Give a Dime

365 days in a year. 365 degrees in a circle- well, close enough. It is the smallest number which has more than one expression as a sum of consecutive square numbers: 365 = 132 + 142 = 102 + 112 + 122 - whatever than means. In 365 AD Procopius bribed two legions passing by Constantinople, proclaims himself Roman emperor, and takes control of Thrace and Bithynia- an obscure fact to impress your friends and family.

10 cents. A dime. Remember when you could place a phone call on a dime... better yet; remember when there were pay phones. A dime will still get you a miniaturepeanut butter cup at the convenience store. You’ll save a dime by duplexing your print jobs. If you see a dime on the ground is it worth your effort to bend over and pick it up? Today’s dime is yesterday’s penny.

We can all handle a dime. A dime a day is a doable concept. That is what the Access Fund and your local crag is asking of you, the climbing community: a dime a day for new and continued access to those places we love.

When I think of giving and volunteering and how-to-fit-them-in-to-my-already-full-and-busy-and-financially-tight life, it becomes burdensome, overwhelming, and a chore. I am not going to do without my latte, so don’t ask me. Bringing my own mug, however, is something I can and will do and every time I do the friendly barista takes a dime off my order. I also bring my own bags to the grocery store and every time I do the cashier nods me a right-on and takes a dime off my total.

The Access Fund is asking the climbing community to take that dime, think of your favorite climbing area, and toss your change in a piggy bank (mine is named Alotta Fun,AF for short).

As a reader of Vertical Times, you get it. This is a little of preaching to the choir. But as the choir, you lead the sing- along.

Check out page 15 and hand out a couple of those join forms to help make a bigger choir. Asking you to give a dime,

Deanne Buck, Interim Executive Director

Original publication: Access Fund, Vertical Times #77, August 2007