Francois said in another thread: “This will take some organization and some money.” He was talking about this need in order to start an effort aimed toward holding conventions. He called them “Apost-0-Conventions.” Others need money too: The father in Canada seeking legal help to keep his daughter alive; AJWRB needs money to send representatives to medical conventions where productive conversations are held with visiting physicians and productive booth displays are setup to educate doctors on the WTS blood position; the Silentlambs effort also needs money; and I am sure that there are other causes just as deserving.
How do we meet this need? Much more can be accomplished if we have a resource for the necessary funds. Let me start some “brain-storming” and others are welcome to contribute ideas. Perhaps we could develop a powerful tool, in time, to assist worthy causes through our efforts.
1. Setup a tax exempt entity to which we could make tax exempt contributions.
2. Draw from our collective talents here to setup the necessary legal structure, using interested former JWs who have the appropriate training in accounting, legal, etc. and who are willing to donate their time to this effort.
3. Insist that those volunteering their time and labor be bonded or otherwise insured in such a way as to confer confidence by the many in the honestly of this effort.
4. Structure the legal entity in such as way that many persons here could be “members” who select a board of directors who oversee the activities of the officers who handle the money and who demand an accounting of the funds collected.
5. Use a separate (or possibly the same officers or board) to determine to whom funds are distributed. Require organizations like AJWRB, Silentlambs, etc. to “apply” for funds to use in their work much like grant money is sought for charitable or research work among “worldly” organizations.
6. Help these other organizations to which we wish our money to go to set themselves up as tax exempt organizations.
7. Other steps that others see as necessary to make the system work toward the good of the cause many of us desire: Freedom from the shackles of the WTS and similar cults for our loved ones, our friends and the world in general.
Think of the eventual power of our efforts: If one thousand of us gave just $10.00 per month (perhaps by payroll deduction) we would collect $120,000.00 in one year! Those amounts of dollars over the next five, and ten years could sponsor many trips to trials for those supporting Silentlambs, send several to medical conventions each year from the AJWRB group, initiate PR campaigns about shunning and/or support many other deserving causes connected to our war on oppressive religions.
What are your suggestions to raise money to fight this war?
One other thing: let’s not call our efforts “Apost-0-“ anything. Words derived from “apostate” are all derogatory and this disparaging term is applied by the WTS in an effort to “stop-thought” on the part of their adherents. Lets come up with a positive term/name for ourselves that reflects the good work that we wish to accomplish on behalf of our friends and family.
Sam Beli
"...religion opposes the commandments of Almighty God." Violence by J. F. Rutherford 1938