I was going to write about something else, but I have been made aware of a new fundraiser by Laurelei Black which aims to raise 20.000 dollars for a temple to Aphrodite in the US (assuming in Monrovia, Indiana). From the fundraiser page:

 
"For nearly 15 years, Laurelei Black has been a Priestess of Aphrodite, and her work has included writing books, leading ceremonies and festivals, teaching classes, and tending to a small woodland shrine of the Goddess of Love and Beauty.
 
It's time to make a physical temple for Aphrodite's worship in the United States. The temples of old (scattered throughout the Mediterranean) are lovely ruins, but the world needs working temples -- places where devotees can interact with the Gods and Goddesses, ceremonies and celebrations can be hosted, and instruction in the Mysteries can happen."
 
This crowdfunding project will help the Temple of Aphrodite to:
- build a temple structure suitable for personal and public celebration year-round
- buy or commission an icon (statue) of Aphrodite for use in the Temple
- decorate and equip the Temple with furnishings, fixtures, and basic supplies
- design and create a surrounding garden for outdoor celebration and meditation
- build and equip a workshop/teaching space

I greatly applaud this initiative, although I do have a few questions. For example, does she already have land at her disposal? How will the project be funded beyond the build? Where will the temple be? What if she stops being interested in the project? What is the timeframe? Is there already an existing community for worship, or is it just Black? etc. Also, I would feel better if this was not a private initiative from someone I have never heard of, but backed by some kind of Pagan organization. I would also have liked a few more details about a business plan, but then again, 20k is not that much in the grand scheme of things. If you have a credit card--please, if you ever start a crowdfunded project, pick a provider which allows for other methods of payment--you can chip into the project here, something I wholeheartedly support.