[Imc-finance] Proposal 2004-F: Support for RNC Indymediacoverage -- up to $3, 000 U.S.

[Ana]

Quoting st3 at resist.ca:
> 
> You said that imc-stas from across the Indymedia network are organizing
> coverage, but we think that this should mean that imc-stas from more than
> a
> continent, at least, are working on that and need funding, and that a
> preparatory work on organization by the entire network is needed.

i think global features will have coverage from across the network about the
impact of the bush years. this proposal is more about the infrastructure for
all the imcistaas who will need resources such as computers, etc to do their
work while they are here. 

> Then, approaching the finance process more closely, we must say that
> media
> production and distribution is traditionally funded by the local imc's:
> we
> don't see why we should make an exception for your imc.

again, we have sustained ourselves for four years to do media production
without network help. that is not what we are now asking money for. we are
not asking money for production but rather infrastructure for a convergence
imc that has nothing to do with our local operations. 

> 
> We must say that your imc, with the capital campaign, raised a private
> fund
> of $61,000US.

please dont confuse the nyc imc with ucimc. we had no such capital campaign.
i wish we did. we pay rent for our small office through community donations
and we print a bi-weekly paper through multiple revenue streams, always just
barely making it. 

> 
> We must say that while your imc can afford expenses to pay
> 'volounteers',
> there are other imc's that _really_ need this money.

we are not paying anyone for this (although i wish we could). 

> 
> As you say, other imc's are involved: couldn't you all organize local
> benefits/fundraising campaigns from now to the end of August? We think
> you still have plenty of time.


we can do this and we are doing this. we are searching for multiple revenue
streams. we are asking for contributions from supporters, volunteers, local
media foundations, media allies, holding benefit parties all the time,
coming up with creative ways to help support our work. 

but a reminder, we are not doing all this work simply for ourselves or our
local imc. hundreds of imcistas from all over the world are showing up in
nyc in late august expecting to have a big enough space to work in,
computers, internet access, phones, money for newspaper printing, a daily tv
show, a 24/7 audio webstream, housing, etc, not to mention all the systems
in place to make it all work so we can make better media than the corporate
media. 

we are putting our normal work and our lives on hold to make this happen.
most of our time is spent on fundraising right now because very little of
that stuff in nyc is free or even cheap. we are going to keep looking for
support from many different places. but we dont think it is that strange to
ask our very own network for a hand so that we can focus on work of
substance. there are few people here committed to working on the logistics
and its a shame if all their time is spent trying to find the money to make
it happen. 

i want to remind you of  a recent funding request put forward by the italy
imc:
"genoa court case is proceeding. Genoa Legal Team and the situation
forced us to setup a specail legal support group, that will see 4-5
people from italy imc move to genoa from june through october. We need
to finance all the expenses of the thing as well as reimbourse the
people who will leace their lives aside for 4 months. 
- roughly 4-5 thousands a month of reimbourse to the people who will work
- roughly 4-5 thousands a month to cover food and expenses for the work.

peace
ana