oo would be willing to contribute to prevent the place filling up with ads my queen:p
(Sorry couldn't help myself after the boss bot reference)
oo would be willing to contribute to prevent the place filling up with ads my queen:p
(Sorry couldn't help myself after the boss bot reference)
I apreciate the support guys. If a donation system was instigated, I would have to make sure something fair was in place, and if necessary, maybe some toy related sponsorship in the future as well - but it would remain minimal and tasteful.
I have a few ideas with the donation concept, but will deal with that later when things have been sorted out first.
My suggestion for a donation system is to have a set minimum amount for people to donate, e.g.: $15 - in return for some token reward, like a custom board rank or maybe just the word "donor" appearing somewhere (like maybe alongside where it has Join Date, Location, Posts)... just as a form of recognition.
Maybe we should change the rank "Member" to be exclusive to donors, and non-paying users can be just known as "users." i.e.: the idea of paying an annual membership fee to help pay the upkeep of this board. As an added incentive, maybe we could have competitions that are only open to members - I'd be willing to donate prizes for such comps, and I'm sure there'd be others who'd be willing to do the same.
We could also do some fund-raising activities. If someone went ahead with making OzFormers T-shirts or jumpers, then perhaps a certain part of proceeds could go to the board. I'm sure most of us wouldn't mind paying an extra $5-10 for a shirt if that money was going to help fund this board. Maybe we someone could even buy a box of fund-raising chocolates or lollies and sell them at conventions like SupaNova, Animania, Manifest etc. - not as in getting a stall or booth, but just walking around the convention and offering them to people? I still have left over stocks of our convention comics - I'd be happy to sell them for maybe $2 a pop and give the proceeds to the board.
:)
In all honesty (and trying not to sound to sappy) I would like to say that I wouldn't need an incentive to contribute to this board as being able to interact and socialise (mainly online but every now and then I make a cameo at a meet) with local tf fans is incentive enough.
Now lets all take a kleenex and wipe the tears out of our eyes :D
I can see where you're coming from, and the benefits are easy to see.
Having said that, I do think if this is be of a net benefit, it has to be completely voluntary. There's no point asking new members or less involved members to pay. Sure, let them know donations are appreciated, but make sure everyone realises there is no obligation, since the board exists as a service to the greater Australian fandom.
Oh yeah, it would be absolutely voluntary.
What I'm saying is that all registered users on this board would be given the default minimum 'rank' of "User." But those of us who may volunteer to make a financial contribution would be given the privilege of being called "Member."
Perhaps we could place all members into an annual draw where they could win some kind of draw-prize.
Other fund-raising activities could be open to all users, donors and non-donors alike, e.g. T-shirts, comics etc.
I would be happy to donate, but I don't like the class divide.
All of us after signing up to the board are already labelled as "member". Instead of playing with ranks, I suggest we can have a "donar thread" listing any new donation. But a donar can have his/her name hidden or unlisted if he/she wishes to.
Yeah - I'd be happy to donate - and really - the board and the community is its own reward :) It'd bethe least we can do for griffin after all he's already done for us ;)