Donation Drive 09 Coming to a Close

Section: 

Special Thanks to our 500th donor for 2009 **Gumbie**
Nice work being just a little extra awesome.

---

The list of donors you will see below the bump is two things -- 1) very very long and 2) finally up to date as of this afternoon. It is bursting at the seams with people who I would describe in congressional testimony using the flowery language of hyperbole. These people, these guardians of the GWJ nation, they’re the people you can thank over the year to come for keeping the lights on and the spotlight focused tightly on the dancing bear — which is really just Julian in a bear suit, but I digress.

Our annual donation drive ends, Monday October 5, at 11:59. If you haven't donated and would like to, please see here for details on how to have your name included in our annual prize giveaway.

I bring this up because there are some pretty awesome prizes associated with being a donor -- including a highly collectible and signed Bioshock figurine, a console or PC upgrade and some surprisingly awesome soap -- to say nothing of this being your one opportunity every year to get a fancy little icon under your name. I don’t want to say that these icons will be the fashion accessory sweeping Milan in the fall, so I will simply imply it in typically irresponsible fashion.

Back to the list for a second. As I mentioned it is long. In fact, the total number of donors to date is around the 460 mark. I realize it would be incredibly difficult to break the 500 mark this year, which has been one of our long-standing and largely unattainable goals, but not necessarily impossible. I’m just sayin’.

But, as we wind down this drive, I want to take a minute and offer a few thank yous.

*Update* As of 10:00 CST our drive count is at 485 donors. A brief special thank you will go out to our 500th donor should we reach that goal. Also many of you sent me personal notes mentioning that you were unable to donate this year due to a variety of difficulties, or that you wished you could donate more. Thank you so much for even thinking of us, and do not despair in the least if times are tough. Ideally this is a time when our community should be there for you.

Obviously, thank you to absolutely everyone who chipped in to the cause. This show of support is gratifying not just because of the money but because we are driven by the goal of creating content and an environment that you think is worth supporting. Whether you come for the articles, the podcast or the community, thanks for taking part and taking some degree of ownership over this online real estate.

It is of some interest to note that the vast majority of our audience doesn’t necessarily have a highly visible forum presence, but they are as much a part of the community as anyone. Ok, maybe not as much as Rat Boy, but that’s a special case. Thank you to the lurkers who quietly populate our servers for showing up in huge numbers every year to remind us that you are out there.

I also want to thank the spouses of our donors, who often had to be asked for explicit permission to send money to a couple of guys running a website. If your spouse was skeptical about allowing you to donate this year, put them on the line for a second.

Go ahead, I’ll wait.

Hi, I’m Sean Sands, co-founder of Gamerswithjobs.com. It’s possible I’m also responsible for numerous distractions your significant other experiences when he or she should be mowing the lawn, doing the dishes, taking the kids to school or earning income so that your family can have food on the table. Sorry about that. You should know, however, he or she was just saying something really nice about you earlier while you weren’t looking. Seriously, it was quite complimentary. Anyway, I want to take a moment to thank you for permitting/encouraging/pretending not to notice your spouse’s donation.

We’ll try to be a little better about not taking up all your significant other’s time this year.

The point, and this is for everyone again, is that you guys are the reason GWJ is here in the first place and the reason we look forward to keeping the show running year after year. If there was anyone out there hoping that perhaps in this recession, in this economy, our little experiment would finally fizzle, I present very nearly, almost-but-not-quite 500 reason why it won’t:

93_Confirmed
Aaron D.
Aartion VII
Ahrezmendi
Al
alabasterslim
Alien Loge Gardener
Alien13z
AManCalledBob
Amn
Amoebic
Andor
AndrewA
Andy
Angry Ginger
AnimeJ
Anjin
Anodyne
anth
AP Erebus
Arovin
Asz
Atlas
Atomicvideohead
Auralyn
AUsTBirD
Axon
Badferret
BadKen
Badmojo
bandango
Bandus
Banquo
Bear
beeporama
bennard
Berend_Jan
biogolem
Bjlightnin
blotto the clown
bnpederson
Bob5602
Bonus_Eruptus
Boogle
boreden-myrddraal
boyhowdy
Braehole
BrassMonkey
Breadmanben
Breander
BreechLoad
Brizahd
BrokenOx
Bullion Cube
Burnt Toast
CannibalCrowley
Capricorn1
carrotpanic
casktapper
chaosmos
Chief
Chief Wiggum
ChiSoxKeith
ChrisGwinn
Chump
Chumpy_McChump
Clemenstation
clever id
cmeeko
cmitts
Cod
Coldstream
consciousness
Copingsaw
Crel
croaker
Crouton
Crunchy
cube
Cyprus
Cyranix
cyrax
d4m0
Dan
DanyBoy
DareX2
Datyedyeguy
Deftly
dejanzie
demonbox
Demonicmaster
Desram
DevilStick
DF7
dhaelis
Dimmerswitch
DirtierParsley
Distantsound
Dominic Knight
Donan
DonutKing
doogiemac
doubleplusungood
doubtingthomas396
Dr._J
Dr_Awkward
Draco
Dramatic Marlin
DrJekl
DrJones
DrSugardaddy
Druidpeak
duckideva
duckilama
DudleySmith
Duoae
Dysplastic
Edge153
Edwin
Edxactly
eezy_bordone
El_Duder
elcapitanbsc
elewis17
Elliottx
Elycion
Emyln
EnterNameHere
EriktheRed
estorino
EvilDead
EvilHomer3k
evilseed
Falchion
Fedaykin98
fenway
FeralMonkey
firesloth
Foose
Fripper
Fseven
furtivespy
garion333
General Crespin
GioClark
Goo
Goonch
Gravey
Griffen8280
Growat
Grubber788
Grumpicus
gtnissanfan
Gunner
H to the ickle
Haakon7
HaciendaSquish
Hantaxp
harrisben
headleym
Heatseek
heavyfuel
HedgeWizard
Hemidal
Heretk
hfm
Higgledy
Hobbes2099
Hypatian
Hyperion540
iceblink
il dottore
indy
infinitelyloopy
Infinity
InfluenceDevice
InspiringSN
IUMogg
jakeleg
Jakobedlam
JaSeR
Jayhawker
JediK809
JeepersCrow
Jerrak
jlaakso
jmdanny
JohnnyMoJo
Johnvanjim
Jonman
Judge_Digger
Kannon
kaostheory
Karmajay
kenhwcan
Kepheus
kernelvenus
Kier
Kilaban
Kilanash
KillTrash
Kiri
Kloreep
Kolbo
Kosars
KrazyTaco[FO]
kuddles
Kurrelgyre
Kvalnir
lactose
Landshrk83
Latrine
Leery
Lester_King
Lex Cayman
LiK
likedamaster
Lilcodger
LiquidMantis
litrock
LobsterMobster
lord_haven
LordJezo
Lorenolio
lostlobster
LouZiffer
Lucky Wilbury
Ludditus
LupusUmbrus
MadGav
Malor
Mammux
Maq
markly
McChuck
MeatMan
merphle
merzy
MightyMooquack
MikeSands
minadaddy
Minarchist
Minase
misterglass
Mixolyde
MonoCheli
Montalban
mookiefl
MoonDragon
Mr Crinkle
Mr.Green
MrCompletely
MrDeVil909
mrtomaytohead
mrwynd
muttonchop
MyBrainHz
Mystic Violet
ndnichols
Nei
Nightmare
Nomad
Norfair
Nosferatu
NSMike
Nuean
Nyxs Optare
obadiahstarbuck
OG_slinger
Old Man Pi
Oldgoat
oMonarca
oozlum
Orphu
Oso
Overlap12
OzymandiasAV
PandaEskimo
Papageno
PapaLoo
Par
ParallaxAbstraction
Pasty
PCMAN
Pharacon
Philosofrenzy
philucifer
Phishposer
pneuman
polq37
Poor Old Lu
PopEsc
Poppinfresh
Postmann88
Prozac
Pseudoprime1979
psu_13
PsychoKillerZ
Puce Moose
Pupi
Quicksilver
Quintin Stone
Rainsmercy
ralphtrickey
Ranger Rick
Rat Boy
Ravenlock
RedBrain
RedJen
ReijMan
Renji
Reshogg
Rexneron
Rezzy
Rob_Anybody
Robear
SaintFaucet
savethedinosaurs
saxtus
Schmutzli
scoopsy
scott
Scratched
Scrote
Scuigi
sebulba
Sentenza
Serengeti
Shadout
sheared
Shoal07
ShynDarkly
SillyRabbit
Silveran
Sinbin74
Sir Rockford
skeletonframes
Skogul
Slimrock
Smials
Snooglebum
SocialChameleon
sortimat
souldaddy
Sparhawk
spider_j
St. Hillary
Staats
stardolphin
stauf7
Stengah
stevenmack
Strekos
stupidhaiku
Stylez
subaltern
Swat
Sway
Switchbreak
syndicatedragon
Tach
taer
Taharka
Tamren
tanstaafl
Tekman
Tempest Blayze
Teneman
Terin23
ThatGuy42
the_korben
TheArtOfScience
TheCounselor
Thirteenth
ThisRedhead
Thowky
thyarcher
Tigerbill
timzentu
Torq
Trachalio
TrashiDawa
trowan
TrueNeut
Truk Treadwell
uberartist
ubrakto
Ulairi
urko
vedichymn
Vega
Vegan
Veggie Pirate
Vrikk
W1LL3R
Wakim
walterqchocobo
Waltz
wanderingtaoist
weswilson
wiirsum
wiredasylum
Wook1138
Xeneth
Xerxes
yaz
Yellow5
Yon Rabbit
Yoreel
Yoyoson
Zelos
Zyblorg
*Legion*

---- Final donation drive list will be available on Tuesday. This list is current as of 3:00pm CST Wednesday Sept 30. Donations received after that time will be included in our final update after the drive is closed.

Comments

I donated! I have been reading the site for years but only really got involved in the community this year. I am really greatful for everyone who contributes and especially to the nightly Left 4 Dead crew for being such an awesome group to just have fun with.

I also want to win that PS3.

Donation sent, let's keep this boat of scallywags afloat!

Happy to help, and genuinely glad that I joined the party, even if I'm more than a bit late.

If so manny people donate maybee it's nice to make a nice list of the defenitive prizes we can win. It's becouse the nice prizes i did the donation, i enyjoy the podcast and i'm verry new to the community BUT it's the chance of winning a prize that made me do the real donation. Most of the time i make a plan t o donate but don't do it. This time it's diferent i think, i hope your site and podcast keeps growing en getting better with all the donations

I'd still like to keep my weinerbomb icon. A boat? A plane? Companion Cube?
If it's not a Solid Gold Stan bust, I don't want it.

93_confirmed wrote:

W00T! First on the list! Oh...it's alphabetized.

I'd like to announce that I'm changing my forum name to 0000LobsterMobster.

I donated last night only, but there's some chance I'll be 500th

I wonder how many people donated last year... ?

Berend_Jan wrote:

If so many people donate maybe it's nice to make a nice list of the defenitive prizes we can win.

There's another post in which everything you can win is listed. Some of the things you can win are up to you (for example if you win a console, you can choose any console or even a top notch video card.

I forwarded 'Sean's message to the spouses' to my wife at work. She got such a kick out of it she forwarded it to her friends guaranteeing I'll be able to donate next year

interstate78 wrote:
Berend_Jan wrote:

If so many people donate maybe it's nice to make a nice list of the defenitive prizes we can win.

There's another post in which everything you can win is listed. Some of the things you can win are up to you (for example if you win a console, you can choose any console or even a top notch video card.

Not a complete list, as evidenced by the lack of soap.

I hope I get to be Mr. 500. I would love a special message.

xXDoofusmanXx wrote:

If I win, I promise to give the statue to Rabbit. =)

If I win AND I am able to select the statue, I will lord it over Rabbit until I earn a spot at the vaunted RabbitCon table whereupon I shall unleash my mad board gaming skills.*

*And by "mad board game skills", I mean my ability to lose. At everything. All the time.

So how many names are there? Honestly, if I win something.. I'm going out and buying a lottery ticket, because luck must be with me.

St.Hillary wrote:

So how many names are there? Honestly, if I win something.. I'm going out and buying a lottery ticket, because luck must be with me.

It's not only the names. The amount of money sent can get a single person more than one entry. I'd buy 10 lottery tickets.

I would love to win something but even if I don't it's all good, I am blown away at it hitting over 500 seperate people donating that is amazing

Way to go Gumbie, #500!

I see a forum title in your future.

"The Gumbie 500"

FSeven wrote:

Way to go Gumbie, #500!

I see a forum title in your future.

Mummy always said I was SPECIAL!

mrwynd wrote:

I forwarded 'Sean's message to the spouses' to my wife at work. She got such a kick out of it she forwarded it to her friends guaranteeing I'll be able to donate next year :D

I read it out to my fiancee, she enjoyed it (She's British, the accent gets her every time ;))

I'm one 500th of pretty d*mn cool, way to go everyone!

Cheers!

Something else for Gumbie to lord over *Legion*'s head. Excellent.

Hey remember when we were all in Ventrillo and Certis read *LEGION*'s name as a prize-winner?

Yeah, lets try to avoid that this time??

If anyone wins the statue and doesn't use it to pit rabbit and Demiurge against each other in some kind of Star Trek-style battle to the death, you're dead to me.

So, why does the 500th donor get to be special? If they were so dedicated, they'd have donated before 499 others ponied up their cash.

They should get their tag changed to "procrastinator."

There's a lot of hugging and congratulations going on here, but I'd like to point something out to you inconsiderate sods: every new person donating reduces my chance to win! As you step up to the booth to hand in your cash, that crackling sound underfoot is the sound of my shattered dreams. Please, won't someone think of the Coldstream?

I see the soap on the prize list, so I guess it's been updated. I see this is a good thing and a great prize - having been near more than a few gamers desperately in need of the same. Is there anyway we could steer that toward the most needy? That is assuming they'd recognize it for what it is - which, now that I think of it, isn't a given. Maybe give it with instructions? Instructions with both pictures and words, perhaps? Oh, and a schedule! A schedule with a check-off box even. Yes, that would make it complete and maybe the best prize up there - especially for those nearest to the winner. In fact, I might be willing to donate more - a lot more - just to guarantee a certain gamer wins it.

I didn't donate this year

I kept putting it off and thinking I'd squeeze those extra bucks out somewhere in the next couple weeks, only those weeks went by and I didn't pay enough attention to see the deadline announcement.

I guess my company jet will have to wait until next year

I feel a bit like a bum. But hey, at least I didn't hurt Coldstream's odds of winning.

Thin_J wrote:

I didn't donate this year

I kept putting it off and thinking I'd squeeze those extra bucks out somewhere in the next couple weeks, only those weeks went by and I didn't pay enough attention to see the deadline announcement.

I guess my company jet will have to wait until next year

I feel a bit like a bum. But hey, at least I didn't hurt Coldstream's odds of winning.

Our annual donation drive ends, Monday October 5, at 11:59.

You still have time.

HaciendaSquish wrote:

If anyone wins the statue and doesn't use it to pit rabbit and Demiurge against each other in some kind of Star Trek-style battle to the death, you're dead to me.

Let Claw-plack begin!

93_confirmed wrote:

Thanks again to Certis and Elysium for all the hard work and a big thank you to all the Goodjers who took the time to lend a hand or a few kinds words to me in the random posts and threads I populated the site with over the past year (especially Dreamweaver Help). GWJ is truly a wonderful community and I'm thankful to have stumbled upon such an amazing place.

Echoing this. Keep on keeping on, magnificent overlords, and I'll keep throwing money at you year after year

Hurray on meeting the 500 mark!