Tpunk Scholarship - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**llemus7** · 08-25-2004, 08:04 AM

Just an idea I thought about using sijuki's methaphor. Give me your input on this.

if only everyone in tpunk donated $2 a month to help each other out to travel that would be awesome. Ofcourse this will all be voluntary, and on the super honor system.

example:

2008 members:

$2 a month from every member = 2x2008=$4016 a month in savings or we can call it a tpunk scholarship.

lets take it further:

$4016 a month saved, times 12 months = $4016x12=$48,192 (do you realize how many of us we can help to travel and see things that we cannot get to right away money wise)

this will be a great idea and $2 a month = $24 dollars a year that is not heavy on any one.

lets take it a little further:

$2= 200 pennis: if you can only save 7 pennis a day (i find seven pennis a day just in my house under the couches, street, ect...)

what do you guys think? Just a thought!

**bellelass** · 08-25-2004, 10:33 AM

Interesting thought, but would we have to mess with paypal and whatnot? And how would it be decided who would receive how much money?

**space virgin** · 08-25-2004, 10:40 AM

It's a great idea, in theory. But one thing to consider is that a sizable proportion of those 2,008 members are not active on the boards at all, and of the ones that *are* active, only a portion of them actually post to the boards, and the rest lurk. And of the ones who do post, how many would really cough up the dough? Not trying to be a downer, it's just that it might be a tad unrealistic. That said, I wouldn't have any problems chipping in 2 bucks per month as long as I knew it was really going to accomplish something.

dudeman · 08-25-2004, 10:45 AM

Yeah I don't see that working so well. Good Idea just wouldn't ever happen. Its like what your parents always told you working hard to get what you want lets you enjoy it that much more.

**llemus7** · 08-25-2004, 10:46 AM

those are all great comments and concerns, and I don't have answers to any of those questions and comments.

there will have to be certain amount of qualifications to qualify for this. I just wanted to see what people taught about this.

**simply_angelic** · 08-25-2004, 01:56 PM

another issue would be the fact that everybody on TP live in completely different areas of the world....what would the "universal" money system we would choose to use, be? because for some people, $24 to some may be a hell of a lot more.....if it was in say, pounds and they came from a country w/ a really weak currency....

**Sijuki** · 08-25-2004, 05:37 PM

Alright.. here we go...

Quote:

but would we have to mess with paypal and whatnot?

Yes, probably as it is the easiest way to transmit funds , and I think it might work between different countries. (but not sure).

Quote:

But one thing to consider is that a sizable proportion of those 2,008 members are not active on the boards at all, and of the ones that *are* active, only a portion of them actually post to the boards, and the rest lurk. And of the ones who do post, how many would really cough up the dough?

I believe this is the exact type of comment llemus wanted to see. It shows that someone (not saying it is only SV cause it was my first thought too, but hey we are beling idealistic right?) is looking at certain obvious conflicts. These are the important things to consider in the beginning when trying to expand an idea like Travelpunk. Good job SV, dudeman.

Quote:

what would the \"universal\" money system we would choose to use, be?

Seeing as the site is based in the U.S., and a large number of the posting members are either U.S. or Canadian (no actual figures, just what it seems to me, sorry if I am wrong.) I would assume the "universal" currency would be the U.S. dollar. As it is one of the most widely accepted and exchanged currencies in the world.

Now, these are all very live and real concerns. Obviously, to do something like this it would almost be like a membership fee. And I don't think TP, or travelpunk as a whole are quite at a state to look at a membership fee of any type. However it could be a optional thing, and those that donate to it become eligible. But it would need a decently large backing to even make it like that. I would think at least 100 members contributing to it. Which would make $2400 (US) every year.. which would be good for something like 1 - 1 month trip or maybe 2 - 2 week trips. Of course there are several ways to look at this, especially from an entreprenuerial perspective. I won't quite get into any of them here as I don't want to either bore or confuse anyone. Perhaps later, once I re-read a couple things and get some ideas straightened out. But I don't want to go blabbering aimlessly. [stops... looks at text.]

So a scholarship, or TP sponsered trip to do research for the site, whatever we are looking to call it. Qualifications... that would be a tough one.. I would see there having to be a discussion on what would make a qualification. Would it be board tenure, explanation of why you want to take the trip, itenerary, contribution to the board, contribution to travel, strong desire, there are thousands of reasons to think of. Plus, obviously at this point the big man, TP would have to approve any such idea to make it a work in progress. It would take dedication and some work, but I believe we have such members here that are willing to go at least a few extra feet if not that whole mile to help this board advance into uncharted territory.

But please, continue with the thoughts, no matter how obvious they may seem. Its good to read.

**TheJake** · 08-25-2004, 06:43 PM

I agree completely with Sijuki. It will be quite a undertaking and it would of course need to be blessed by the Godfather (where are you??? *sob*) As an entreprenuer myself I do understand the massivness of the whole idea.

However I believe the rewards, even if it is untangible to those who might not recieve a scholarship, would be more than enough to satisfy and to make it all worth while. I also agree that a membership fee is not quite what it should be but rather a kind co-op which in reality is what tpunk is anyway. Right now we are just a co-op of ideas and dreams but we have an opportunity in front of us to step it up to another level and I love to be part of sending someone on an adventure even if I myself cant go.

When I found travelpunk not even a month ago what attracted me and made me long to click on that register button was the dedication and family-like atmosphere that I saw. I saw people that were willingly to help eachother out and sometimes go out of their way to do it. I saw people that were driving cross-country to meet up with other people that until that point were just a screen name and a funny picture. And now 29 days later I have found a community on the internet of people like myself who are dedicating their lives to exploration. That are with every breath trying to expand their minds. That long for those around them to join them and experience a global community.

YES THIS IS TPUNK AND WE ARE STRONG.

anyway thats my two cents (or two dollars) Hopefully this inspires.

crious · 08-25-2004, 07:18 PM

I agree as well about requiring a fee to post would end up hurting the web site in the long run. I do believe that TP should have a place to donate money to the web site. It should be left to the users on what amount they would like to donate. I will admit with in these last few weeks here on TP I have finally met people with my same personality for the first time on the web.

God Father

give us a chance to show our appreciation by helping you with the cost of this web site. This way we can guarantee that our love of this site will never go away. Any Thoughts Everyone??

Mikie B)

**TheJake** · 08-25-2004, 07:26 PM

^ dude thats an entirely separate topic. And as far as I understand the website supports itself with the advertisers...
Lets keep this topic on the scholarship issue please!

**llemus7** · 08-26-2004, 07:48 AM

good info. sijuki, and jake, and all other inputs to this post.

As it is just a topic like any other we have posted, and ofcourse if this were to go a little further that would be great, and all the terms on how it would work, qualifications, how the scholarships would be distributed...ect....that would be another topic.

just dream a little and imagine we had this going already, and it could be you going on that next travelpunk expedition, for a week or two or whatever it may be. Just think of all the positive side of this if it were to happen.

**travelpunk** · 08-29-2004, 12:25 PM

It is always very inspiring to see Tpunkers wanting to help others out

.

It certainly doesn't surprise me that llemus started this topic. In his business, he's always helping people prepare for their future B) . Westside!

In all actuality, believe me, every single one of these suggestions (and more that haven't been discussed), have been conceptualized and entertained since putting up this site.

*Paypal is universally accepted

*I have played with the idea of turning just the Members lounge into a members only forum for, say $1 or so per year, or $1 lifetime membership or whatever. Or, just donate anything to get access to the lounge. Of course, anyone who joined before this happens would be on the "grandfather clause" and would not have to pay (that means about 2,030 of you guys

). Doing this would also weed out some future unwanted trollers...I think.

*I have thought about putting up a lil paypal button for those who are interested in donating to site. The maintenance and advertising is getting a bit costly, but that's the price a webmaster would love to pay for getting this kind of traffic

So I don't mind paying the extra expense (which is about the price of a 1bd apt in Los Angeles

). The bandwidth usage on this site alone is now about triple the alotment that is given with my hosting package. That doesn't mean that I pay three times the amount, it means that I pay ten times the amount now, per month, with this particular company. Nevertheless, it is worth it to see a bunch of dedicated Tpunkers take the travel community by storm, not to mention the 90% or so of people passing through this site that don't even view the boards, but peruse a few pages of the Tpunk site in search of more travel info.

*I have, in fact, toyed with the idea of putting a Tpunk scholarship to assist those who do not have the means to finance their trip on their own. There would either be a full or partial grant to those who would qualify. This treasure would also help those in need worldwide. Say for example that a fellow backpacker is stranded in Thailand, got their passport and credit cards stolen, and didn't know how to get home. We can come to the rescue...What hasn't been absolutely clear, in my mindset yet, is how to facilitate this and how one can prove that they need it more than the next traveler. Or, how to prove that you are stranded in katmandu with no other options, etc... Know what I'm saying?

Believe me guys, when I start something, I never start it without having the BIG PICTURE in mind. Just about every venue/form of media has been conceived/entertained and if money weren't an issue, you would see/hear about Tpunk everywhere and every minute of the day

Tpunk hasn't even started, as far as I'm concerned...

Thank you all for your input

. I will keep you guys posted on any developments that will inevitably come.

All is possible, if you believe...

**TheJake** · 08-29-2004, 02:48 PM

yea... i've been going on the bootsnall.com forum and posting about Tpunk...lol its part of my signature on ther TPUNK 4 LIFE...lol i bet their mods love that!

**TheJake** · 08-29-2004, 02:50 PM

and speaking of which you should seriously have a donate button or something on here somewheres TP... I mean i know we are all broke but when we do feel generous it should be easy to find...

**llemus7** · 08-30-2004, 07:51 AM

those are some great ideas TP.

just keep up inform on the tp updates.