Volume One Launches New Reader Membership Program

About the Program

We know things are hard for thousands of people and business across the Chippewa Valley right now as we all battle this pandemic. That’s why at Volume One we're doing our best to use the resources available to us – VolumeOne.org, our large email lists, social media feeds, and our print pages – to help affected non-profits, businesses, and individuals. We’re sharing the community's stories of need and support, we’re offering organizations free posting on our new online bulletin board, and we’ve created listings of resources for food, finances, jobs, and more. Beyond those efforts, we’ve also donated to and promoted local causes like the Together Chippewa Valley coalition of local non-profits and the Chippewa Valley Artist Relief Fund, and we launched the Save Your Faves initiative in support of local restaurants and retailers. To name a few.

But along with so many others, Volume One has been hit hard by the community’s countless cancellations and closures. That’s because the vast majority of our advertising, ticketing, and other income is directly tied to this community getting together in groups. So that usual income has suddenly nearly disappeared, and since nearly everything we produce is free to the public, we’re now grappling with how to move forward with our community-focused staff of nearly 20 creative and hard-working folks.

Free community weekly papers like ours across the country are suddenly in very dire circumstances. Even the Isthmus in Madison – one of the longest running alternative weekly papers in the country – indicated they were being forced to “go dark.” And it’s unclear if they will return. A national emergency like this could be a death blow to an already struggling industry. But we’re dedicated to making sure that doesn’t happen here in our community.

There are so many worthwhile ways to support our community right now, with certainly more on the way. We will continue to share as many of those with you as we can through our various channels. But today, we’re asking you to support us. To support our free publications in print and online. To support our hundreds of free community events. And to support everything we’ve tried to do to inspire and promote this incredible community for 18 years.

So if you’re in a position to help right now, we ask you to consider selecting a fun package of local goods, and become a member. It starts at just $25 and can include all sorts of worthwhile perks. It would mean a lot to us, and to the future of our organization.

Thank you for reading, and please stay healthy and safe!

- The Staff of Volume One