[Fsuk-manchester] Fwd: Support the FSF: Turn your dollars into decibels

[Michael Dorrington]

This is the FSF's campaign for raising funds for 2013.  As you probably
know, with things like Restricted Boot and freedom hating app stores the
challenges to software freedom are great.  Please consider donating
and/or joining.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Support the FSF: Turn your dollars into decibels
Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2012 20:30:27 -0500
From: Libby Reinish <address@hidden>
Reply-To: Libby Reinish <address@hidden>
To: <address@hidden>

Read this online at <http://www.fsf.org/appeal/2012>.

Dear Free Software Supporter,

For nearly three decades, the Free Software Foundation has been
advancing software freedom thanks to support from individuals like you.

We make every dollar you give part of our comprehensive approach to the
advancement of free software. The Free Software Foundation is the only
organization that combines support for free software development,
worldwide education and outreach efforts, software licensing and
compliance, and advocacy in a holistic strategy to build the strength of
the free software movement.

Here are some of the ways our impact was felt in 2012:

* We certified the first device with the Respects Your Freedom
certification. This new certification has created a new benchmark for
freedom, and we are committed to building this program so that one day
you will be able to make sure that every gadget you purchase supports
and respects your freedoms as a user. But in order to build our capacity
to certify devices through our rigorous process, we need additional
support.

* A team of only four sysadmins working with a few dedicated volunteers
kept all of the GNU infrastructure running smoothly for hundreds of
projects so that free software development could happen more quickly and
users could easily download the results.

* We made free software more accessible to new audiences through our
2012 Giving Guide, which offers a comparison of freedom-supporting and
proprietary gift options. The Giving Guide makes giving freely an easy
choice, even for people who are new to free software.

* We increased our capacity to amplify the voices of our supporters. Our
new campaigns team has already made a big splash; at a cost of a few
hundred dollars, they brought positive international news attention to
free software during Microsoft's Windows 8 launch.  Microsoft is
projected to spend over a billion dollars to promote Windows 8. While we
will never have that kind of money to blow, our campaigns team has you
standing behind it. With your support, we can continue to raise your
voices for free software above the marketing buzz.

The Free Software Foundation receives the majority of its funding
through individual memberships and donations. We raise a large portion
of these gifts during our annual fundraiser. This year, we need to meet
our goal of $350,000 to crank up the volume for the free software
movement. That's .02% of what Microsoft is estimated to spend promoting
Windows 8. With what amounts to a rounding error for Microsoft, we can
build and strengthen the free software movement by increasing our
capacity to serve you, our supporters.

If you appreciate our work and want to help us do even more, please
consider making a donation to the Free Software Foundation:
<https://my.fsf.org/associate/support_freedom?pk_campaign=2012-Appeal-1&pk_kwd=donate>
There are many ways to help us meet our fundraising goal by January 31st.

* Become a member of the Free Software Foundation for just $10 a month,
or $5 a month for students. In addition to supporting our work, FSF
members get a variety of benefits, including an ultra-slim USB
membership card and free admission to our annual conference,
LibrePlanet: <
https://my.fsf.org/associate/support_freedom/join_fsf?pk_campaign=2012-Appeal-1&pk_kwd=join>
* Renew your existing membership before January 31st:
<https://my.fsf.org/associate/support_freedom/join_fsf?pk_campaign=2012-Appeal-1&pk_kwd=renew>

* Give a friend or family member a gift membership to the Free Software
Foundation. It's the perfect gift for conscientious technology lovers:
<https://my.fsf.org/associate/support_freedom/join_fsf?pk_campaign=2012-Appeal-1&pk_kwd=join>

* Make a one-time donation to help us make your voice for software
freedom heard:
<https://my.fsf.org/donate/?pk_campaign=2012-Appeal&pk_kwd=donate>

Please support us at whatever amount feels right to you:
<https://my.fsf.org/donate/?pk_campaign=2012-Appeal&pk_kwd=donate>.
Every dollar helps us raise your voices one more decibel.

Sincerely,
John, Ward, Chrissie, Don, Kira, Jasimin, Jeanne, Josh, Libby, Martin,
Nico, Peabo, and Zak

PS. Please help us amplify this appeal by sharing it with your networks:
<http://u.fsf.org/turnitup>.
--
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Sent from the Free Software Foundation,

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Fifth Floor
Boston, MA 02110-1335
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"The Free Software Foundation (FSF) is a nonprofit with a worldwide
mission to promote computer user freedom and to defend the rights of all
free software users."

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