2019 Project Avalon Gathering (Laughlin, NV, USA) Donations

[Dennis Leahy]

In my just-do-it-and-ask-questions-later style, (I didn't ask Bill), I propose a special donation toward the 2019 Project Avalon Gathering in Laughlin, NV.

I'll bet that there are many members that would like to have made it to this particular gathering, that would love another chance at an Avalon gathering sometime relatively soon. For this to happen again, this gathering can't be a financial loss for Bill. This time, we are lucky that Bill's expenses for the flight will be covered by the UFO conference folks, (I am assuming), but this adds 4 extra days of hotel and meals and other light expenses, maybe some extra for boarding or dogsitting for Supermara, and quite frankly, we are not just gathering to BS and shoot fireworks together, we are asking Bill to be a (or the) featured speaker. I don't think we should crown him the King and give him all our gold, :bigsmile: but I do think we should be happy to pay him at least a 'stipend' or 'honorarium.' You know: tip your waiter, pay the musicians, and pay the featured speaker (who also got stuck with handling the venue logistics and contract.)

The attendees are going to pay for the meeting room, and can do that directly with Bill at the gathering. I propose that this particular donation stream simply be to Bill, to use for whatever he desires or needs to use it for. I'm hoping this pot will contain at least a few hundred dollars that could be considered as a modest but important 'featured speaker' fee/donation to Bill. And, don't forget Mara the wonder dog.

===(here's the regular old Avalon donation page)=========
http://projectavalon.net/donation.html (http://projectavalon.net/donation.html)
=========================================

[Bill, obviously, if this is inappropriate, or you don't want "gathering" donations mixed with normal forum donations, or for whatever reason, edit or delete this post/thread.]

[Innocent Warrior]

If one donates with a card instead of with their PayPal account, an option to add a note is offered, this could be used to notify Bill that it’s for him and not the forum?

[Dennis Leahy]

If one donates with a card instead of with their PayPal account, an option to add a note is offered, this could be used to notify Bill that it’s for him and not the forum?
"If one donates with a card instead of with their PayPal account, an option to add a note is offered" - good to know. If using Paypal with a Paypal account, there is also an option to leave a note.

[Mike]

Dennis, great idea. I'd be pleased to donate whenever I have a few extra bucks.

I'm really sick to my stomach about not being able to make the event in Vegas. If something like this would increase the chances of Bill returning to the states for another get together, I'd be extra motivated to contribute..for what it's worth. It would just be an absolute shame if this lifetime went by without my having met a few of you in person. That's just unacceptable to me.

[Denise/Dizi]

Can someone remind me to buy extra coffee for my room? I have a feeling NONE of us are going to get any sleep hahaha...

[RunningDeer]

Once you add the amount on PayPal for Bill (http://projectavalon.net/donation.html), it takes you to the next page for the message section.https://i.imgur.com/Vlz1VQ6.gif


https://i.imgur.com/jG0ta14.jpg

♡

[Bill Ryan]

Hey, Dennis and everyone, THANKS for this. :sun: :Party: :sun:

That's a wonderful initiative. If a donation has an appended note that this is specifically to support the 31 March—2 April Laughlin meet-up (see this thread (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?105631-An-Avalon-Conference-31-March-2-April-2019)), then it can maybe be used not just as an 'honorarium', but to help make the whole thing happen well in a variety of other small ways. (And yes, taking care of Mara the :dog: will actually cost quite a bit when I'm away. :) )

We already have $280 in the fund, from just three really super-generous people: Dennis Leahy, Constance, and RunningDeer/Paula. I'll be delighted to acknowledge anyone here who donates specifically for this purpose.

As I posted here (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?105631-An-Avalon-Conference-31-March-2-April-2019&p=1272132&viewfull=1#post1272132) just now, we do have the possibility of a slightly special mini-event which could then be livestreamed, and we might need to hire A-V equipment to help optimize all that. Many unknowns at the moment, all an interesting developing story. I'll post updates on the other (main) thread.


An Avalon Conference, 31 March - 2 April 2019 (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?105631-An-Avalon-Conference-31-March-2-April-2019)

[Intranuclear]

Just donated with PayPal and used the note field.
Cannot wait to see all at Laughlin.

[Bill Ryan]

A brief personal note. I'm in an internet cafe just for a quick moment -- 20 miles away from home, where I'm offline and might be for quite a few days. There was a lightning strike yesterday VERY close to the house, a huge flash and simultaneous explosion like a bomb blast. Mara the :dog: reacted like she'd been shot (and so did I :) ). My power crashed out, my circuit breakers and surge protectors did their job, but my relay internet pole is fried to a crisp.

In the same storm, about 300,000 people lost their power and water (4.25 inches of rain in 80 minutes, which is a LOT), so the technicians may not get to me out in the boondocks for a while.

The next time I'll be likely to check in is Saturday... my apologies once more to all those whose messages I've NOT yet been able to reply to. Meanwhile, the list in my post #94 of the main thread (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?105631-An-Avalon-Conference-31-March-2-April-2019&p=1272021&viewfull=1#post1272021) of the 24 folks very likely to be there, not including a bunch more 'possibles', does seem reliable. :Party:

And an update:

My additional ongoing sincere thanks to ramus, Sstarss, Intranuclear, and another really kind member who asked ot be anonymous, for their extremely generous PayPal contributions to the cause. WOW. It's a real motivation now to do everything we possibly can to stream at least a part of this out to others who aren't able to attend.

:sun:

[Dennis Leahy]

bumpity bump bump
pickup truck on gravel road
bumpity bump bump

(the worst haiku ever written, but hopefully still effective)

[Constance]

bumping :cat:

[Dennis Leahy]

In case there may be some folks who have not seen this thread yet.

[Valerie Villars]

How short on funding are we? I know Bill had to get a meeting room and there are other expenses associated with the conference.

I'm trying to get a handle on ALL costs.

[Bill Ryan]

How short on funding are we? I know Bill had to get a meeting room and there are other expenses associated with the conference.

I'm trying to get a handle on ALL costs.

Thanks... I'll also copy this over to the main meetup thread.

There are some considerable extra costs (which are optional!) — for instance, the room hire after 5 pm is a further $100/hour. (Wow. The cost per day from 8am—5pm is $150.)

We've not confirmed any extra hours yet, because the first evening would be the Skywatch, the second evening a big-table dinner, and the third evening some people with cars may well be driving home, while the rest of us convened socially.

Projector hire would be $100, though Constance intends to buy one herself for family use and very kindly bring it with her. So we'll only have to fund the screen, which is $15 per day. I've ordered a couple new lavalier (clip-on) microphones, as my old Camelot-era ones were generating a lot of static noise; they cost $300. And some very generous people (even those unable to be there!) have sent in donations to help out. (Their return on investment will be some interesting video, I'm hoping.) All that means I think we can ask folks coming for a mere $25/day, unless we do want the additional hours in the room.

[Dennis Leahy]

How short on funding are we? I know Bill had to get a meeting room and there are other expenses associated with the conference.

I'm trying to get a handle on ALL costs.
Hi Valerie, and all,

My original idea with this thread was to try to get people to donate specifically to Bill, for Bill's pocket. I had figured that the cost of the meeting room and a couple of hundred extra dollars to pay for Bill's extra 3 days of hotel and food (that the UFO gathering organizers aren't paying for) was to be shared by the live attendees, so this wasn't to collect for that.

If there are extra costs to capture and upload some video of the event (for example, if a small projector would have been OK for a small live audience, but a brighter, more expensive projector is required to capture the projected portion well enough to be seen on a video that will be shared with all on Avalon), then I suppose this fund could cover that as well.

But, I really feel like Bill deserves to pocket a 'stipend' - maybe just a few hundred bucks - for his efforts as the organizer and especially as the main presenter. I wouldn't ask a mechanic to fix my car for free, and I wouldn't ask Bill Ryan to organize a conference and be the main speaker for free.

Bill didn't ask for a stipend/honorarium/payment for organizing this conference and for presenting, so I did. I'm pleased that a number of people (including a few of the attendees) did donate to this fund, and I hope that a few more Avalon members (especially members like me that are not able to make it to the conference), will throw in a few dollars.

[Valerie Villars]

Dennis, I totally get all that.And agree. Sorry I am so dense, but this thread and this Paypal donation is for the aforementioned attendees? I was thinking I would just take care of it at the event.

[Dennis Leahy]

Dennis, I totally get all that.And agree. Sorry I am so dense, but this thread and this Paypal donation is for the aforementioned attendees? I was thinking I would just take care of it at the event.

The attendees were going to pay Bill in person at the conference, just for Bill's hotel, food for 3 days, plus the room rental. At one point, Bill guessed on the main thread that it might come to $15 for each attendee. There wasn't any extra donation mentioned - just that the attendees should pay Bill the $15 (or whatever) in person. (If the attendees don't all pay, Bill will have to make up the remainder, out of pocket.) Paying in person means Paypal won't be subtracting their percentage as well.

When I realized that Bill wasn't going to get paid anything as a speaker/organizer, that's when I started this thread. This was extra, above and beyond what the attendees are paying in-person for (only Bill's costs and the conference room costs.)

If an attendee does donate via the link in the opening post, (for example, I know Constance did), and intended for it to be partially to cover the $15 or so for attendee costs, then that attendee could let Bill know that.

Really, the attendees are paying plenty to travel to the conference, pay for their own hotel room and food, and to cover Bill's extra room and food expenses and the conference room. I really had thought of this thread for people like me, that are not able to go.

{edit}*** The figure of $15 was a very early guesstimate. Note that the updated figure for attendees is $25. ***

[Bill Ryan]

The attendees were going to pay Bill in person at the conference, just for Bill's hotel, food for 3 days, plus the room rental. At one point, Bill guessed on the main thread that it might come to $15 for each attendee. There wasn't any extra donation mentioned - just that the attendees should pay Bill the $15 (or whatever) in person. (If the attendees don't all pay, Bill will have to make up the remainder, out of pocket.) Paying in person means Paypal won't be subtracting their percentage as well.

When I realized that Bill wasn't going to get paid anything as a speaker/organizer, that's when I started this thread. This was extra, above and beyond what the attendees are paying in-person for (only Bill's costs and the conference room costs.)


Well, Dennis, thank you so much. :flower:

Yes, when I realized that Melinda Leslie was charging/earning $800 for the Sunday evening Skywatch event (maybe 3 hours of her time), that had me thinking just a little. :)

I did a tiny bit of rough math, and decided $25/day (yes please, cash when we meet, better than PayPal) for the folks coming was fair and affordable — and also modest.

No-one gets rich from things like this. Except David Wilcock! Not a joke. He won't appear at any conference for less than $5,000, and that figure was 9 years ago. UFO Mega Con are paying me $500, which I'm genuinely appreciating.

[Flash]

The attendees were going to pay Bill in person at the conference, just for Bill's hotel, food for 3 days, plus the room rental. At one point, Bill guessed on the main thread that it might come to $15 for each attendee. There wasn't any extra donation mentioned - just that the attendees should pay Bill the $15 (or whatever) in person. (If the attendees don't all pay, Bill will have to make up the remainder, out of pocket.) Paying in person means Paypal won't be subtracting their percentage as well.

When I realized that Bill wasn't going to get paid anything as a speaker/organizer, that's when I started this thread. This was extra, above and beyond what the attendees are paying in-person for (only Bill's costs and the conference room costs.)


Well, Dennis, thank you so much. :flower:

Yes, when I realized that Melinda Leslie was charging/earning $800 for the Sunday evening Skywatch event (maybe 3 hours of her time), that had me thinking just a little. :)

I did a tiny bit of rough math, and decided $25/day (yes please, cash when we meet, better than PayPal) for the folks coming was fair and affordable — and also modest.

No-one gets rich from things like this. Except David Wilcock! Not a joke. He won't appear at any conference for less than $5,000, and that figure was 9 years ago. UFO Mega Con are paying me $500, which I'm genuinely appreciating.

800$ US for a 3 hours watch where she does not have to prepare anything?? not even a presentation? that is a lot. There is nothing outstanding there, she does not have to be even schooled or knowledgeable or spiritually infused or have any particularly interesting experience. And transportation is not included.

Tourists trap it seems to me. I thought it from the beginning. And never wanted to go, I dislike these exploitative behaviors. I will remain in the hotel or drive up alone in the desert and have my own close encounter with myself :ufo:. I would have like to be with the group though.

And I agree Bill, 25$ a day is more than decent.With the payment of expenses, you will be left with less than 500$ a day (most probably around 400$). On an hourly basis, for something professional, it is very very fair for us - oops, got to check if I have US money and if not, go to the bank.

that is not much for speakers. And you do have well organised and interesting content.

For Wilcock, I would never ever pay anything lolllll

I have seen so many speakers like him in other fields too. Inflated egos raking your money, if you are gullible enough.

I love my new avatar - thanks Bill