The funds are needed to pay for electricity, rent, telephone, equipment maintenance, printing, and shipping. Preparations are also under way for another reporting team to Venezuela at the end of June.
Two weeks ago, the Militant didn’t have enough funds to meet its financial obligations since the pace of contributions from readers—upon which the Militant and Perspectiva Mundial depend to sustain their publication—had been behind the first half of the fund drive.
Once staff members got on the phone with supporters around the country to explain the situation, donations picked up—exceeding $15,000 each of the last two weeks, compared to a weekly average of $3,900 the previous four weeks.
The Militant’s flatbed scanner broke down a week ago, forcing the staff to go to Kinko’s to scan graphics, like those reproduced in this issue, at greater financial cost per print and allocation of time. Replacing the scanner, which was not in the budget, will depend on whether readers can help raise the $1,400 needed by exceeding the $90,000 fund goal.
Last week, the sixth of the drive, $15,390 was received, bringing the total collected to more than $48,000. Another $42,000 must be collected during the remaining two weeks to meet the $90,000 goal by the May 22 deadline.
“We sent in a big batch of checks for the Militant Fund today express mail to arrive in New York tomorrow by noon,” said Cecelia Moriarity from Seattle the day before this issue went to press. Partisans of the socialist newsweekly there are talking to “everyone we can,” she said. “We will send what we pick up más pronto and continue talking to people.” Seattle supporters sent in $1,400 last week.
Militant supporters in San Francisco report that they now have pledges that surpass their quota. They expect to pick up another $2,200 by the end of the week to send in express mail and they are talking with every reader who has made a pledge to ensure that it is sent in right away.
This kind of efforts are needed everywhere. Please send your contribution now. Checks or money orders should be made out to the Militant, earmarked “Spring Fund Drive,” and sent to the Militant at 306 W. 37th St., 10th floor, New York, NY 10018.
Click here to see the fund chart