech72 - $25.00
Sp@aceNv@der - $100.00
Gi1effe - $10.00
Unknown - $0.20
Unknown - $50.00
4Pablo2 - $20.00
Vincent - $15.00
Chris & Melissa Sievers - $25
JD - $10.00
Signots - $10.00
Unknown - $10.00
Unknown - $60.00
BlackD - $50.00
Dr. Doug - $100
Rick A. Sponholz - $10.00
Jazzwitherspoon - $25
Unknown - $20
Stephen Pisk - $20
Unknown - $10
Luis de la Garza - $50 (SETI)
Katsche - $100.00 (SETI)

____________________________________________________________________

Goal for user contributions = $930
Total collected for this fundraiser = $1999.43

Total via SETI: $330
Total via GPUUG: $1669.43
Total as of the time of this post: $1999.43

*Note: Some donations have (Unknown) instead of a name. This is a result of either the donor not putting in a SETI Username or ID or lookup not being able to find their username.
____________


Executive Director GPU Users Group Inc. -
brad@gpuug.org

As we have surpassed our goal for the Green Bank Telescope Array, Mr. Kevvy has offered to continue his matching pledge onto our Hydrogen Array Project.

This array has two functions:

1. One portion of the JBOD will provide storage requirements for Dr. Korpela's Hydrogen Survey.

2. The remaining portion will serve as a test bed for on site storage for SETI at Home. Should the on site storage work out like we're hoping, we'll be able to significantly reduce the data storage costs for SETI by a large factor.

Needs: At the time of this post we currently need to fund only 15 2TB drives to finish out this project. The total cost we need to raise is $1675.00 to fund these remaining drives.

You can contribute to this project by visiting:

1. General Pool for our Hydrogen Project http://www.gpuug.org/content/setihome-hydrogen-survey-seti-storage-array-hard-drives

2. Donate a drive itself ($120 per drive) http://www.gpuug.org/content/cash-4-drive-hitachi-gst-deskstar-7k3000-hds723020bla642-2tb
____________


Executive Director GPU Users Group Inc. -
brad@gpuug.org

Current Fundraiser Donors to the Hydrogen Array + SETI Storage System:

JRidder - $20
Ghani - $100
Chris & Melissa Sievers - $25

Goal: $1800
Total Raised: $145
Total Remaining: $1655
____________


Executive Director GPU Users Group Inc. -
brad@gpuug.org