OK, I admit this idea to boost the Green Left Weekly Fighting Fund was inspired (to be honest, stolen) from the recent adventures of one Canape Crusader from Kirribilli: we get 225 people to donate $8000 each to the Green Left Weekly Fighting Fund and, in return, I have them over to my place for drinks and canapes. That should raise enough money to make this column redundant for seven years!
One problem might be finding 225 people who want to pay $8000 for drinks and canapes at my place. We don't have harbour views, but we do have railway line glimpses from the front door.
Another problem is we can only seat six guests around the kitchen table (if the family sit on the floor). Hold on, my mate is telling me to look up "canapes" in the dictionary. Duh! (Umpteenth note to self: Must check unfamiliar words in dictionary before using them.)
OK, it's looking better because I now realise that you don't have to sit at a table to have drinks and canapes.
I reckon we could pack in about 25 people into our kitchen and compact lounge if they don't mind a bit of body contact. And if we are not having one of those climate-change caused deluges, that never seem to fall in the water catchment areas but always flood your backyard, then we can squeeze in another 25.
So with a bit of shoving and squeezing we might be able to do drinkies and canapes for 225 in four sessions. I just have to clear it with the family.
Thinking about it again, maybe it would be easier if I just offer to take anyone of you who wants to make an $8000 donation to the GLW Fighting Fund down to the local pub for a beer (and I'll ask the publican to come up with a plate of something that can pass as canapes).
Does the word "desperate" come to your mind? By the end of this month we should have raised $125,000 to stay on target for $250,000 by the end of the year. But so far our supporters have raised just $89,487 (36% of target). So we are a bit desperate.
If you have a brilliant fundraising idea, please drop me an email at peterb@greenleft.org.au. Expensive legal advice has it that you should make the subject line: "My brilliant, allegedly 'fundraising' idea."
If you are in a position to ease our desperation this week, you can deposit a donation to the GLW Fighting Fund at: Greenleft, Commonwealth Bank, BSB 062-006, Account No. 901992. Alternatively, send a cheque or money order to PO Box 515, Broadway NSW 2007, phone it through on the toll-free line at 1800 634 206 (within Australia), or donate online at http://www.greenleft.org.au/fogl.htm.