PRESS RELEASE
October 25, 2001

Advertising Banners Introduced

Some of you may have noticed that in select areas of the site we have introduced small advertising banners. Because of our current financial situation we have decided that this is necessary, but we are determined to keep it as classy and as guided as possible.

We have written a page of Advertising Banner Guidelines which all are welcome to read over. We will only allow advertising opportunities to other companies, organizations, non-profits, treatment facilities, therapists, nutritionists, support groups, and other mental health resources, events and motivational websites. We will only put these banners in places where our visitors are already seeking information from outside the site. In making this decision it was important to Tony and I that these ads be beneficial to our visitors -- never harmful.

We are continuing with our fundraising effort, and will do so for those who wish to support us. If you feel comfortable doing so, click here to make a financial gift of support and/or to buy Fishy stuff. If your interested in finding out more about placing a banner ad, click here.

Thanks so much everyone...
and thanks to ALL OF YOU for your continued support!
Take care of YOU.

Amy Medina
Something Fishy Website on Eating Disorders

PRESS RELEASE
October 14, 2001

Appreciation, Opportunity & Fund Raising

First I want to thank everyone for all of your wonderful support in the last two weeks. The response we have received from all of you has been both helpful and heart warming.

Though we are going to continue with our fund raising effort, we wanted to keep everyone informed to our current situation, which has once again changed.

Based on the goals I have accomplished with Something Fishy over the last several years, I have been presented with the opportunity to do some part-time work with another eating disorders organization, doing graphics, typesetting and web design. This is a wonderful opportunity, and one that allows me the chance to do two things I love, both graphic design and work within the ED community.

I want to assure all of you, our visitors, our supporters, that Tony and I will remain committed to having Something Fishy remain an objective source of information and support. The ED organization I will be working with has no interest in "taking over" Something Fishy; As much as everyone who benefits from using our site, they wish to see the site remain objective, seperate and apart from any other. Something Fishy will continue to be what it is now -- a mom-and-pop shop owned and run by Tony and myself.

As I already stated, though our situation is no longer as "urgent" we will continue with our fund raising effort. It is obvious to most of you that we have sunk our very hearts and souls into our work with the SF website, and will continue to accept financial gifts from those of you who are comfortable giving. These contributions will only help to keep Something Fishy alive, to make this website possible, to keep it free from advertising, and to help us persue even more projects aimed at raising awareness about eatings disorders and offering hope to those who suffer.

Click here to make a financial gift of support and/or to buy Fishy stuff
It will always remain the case that partial procedes from the sale of our CDs will be donated to other non-profit ED organizations. Buying FISHY STUFF is a great way to support SF while also supporting other non-profit organizations. If you prefer to do things by mail, and you'd like to make a financial gift by mailing a check or money order, you can click here for the address.

Amy Medina
Something Fishy Website on Eating Disorders

URGENT PRESS RELEASE
October 1, 2001

Something Fishy Effected by the Economy

As many of you know, Something Fishy is a company/project that Tony and I are always working on in our free time. We have often juggled our responsibilities here with our family, and our full-time and part-time jobs.

Something Fishy is a "company", a hobby, a good-deed, a job, and a passion all rolled up into one. It costs us money to run, money of which comes out of our pockets. We wish we could say that CD-Sales fund the site, but we have never moved enough of them. We have tried to avoid things like sponsorships over the years because we felt being an objective source of information was important. We have never established official non-profit status because that will cost us approximately $1500 of which we don't have to lay out... hence, we have not been eligible for grants. We have never charged membership fees, nor made any part of the site "pay-to-access" because we believe everyone who needs and wants support and information should be able to get it, without fear of how it will impact them financially. We have even refrained from charging Doctors to list their services in the treatment finder because we never wanted a therapist or nutritionist to decide that it wasn't "worth it" to list themselves, thus limiting the amount of resources available to those who suffer.

Obviously the site takes a great deal of time to run and maintain. Things like servers, computer equipment, domains, and software cost money. Tony and I do not take salaries, and each year the site ends up "in the red". We have ended up funding the majority of the site out of our own pockets, from our full-time and part-time jobs.

We have never in the past brought our problems to you, but due to the uniqueness of the recent situation within the United States, Something Fishy is facing hard-times ahead. Because of the failing economy I was recently laid off from my full-time job... I have lost a position I've held for more than twelve years. The job was my primary source of income, and the job in which my medical benefits were provided. This job also offered me the luxury to work out of my home, which obviously provided me the ability to juggle my schedule and keep Something Fishy running "in the background". There is now the possibility that all of this could change.

There are decisions ahead that Tony and I are facing. We do not wish to sell the site, nor do we wish to see it become a haven for tasteless advertising. Part of what has made the site a positive and successful place for seeking information and support has been the fact that we have maintained a personal approach, and we would like to continue forward in this way. We are just worried about how that will be possible without the funds to back it. We are looking at many possible options, and honestly the best-case-scenario is that we can raise a bit of money, at least enough to get us through the year ahead. We have ideas for projects as well that have yet to come to fruition, including a book, a children's book, and t-shirts; But again, all these things, though they have the potential to generate money, also take money to complete.

There have been many of you in the past who have offered financial gifts (donations). We have always told our members we didn't like to accept money from you all, because you are the ones who need and want the support and information. What we are humbly saying now is that financial gifts may be what will keep this site going, at least for the immediate future.

How can you help?
First, understand that we are not an official 501(c) non-profit organization. Any "donations" are not tax-deductible, and are considered financial gifts. This is something that may change in the future, but for now going non-profit just isn't an option.

You can make a financial gift by check, money order or credit card (in U.S. Funds). ANY amount is appreciated, even if it's only a small amount. We have over 15,000 members on the bulletin board and approximately 40,000 subscribers to the newsletter - if everyone sent even just $1.00 think of how much that could be... certainly enough to keep us going for a year. If you want to send $10 or $20 or $50 that's fine too - but PLEASE do not send more than you can afford. We don't want anyone getting into financial trouble because they feel they need to help. Checks or money orders should be made out to Something Fishy and should be mailed to:

Something Fishy Financial Gifts
PO Box 837
Holbrook, NY 11741

Amy Medina
Something Fishy Website on Eating Disorders