This site is NOT a free ride forever. Donate

[alumtube]

This nice site has already saved me a lot time in research and money in advices, just donated the $10 trough paypal.
Thanks again GR Webster.

[uk 75]

I must own up at this point and say that so far I have not donated. This is out of lack of knowledge about websites.

I note that you say you do not want advertising revenue. I must say that most websites I visit seem to use this as a source
of income. Rather like the "free" newspapers we have in the UK everywhere I have grown accustomed to accepting advertising as a small price to pay for getting something which I might not otherwise get.

Perhaps others will disagree but if advertising would make the site more feasible, then I say go for it..

Oh and as soon as funds and my Paypal permit I will donate, honest guv!

Ralph (uk 75)

[grwebster]

Ralph, one reason we don't have advertising is that I haven't the foggiest idea how to go about it. I created The Plane News and Miniature Aircraft Quarterly back in the 1990s and tried to get some ads, but that was a hassle and largely unsuccessful.

In any case I am not offended by those who do not contribute. We are all used to searching web sites and get lots of information for free, and that's fine.

I love this sites ability to attack different types of collectors and those that share their knowledge and photos of their collection inspire most of us.

I will cut expenses and that should allow us to keep us going.

For those who have donated, many thanks. I sent each of you an email, but I messed up and forgot you, sorry.

For the rest, on every page there is a Donate button, so whenever you can and want to, your support will be welcome.

[edward slack]

Hello collectors everywhere.
I don't know how this will go down, but with my limited access to the MAC site, I see there are some deals (sales & purchases) going. Would a commission be feasible ?

[TINMAN]

HI every one i have been a member for a year or so and have found it so helpfull.it was easy to donate a few dollars as i hope the mac forum continues.all the best from mark in darwin nt australia

[Flyingtiger10]

I think that the only way to maintain the MAC website is not by
donation but by subscription. If you need so much money to run
it and there are about 350 registered members, assuming that only
50% will log on regularly to peruse or contribute, then this is the number
of collectors that will gladly pay a yearly subscription. It could be $10,
so you could get 1750 dollars at most; or 1000 dollars at least.
That way, everyone that contributes, will be forced to log on regularly to
get the benefits of membership as well as support the hobby.
I do not think that 10 dollars a year will break anybody's bank!
Voluntary donations, while commendable, will not help the website to survive.

[grwebster]

So, first of all, many thanks for all the concern and input.
For the time being the request for donations has brought in enough to cover some past costs and this year's, and are encouraging enough for us to think that if we do the same request every year, it will be sufficient. But here, again, the donations came from a total of 18 members out of what? 350? But it was enough to continue on.
In any case, I cannot make the site 'by subscription only', the software won't allow it.
I have also eliminated the greatest expense, that of the retained computer consultant. He is now working on a case by case scheme so that eliminated, say, $750 of annual costs. In the years since the site has been going, only one person ever had issues, and the cause of that was never resolved completely. If someone has sign in problems in the future, it will cost $ to set it right, so I probably will not bother. The many problems on content, presentation, hosting server disruptions, and organization I had in the beginning have all been resolved so I think we shouldn't have much left in the future.

By far the biggest concern to me today is keeping the web forum up and operating by having a succession plan in place for someone in his 30s-40s ready to take it over. I am 67, most of my moderators are well over 50, some over 60, too. We all won't be around forever. Should any of you have any ideas, let me know.
Thanks again for your support. We are all in this together

[Mr.1/72]

I don't use paypal.

Could you drop me an e-mail with a snail mail address?

Happy to kick in $20.

Tom Young

[grwebster]

thanks, Tom and a big welcome to our site
I'll send a reminder out shortly on how to donate, thanks for your interest.
I send you a pm so when you log on go t User Control Panel, just below Board Index on main page
GR