Dear Reader,
 
New York Civic is not a major collector or spender of charitable dollars. Our needs are modest, our annual budget can be stated in five figures.   We do not have a Director of Fundraising, much less a Vice President for Development.  So every cent you give goes directly to the work we do.
 
Economical as we are, we do need money, hopefully some of it yours.  Our researcher and fact-checker has to eat, and he is not a retired City employee.  We want to do more than we are able to do now, using interns and entry-level college graduates to ask the questions and collect the data that we report to you.  And, as you know, computer services are not free.
 
So we periodically turn to our readers and ask for their help. Our last fundraiser was held in 2003, although we do send a single year-end e-mail to subscribers.
 
There are a number of good reasons to hold a fundraiser now.
1) We could use the money to do additional work.       
2) It is an event for which a contribution is appropriate, we are not asking out of the blue. 
3) By having a nice party in an interesting place, our friends have a chance to meet, to renew auld acquaintance, and to acquire pleasant memories of a lovely location they have never seen. 
4) We haven't asked for help in so long that no one can say we are imposing on our readers.
5) The time will not conflict with the December party season.  And the weather will be warmer.
 
The date of the event is Thursday, October 26, 2006, about four weeks from today.  The time is from 5:30 pm to 8 pm.  We have been informed that the sun will set that day at precisely 6 pm, so, if weather permits and you come early, you will see a spectacular sunset.  The evening view is equally impressive, and less dependent on the absence of clouds.
 
The place is 10 West Street, where the Hudson River meets New York Harbor, it is adjacent to the park named for Robert F. Wagner, Jr. (1944-1993), a gifted public servant whose memory is in our hearts.  Two of our members, Howard Koeppel and Mark Hsaio, live in a remarkable apartment on the 35th floor of the Ritz Carlton.  They have a spectacular view of New York Harbor, with the Statue of Liberty in the foreground.  The glass windows are floor-to-ceiling.  You will remember this place.

Since we are a frugal organization, and would rather not spend money on solicitations that should go to blogging and the forums we sponsor, we are not sending the elegant letters of invitation, with enclosed reply cards and envelopes, that worthy organizations usually do.  I receive many such letters, as you do, and often I admire their design and craftsmanship.  But it would cost us $20,000 to print and mail a handsome invitation to all our readers, and that is almost a year's salary for a researcher.
 
Therefore we rely on the age of instant low-cost communications that makes our work possible.  We could not have existed twenty years ago, using snail mail and paying postage. But now, thanks to Al Gore and thousands of scientists and technicians, we have included a link for you to view our invitation and response card.  (You may have to scroll down to reach it but persevere, it is there). You can answer the invitation electronically.  You do need snail mail to send a check, payable to New York Civic (450 Park Avenue, 5th Floor  New York, NY  10016). Call us at 212-564-4441 if you have any questions.

If you are just not into modern electronic messaging, but want to come to the party or to help us, do not fear.  Simply answer this email, giving your name and address, and we will approach you in the conventional manner, which has worked well for many years.  Do not be deterred by cyberphobia.

We hope you come on Thursday October 26, but your unavailability on that date, or the tariff we are charging for attendance, should not stop you from making a gift, if you care to do so.  We are now four and a half years old, and we really need your help if we are to grow.   We hope the e-mails we have sent over the years have been valuable, or at least interesting, to you and your friends.  Please respond affirmatively to our request for assistance.
 
All the best,
 
Henry J. Stern
StarQuest