NOTE - When donating PLEASE manually adjust the suggested amount to £15 or less.

Together with Piet de Ridder, I helped set up The Sound Board forum. It was to be a non-profit, no advertising, low drama independent space where composers and musicians could freely exchange ideas.

10 years later and... well, it is still going, but not exactly going strong. Engagement had fallen to glacial levels, so the decision was taken to close the board. However there were loud howls of dismay from people saying that although they didn't post frequently they still greatly valued the place. I figured it would be worth seeing if these were just nice words, or if people meant them enough to make a small financial contribution.

In other words - put your money where your mouth is. Specifically $20 of it.

The idea was to raise $500 - 25 x $20. That money would be split into operating costs for a year ($72), and - less GoFundMe's small conversion fees - everything else would go to charity. No-one at TSB would earn a cent, a founding principle. But the purpose of setting a higher bar would be to demonstrate that there is a viable community here, enough people with a stake in it to see the ship continue to sail.

Having now set up the GoFundMe, I've found two problems with this grand idea. As a Brit I now realise I have to do this in British Pounds (am stupid). So at current exchange rates, that makes the following:

TOTAL NEEDED - £375

EACH DONATION - £15

The second problem is that it is impossible for me to set a maximum donation, and the suggested donation is £20. All I can do is ask you change this amount to £15 manually, or if funds are tight you can make the minimum donation of £5.

If your funds are super-tight, please feel free to make a smaller donation, but £15 is the upper limit. GoFundMe handles the current conversion from your local currency.

The goal is to reach this total by May 31, 2025. Thanks for your help!

Guy Rowland