Sounds great everyone. So back on topic:

$10 a ticket is really high if you expect to sell to the general public. I mean people in the know would do that much, but the less you know about what is done the less you want to give. Most raffles go with something like $1 a ticket, $5 gets you 6 tickets. You might be able to push it to like $2 or $2.50 maybe.

Keep in mind that if it goes through the normal donation route UCB will take it's cut before it reaches the project. Is it possible to bypass UCB, maybe go directly onto ebay or something? Would this be legal for the project?

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Boinc....Boinc....Boinc....Boinc....

If the staff on their own bought items to sign and sell on EBay, they could do anything they wanted with those funds because it would be their money. They could decide to donate it to the program.

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Also, ask around for free ad space. See if Sci-Fi would put on one commercial about Seti like once a day. Check with any Science sites and magazines for free ads.

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If the staff on their own bought items to sign and sell on EBay, they could do anything they wanted with those funds because it would be their money. They could decide to donate it to the program.

....or auction to the crunchers. However, would this be legal & would UCB accept this?

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Please be nice.

The problem I see with a raffle is, that every country, heck every state here in the USA, have their own rules regarding games of chance. I think an auction would be alot easier, with an "as is" clause.

Any lawyers out there, who care to comment?

@Geek and et al, I like this thread.

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Pluto will always be a planet to me.

Seti Ambassador
Not to late to order an Anni Shirt

I like the idea of restarting merchandise sales.
This could probably be handled by a specialist third party to reduce the need for manpower.

For the big funding issue how about emails explaining that if you don't donate, work may have to stop and previous work done may be put into permanent storage and we may never know if the spacemen have been found or not.
Simple and to the point.


UncleVom

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I like the idea of restarting merchandise sales.
This could probably be handled by a specialist third party to reduce the need for manpower.

For the big funding issue how about emails explaining that if you don't donate, work may have to stop and previous work done may be put into permanent storage and we may never know if the spacemen have been found or not.
Simple and to the point.


UncleVom

I've been reading for 4 hours (???), must be crazy and now have a headache, but seriously, if one decides to sent out E-Mail's, please include possebillities such as forms to donate money easely.
I don't have a CreditCard and, as a noticed, a lot off crunchers don't have one.
Specially people from OUTside the U.S. since it's virtually inpossible to donate without one, though.
Also like the idea off an auction, but how about sending 'items' to someone outside the U.S., without adding more costs then benefits.
I've read so many ideas, by now, think we need a financial expert (Blurf?) to sought things out?

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Please be nice.

The problem I see with a raffle is, that every country, heck every state here in the USA, have their own rules regarding games of chance. I think an auction would be alot easier, with an "as is" clause.

Any lawyers out there, who care to comment?

@Geek and et al, I like this thread.

There are companies like "IFoundIt" who specialize in eBay auctions. You take your valuable junque and other stuff to them, they photograph it, post it, handle payments, shipping, etc.

They all have charity programs. You can take your fine junque and drop it off, and designate SETI as the beneficiary.

That way, any liability goes to them.

They do take a slice of the proceeds, but that's part of the cost of doing something outside the University of California system -- most of these ideas have to be done carefully to insulate the University (and the SETI staff) from any conflict of interest or liability.

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Hello all....

First let me say I am IN NO WAY a "financial expert" (there's a reason I married a banker :) ). I'm just a guy who has done some professional fundraising in the past.

All of these are really good ideas.

I have asked Geek@play to summarize these and PM them to me so I can work them further and approach Seti staff with them.

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Also like the idea off an auction, but how about sending 'items' to someone outside the U.S., without adding more costs then benefits.

If the auction was successful enough by raising sufficient funds, the cost of shipping a few items will be minimal.

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Ok friends.....Geek wrote me up a detailed summary of the ideas so far.

GOOD STUFF!

Eric is out of the office until Monday and my injured lower back is making typing a challenge (and that's what I do at work all day). I'll probably do my analysis and write up Saturday or possibly Sunday at the latest and send it off.

Please come up with more ideas! They may not fly but if we don't list em, we won't ever have the chance to know.

Thanks!

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. . . is there a possibility - for those that would like to Donate $1.00 - to do so ?

IF you ran another Fund Raiser Pete - where those that would like to Donate a $1.00 could do so without any 'hitches'

- it is possible that there could be a large number of participants that WOULD invest in the Project

and follow up their Donations with a 'Word-of-Mouth' campaigne and ask their Friends to do so too . . .


< just wanted to say (btw) that there are quite a few great ideas flyin' about here - keep it up >

and nice goin' Geek - You are to be commended on Your Efforts Sir . . .

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BOINC Wiki . . .

Science Status Page . . .

Why not have a pop up come to life whenever a certain action happens, i.e. comp start, IE start, seti start. The pop up just explains the program and the need for donations. If you want to lose the pop ups just donate $10. It wouldn't be mandatory it would just stop the pop up.

The sooner that the paypal donation option is back up, you may see an increase in donations just because it is so convenient.

The problem with PayPal is that the University just won't do it.

When we had a PayPal link before, it was through a third party, outside the U.S.

I don't know what the requirements were then, or what might be possible if someone wanted to step up and do that.

Does seti ever go out applying for new grants? Maybe if you haven't ever had a VISTA you could try and get one and just have them apply for grants as their fulltime job. I run a non-profit with a budget of about $125,000 a year serving the area youth and we had a VISTA for 3 years. Which is the only amount of time you can have, but thats normally. We just recently were accepted to have another 3-year term with VISTA.

I'm sure if someone could run down some of the grant possibilities they'd appreciate it. I know Matt has commented that on a given week they're busy writing grants instead of doing some of the other work that is more fun.

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Sorry, it's the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

Here are some past posters:

Balloon Posters

The unsigned (numbered) posters go for less, obviously.

Great Idea. Which brings to mind several more.........

During my days as a lorry (Truck) driver, I used to get given pens & calendars.

I have a large collection of pens all with various company/People's names, of which some are very unique & valuable.

How about S@H doing a limited Calendar. Not sure of the financial viability of this, but say they cost $5 to produce, sell them for $10 + shipping.

There must be great photographic opportunities in the area along with the project staff/labs etc....

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<snip>

[quote]
Does seti ever go out applying for new grants? Maybe if you haven't ever had a VISTA you could try and get one and just have them apply for grants as their fulltime job. I run a non-profit with a budget of about $125,000 a year serving the area youth and we had a VISTA for 3 years. Which is the only amount of time you can have, but thats normally. We just recently were accepted to have another 3-year term with VISTA.

I'm sure if someone could run down some of the grant possibilities they'd appreciate it. I know Matt has commented that on a given week they're busy writing grants instead of doing some of the other work that is more fun.

. . . Ned - PM Dr. Korpela - he recently finished an Application for a Grant from the NSF (National Science Foundation)

and i believe he stated that it was Awarded for SETI . . .

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BOINC Wiki . . .

Science Status Page . . .

<snip>

[quote]
Does seti ever go out applying for new grants? Maybe if you haven't ever had a VISTA you could try and get one and just have them apply for grants as their fulltime job. I run a non-profit with a budget of about $125,000 a year serving the area youth and we had a VISTA for 3 years. Which is the only amount of time you can have, but thats normally. We just recently were accepted to have another 3-year term with VISTA.

I'm sure if someone could run down some of the grant possibilities they'd appreciate it. I know Matt has commented that on a given week they're busy writing grants instead of doing some of the other work that is more fun.

. . . Ned - PM Dr. Korpela - he recently finished an Application for a Grant from the NSF (National Science Foundation)

and i believe he stated that it was Awarded for SETI . . .

I don't have a suggested source. My comment was that there are probably some here who do know.

For example, I read "Vista" and I think it's some kind of mutant virus from Redmond, Wa. when the poster meant some organization that passes out cash.

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Vista is a program mainly to help with anything helping low income or youth or really any good community effort. You find a vista employee you like, they train them, and you staff them at half their pay while vista pays the rest. The great thing about a vista is that you could have them looking for and applying for grants full time 40 hours a week looking for funding and donations. Depending on your local vista office you may be able to talk them into getting you a vista. I'm bringing this idea to the team at seti myself since I know a bit about how this might go down.

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Sorry Ned, not ment to be rude, was just overwhelmed by all the good idea's!
Geek@Play, you have some good idea's and something has to be done, to NOT let SETI fade away . . .

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Sorry Ned, not ment to be rude, was just overwhelmed by all the good idea's!
Geek@Play, you have some good idea's and something has to be done, to NOT let SETI fade away . . .

No offense taken.

In any kind of forum like this, I always try to take any comments in the best possible light -- the kindest possible interpretation.

I usually succeed. :-)

-- Ned

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Vista is a program mainly to help with anything helping low income or youth or really any good community effort. You find a vista employee you like, they train them, and you staff them at half their pay while vista pays the rest. The great thing about a vista is that you could have them looking for and applying for grants full time 40 hours a week looking for funding and donations. Depending on your local vista office you may be able to talk them into getting you a vista. I'm bringing this idea to the team at seti myself since I know a bit about how this might go down.

Is this "Volunteers In Service To America"?

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