Support Maple Leaf Up!

[Paul Singleton]

Thanks Geoff for all the time you spend on the forum.

Paul

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Paul Singleton

Thanks Geoff for all the time you spend on the forum.

Paul

You're quite welcome, Paul. In 1998 I was in the right place, at the right time, with the right mindset. I started MLU because I was interested in the subject matter, and it just grew from there... in many ways you, and those like you, bear as much responsibility and credit as you give me.

I'm happy to say that as of today, I now have received 25 donations... 19 by PayPal, one by EMT and five by snail mail or personally delivered. This is a record, and I am grateful for your generosity... but you are 25 out of 546 core users. Gentlemen, 521 of you are riding the coattails of the 25 who have chosen to contribute. Ask yourselves... would this be satisfactory to YOU, if you were in my position?

I don't know what else I can say... YOU have to decide what you think this is worth to you.

Geoff

[cliff]

Originally Posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball

Gentlemen, 521 of you are riding the coattails of the 25 who have chosen to contribute. Ask yourselves... would this be satisfactory to YOU, if you were in my position?

I don't know what else I can say... YOU have to decide what you think this is worth to you.

Geoff

Geoff you still have not replied to me as to whether you received my PayPal payment of Nov 1 2009 for $55 AUD being the MLU's share of the few MLU Calendars sold so I have to ask if I am concidered to be amongst the 25 or am I concidered to be bludging off others who have donated?

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Don't be silly, Cliff... of course I received it (as PayPal will confirm) and no, you don't owe me a cent - the work you've done for ALL of us over the years more than demonstrates your dedication to this hobby and to the world of MLU.

I salute you... you've done far more than your share.

[cliff]

Thanks Geoff I appreciate the kind words. I'll try and send more when I can as I have benefited greatly from all the other members posts and knowledge as well.

[Col Tigwell]

I am sorry Geoff if you are not getting the support you need.

I belong to another military forum, who just open a bank when funds are needed and when they have enough they close it down.

The sorry fact is that out of 3000 visitors they only get about 50 who chip in.

I suppose that some think my small pittance is not enough but if every one threw in but $10 then you would have a good bank.

Other than having a levy coupled to various levels of membership seems that is the way that many forums are going. I do not know the answer but there are some who think the internet is free.

The site I run, airman aircrew has no levies mainly because we have a most generous memeber who picks up the tap. I suspect that a levy would produce the same results as you.

If you have a levy, some will go away. However the answer is would they be missed.

Regards

Col

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball

You're quite welcome, Paul. In 1998 I was in the right place, at the right time, with the right mindset. I started MLU because I was interested in the subject matter, and it just grew from there... in many ways you, and those like you, bear as much responsibility and credit as you give me.

I'm happy to say that as of today, I now have received 25 donations... 19 by PayPal, one by EMT and five by snail mail or personally delivered. This is a record, and I am grateful for your generosity... but you are 25 out of 546 core users. Gentlemen, 521 of you are riding the coattails of the 25 who have chosen to contribute. Ask yourselves... would this be satisfactory to YOU, if you were in my position?

I don't know what else I can say... YOU have to decide what you think this is worth to you.

Geoff

Jif

With the big paycheck gone and living hand to mouth like the rest of us,some like me on small Old Age and Canada Pension and what ever savings we may have made in our working life,the ability to fund an internet web site ,let alone dedicate the hours needed to administer same is beyond reasonable expectations for anyone who enjoys this site as much as I have and has been here as long as I have,being the first non Winnington-Ball family member to post on MLU.JIf was first..his son was second and I was third..and I am proud to call Jiff Friend...
]Now it is time to have my say..
This forum takes money to run..If there is approximately 500 of us hard core types,rig up the site so that the first page only can be read ,and the first posting in each thread can be read but no posting with out membership or no reading any more..
Don't dick around with part access,other than that..
Either we are in or out..and I suggest $10.00/year membership..
Any more could be a hardship on some of our elderly members or younger members..and less and there may as well be no membership fees..
But lets stop acting like officers and beat this thing to death with no action other than lip service..
Start acting like SR.NCO's and get this outfit rigged up to "Pay to play"..and pull your finger out Jif and get it done..

[Marc van Aalderen]

Hello Geoff, I just noticed the announcement on the first page. Up to now I've only seen the posts. Although I've not been a member for long I do enjoy reading the Forum. Therefore I have sent a donation to help you keep going with this great Forum. Come on fellow Dutchmen, send over some donations and prove that the general idea that the Dutch are misers is wrong!! Or should I hold you at gunpoint first? r Cheers, Marc van Aalderen

[Bill Murray]

I tend to write books, so bear with me.

I have watched this thread for some time now trying to get a feel for what a subscription to MLU should be in terms of money.

I have no idea what the annual costs are to maintain this forum at a reasonable level. I do know that I looked, with Jif, into doing one of my own dealing with my own field of interest. To do the basics was not overwhelming, but when you added in all the bells and whistles it got fairly expensive.

Not.......even to speak of the personal time it looked like it would take to keep everything up to date, keep the Phishers out and so on.

Given that I really don't know what Jif requires, I am sending a cheque for $50 tomorrow (I seem to be one of the few that had nothing but problems with PayPal). That is twice the amount I pay for a few other pay to play forums but I get twice out of this forum than any other and more.

As well, I will forever be in Jif's debt for the support he gave me in 2004 when my Pat was out in California for six months when my Dad fell ill and I had to stay here and run our business, the house and all of the pets. You can't put a monetary value on that.

In any case, it is not all that unusual to be asked to give monetary support to an enthusiast website and I hope that more of us will give it the thought necessary and take action.

Bill

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Marc and Bill, thank you both for your comments and generosity! People like you make this effort worthwhile... the loyalty and commitment you demonstrate is worthy of the highest praise.

Col ... I'd carry this place by myself if I were of independent means, but I have not been so blessed, thus I must periodically ask for help. I just wish more people recognised the effort which goes into a project like this... and we could be so much better...



Geoff

[matilda IIA]

G'day Geoff
I've just sent you a little someting via paypal to assist with your outstanding forum/web site.

Kind regards
Matt
opm123