Here at Stoneboat Literary Journal and Pebblebrook Press, our annual fundraiser (donate here) has given rise to a New Year’s tradition. For three years in a row, our co-editors in chief took the Polar Bear Plunge to solicit monetary support for the journal and its press. In 2014, ’15, and ’16, Rob Pockat and Signe Jorgenson jumped into icy Lake Michigan on New Year's Day, despite subzero temperatures, to raise funds that offset our annual operating costs. While this helped us raise money, it also put their health in jeopardy each January. We gave our EICs the year off in 2017 and held a more traditional fundraiser instead. But there’s no fun in that—not for us, and not for you, our supporters.
So, we’re reviving the Polar Bear Plunge fundraiser in 2018 (donate here), but with two twists. First, Poetry and Arts Editor Lisa Vihos will be joining Rob and Signe at the lakefront. And second, our donors will decide whether we stay warm and dry on New Year’s Day or jump into the water with the crowd that chants “It’s not cold enough!” no matter how low the mercury dips. Donors will designate their contributions as “Plunge” or “Don’t Plunge,” and the group that raises the most funds will determine our fate. We’ll broadcast live from Lake Michigan on New Year’s Day, via Facebook, to announce the winner—and jump in if need be.
So, we’re reviving the Polar Bear Plunge fundraiser in 2018 (donate here), but with two twists. First, Poetry and Arts Editor Lisa Vihos will be joining Rob and Signe at the lakefront. And second, our donors will decide whether we stay warm and dry on New Year’s Day or jump into the water with the crowd that chants “It’s not cold enough!” no matter how low the mercury dips. Donors will designate their contributions as “Plunge” or “Don’t Plunge,” and the group that raises the most funds will determine our fate. We’ll broadcast live from Lake Michigan on New Year’s Day, via Facebook, to announce the winner—and jump in if need be.
Stoneboat Literary Journal and Pebblebrook Press don’t receive any grants, university money, or other external funding; we rely solely on sales and donations to keep the boat afloat. Although our editorial staff is unpaid and our overhead is low, rising printing costs, web hosting costs, ISBN costs, and other operating costs threaten our ability to continue connecting contributors' work with an appreciative audience at an affordable price.
We become more reliant on donations as overhead increases, so we hope that you will consider making a contribution. A $10 donation covers the monthly subscription fee for our submission manager service. $25 covers the proof copies that we use to check an issue for layout and design problems, and $50 covers six months of PO Box rental. A $100 donation offsets 1/3 of our annual web hosting fees. As you can see, donations in any denomination make a huge difference, and we have been able to publish fifteen issues only through the generosity of our supporters. If you're able, please consider donating by clicking on this link: http://www.stoneboatwi.com/donate.html. (You’ll even get Stoneboat and Pebblebrook rewards if you donate $25 or more!)
We recognize that not everyone is able to offer monetary support, and we also want to express our gratitude for your moral support. Without friends and readers who have faith in our work, we wouldn't be able to continue doing what we're doing. Finances are critical to our operations, but so are contributors, readers, and supporters. Knowing that there are people out there who believe in us and appreciate what we do keeps us motivated and excited.
We look forward to another great year here at Stoneboat and Pebblebrook, and we wish you and yours a happy new year!
We become more reliant on donations as overhead increases, so we hope that you will consider making a contribution. A $10 donation covers the monthly subscription fee for our submission manager service. $25 covers the proof copies that we use to check an issue for layout and design problems, and $50 covers six months of PO Box rental. A $100 donation offsets 1/3 of our annual web hosting fees. As you can see, donations in any denomination make a huge difference, and we have been able to publish fifteen issues only through the generosity of our supporters. If you're able, please consider donating by clicking on this link: http://www.stoneboatwi.com/donate.html. (You’ll even get Stoneboat and Pebblebrook rewards if you donate $25 or more!)
We recognize that not everyone is able to offer monetary support, and we also want to express our gratitude for your moral support. Without friends and readers who have faith in our work, we wouldn't be able to continue doing what we're doing. Finances are critical to our operations, but so are contributors, readers, and supporters. Knowing that there are people out there who believe in us and appreciate what we do keeps us motivated and excited.
We look forward to another great year here at Stoneboat and Pebblebrook, and we wish you and yours a happy new year!
Click here to keep us warm and dry:
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