Ethics question.

I was invited to present at a conference with understanding that the conference would pay expenses. Now they say they are out of money and can't pay expenses. My normal response would be to cancel my appearance, but there are some prominent people there I would really like to get this information to.

There are some well-to-do in people in town who I could ask to subsidize expenses. And normally if it was a straight political thing, or the money was going right to the conference I would not hesitate. But in this case the money would go for travel expense for me. To help spread a message they support, but still asking for a donation to attend a conference...

So is this really no different than asking for support for a non-profit thing (other than the lack of tax deduction)? Or would I be a schtunk if I asked some lefty business people and well-to-do progressives if were willing to subsidize this?

Definitely not unethical -- conference travel funds are a totally normal thing to get money for, whether it's part of your compensation or in the form of a travel grant or an informal/personal donation. If you feel personally uncomfortable (as opposed to unethical, and I suspect that I and a lot of other people would), maybe try approaching them through the conference organizers?

If you can't afford it, then you can't afford it. I say the fund-raising burden is on conference organizers.

D just told me he left work about 5 minutes before Anthony Hopkins came in to dine last night.

It's not unethical, but if it makes you uncomfortable, don't do it. You could give their names to the conference organizers and suggest that the organization solicit the donation.

Ugh, my heart just won't stop racing full tilt boogie today. I haven't even had caffeine! It's like my heart is gonna jump right up my throat. I've tried my biofeedback and some relaxing yoga poses...i fear sleep is waaaay out of reach tonight. Oh yeah, and waiting for the news that house offer #3 has been outbid. *sigh* I'm hating trying to buy a home in this market. It actually really sucks for low-end buyers big time.

{{{erin}}} Tons of calm~ma. Days like that suck.

And did i mention 4 hours of straight police dispatch simulation? A good 3 hours of traffic pursuits, foot pursuits, perimeters, and prioritizing an in-progress shooting and stabbing about 5 miles apart simul with occasional "lulls" of just routine traffic stops and status updates. Good times! Yeah, i'm wound up more than 40 minutes of cardio and 20 minutes of weights can really calm down.

Thanks. I just wish it didn't feel so out of my control. These bodies can be annoying sometimes. I do not want to admit an anxiety issue on top of everything else even tho i know perfectly well this is text book anxiety symptoms.

erin, from the day I went out to look at the first house (and second one I saw being the one I am in now) until moving day ( a frighteningly scant 10 weeks) my back CRAWLED. Like, literally. I could feel the skin moving against my clothes. I was a vibrating wreck. I lost 10 lbs between offer and closing, probably nervous energy alone, and that was under a month. It's stressful and anxiety making.