Crowdfunding: Trial By Error [David Tuller]: Reporting on ME, ME/CFS, long Covid, and "Medically Unexplained Symptoms", Oct 2022

[Andy]

"As in previous years, October is crowdfunding month at the University of California, Berkeley, and I am once again seeking funds to continue my work on ME, ME/CFS, “medically unexplained symptoms,” and now long Covid. These tax-deductible donations to Berkeley will support my academic position as senior fellow in public health and journalism at the Center for Global Health from January through June of 2023. The Center uses the funds to cover my salary and benefits (mostly health insurance)."

Lots more detail at https://crowdfund.berkeley.edu/project/33528

 

[Andy]

A combination of the energy crisis and, specifically to the UK, a weaker pound will make hitting the target this time a challenge, although hopefully Long Covid folks can see that funding Dave is an investment.

 

[Tom Kindlon]

A possibility for sharing

 

[MeSci]

I've donated.

 

[dave30th]

A combination of the energy crisis and, specifically to the UK, a weaker pound will make hitting the target this time a challenge, although hopefully Long Covid folks can see that funding Dave is an investment.

thanks, Andy. yes, the financial situation makes it really hard. so we'll see. as always, I dislike having to do this.

 

[Trish]

Your new paper with Mark Vink analysing return to work data demonstrates yet again what a valuable contribution you are making. I'm in the fortunate position to have a secure home, pension and some savings so will be donating gladly.

 

[dave30th]

I'm in the fortunate position to have a secure home, pension and some savings so will be donating gladly.

Thanks! Of course I only want anyone to donate if they feel in a position to do that. I understand times are very difficult.

 

[JemPD]

Will be happily donating what i can. Your work is needed now more than ever.
Hope you're well & life treating you kindly @dave30th

You dont happen to know how i get Berkley to stop sending me appreciative mailouts do you? i always think its nice but such a waste of paper/resources

 

[dave30th]

You dont happen to know how i get Berkley to stop sending me appreciative mailouts do you? i always think its nice but such a waste of paper/resources

How often is this happening? I have asked for my donors to be removed from the general solicitation lists because almost all have no attachment or connection to Berkeley. You actually get paper letters??

 

[JemPD]

@dave30th yes i do get paper letters but only after i have donated, they arent marketing letters more like things saying

We appreciate you as a regular supporter of Berkeley, you are one of our important donors ,thank you blah bah.

I stopped reading them after i got the first one - which iirc was after the first donation i made & i think one comes after every donation. I thought maybe i had inadvertently opted in to 'receive acknowledgement' kind of thing, but it seems bonkers to send that all the way to the UK! They are quite posh card, not just a random peice of paper

 

[Wonko]

How often is this happening? I have asked for my donors to be removed from the general solicitation lists because almost all have no attachment or connection to Berkeley. You actually get paper letters??

Yes.

I suspect it's at least twice a year that a very high quality paper/card thing turns up here - once a few months before fundraising, and then again a few months after (but I could be wrong, I'm not really paying any attention to the fundraising cycles of a place thousands of miles away, other than irritation over the sheer waste of it, I don't pay much attention, I'm pretty sure it's at least twice a year tho).

The emails are much 'more frequent'.

 

[JemPD]

Yes.

I suspect it's at least twice a year that a very high quality paper/card thing turns up here - once a few months before fundraising, and then again a few months after (but I could be wrong, I'm not really paying any attention to the fundraising cycles of a place thousands of miles away, other than irritation over the sheer waste of it, I don't pay much attention, I'm pretty sure it's at least twice a year tho).

The emails are much 'more frequent'.

Thats interesting because while it sounds like we're getting the exact same mail... i dont get emails, other than the initial 'thank you/confirmation of donation' i must have unsubscribed from any others.

 

[Wonko]

Thats interesting because while it sounds like we're getting the exact same mail... i dont get emails, other than the initial 'thank you/confirmation of donation' i must have unsubscribed from any others.

I didn't like to block them, or may have been more selective, as otherwise, how would I know I was supposed to donate

 

[JemPD]

I didn't like to block them, or may have been more selective, as otherwise, how would I know I was supposed to donate

from these threads thats how i know when its time

 

[rvallee]

How often is this happening? I have asked for my donors to be removed from the general solicitation lists because almost all have no attachment or connection to Berkeley. You actually get paper letters??

I used to get them regularly, maybe every 3 months or so, and it's been a while so it's possible they stopped it.

 

[NelliePledge]

Yes me too a paper letter I had to go on their website to unsubscribe. Pretty sure I also did in previous years.

 

[dave30th]

I didn't like to block them, or may have been more selective, as otherwise, how would I know I was supposed to donate

Well, there are two things here. During the two month of crowdfunding, I send out "updates" to those who donated in previous campaigns. So I understand that you'd get multiple e-mail reminders in April and October. But at one point the system was also sending out multiple e-mails in between those months, and I hope that has mostly stopped.

 

[Sean]

First one done. Another two paydays to go.

 

[MeSci]

I get the expensive-looking mailouts too.

 

[dave30th]

I get the expensive-looking mailouts too.

How often do these come?