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What People Are Saying
Our first Declare Your Independence from Junk mail campaign and Junk mail-free membership drive prompted an outpouring of support from enthusiastic people all over the country.
We invite you to read a few of these comments below or to visit the New Dream Forum and share your thoughts on the new campaign.
We joined because we like what you do and are impressed with your no Junk mail membership drive. Over 40%, if not more, of our recycled mail is junk from "green" orgs. Thanks,
Van
Here's an idea: Children can get magazines and other Junk mail that friends, neighbors and family don't wish to receive but are too lazy to call the company to get off the list... just think if thirty children did it just for their families... how about for neighbors too?... expand to the whole school...this doesn't even have to be in a school setting, ANYBODY can do this. it takes only a few minutes, and makes a big difference. let's face it, it's up to us. Sincerely,
Rachel, 15
Many thanks, I think what you all do is very encouraging and exciting. I'm trying to figure out a way for me to do more. We'll be in touch. Thanks.
Jay
I check dozens of orgs monthly for info. It would cost me hundreds of dollars to join them all. Much as I'd like to, I can't afford to, so I basically don't 'join' orgs. But I'm joining CNAD now (after years of cheering you on, and checking your web site). So why now? Because I heartily applaud your gutsy decision to try for 1500 new members without doing the Junk mail thing. I'll also try to get three more people to join.
Susan
I would never have joined if you had solicited me by regular mail - thanks for walking the talk! I REALLY appreciate your privacy policy. I would never share my phone number with you without it! Keep up the good work!
Wendy
What a relief (ampng other things) to know I'm helping with something I really believe in, while knowing I won't be bombarded with a flood of paper! Hat's off to your initiative.
Dorothy
When I heard that you have a matching grant pending but decided not to do a paper-intensive mailing, I was intrigued enough to look you up on-line. When I saw your slogan, "More Fun, Less Stuff!", I was sold! Congratulations on your creativity and Good Luck with your programs! I'm honored to be a new member.
G. L.
Your work is very exciting! Some names on your board etc. are familiar. If there is any money left from our next milk check (we are dairy farmers...), we will gladly send you what we can. Until then, thank you for such a superb web site! It's helpful to know there are others "out there" who feel the way we do!
Alice
The #1 reason I signed on today is because of Donella Meadows' essay on CNAD not doing a direct mail campaign -- this membership is because I respect and want to reward that decision. I've been aware of your work for awhile, and link to it via my work.
Laura
Dear NewDream Folks, I have just learned about your group from the Daily Grist and applaude your commitment to meet your challange grant goal without mass junk-mail mailings. I will be sending in a check and joining after my next paycheck just because you are willing to take such a stand. Thanks for the great article in Grist.
Lynette
Hello: Just thought I'd drop you a paperless letter to let you know how impressed I am by your organization and by your pledge to undertake this membership drive without resorting to Junk mail mass-mailings. I sent your email on to several people, with my own personal plug, and have already received a number of positive responses, one from a woman who works at Rocky Mountain Institute and says she plans to get gift memberships for her entire family, another from a friend who took a class from Donella Meadows and was happy to be reminded about sustainability issues. So hopefully the word is spreading and your goals will be met if not exceeded....
Helen
Hello Good People at the Center for a New American Dream, I was inspired by Dana Meadow's challenge to invite others into your dreams human to human rather than through mass mailings. So, I want to support you all in your matching grant initiative. I received Dana's message through one of your members who then sent it out to the deep ecology network. This crazy high tech system seems to be working for this purpose. Please fell free to acknowledge this donation via email rather than through tree mail if that is easier for you. Thanks for your good work.
Tara
I love the Opt-Out of Junk mail campaign, and I'm going to tell my friends and fellow environmental org members about it! I'm so happy to have found an organization as commited to reducing consumption as I am!
Monica
I just signed up 2 gift memberships, and although it only cost me $60 it was like donating almost $400 to the cause. Obviously it is more meaningful to have new members take their own initiative, but if it comes down to the end of the challenge and more members are needed, reminding existing members of the "gift membership" option would certainly be effective! Its not often one gets money they donate matched 6 times over!
Scott
Hello! I found out about your organization through the American News Service this morning. I love it! I've already used your Junk mail busting form to send out 5 "remove me" letters. I really like your multi-issue approach to the state of the world today, especially how you view all the pieces as related and interconnected.
Mark
I think your monthly Step by Step campaign is absoulutely terrific. It puts a very complex and overwhelming subject into "bite-size" pieces, making it easier for us all to take those important first steps. Thank you!
Alan
I'm the owner/director of a small exploration museum. We'll put your newsletter in our library for visitors to read.
Anon.
Thanks for the e-mail. I forwarded to as many family and friends I thought might be interested, including the simplicity circle at my church. As a possible idea for the membership drive, you may want to advertise in the back of magazines to which "do-good folks of the sort who might be interested in a New American Dream" subscribe. Many people have read Your Money or Your Life, but don't know that your organization exists as more than a place to get pamplets for distribution. I was happy to discover that you had a newsletter and a website. Please get the word out as many people and places as possible. Even if it is simply to say "see our website." Those who are interested will join. Good Luck
Heather
I admire your goals of boosting membership numbers without wasting paper, etc.
Charles
I'll try to get a couple of friends to join, and I have an example of the things [Donella] Meadows was talking about. A couple of years ago I got an email describing a regional conference of an estuarine research group in the Carolinas. All such societies have an "icebreaker" reception or party to kick off the meeting. What do you suppose this group of estuarine scientists was sponsoring? A "pig picking". That's right, a pork barbecue. What's one of the leading causes of estuarine degradation in the southeast? Yep-industrial pig "farms"and "processing facilities." Go figure... I was just wondering if gift memberships count. I have several friends that may be interested in the organization (I often have them read my newsletters), but may not be interested enough to put down the cash for a membership. I would be willing to pay for them, especially if it helps you get to your goal. Please let me know if it counts, and if so, how to go about doing it. Thank you. Sincerely
Grant
I also have a P.O. Box that has very little "real" mail, most of it is junk. I complained in written form to the post office here. Their reply was these entities pay for the service of advertising in this form and the post office is obiligated under postal regulations to comply. Its a total waste of resources...when I visit my P.O. Box, littered all over the place and filling the waste basket is the same crap in my box. A more efficient way to deal with this is for advertisers to rent kiosk space at the post office. If you want the advertisement literature, you take it. Also, it increases the number of people which would be exposed to the advertisements [every one who enters the post office], right now the audience is limited to those who have post boxes. I wonder how many trees this would save. Thanks for the work,
Shane
Saw Donella Meadow's piece in Grist -- thought I'd better make sure your membership rolls increased.
David
Tough Job! Badly needed!!!
Gerald
I'm really glad your organization exists - great work!
Diane
I learned of your WEB site through a reference in an UTNE reader article. I'm so happy to have found you. I grew up in the '50s and '60s when "conservation" was THE topic of conversation. Now, I never hear ANYONE talking about it, and when I bring up the topic people look at me like I just rained on their parade. I've pondered a lot lately about where all the tree-huggers have gone, whatever happened to "zero population growth," etc. I'm glad I found you and that I can receive news of your organization's activities WITHOUT receiving more Junk mail in my snailmail box. Learning of the existence of your organization is certainly the highlight of my day...and who knows how many other days. Thanks for being there, and I hope that through the concerted efforts of like-minded human beings we can truly make a difference. We must! We're the ONLY hope our planet has. Warm regards,
Kerry
I wanted you to know that I am now a member of your organization soley because of your vow to not send out mailings. That is such a huge waste in so many ways! Kudos for sticking to your principals, and I hope you reach your goal membership!!! sincerely,
Karen
I hope you are able to get the 1,500 members to get your matching grant. Good luck.
Jennifer
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