13.10.2010

Another good week

Finances grow with organisational strength and commitment, writes Robbie Rix

Second week into October and I am delighted to report another excellent response to our £1,250 monthly fighting fund. My best wishes go to comrades CM (£15), MM (£15), FD (£20), GD (£17), RMB (£50) and PP (£50). But special thanks this week must go to an anonymous comrade who sent a very impressive and very welcome £225. All that adds up to £372 and gives us a running total of £651. So we are right on target this month for success.

I would like to briefly comment on John Smithee’s interesting letter in this week’s paper. The comrade basically argues that the money we put into producing the paper would be better spent improving our website, employing full time workers and publishing books. He is certainly right that our website urgently needs updating and, yes,  we have made endless promises to that effect. But I am told on good authority that there is light at the end of that particular tunnel. A new CPGB website is imminent.

However, the comrade’s overall approach is, I think, flawed. The fact of the matter is that our most loyal readers are those who value the hard copy. And they willingly come up with the money week-in and week-out to ensure that we have the wherewithal to make it happen.

The idea that political organisations have a fixed financial pot is an illusion. Finances grow with organisational strength and commitment. But they can also rapidly diminish. Those who retreat from print and leave themselves with only a electronic existence - not matter how well designed their website - in effect announce that they are cash strapped, declining and weak. That breeds demoralisation and less and less in the way of donations.

And on the subject of e-readership we had 11,793 from October 6-12. Once again another increase.