GreekChat needs to raise $750 to complete a webserver upgrade

[NutBrnHair]

OK, you get a pass carnation. Others?

[John]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

I'm trying to straighten out my Paypal account

Originally Posted by barbino

some issues with Paypal in the past but I'll figure out what to do

I'll see about getting one or more alternatives to PayPal setup soon as I'm sure there are some who prefer using other payment processors.

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

By my count, I think you reached your goal, John. I don't think 26 will be the end, either. Good idea.

Yes, I got back into this thread to post an update on that. We have this immediate fundraising need covered. We're a few hundred past the 750 at this point.

Going to order the drive adapters today and also the hard drives if they are in stock. Provantage.com has the best price on the drives & I purchased from them before, so I'll give a call to see how soon they will be available again. Newegg had them in stock when I posted this thread, but they were out of stock last I checked.

I'm very hopeful that subscriptions keep coming in, though. I'll do whatever I can to continue earning the support on GC's behalf. Truth be told, I'm in the red with GC by a significant amount. Still trying to pay off CCs that I used to finance GC operations and it would be really nice to finally have a clean slate with all this.

Originally Posted by Kevin

'bout damn time you let us kick in a few bucks to help John.

Thanks, Kevin. I know you and quite a few others have been offering to help with the costs for years. Around 4 or 5 years ago I held a fundraiser which raised about $500, which helped a bit, but I should have setup this subscription system long ago. Seems I waited too long, almost to the last minute, to ask for help. So far the new subscription system appears to be working out well. If I can manage to earn continued support from new subscribers (by continuing development of GC, providing a nice set of bonus account features and by providing great tech support for subscribers) I think it has the potential to be really great.

[Sen's Revenge]

Originally Posted by John

If I can manage to earn continued support from new subscribers (by continuing development of GC, providing a nice set of bonus account features and by providing great tech support for subscribers) I think it has the potential to be really great.

And a democratic process for selecting moderators - including rotating them in and out every 18-months, two years or so.

Sorry, John, I feel you on what you're trying to do, and I am sure you'll get the support you need, but I can't donate until there's a process in place to retire moderators and recruit new ones.

ETA: And I am not a mooch, I have paid for advertising here before and probably would again. I am speaking as a user, not a business owner.

[John]

Originally Posted by Sen's Revenge

And a democratic process for selecting moderators

I also believe this is very important for the GC community. We did have somewhat of a democratic process in place including nominations along with review by the current mods team, but it's been a very long time since any of that has been done. Even years ago I was thinking about ways we could make very good improvements to this overall process.

However, that all takes time which I could no longer afford to give so much of to GC. If the level of GC subscriptions exceeds my expectations, then I would certainly be able to spend a serous amount of time working on the site sorting out every issue & developing new features. Even at a lower level of continued subscriptions it would enable me to consistently spend at least part-time work on the site which would also be overall quite good. For a while now the time I could offer only allowed for server maintenance, software maintenance and the most urgent issues within the forums, but hopefully that will be able to change in a good way.

Originally Posted by Sen's Revenge

I have paid for advertising here before and probably would again. I am speaking as a user, not a business owner.

I thought this account was yours but wasn't sure. Did you lose access to your other account or just having some fun with this one? By the way, thanks again for your previous advertising purchase.

[Sen's Revenge]

Originally Posted by John

I also believe this is very important for the GC community. We did have somewhat of a democratic process in place including nominations along with review by the current mods team, but it's been a very long time since any of that has been done. Even years ago I was thinking about ways we could make very good improvements to this overall process.

However, that all takes time which I could no longer afford to give so much of to GC. If the level of GC subscriptions exceeds my expectations, then I would certainly be able to spend a serous amount of time working on the site sorting out every issue & developing new features. Even at a lower level of continued subscriptions it would enable me to consistently spend at least part-time work on the site which would also be overall quite good. For a while now the time I could offer only allowed for server maintenance, software maintenance and the most urgent issues within the forums, but hopefully that will be able to change in a good way.



I thought this account was yours but wasn't sure. Did you lose access to your other account or just having some fun with this one? By the way, thanks again for your previous advertising purchase.

I can dig it.

Just wanted a fresh start.

[NutBrnHair]

John, it's your show, so I'm cool with that.

I come from a non-profit fundraising background where the staff and volunteers are supposed to lead the way with donations with 100% participation.

I'm glad the response has been good.

[John]

Hard drive adapters have been purchased & are on the way. Looking into the hard drives next.

Originally Posted by NutBrnHair

John, it's your show, so I'm cool with that.

I come from a non-profit fundraising background where the staff and volunteers are supposed to lead the way with donations with 100% participation.

I'm glad the response has been good.

GC isn't a non-profit (more like a negative-profit so far), but if you have any tips or ideas on how I might improve my efforts I am certainly all ears. Please feel free to send a PM with any suggestions if you would like. I can absolutely understand the value of getting advice from others experienced in this area.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by NutBrnHair

I come from a non-profit fundraising background where the staff and volunteers are supposed to lead the way with donations with 100% participation.

Then surely you know that the main driver behind 100% participation is to impress outside funding foundations, which isn't applicable here.

[John]

Originally Posted by NutBrnHair

OK, you get a pass carnation. Others?

The financial support is needed and much appreciated, but I really don't want to see GC subscriptions cause any friction between members. Please let this be a no-pressure thing.

Anyone who can subscribe will be thanked for the help and they will receive the account bonus features for doing so, but I do appreciate everyone who is here on GC, including members, subscribers & even the website guests without a GC account.

GC would not be manageable without moderators, so obviously they are a really big help to keeping this community operating well. But everyone can be helpful in a way, whether a moderator, subscriber or general site member. Being active on GC creates new content on the site, which helps to keep other members and visitors interested. That in turn creates a cycle of increased activity & interest in GC. Anyone who wants to help outside of subscribing can also spread the word simply by telling a few friends that GC now has bonus account features for subscribers.

Anyhow, let's keep this no or low pressure as possible & just have fun with it. Big thanks to everyone who is helping out no matter how you are doing so!

[AOIIalum]

Originally Posted by NutBrnHair

OK, you get a pass carnation. Others?

I know it's been addressed, but I'm still replying. It's no secret around here that my husband's job was eliminated over eight months ago and he's still job hunting. We've got three sons graduating next spring, two from college and one from HS. As I've posted here, I've already pledged my subscription to John as soon as our financial situation changes. That's why this moderator isn't subscribing right now.

Why or why not the decision to subscribe to an online message board is yours, or anyone else's business, is beyond my comprehension.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by AOIIalum

I know it's been addressed, but I'm still replying. It's no secret around here that my husband's job was eliminated over eight months ago and he's still job hunting. We've got three sons graduating next spring, two from college and one from HS. As I've posted here, I've already pledged my subscription to John as soon as our financial situation changes. That's why this moderator isn't subscribing right now.

Why or why not the decision to subscribe to an online message board is yours, or anyone else's business, is beyond my comprehension.

Alpha love to you sister! You and anyone else need not have to explain to anyone your financial situation or decisions. This economy has been tough for many. Not everyone is in a position to help out right now, and judging those who can't but would love to help is counterproductive. Fingers crossed that jobs are coming for everyone on GC who needs one.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Alpha love to you sister! You and anyone else need not have to explain to anyone your financial situation or decisions. This economy has been tough for many. Not everyone is in a position to help out right now, and judging those who can't but would love to help is counterproductive. Fingers crossed that jobs are coming for everyone on GC who needs one.

Exactly. And how would one know who had subscribed and who hadn't? Some may choose not to add an avatar and some may choose not to post in the private forum.

For a lot of years, I couldn't afford to donate to our Foundation, but I gave a ton of my time. Everybody contributes in the way that they can.