Author: Steven Schwartz
Date: 10:15:54 08/31/04
Go up one level in this thread
On August 31, 2004 at 12:42:07, José Carlos wrote: >On August 31, 2004 at 12:01:39, Steven Schwartz wrote: > >>First of all, I want to thank all of the members who have chosen to >>contribute to the CCC. It would have been impossible for us to >>continue if members did not open their wallets. I have guaranteed the >>membership that CCC will stay right where it is until, at least, February >>no matter what happened. >> >>However, there is still a ways to go to have the CCC/CTF pay its own >>way, so that we can avoid commercialism and keep the board right here, >>running as smoothly as it has for the last 7 years. >> >>Here are the details of what has transpired so far (as of right now): >>59 members have contributed a total of $1935. That is an average donation >>of $32.80. The donations have ranged from $5 to $250. >> >>This is a somewhat less than 1/2 of what is needed to make the CCC/CTF totally >>self sufficient cost-wise. The goal is to reach $4400. It does not pay >>for the outlay of money that we have put into CCC for the last three >>years (I am not asking for that back. I do not feel that is right), but it does >>take the burden of the next year's expenses off our back. >> >>If the goal can be reached, the guarantee can be pushed till next August. At >>that time, we can make decisions as to how and where CCC will be housed >>thereafter. >> >>We did an emailing which is ending shortly to all CCC/CTF members >>asking for contributions. I also posted here on CCC. One of the problems >>may be that August is a big time for vacations. >> >>What appears to have happened is that about 1% of the total membership >>and, perhaps, 6% to 12% of the "active" membership, has responded to our plea >>for donations. That is a bit disppointing considering the fact that even the >>elections manage to bring out 200 or so people. >> >>So, please, if you have used and enjoyed CCC over the years, consider >>making a donation to keep everything as it has been. There are links >>at the top of the message board to make it easy, and you may contribute >>as little as $5 or as much as you wish. The money will ONLY be used to >>pay the bills at CCC. > > I said from the begining that I wouldn't pay. I can't at this moment, but I >wouldn't even if I could because it's against my idea of how this is supposed to >work. I said, and still think the same, that a sponsor should be found and >otherwise, someone else should host the forum, for which there were very >interesting proposals. > I repeat my position because the above comments look pretty much like a moral >manoeuvre, which I don't like. I hope this kind of comments don't put me in a >"bad people list". > In fact, I prefer a obligatory fee and being out because of it than this way >of categoryze people in "good guys" and "those who enjoy the forum but don't >move a finger to help keeping it alive". > > Just my opinion, > José C. Jose, I thought I made it clear that I asked for donations so as to not burden those who could not pay nor make demands on those who felt everything should be free on the internet. I do not see this as a good guys vs. bad guys situation. When I made my plea to the members, I gave four choices: 12 a) some other organization can take over the responsibility of hosting 4 b) CCC and CTF can be disbanded and members can rejoin the USENET 44 c) members can pay a yearly fee to belong 5 d) members can voluntarily contribute The numbers to the left of the choices are the count of members who chose each option (at least that is what their posts indicated). Having done this for 7 seven years, I can assure you that someone moving the site to another server, free of charge, is only taking over a small percentage of the expenses and none of the daily administration and maintenance necessary to run the CCC properly. But, come next February or next August if the membership feels as if it wants to move elsewhere, I will not be insulted nor embarrassed. I will just be a bit concerned that the CCC will not be run with the diligent attention to detail that it has in the past. The one thing I will not miss will be the loss of income that has come along with the hosting over the last three years. There is no Hall of Shame for members who do not donate. If you can't afford to or do not want to, that is fine. That is why it is called a donation. Steve
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