Yes, the site is slow right now but you just need to hit "refresh" on your browser a couple of times to get to the pages you want to view.
For those looking to give away/exchange/use gift votes, I just successfully gave away my second gift to a temporary new "friend" via the PANDORA Facebook page. It was all done through FB messaging (like PM here).
For those willing to spread the word to their friends but need an email blurb to cut and paste explaining the background, here is something you can maybe use (please edit to your liking). I just asked some additional friends and friends who had voted if they wouldn't mind asking their spouses and close work friends during the day by forwarding the below email (this one doesn't get into the gift vote thing, but I figure the less work they have to do the more likely they'll cast one vote rather than zero):
Hi everyone, I am forwarding the email below at my friend's request for those of you on FB. Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks, xxx
Dear friends,
I'm sending this to ask for your support on a cause that is important to me. I'm not sure how many of you know about the Chase Community Giving contest on FB. Basically, JP Morgan Chase will be donating approximately $5 million total to be shared among 200 non-profits that collect the most votes by FB users on its FB application by July 13. This time around, the contest is open only to local non-profits with small budgets. The top 5 will get $100K or more; the remaining 195 organizations will receive $20K each. Participants can vote for up to 20 organizations.
For those of you already voting or are open to doing so, I'm sending this to ask for your support for research into my illness (unfortunately named) Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (also known as CFS, CFIDS, and ME), by casting a vote for a smart, ambitious but small non-profit that does advocacy and research for CFS, among other chronic illnesses.
The name of the organization is P.A.N.D.O.R.A., which is short for "Patient Alliance for Neuroendocrine-immune Disorders Organization for Research and Advocacy, Inc.". Their CCG page has more info about their activities, including a video. It's the only CFS non-profit with a realistic chance of a top 200 result, but today is the last day of the competition with 7 hours left to vote, and while we've consistently been in the top 200, it now looks like we may not make the cut by as little as 20 votes on this last day of the competition: so every vote very literally counts! Earlier time-stamped votes will be given higher priority over later ones.
It's very easy and quick to vote:
1. Search for the "Chase Community Giving" application while logged into FB and allow access the application by clicking "Like".
2. To vote for PANDORA, please Search using the words "Patient Alliance" and the full name will come up and hit "Vote Now" to cast your vote. That's it!
Your voting activity will not appear anywhere on your FB wall/profile/status. If you'd prefer to keep your voting activity private within the CCG application, you can go to "Preferences" on the application page and select the last option, "Share none of my activity..." and others will not see that you voted.
Thanks in advance! Finally, contest aside, thanks in general for all your friendship and support.