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Future of the Forum

The money is made either by ads people click on, or voluntary member fees. I'm not sure why that is an issue?
 
Well I guess we could have an auction then. It would be rather labor intensive and would require someone to donate an appropriate item that people would love to have for a short period of time but be willing to give back. Or we could have a forums store that had a continual stock of donated new and used items for sale. Even the poorest person has something amusing lying around, and richer people could donate brand-new items like books, etc.

Just throwing an idea out other than the usual tshirts and mugs.
 
Skeptic Ginger said:
The money is made either by ads people click on, or voluntary member fees. I'm not sure why that is an issue?
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Well.
I do think it is a 'huge' issue.
The point is that this website has never been about money.
People walk in off the street.

Yeah, it now needs to be paid for.
JREF is cutting us off.

But it can be done in a day...

Why compromise the integrity ?
Of what has been built up?
 
icerat said:
Depends on the "tie in". If we can negotiate a referral fee from JREF for TAM tickets or JREF cruises, or with JW's college cruises, I can't see a problem.

Amega Wand kickbacks on the other hand ..... :cool:

But no, it's not turning in to a commercial site. Personally I like the current model of ads for guests and nothing for members. With tweaking and donations I think we can cover costs without needing to sell tshirts :)
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Foolmewunz said:
For the record, selling t-shirts and coffee mugs is exactly what we SHOULD BE DOING. Links to Amazon for books? Just the few pennies from the Arthwollipot annual book budget would probably pay for the servers for a month. :D

Those sorts of things can be done unobtrusively on a "Shop" page. And t-shirts, posters, coffee mugs and such are points of pride for some members. Of course, that's after we come up with a name and logo....
...
Click to expand...

Looks like I am late... :D
Just commissions to stores could be nice part of funding...
 
I'm finding it really concerning that the t-shirt/store thing is becoming a real idea.

If we go the route of a 501c3, the easiest way to do this will be to just have a goal that people will get behind - and not just the people of this forum. People in general.

This is why, in the forum-naming thread, I suggested 'Sherlock's Homes'. It would be a network of people mentoring, buddying, or counseling (not in the clinical sense) people who are concerned about "coming out" regarding their atheism, sexuality, etc.

On a very basic level, it's just an e-mail network. However, if it was a concept that took off, it could also be a network of people willing to put someone up in a motel room if they get kicked out for their atheism, sexuality, etc. It could be people in managerial positions willing to review the CVs of those who have lost their jobs because of their belief systems.

If there's an idea like that we actually take part in, we will continue indefinitely - not just so long as there are members willing to write a big check.
 
I can do an annual dollar amount for a while. Future uncertain.

I won't buy t-shirts and such. I'm too far away, too poor and too old for that stuff.
 
Sticky Fingers said:
Well.
I do think it is a 'huge' issue.
The point is that this website has never been about money.
People walk in off the street.

Yeah, it now needs to be paid for.
JREF is cutting us off.

But it can be done in a day...

Why compromise the integrity ?
Of what has been built up?
Click to expand...
So it's a problem for users to donate maintenance fees?

Or are you just concerned icerat might be looking for a profit?

Perhaps we should ask him?
 
Publish all incomes and costs on a sticky thread. Have annual month for "mauling by sceptics" where the budget gets poked and prodded. Proceed from there.

(Much like what's happening right now.)
 
Skeptic Ginger said:
So it's a problem for users to donate maintenance fees?

Or are you just concerned icerat might be looking for a profit?

Perhaps we should ask him?
Click to expand...

SG .........
Will donations be welcome on the new site?
Hopefully.......

But I still don't think you understand....

The fundraising will be the least of the issues.
One day- tops. For a whole year.......

But hanging the whole money issue over our heads.
To change the site.....

Well.......................

that is a different story........
 
madurobob said:
Yes, but its a simple equation based on web traffic; not any real intelligence on the site/forums. I don't believe it recognizes that ads are only served to folks not logged on, and only in single, obtrusive banner ads. If the JREF (or icerat) tried to maximize that $59/day it would be very short lived, as folks would bail out in droves when faced with the onslaught of ads.

In short, I think their $59/day is bogus. But, if the forums can break even run as they are now, or even run a small profit for icerat - excellent! My annual donation won't be needed and I can direct it where its more needed (Madurobob's Non-Profit Bourbon Supply).
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Yes, that $59 is rubbish, however there are ways of getting this forum to make a profit. Most of these ways are discussed in this thread. Or it can be used for other purposes.
 
Icerat, nothing has come from the JREF about what they received before the deadline, and what they are going to do with it. You seem to be more open. Have you heard anything? Or are you bound by the Unofficial Secrets Act?
 
icerat said:
Current operating costs (server, licencing, firewall etc) is around $7000/yr. I'm fairly certain we can do a lot better than that and get better performance, but we can't be certain until something is up and running. Personally I'd also like consideration of some kind of compensation to admins/mods as some of them put an awful lot of time in to the site. That poses a risk of changing the character of the site however. Aforementioned t-shirts and coffee mugs might be an appropriate way. :)
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Personally, I'd be opposed to this, for a number of reasons I'm not quite able to articulate at the moment. :)
 
icerat said:
Personally I'd also like consideration of some kind of compensation to admins/mods as some of them put an awful lot of time in to the site.
Click to expand...
zooterkin said:
Personally, I'd be opposed to this, for a number of reasons I'm not quite able to articulate at the moment. :)
Click to expand...
I'm not aware of any evidence that forum volunteers themselves require any compensation or that there would ever be a shortage of competent folks to do it for free. And it is far from clear how compensation would be a benefit net of the cost.
 
steenkh said:
Icerat, nothing has come from the JREF about what they received before the deadline, and what they are going to do with it. You seem to be more open. Have you heard anything? Or are you bound by the Unofficial Secrets Act?
Click to expand...

According to the JREF there will be an official statement made after they have considered the proposals and chosen one. I'd rather they not simply rush something out half cooked.
 
I agree with my surfing buddy up above. I wouldn't take money for moderating. It's something I do to help make the community better. I don't mind spending a little time (and enduring a few slings and arrows; comes with the territory). I wouldn't say no to one of those spiffy t-shirts, or a coffee mug, but I wouldn't take cash. It just seems dirty, somehow.
 
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