WxSphere's Vision: A Letter to Our Members

BuckeyeGal · January 15, 2023

WxSphere Members,

Nearly a year ago, the idea for this forum was born amongst a collective quartet of founders (@MaineJay @Mainiac @Uscg Ast @BuckeyeGal) who wished to have a safe, cohesive, creative place to discuss one of their brightest passions: the weather. It has continued to grow and flourish with the help of your donations, and we thought it was time to offer you a clear vision as to what our goals are, and to allow you to see not only where your generosity has been going.. but also where we hope to place it in the future.

Here is our Mission Statement:

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WxSphere’s mission is to empower weather enthusiasts by fostering a vibrant community of discussion and learning, while also providing the tools and resources necessary to deepen their understanding and passion for meteorology. We strive to raise public awareness and preparedness for severe weather through non-profit initiatives, making a positive impact on the communities we serve.

We hope to continue running these forums for many, many years to come. At this time, the monthly operating costs come in at around $440/month. This is detailed in the attachment that @Mainiac has provided. In addition to the money needed simply to keep the forums up and churning, we also very much wish to proceed with turning the site into a non-profit (for the reasons listed above). Those costs will likely reach $2,200 or so, and that one-time sum will cover legal fees (again, as attached). You will notice that we have opened Subscriber Levels (Bronze, Silver, and Gold), and we are planning on offering special rewards for each level of monthly commitment (details to be announced with a poll for suggestions, too). One-time donations are also absolutely appreciated. Any donation will be recognized on your profile. And.. donations will be available through PayPal and Stripe going forward.

As a kind note, subscriptions are the best way to help WxSphere as they provide a reliable revenue stream which allows us to project revenue vs. associated costs over the long term (but ANY amount at ANY time helps, of course). Donations are obviously encouraged but are not mandatory! We know everyone currently has different financial situations, and we are so grateful for your patronage regardless. And if you have already donated, YOU ROCK!

We founders have been working hard behind the scenes to detail these needs and to be quite transparent with you. We want, more than anything, to have this place be your weather home. We love chatting with all of you, but if you find you’re wanting to step up and be a larger part of this organization, we are also seeking a few good men and women to be..

Accountants (to help keep our books in order!)
Social Media gurus (to help us get the word out!)
Artists (to update our branding and logos!)

Please send a private message to any (or all) of us if any of those spots call to you!

More information will be forthcoming about potential grants, possible scholarships, and the status of our non-profit journey. We appreciate all of you and hope a bowling ball winter system rocks our way soon!

With gratitude,
Kyle, J, Scott, & Amy, Co-Founders, WxSphere