Dear Members and Friends of the IPRC,
> In many ways, this is the most exciting time ever for the IPRC. Our outreach and workshop programs are truly thriving, we have a record number of active members, and thanks to our newly revamped website, you can now register for workshops online.
> We’re also thrilled to announce the arrival of the Bind Fast 5, a perfect binding machine that will allow you to make flat-spined books and zines at the rate of up to 150 an hour. By empowering you to create your own books on the Bind Fast, we’re putting a much more affordable and DIY spin on popular self-publishing services like iuniverse or lulu.com. Starting this July we’ll offer special, members-only workshops on the Bind Fast.
> Along with all the excitement, we’re also feeling some stress here at the IPRC. Traditionally about 30% of our funding comes charitable foundations. Unfortunately, many of these foundations lost up to 50% of their endowments in the stock market crash, and are subsequently giving smaller grants—and in some cases no grants at all.
> Due to this situation, our cash reserves have become uncomfortably low. We can survive this storm, but not without your help. As you may know, with our $25 Recession Special, you can join the IPRC for three months. As part of our Spring Membership Drive, we’re asking you to please join or renew your membership. It’s never been easier to join—simply visit our website and pay with a credit card. IPRC memberships allows you full access to all our tools and resources, plus significant discounts on workshops and copies.
> In addition, we’re asking that you please forward this email to all of your contacts, friends and family. Spread the word by facebook, myspace and twitter. With your help, we can reach our goal of signing up 150 new members in the next three weeks.
> The IPRC is a truly unique resource center—in fact there’s nothing quite like it anywhere in the world. Every year we empower thousands of people to publish their own artwork, writing, books, comics and zines. During our anti-violence outreach program (aka the Media Action Project), we empower teens to think more critically about the media’s portrayal of masculinity, violence, and female body image. By then teaching them to make a zine, we help them transform from passive media consumers to active creators of media and culture, with stronger individual identities.
> Please help us continue our important mission by joining the IPRC now. Joining or renewing will help keep the IPRC vital, and also allow you to take a members-only perfect binding workshop on our Bind Fast 5 (pictured below) this summer.
> Thanks for your help,
Justin Hocking
Executive Director
> Independent Publishing Resource Center
917 SW Oak #218
Portland , Or 97205
503.827.0249
http://www.iprc.org