Accountability closer to home
Feb 03, 2012
by Susan Sharpe
Last Thanksgiving weekend, I opened a Wikipedia page and saw a banner asking me to help pay for the service I was about to use. I gulped. They’d hooked me. Having turned to Wikipedia many, many times, I finally anted up and sent a contribution to help pay for what I've been using.
I've never seen such a banner on RJ Online. Here, there is just a box that says, "RJ Online is a free service to anyone interested in the topic. If you find the site useful and are able to do so, please consider making a tax-deductible (US) donation to PFI."
That box is prominent enough to notice, but I've always found it easy to ignore. But giving to Wikipedia, a resource whose convenience I appreciate, made me embarrassed that I had never given to RJ Online—a resource I rely on.
So, after Christmas when my husband and I were talking about donating additional money before the end of the year, I suggested that we contribute to RJ Online.
"Is that the one that's the home page on your computer?" he asked.
"Yes," I said. "It's been my home page for years but I've never sent a dime to help support the site."
"How much do they need?" he asked.
Well, we didn't send as much as they need, but I did send a check with a note of thanks for the yeoman's work the PFI staff does in providing a preeminent site for RJ resources.
I think PFI has been wise as well as generous in making this resource available, but they too must have a bottom line to watch out for. And I'll bet I'm not the only one who's been tapping that generosity without reciprocating.
I use local shops and restaurants because I want them to stay in business. I pledge money to NPR because I know they can't survive without listener support. I want RJ Online to thrive too, so I hope others will join me in using some dollars to spell out "Thanks."
Don't wait until next December. Click on that box or send a check, now.
