Goal reached! Grazie a tutti! Fundraiser! (Not an actual gathering)
Details
Ciao amici!
TL;DR - Annual fundraiser for the cost of using the Meetup platform. Give what feels right through Venmo or cash/check to Selina Giacinto at an event. Please track on spreadsheet (link below).
Find me on Venmo: @Selina-Giacinto
Last 4 of my phone number to verify: 8766
Google Sheet (click the link)
Long version:
Two times per year, Meetup.com charges organizers to use the platform. When I started the group, it was around $90 per year. It is now $180 twice a year so it has quadrupled. Meetup offers a way to charge for the group, but I don't want there to be a monthly fee to take part- some months you may be in Italy and not attend any events (or have other reasons)! They also provide a platform for taking donations. I don't want to do that because there is a fee associated with it and you ended up paying more.
My solution, starting last year, is to hold a fundraiser once per year to raise enough to cover the cost. It's a give-what-you-can-for-what-the-group-means-to-you type fundraiser; the amount is totally up to you!
You can use Venmo, write me a check, or give cash. What I ask is that you enter your contribution on this google sheet (be sure you're on the sheet labeled "2025") so we can track in real time and end the fundraiser when we've reached $360. :)
Thank you! If you've been coming to events for a while you likely know what this group means to me. Our Sunday practices are truly highlights for me and it's become such an awesome community. I'm grateful!
~ Selina, the one who started this thing