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Community Membership

Sometimes we find ourselves in a season (long or short) of exceptionally tight finances, and we can't afford to participate in everything that's important to us. I completely understand! But as much as I need to be paid for my work, I also don't want privilege to be a requirement for benefiting from Carol's Curiosities.

So long as you can afford USD$1, you can apply for a Community Membership. This nominal fee is to protect us all against spammers.

Community Memberships are gift subscriptions that last for one year, funded by a portion of the paid memberships and tips received by Carol's Curiosities.

I cannot predict when – nor how many – Community Memberships will become available. A slot needs to be fully funded (cover a full year) before it can be gifted to someone on the Waiting List. So the number of Community Memberships available will depend on the number of paid memberships and the generosity of tips received.

How to Apply for a Community Membership

Carol's Curiosities runs on the Ghost platform, and at this time they do not have a simple means of supporting Community Memberships. So applying is a multi-step process, but it is fairly simple:

Do ALL of these things to complete your application:

  1. Join as a Free Member. The email address you use here is how I will find you to offer you a Community Membership when one becomes available for you.
  2. Go to the Tip Jar and do ALL of these things:
    1. Pay at least USD$1. (Adjust the default suggestion.)
      1. Note that some credit card issuers automatically refuse small dollar amounts. You may need to contact your bank to confirm that you authorize the charge, then try again.
      2. OR you can tip a larger amount.
    2. Use the same email as you used to join as a Free Member.
    3. In the Notes field clearly state that you want to be added to the Community Membership Waiting List and for which tier; if you do not specify a tier, I will assume you want the "Research Gems" tier.
      1. I recommend the text: "Please add me to the Waiting List for a Community Membership for tier..." and fill in the blank. Clever text is fun, but can be confusing; this is a good time to be clear.
  3. Wait patiently.

What Happens Next?

When your tip is confirmed paid, I will see your request to be added to the Waiting List and add you! You continue as a Free Member.

You will remain on the Waiting List until a Community Membership is offered to you. (Or until you become a paid Research Gems Member.)

When a Community Membership becomes available, I will email you to confirm that you are still interested and give you a reasonable window (two weeks) within which to reply. If you do not reply within that window, the Community Membership will be offered to someone else, and you will need to reapply to be added to the end of the waiting list.

What Happens When My Community Membership Expires?

At the end of your gifted year, you will be billed for tier membership (that's how Ghost works). You are welcome to reapply to the Waiting List for another Community Membership slot, but you may fall back to being a Free Member for a while.

FAQ

Am I guaranteed to receive a Community Membership?

No.

My intentions are to work through everyone on the Waiting List as efficiently as affordable, but I cannot guarantee anything.

Can someone else use the Tip Jar to buy a Community Membership specifically for me?

Yes, if you are a Free Member and someone else's tip covers the full price for a year's paid membership. The other person's tip notes need to clearly state their intent to benefit you and provide the email address linked to your free membership so that I can find you.

(Note that you will be billed for tier membership at the end of the year, in accordance with how Ghost works.)

Do I have to pay a bill?

No. Ghost will automatically issue a bill when it comes time, but you don't have to pay it. Ghost will automatically convert you to a Free Member if the bill is not paid. If you don't want to wait for that, you can convert yourself to a Free Member, but you will lose access to the paid membership posts.