The Firedoglake Membership Program’s #OccupySupply fund just received our first shipment of cold weather supplies for occupations across the country. With a lot of hard work and determination, we were able to purchase 5000 pieces of clothing for extreme cold weather, made in the USA by union workers. Simply amazing.

Now we’re looking for leaders to help us get it all out there.

I was up late doing some thinking after the GOP debate on why membership at FDL is so important to me, and what benefits it offers to others who join. I just graduated in 2009, and I like to think that is not all that long ago. I was 23 years old, on the job hunt, sending out 20 resumes a day, interviewing at temp-to-hire firms, willing to take anything and trying to show off my credentials.

I realized that I had a lot of experience on campaigns, and my grades were great, but I did not “get that involved.” What I am getting at here is that FDL is a great member benefits program to become a part of as a young college student or recent graduate.

There is only so much we can do on our own as the ‘administrators’ of this site, and to go further, there’s even less we can do without you. I’m not just talking about finances — yes, we are a 100% reader-supported website and we would pretty much cease to exist without your continued financial support.

Rather, I’m focusing more on our direction, strategy and values — Firedoglake’s identity that’s inseparable from the folks who visit our site each and every day. We can’t continue to push the boundaries in an effective way without the support and direction of our most trusted advisors – our readers, commenters and activists. We are a team and need to work together as one.

Become a member of Firedoglake now.

So — you enjoy stopping by Firedoglake to find out the Monday morning news you don’t get from your regular media consumables? Me, too. That’s how I started reading Firedoglake six years ago, and I’ve been a regular around here ever since.

In case you hadn’t heard, we’re member-supported, member-driven, and member-focused – become a member of Firedoglake now.

I am so excited about the opportunities that the membership program is offering to us.  It’s providing a conduit to talk with each other directly, to get together in regular town hall webinars where we share ideas, discuss our concerns and learn together. And now it’s entering its next phase, where members join together in working groups that they manage, organize and drive.

If that sounds exciting to you, and you are not yet a member, please JOIN NOW.  We need your energy, your enthusiasm, your ideas and your passion.

Click here to join at our exclusive Firebaggers level for $65/year and get an official Firedoglake Firebaggers T-shirt.

I was talking to one of our membership engagement team members (MET), our pilot volunteer program, this afternoon. He said that he had a wonderful conversation with someone when calling to thank a member for joining. They talked, exchanged emails, and are at the beginning of what could be a great friendship. It is really heartwarming, exciting, and rewarding to hear stories like that and know that I helped in some way to orchestrate it.

Click here to join at our exlusive Firebaggers level for $65/year and get an office Firedoglake Firebaggers T-shirt.

I’ve been calling FDL members ever since we launched the membership program just to thank them for joining, but this week I’ve been calling members who have expressed interest in volunteering. It’s been an amazing experience. Our members have an incredible wealth of skills and expertise, and most have never commented on FDL before, so this is the first time we’ve had to speak with most of them.

An “Original Firebagger” t-shirt is pretty cool, but supporting independent media is even cooler.

You get all of this value from FDL seven days a week, every day of the year. If this community is something you value, something that you really build into your life, please consider becoming a member.

For $5 or $10 a month, the cost of a bucket of chicken, you can not only be sure that the voices and community you value are maintained and strengthened, but you also become a card carrying member of the Professional Left!

News. Analysis. Passionately taking a stand. Flair and style. Where else are you going to find the combination of independent media and kick-ass activism that is FDL? No matter who the writer and no matter what the subject, FDL makes you think — and that’s why you come, and keep coming back.

FDL isn’t in anyone’s Veal Pen, and we don’t get big checks from George Soros, someone’s trust fund, corporate PR accounts, or anyone’s campaign coffers.

Instead, we have members. If you are one, thanks; if you haven’t become one already, now is the time.