Good day, Highlanders.
It’s that time again. You know, that moment that I dread every year: “How in the heck am I going to keep the New Jersey Highlands News project alive for another year while paying my mortgage and other bills?”
Sadly, funding is again looking scarce for this project, so for the first time, I’m asking for your direct help. The good news, however, is that there is a generous, anonymous ‘Friend of the Highlands’ who is willing to match what you contribute!
For the coming year, the Musconetcong Mountain Conservancy has again received a $5,000 grant from the New Jersey Highlands Coalition Small Grants Program to help support the New Jersey Highlands News project. But in order to keep the project alive, the remainder of funding will need to come from the generosity and support of local conservation organizations, grassroots groups, planning and legal professionals, and individual activists like you.
Here’s the Challenge. And how you can help:
We need to raise at least $15,000 for the New Jersey Highlands News to continue for the next year. Thanks to the generosity of our anonymous ‘Friend of the Highlands,’ we’re already one-third of the way there. Between now and July 1, for every dollar you contribute, our friend will contribute 50-cents, up to a maximum of $5,000. That means a $30 contribution is worth $45; a $60 contribution is worth $90; and a $100 contribution is worth $150.
Are you ready to help? Just follow these four easy steps:
1) Go to the New Jersey Highlands Coalitions Gift Contribution web page at http://www.njhighlandscoalition.org/HTML/join_contribute.html
2) Select an amount from the “radio buttons” under Gift Contribution: SINGLE PAYMENT, or choose “Other” by filling in an
amount in the blank box.
3) Next, the most important step! In the “Memo” box, type in “New Jersey Highlands News” so that your contribution is dedicated to New Jersey Highlands News funding, and matched at 50-cents-on-the-dollar by our generous friend.
4) Finally, click “Donate” and you will be directed to a secure PayPal payment page, where you will need to fill out the
appropriate information and make payment by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover or your own PayPal account.
It’s that simple. And since the New Jersey Highlands Coalition is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and will acknowledge your contribution upon receipt, your donation will be tax deductible.
If you prefer not to contribute via the online process, checks are also accepted. Make your check out to “NJ Highlands Coalition” and please write “NJ Highlands News” in the memo portion of the check.
Checks should be mailed to:
New Jersey Highlands Coalition
Attn: Highlands News Matching Contribution Fund
508 Main Street
Boonton, NJ 07005
Wondering why this is important? Here are some facts:
The New Jersey Highlands News project is now beginning its sixth year of operation – can you believe that? Born on April 12, 2007 as an unfunded discussion list with approximately 60 hard-core Highlands activists as subscribers, the list has grown to now include 320-plus people, whom I like to consider THE most informed in the region on Highlands issues.
Its mission: To provide an electronic outlet for distribution of news and information to educate the public about the Highlands – its water, and its natural, culture and historic resources – and increase awareness of important Highlands issues. A simple and worthy objective, I believe, that has now put me personally under attack by an anti-Highlands element in my town (read story here).
The bottom line: Without the needed funding, the possibility of the New Jersey Highlands News project ending is very real.
Creating a 6-times-weekly digest of important Highlands-related material is no small undertaking. I now devote approximately 21 hours per week to producing the New Jersey Highlands News – a regular “part-time” job as far as time is concerned. Last year, approximately $21,000 of the cost of providing this service was funded, with the balance provided as in-kind work through my own volunteer time.
In the past, the New Jersey Highlands News had received financial support from charitable foundations, but that support has gone the way of $2-a-gallon gas. (See the articles below for an interesting perspective on foundational funding in the environmental movement from two very well respected environmentalists/journalists – Grist’s David Roberts and New Jersey’s own Peter Montague.)
If You’ve Read This Far, Thanks!
I know that like me, many of you are stretched thin by today’s tough economic conditions, so it’s not easy for me to ask for your
assistance. A contribution of any size will help keep the project alive.
As my “Wrongs done in the darkness of ignorance and unbelief” blog post from April 29 points out, these are challenging times for our efforts in the New Jersey Highlands. It’s time to get back on message, and to do so loudly and regularly. It’s time to chase away the darkness of ignorance and unbelief with the light of the truth. The light of rational debate. The light of grassroots organizing and community involvement. I believe that the New Jersey Highlands News project provides an useful tool for all of us in this important process. If you share that sentiment, I hope that you are able to help keep the project moving forward with a generous contribution.
Many thanks in advance,
Scott Olson
ps. While you are at it, have you also considered forwarding the subscription sign-up information (which can be found here) to others who might be interested in keeping up with NJ Highlands issues? Help spread the word!