Beach Impeach

MONEY

DONATIONS

Some background: In October, 2006, when I first came up with the idea of Beach Impeach (I of course thought it would be a one shot deal), I decided that rather than fundraise (since I hate fundraising as much as the next guy does) I would just pay for it.

Beach Impeach 1 cost about $3,500, and when it came off so absolutely brilliantly, and when people starting asking me, “Well, what’s next?” I suddenly felt responsible. And empowered. And as though I had stumbled upon a mission and a calling. I took $20,000 from my savings, which are not large, and I threw myself into the Impeachment Movement. Between organizing a Mall Impeach event in Washington, DC (not terribly successful), renting a storefront in Oakland for two months (not terribly successful), I spent all $20,000 plus a bit more.

I also received right about $6,000 in donations from people who wanted to support my efforts, and I was very, very happy for that. Two people each gave me checks for $1,000 -- that helped a lot.

So, I was already in for about $17,500 when I started Beach Impeach II, and I was starting to get a little nervous about all this money going out. But I was also becoming filthy rich in experience. Plus, I was really starting to believe, and I plowed ahead.

Beach Impeach 2 cost about $2,500 to put on. My friend Jim Reid organized a postcard booth where he gave away postcards from Beach Impeach #1, and where he helped people mail postcards to Nancy Pelosi or the politician (or friend or relative) of their choice. Jim kept a donations bucket at the booth, and at the end of the day I came home with right about $2,500. Pretty cool, no?

Beach Impeach 3 was more expensive. I took a big gulp and charged right about $7,000 to my credit card, and on the day of the event about $4,000 appeared in Jim’s donation bucket. And another $3,000 in checks rolled into my mailbox (address below). A miraculous breakeven. Thank you very much!

Beach Impeach 4 – I’m not sure how much this one’s going to cost, but if you care to send a donation, please send a check made out to me, Brad Newsham, at the address below. Or, if you see a donation bucket at the event, feel free to drop something in. Postcards from the three prior events will be available at Beach Impeach #4.

So that’s the money. I tell you all this because it’s the sort of thing I would want to know if I were not the organizer. Who’s paying for all this? People who don’t know me might think I’m rich. I’m not. There’s not a snowball’s chance that I’d be able to do any of this on my cab driver’s income (I’ve been driving for 22 years, and these days I earn about $30- 35K per year) and royalty income from my books (I’ve written two, and each year my royalty checks come in around maybe $200 -- but usually less). I’m lucky to have a wife who has a regular job that supports my daughter and me.

There you have it – that’s the money!

If you feel so moved, here’s my mailing address:

Brad Newsham
4096 Piedmont Av -- #723
Oakland, CA 94611