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Post by catmandewe on Feb 2, 2017 22:48:40 GMT -5
I don't want to step on any toes here. I did not read through this thread to see that this idea had already been floated out there with Tony's name attached. I'm a big fan of Tony and if he feels strongly about purchasing the forum with personal or group money and managing the site hosting transfer and managing the day to day Admin duties then I will yield to him. If any other toes are being stepped on I am not aware of your efforts so please contact me. I was going to conduct my activities in private until I read through the last few pages of this thread and feel a sense of urgency to step up. So... I have made what I feel is a reasonable offer to Mark to purchase the site outright using a crowd funding campaign for all members to participate in. I will launch the campaign with a goal amount to be revealed later. To reach said goal I would launch a campaign here on the board publicly and privately, as well as on Facebook. I feel that I am a highly qualified candidate - if not the best candidate - to own the forum for the following reasons: - I am an experienced forum owner with forum software experience on several platforms.
- I already pay yearly for a hosting plan with unlimited bandwidth and disk space available to me.
- I have had my hosting account for 10 years approx. and know it to be reliable and good host.
- I have sold a busy forum that I helped build, to a major hobby magazine publication so I have a sense of the inherent value.
- I am familiar with moving forums - the database needs to be migrated to the new owner's host.
- I have the time and energy to devote to managing the day to day operations and appointing moderators with similar energy and vision
My intentions are to preserve and improve the forum as a purely hobbyist based experience for the indefinite future. I am not interested in using it as a business platform or profiting from it very far above simple tools (advertising or sponsors) to cover the hosting cost. Very similar to what Mark has been doing - maybe a little more. My plans for change: - Day-one I would turn on photo uploading. I consider a forum experience like this crippled without it.
- Freshen up the board as discussed in this thread
- Award donors with special recognition items such as a "contributor" level they can wear proudly (or not) - or an email address on the domain etc.
- Improve and expand the selling experience for members - grant "trusted seller" level members (ie: Tony, Roy, etc.) space to maintain their personal BIN sales and auctions similar but in my opinion better than Facebook.
- *Explore* upgrading within Proboards, or moving away from Proboards. This is a tricky (and expensive) proposition and would not be taken lightly without a lot of planning.
Your thoughts, encouragement, hatred, whatever else would be appreciated via PM. Tommy Sorry I havent been here lately, it has just been so busy around here. Perfect Idea! I support this completely and I will contribute to it also. Thanks Tommy! Everyone who can please chip in, lets get this done right! Tony
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,704
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Post by Tommy on Feb 2, 2017 22:55:32 GMT -5
Sorry I havent been here lately, it has just been so busy around here. Perfect Idea! I support this completely and I will contribute to it also. Thanks Tommy! Everyone who can please chip in, lets get this done right! Tony Thank you Tony! Having your support is important to me and I am honored. Lets get 'er dun! haha
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Post by orrum on Feb 3, 2017 8:16:24 GMT -5
Hey Tony you weighing in on the positive is a great thing, thanks!
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Post by catmandewe on Feb 4, 2017 2:29:16 GMT -5
Roy and I are donating the proceeds of our regular Slabilicious Sunday auction coming up this Sunday to the cause. Anyone who wants to come bid on some slabs come over and see us at www.facebook.com/groups/THESLABDEPOTthis coming Sunday, all proceeds will go to Tommy to help with the drive. We are hoping this will put the fund over the top. Tony
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osuguy0301
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 203
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Post by osuguy0301 on Feb 4, 2017 9:25:55 GMT -5
I went to the gofundme page and it said that it was no longer accepting donations...Did the campaign end or was it ended early because the overall goal was met through PayPal and the gofundme? I wanted to donate a few bucks to the cause.
Jake
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 4, 2017 9:52:27 GMT -5
I went to the gofundme page and it said that it was no longer accepting donations...Did the campaign end or was it ended early because the overall goal was met through PayPal and the gofundme? I wanted to donate a few bucks to the cause. Jake Just the auctions are running now. Between auctions, GFM and mail contributions we are so close that the GFM was shut down just in case we go over by too much.
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osuguy0301
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 203
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Post by osuguy0301 on Feb 4, 2017 9:57:11 GMT -5
I went to the gofundme page and it said that it was no longer accepting donations...Did the campaign end or was it ended early because the overall goal was met through PayPal and the gofundme? I wanted to donate a few bucks to the cause. Jake Just the auctions are running now. Between auctions, GFM and mail contributions we are so close that the GFM was shut down just in case we go over by too much. Thanks for the response. Maybe i will just buy something or put something up for auction. Don't really have anything that great to auction off rock-wise other than a couple basic banded amethyst pendents. Are we only auctioning rock related items? Jake
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Post by catmandewe on Feb 4, 2017 10:00:58 GMT -5
You can also send donations directly to Tommy. The Gofundme page charges 8% to accept donations so sending it directly to Tommy is more cost effective.
Tony
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 4, 2017 10:02:53 GMT -5
Just the auctions are running now. Between auctions, GFM and mail contributions we are so close that the GFM was shut down just in case we go over by too much. Thanks for the response. Maybe i will just buy something or put something up for auction. Don't really have anything that great to auction off rock-wise other than a couple basic banded amethyst pendents. Are we only auctioning rock related items? Jake I don't think it has to be rock related, but everything is.
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Post by captbob on Feb 4, 2017 10:11:06 GMT -5
Tommy's Paypal address was posted somewhere around here for a direct contribution. Maybe someone (or Tommy) can repost it. No way I'm gonna try to find it in all these pages!
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osuguy0301
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 203
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Post by osuguy0301 on Feb 4, 2017 10:18:27 GMT -5
Thanks for the response. Maybe i will just buy something or put something up for auction. Don't really have anything that great to auction off rock-wise other than a couple basic banded amethyst pendents. Are we only auctioning rock related items? Jake I don't think it has to be rock related, but everything is. I collect retro video games. Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo...I buy consoles and games, fix them up, clean them, and get them back to 100% working condition. I currently have an extra Sega Genesis console and a number of extra games all in working condition. I don't know if their would be much interest here but these consoles are getting harder and harder to find. Some people may want to reconnect with their youth though. They are also great for younger kids because of the simplistic controls. I was going to put it up for sale on a local video game site but if their was interest here, I would gladly put it up for auction. Jake
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 4, 2017 10:20:14 GMT -5
I don't think it has to be rock related, but everything is. I collect retro video games. Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo...I buy consoles and games, fix them up, clean them, and get them back to 100% working condition. I currently have an extra Sega Genesis console and a number of extra games all in working condition. I don't know if their would be much interest here but these consoles are getting harder and harder to find. Some people may want to reconnect with their youth though. They are also great for younger kids because of the simplistic controls. I was going to put it up for sale on a local video game site but if their was interest here, I would gladly put it up for auction. Jake Post the question in the auction section
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,688
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 4, 2017 10:58:55 GMT -5
I don't think it has to be rock related, but everything is. I collect retro video games. Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo...I buy consoles and games, fix them up, clean them, and get them back to 100% working condition. I currently have an extra Sega Genesis console and a number of extra games all in working condition. I don't know if their would be much interest here but these consoles are getting harder and harder to find. Some people may want to reconnect with their youth though. They are also great for younger kids because of the simplistic controls. I was going to put it up for sale on a local video game site but if their was interest here, I would gladly put it up for auction. Jake There is a guy here in town that does that too...........He had a booth set up next to mine and had a nice collection of old equipment.... He is buying all the time....
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Post by orrum on Feb 4, 2017 11:11:08 GMT -5
Send money to tommylayoriginals.com He posted it here for donations so I know it's ok to post it. He is keeping s list.
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 4, 2017 12:31:31 GMT -5
Send money to tommylayoriginals.com He posted it here for donations so I know it's ok to post it. He is keeping s list. It is better to send paypal money as to a friend or family so RTH doesn't have to pay a fee.
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Post by orrum on Feb 4, 2017 12:38:36 GMT -5
Oops forgot that part, thanx Tela!
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