Dear friend,
This is the most painful message I've ever had to write.
The Advocates for Self-Government is facing a major fiscal crisis. We
desperately need your help.
We've already laid off staff, canceled all discretionary expenditures, and put
our plans for 2006 on hold.
Time is very short, so I'll quickly explain what caused this emergency.
I'll tell you what we must do to fix it, and how you can help.
Before I do, let me say this: You've never before received a message like this
from the Advocates. That's because we've never before been in a situation like
this.
We're a frugal, penny-pinching organization.
We pride ourselves on being fiscally trustworthy.
As president for the last 10 years, I've worked to build the Advocates into an
organization that is respected around the world. I hate to think that all our
progress could be jeopardized.
But we've run into a one-time predicament that we simply couldn't anticipate.
Here's what happened...
In October 2005, we celebrated the Advocates 20th anniversary with a three-day
conference at the Renaissance Hotel in Atlanta.
We had an all-star line-up of speakers. Headlining was Hugh Downs, the former
host of ABC's 20/20. He had never before appeared at a libertarian event. Best-
selling author Robert Ringer also spoke. He hadn't appeared at a libertarian
event in 25 years.
We thought the opportunity to see Hugh Downs and Robert Ringer would make this
an irresistible, once-in-a-lifetime event for libertarians.
Harry Browne, David Bergland, Mary Ruwart, Congressman Ron Paul, and others
were also on the agenda.
It really was a first-class line-up, with something for every libertarian.
We advertised in Reason magazine, the Libertarian Communicator, LP News, and
Liberty magazine. We sent out mailings and emails.
I expected this conference to follow in the footsteps of our 15th anniversary
event, five years earlier. That event had sold out quickly and made a profit.
For our 20th anniversary, I confidently predicted that we would sell every one
of the 350 tickets we had available.
At worst, I expected we'd sell 200 tickets and break even.
We didn't. We sold just over 100 tickets.
Financially, it was a bloodbath for us.
With just over 100 people, we didn't cover the cost of the meals, meeting
rooms, or hotel services. We didn't come anywhere close to selling the number
of hotel rooms we had guaranteed.
The painful bottom line: We owe the hotel $48,906.
I'm still not sure what went wrong.
I don't know if libertarians weren't excited about seeing Hugh Downs, Robert
Ringer, or the other speakers. I don't know if an uncertain economy made people
reluctant to travel. I just don't know.
The people who did attend the anniversary celebration loved it. Many told me it
was the best libertarian event they had ever been to.
But compliments, while they warm my heart, don't pay the bills.
That's why I must ask you for help.
Before I do, I need to say this: I take full responsibility for this crisis. It
was my fault.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry I put the Advocates in a dangerous financial position. Even though I
had every reason to believe this conference would be a success, I feel terrible
that it wasn't.
Most of all, I'm sorry the Advocates is being forced to deal with this fiscal
crisis, rather than go full steam ahead with what we do best -- advancing the
cause of liberty.
It's my fault, and I must ask for your help to fix it.
The Advocates needs to raise $48,906. That's what it will take to get us out of
debt.
We need that $48,906 immediately. The hotel was kind enough to give us six
months to pay -- but that time is up.
This isn't hyperbole. I wouldn't ask for your help if the need wasn't urgent
and real.
Until this debt is paid off, the Advocates is paralyzed.
If we can't raise $48,906 right now, I'll have to spend the rest of the year
trying to scrape the money together, while trying to avoid the possibility of
legal action against us.
The Advocates for Self-Government, one of the most active and innovative groups
in the libertarian movement, will be sidelined -- at a time when America
desperately needs to hear our libertarian message.
If the debt is paid off, we'll be able to move forward with our unique programs
that move liberty forward...
* Getting more people to take the World's Smallest Political Quiz. More than
5.5 million have already taken the online Quiz -- and many of them learned
about libertarianism for the first time.
* Reaching more people with our Liberator Online email newsletter, the largest-
circulation libertarian publication in the world. More than 65,000 people in
100 countries already read it.
* Encouraging more vital, grassroots libertarian outreach with our "Lights of
Liberty" awards. Hundreds of thousands of Americans encounter the libertarian
message every year thanks to our "Lights of Liberty" award-winners.
* Distributing acclaimed tools like Operation Politically Homeless and books
like Secrets of Libertarian Persuasion and Libertarianism In One Lesson.
* Getting the Quiz into thousands of classrooms around the country. More than
420 schools already use it.
There's so much we want to do in 2006! But we can't do anything until this debt
is paid off.
And we can't pay off the debt without your help.
If you've never made a contribution to us before, can you make one now?
Anything you can give will help.
If you've given before, can you match or double that previous amount?
If you can afford it, can you donate $500 or $1,000?
Your donation -- however large or small -- moves us closer to paying off the
$48,906 we owe.
Right now, as you read this message, you hold the fate -- the future -- of the
Advocates in your hands.
Your generosity is the only thing that stands between us and disaster.
Please click here to safely make your secure online donation now:
https://www.fbs.net/advocates/donate.cfm
Thank you for anything you can do to help.
Sincerely,
Sharon Harris
President, Advocates for Self-Government
PS: If you can help, I'll make two promises:
***1. Every penny you give will be used to eliminate our conference debt.***
2. If you have any questions, I'll personally answer them. If you're not sure
how we got into this crisis, or what we need to do to get out of it, just email
me. I will respond.
The Advocates isn't some big, impersonal organization. I consider anyone who
makes a donation to be a friend. And if a friend has a question, I'll answer
it. Email me at sharon@.... (Or call me at our office at (770)
386-8372.)
If you make a donation, I want you to be 100% certain that you've made a good
decision, and that your hard-earned money will be used exactly the way I say it
will. You have my personal promise on that.
But please don't delay in making a contribution. We need to raise that $48,906
immediately. We're going to need everyone to pitch in to get through this. Can
I count on you?
Please click here to safely make your secure online donation now:
https://www.fbs.net/advocates/donate.cfm
Thank you so much.