Meridian Magazine :: What is Meridian Worth To You?

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Editor's Note: This editorial from Meridian is so important. We need to keep running it because we need your support. Please read below.

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Monday’s winner in our friends-of-Meridian donation drawing was Shirley Ricks of Provo, Utah. Congratulations, Shirley, on winning a copy of the Worldwide Ward Christmas Cookbook! This amazing new cookbook serves up a little comfort and joy with festive recipes, time-honored traditions, Christmas memories, and fun ideas gathered from the farthest corners of Mormondom. This is a must for every Mormon kitchen. Watch on Wednesday as we will have another wonderful prize to give away in our friends-of-Meridian donation drive. Remember—we do need your generous support to keep bringing you Meridian every day.

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A big thanks to all who have generously donated to Meridian this past week. We are truly very grateful. But we are a bit concerned.

If this were NPR (National Public Radio) in their seasonal fund drive (with which most of us are familiar) we would not be doing very well. We are currently at less than 1/4 the participation we were at by this time in our donation drive last year, with donations tapering off quickly now that we are away from the original request.

I’ve tried to think of ways to attract more donations—

I tried giving away four of my beautiful photographs to use in your home. If you did not take advantage of that offer, you may click here and scroll to the bottom of that article. You can download any or all of those four images for free (non-commercial use) whether you donate or not.

I thought of one of those little, tiny song-and-dance people on the sidebar ads (I would even be willing to be the dancer) that just don’t go out of your sight when you’re trying to read an article at a news site. I decided not.

I thought about referring to the economy and tell you how deeply it has affected Meridian—but it has affected all of you. This we know.

I thought about laying out our needs very specifically (like NPR says: Your donation makes it possible for NPR and your station to report on the environment, health, education, international news, and much more, each and every day.). I think you know that running Meridian isn’t cheap technically or otherwise. And because we have brought Meridian to you for free for the past nearly 11 years, it is very tricky keeping things going as they have in the past.

The best I could think of this round was just sharing with you a number of the places (not the names of all the people, although I have included some with their comments) where support has come from—and hoping you will join the bandwagon.

We’re especially amazed at the donations from California—they are more plentiful, by far, than anywhere else. Thank you California!

At the end, I have included a couple of interesting facts about our readership—first, The Top Twenty-Five States by Readership, and, second, The Top Twenty-Five Countries by Readership. I think the latter will surprise you—especially number 24 and 25!

I have listed the place names in alphabetical order just for fun (not by state or country) so you can feel of the variety.

May I ask you two things? If you see your home town/city on here and you have not donated, will you join with others from your town/city and donate today? If you do not see the place where you are from, will you please be the first to donate from your home area? This is not a comprehensive list, but does include a great portion of the donor towns.

One more thing—please look at the poster that was sent to us below. This will now hang in our office. Don’t miss it.

If you would like to join the others—and we encourage you with all of our hearts to do so—in making a generous donation to help Meridian keep bringing you all that it does you may do so now—you may also do so later below the list.

Ways to Make Your Donation to Meridian, Click on the appropriate link below:
PayPal Donations	Credit Card Donations

If you are more comfortable sending a donation through the mail, you can send a check made out to Meridian Magazine to:

Meridian Magazine
PO Box 94
Fairfax Station , VA 22039-0094

A List of Some of the Places from Whence Donation have Come (watch for your town!)

Albany, Georgia
Alma, Michigan

I wish I could give you the money Meridian is worth! The articles have helped me, my marriage, my testimony, my extended family and non-member friends! Nothing else I get does so much for so many. I hope someday to give you more. Your mission is succeeding—never give up!
Pat Vassilaros
Allentown, Pennsylvania

P.S. I have included my favorite poster. [She then gave us a signed copy of this poster—click to enlarge—you’ll love it—our daughter, Michaela, colored the black and white copy]

Click to Enlarge

Aloha, Oregon
Alpine, Utah
American Fork, Utah
Annapolis, Maryland
Arcadia, California
Arkansas City, Kansas
Arlington, Washington
Arroyo Grande, California
Arvada, Colorado
Auburn, California
Bakersfield, California
Ballwin, Missouri
Baltic, Connecticut
Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baytown, Texas
Beavercreek, Ohio
Beaverton, Oregon
Belmont, California
Benson, Arizona
Bermuda Dunes, California
Billings, Montana
Biloxi, Mississippi
Blackfoot, Idaho
Blaxland, New South Wales, Australia

I love Meridian--the messages, the photos, the columns--what a privilege it is to help this work go forward! Huzzah! Huzzah!
Lynda Gudeman
Blue Diamond, Nevada

Blue Rapids, Kansas
Boise, Idaho
Bountiful, Utah
Brea, California
Bremerton, Washington
Buhl, Idaho
Burley, Idaho
Cairo, Georgia
Caldwell, Idaho
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Camas, Washington
Cardston, Alberta
Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Carlsbad, New Mexico
Carlton, Washington
Carson City, Nevada
Carthage, North Carolina
Castle Rock, Colorado

We love Meridian! Thanks for all that you do.
LaRee Garfield
Cedar City, Utah

Cedar Hills, Utah
Centerville, Utah
Champaign, Illinois
Chandler, Arizona
Chula Vista, California
Citrus Heights, California
Claremont, California
Claremont, California
Clarksville, Indiana
Clayton, Idaho
Clearfield, Utah
Clovis, California
Cody, Wyoming
College Grove, Tennessee
Colleyville, Texas
Columbia, Maryland
Columbia, Missouri
Conifer, Colorado
Coos Bay, Oregon
Cordova, South Carolina
Corvallis, Oregon
Crestline, California
Cupertino, California
Cypress, Texas
Damon, Texas

Dear Meridian,
Thank you so much for all that you do for all of us that have found your website. I have told many friends and family all about you. I enjoy so much all that you have to offer. I would love to be able to donate more but, can only donate $50.00 at this time. I always look forward to all that you have to offer. May God bless you in all that you do to help us to learn more about Him and the Savior.
Sincerely,
Colleen Read
Delta, Utah

Double Oak, Texas
Dover, Delaware
Downey, California
Downey, Idaho
Draper, Utah
Dubuque, Iowa
Duchesne, Utah
Dulles, Virginia
Eagle, Idaho
East Wenatchee, Washington
Edmonton, Alberta
El Cajon, California
Elk Grove, California
Elkins Park, Pennsylvania
Ellicott City, Maryland
Elsinore, Utah
Eltopia, Washington
Elverta, California
Entratico, Italy
Enumclaw, Washington
Ephraim, Utah
Ephrata, Washington
Eugene, Oregon
Evans, Georgia
Evanston, Wyoming
Everett, Washington
Fairfax, Virginia
Fairfield, Iowa
Falls Church, Virginia
Farmington, New York
Flagstaff, Arizona
Fortuna, California
Fountain City, Indiana

We have been out of work for a year, but love Meridian. I hope my $5 helps at least a little. I love Meridian!
Carolyn Littlejohn
Fremont, California

Front Royal, Virginia
Gainesville, Virginia
Gaithersburg, Maryland
Garden City, Kansas
Garland, Texas
Garner, North Carolina

I’ve been a Meridian reader since its beginning. Thank you for the wonderful photo essays, articles, news, book chapters, lesson help, interesting polls, and everything else.
Emmy Kinkead
Germantown, Wisconsin

Gilbert, Arizona
Glendale, Arizona
Glendale, California
Grace, Idaho
Grants Pass, Oregon
Grantsville, Utah
Greendale, Wisconsin

Dear Friends,
Yes indeed—Meridian surely is important to us a pair of 80-year-old pensioners here in the most beautiful country in the world—New Zealand. Please keep up the good work—we are constantly forwarding many of your lovely articles to others. May God bless you for your diligence.
Pam and George Heremaia
Hamilton, New Zealand

Hanover, Pennsylvania
Henderson, Nevada
Herriman, Utah
Hickory Corners, Michigan
Hinckley, Utah
Holladay, Utah
Holly Lake Ranch, Texas

Dear Friends,
Please accept this small contribution—I know that you will “wear it out” so that we won’t have to “do without” your wonderful magazine. Remember that by small means great things come to pass so I am confident that through the small gifts of your loyal readers your great contributions to us will be able to continue into the future. God bless you all!
Love,
Melinda LeBlanc
Humble, Texas

P.S. Please don’t think that your magazine is not worth $10 to me—it is worth a million—but $5 is all I can spare right now.

Hummelstown, Pennsylvania
Huntington Beach, California
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Incline Village, Nevada
Issaquah, Washington
Ivins, Utah
Juneau, Alaska
Kalispell, Montana
Kaysville, Utah
Keller, Texas
Kent, Washington
Kesgrave, United Kingdom
Kingston, Ontario
Kingwood, Texas
Knoxville, Tennessee
Kouts, Indiana
La Mirada, California

It was such a pleasure to meet Scot when we served a mission at the Joseph Smith birthplace! We all went to dinner at West Lebanon, New Hampshire. We have been faithful readers for at least ten years—keep up the wonderful work you do!
Elizabeth and Bob Wingate
Lady Lake, Florida

LaGrange, Georgia
Laguna Niguel, California
Laie, Hawaii
Lake Oswego, Oregon
Lancaster, California
La Paz, Bolivia
Las Vegas, Nevada
Lawton, Oklahoma
Le Bar sur Loup, France
Lehi, Utah
Liberty Lake, Washington
Lilburn, Georgia
Lincoln, Arkansas
Lincoln, California
Lindon, Utah
Lindsborg, Kansas
Litchfield Park, Arizona
Little Rock, Arkansas
Littleton, Colorado
Livermore, California
Logan City, Queensland, Australia
Logan, Utah

Thank you doesn't seem enough, Meridian is set as my home page; your articles are uplifting and much appreciated. Thank You.
Lucile Cobb
Longmont, Colorado

Longwood, Florida
Los Angeles, California
Los Banos, California
Los Osos, California
Mackay, Idaho
Madras, Oregon
Magna, Utah
Magnolia, Texas
Malad City, Idaho

Best wishes for continued success in providing insightful messages! I especially appreciate Gospel Doctrine information for Sunday School class and love Ann Perry’s messages of inspiration. May God bless you in the good work you do on Meridian.
Sister Marilyn Cook
Malibu, California

Mannford, Oklahoma
Mansfield, Victoria, Australia
Maple Grove, Minnesota
Marion, Ohio

Meridian Magazine is my home page. My day is not complete until I have checked out the latest articles and news headlines. Thank you for each issue, and please keep them coming.
Narene Ireland
Martin, South Dakota

Martinsburg, West Virginia
Mayfair, Saskatchewan
McCammon, Idaho
McLean, Virginia
Menlo Park, California
Meridian, Idaho
Mesa, Arizona
Midland, Michigan
Midlothian, Virginia
Midvale, Utah
Milan, Michigan
Moapa, Nevada
Modesto, California
Morrison, Colorado
Mountain View, Alberta, Canada
Mountain View, California
Münchenstein, Switzerland
Mukwonago, Wisconsin
Murrieta, California
Murtaugh, Idaho
Nampa, Idaho
Napa, California
Naperville, Illinois
Nauvoo, Illinois
Newport Beach, California
Nicholson, Georgia
Nine Mile Falls, Washington
Norcross, Georgia
North Bend, Oregon
North Potomac, Maryland
Norwell, Massachusetts
Norwood, New Jersey
Ogden, Utah
Omaha, Nebraska
Orange, California

How wonderful it is to read about many others of our faith all over the world and the great things they are accomplishing. Like you! Thank you for keeping us up in a depressing world!
Kelly Olsen
Orangeville, Utah

Oregon City, Oregon

I hope this check will help you at this time. It isn’t very much but it is the same amount I give for the Ensign. Thank you for having a magazine with high morals. I don’t know if there are many like it out there. Whenever I pick up one in a doctor’s office or at a store while waiting to pay for my groceries now, I am always sorry to read the articles they think everyone wants to know. Anyway, keep up the good work and have a happy day.
Vi Kanavel
Orem, Utah

Palo Alto, California
Paradise, California
Payson, Arizona
Pensacola, Florida
Peoria, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Pine Valley, Utah
Plainfield, Indiana
Plano, Texas
Pleasant Grove, Utah
Pleasant View, Utah
Pocatello, Idaho
Port Lions, Alaska
Portland, Oregon
Portola Valley, California
Portsmouth, Ohio
Prairieville, Louisiana
Prescott, Arizona
Preston, Idaho
Prineville, Oregon
Providence, Utah
Provo, Utah
Queen Creek, Arizona
Raleigh, North Carolina

Your magazine is a bright spot in an otherwise dreary world. I read it every day and use many of the articles in my RS lessons. Keep up the good work!
Phyllis Barton
Ranchita, California

Ravensdale, Utah
Raymond, Alberta
Red Bluff, California
Redlands, California
Redwood Valley, California
Regina, Saskatchewan
Reno, Nevada
Rexburg, Idaho
Richland, Washington
Richmond, Virginia
Ridgecrest, California
Rigby, Idaho
Rincon, Georgia
Rio Rico, Arizona
Ririe, Idaho
Riverdale, Utah
Riverside, California

Thank you for all the wonderful articles. I often pass them on to my grown children.
Cyndy McMullin
Riverton, Utah

Riverton, Wyoming
Robbinsdale, Minnesota
Rochester, Minnesota
Rocklin, California
Rocky Mount, Virginia
Rogers, Arkansas

Thank you for all that you do. Your LDS news updates are most valuable.
Laurence Sharp
Roseburg, Oregon

Roselle, Illinois
Sacramento, California
Saint Leonard, Maryland
Salem, Utah
Saline, Michigan

Glad I could help you. Meridian Magazine has been a tremendous source of inspiration to me. I would be happy if you have to have it a subscription yearly. Thanks again and God Bless.
Scott Francesconi
Salt Lake City, Utah

Sammamish, Washington
San Antonio, Texas
San Clemente, California
San Jose, California
San Ramon, California
Sandy, Utah
Sanger, Texas
Santa Clara, Utah
Santa Maria, California
Santa Paula, California
Saratoga Springs, Utah
Saratoga, California
Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania
Sequim, Washington
Show Low, Arizona
Silver Spring, Maryland
Simi Valley, California
Smithfield, Utah
Snohomish, Washington
South Jordan, Utah
Spanish Fork, Utah
Sparks, Nevada
Spokane, Washington
Springfield, Ohio
St. Anthony, Idaho
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
St. George, Utah
St. Helens, Oregon
St. Peters, Missouri
Stansbury Park, Utah
State Center, Iowa
Stillwater, Oklahoma
Stirling, Alberta, Canada
Stockton, California
Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England
Studio City, California
Sturgeon County, Alberta
Sugar Hill, Georgia
Sunset Beach, California
Surprise, Arizona
Swan View, Washington
Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Canada
Syracuse, Utah
Taylorsville, Utah
Teachey, North Carolina
Temecula, California
Terreton, Idaho
Tetonia, Idaho
Thornton, Colorado
Toledo, Ohio
Trail, British Columbia, Canada

Thanks so much for Meridian. It is a blessing to us and to the world.
Mary Beth Richardson
Troutdale, Oregon

Twin Falls, Idaho
Ucon, Idaho
Unionville, Connecticut
Upland, California

I would be happy to pay monthly. I can pay more that way. Thanks for all you do.
Sallie Nielson
Vancouver, Washington

Vernal, Utah
Vidor, Texas
Walkersville, Maryland
Warden, Washington
Washington, Utah

My husband was out of work last year but now he has a job and I would like to pay for last year and this. I appreciate what you are doing and look forward to the uplifting and inspirational articles each day! Keep up the good work!
JoAnna Gale
Washougal, Washington

Water View, Virginia
Wellington Point, Queensland, Australia
West Haven, Utah
West Richland, Washington
West Valley City, Utah
Westminster, California
Wheatland, Wyoming
Wilton, California
Winchester, Virginia
Winsboro, Texas
Winston Salem, North Carolina
Woods Cross, Utah
Yakima, Washington
York, Pennsylvania
Yucaipa, California
Zillah, Washington