Mike
Well-Known Member
Since POTUS is preparing to deliver his SOTU address, i figured this was as good a time as any to deliver my SOTF address.
There's plenty of good news to relate. We continue to grow, beyond all my expectations. B.C. will doubtless chide me thinking this, but every time I see we have a new registration, I am convinced that will likely be the last one. How many T-Bucket enthusiasts are there in this world? When I look back to where we were 4 years ago, I am most certainly humbled by the incredible support so many of you have demonstrated toward this site. We were barely hanging on, back in those days, yet a lot of you decided you were going to stick around and help grow this site. And look at what it has become.
After a lot of lost sleep and creating a flat spot on my forehead, by banging it on my desk, we've managed to get the Tech Library running as I had envisioned it, over a year ago. The software is finally doing what I wanted it to do, rather than just what I was telling it to do. As a result, the only limitation I see to the Library becoming the go-to resource for all aspects of T-Bucket building is the lack of article submissions. I know, it's easy to think the worst of ourselves and our abilities, but some of you fellows have got some really great experiences to be shared with others. So give the possibility of submitting an article some consideration. If you think you're writing skills aren't up to snuff, let me know and I'll help you make the necessary edits.
I've been teasing the lead developer at Invision Power Services, because he seems to be dragging his feet on getting the upgraded Gallery script finished up and ready for a release. Guys, you are really going to be amazed when you see the new Gallery. The Beta version of the new software really puts the current release to shame. I'll be upgrading to it, as soon as it is made available.
Now, I come to something I've been fretting over for the last several days. And I'm going to be asking for some input from each of you, as I try to decide how best to move forward.
Watching the forum grow is a good thing. Unless you're looking at the way we've begun putting some strain on our server. Yeah, this is going to be about money and expenses and all that stuff that is less than fun to consider.
We're out-growing our resources. Again. With no sign of it slowing down, either. Which means I need to start making arrangements to get things moved into larger living quarters. The really down side to all this is that we've grown to a point where it gets pretty tough to add some resources for very few dollars. We're already large enough that the only changes we can make are expensive changes.
As I see it (and believe me, I've looked at this from every possible angle), we really have a couple of options. Unless removing resources from the site or shutting the site down are options, that is.
At our present rate of growth, I can move to a server that should keep us in good shape for another year. Maybe 14-16 months, but most likely for just a year. That move is going to increase the hosting expense by $60/month. Which is a heckuva lot of money, if you ask me.
But the cheese gets even more binding than that. At the end of that year, the next option is going to increase the hosting expense by an additional $100/month. The only good news to be found in there is that server would be large enough to keep us in good shape for as much as another 3 years, before we run out of room again.
So here is how that play out, using a projected 4-year model. The next year is going to add $720 to our monthly expenses. Then the next move would add another $1200 per year, making it a total cost increase of $6480 over what we are currently paying, for the next 4 years. That amounts to $135/month increase over what I paid this month for us to be here.
Scary, isn't it?
I have managed to work out a deal to move to the larger server, straight away and at a lower monthly cost. If I take the larger server now, I can buy it for an additional $100/month. Over the 4 year period, that would end up saving a total of $1680 over the first option.
Four years ago this month, I announced I was going to be shutting this site down, because of no participation. Four years ago, I was hoping to get as many as 250 total members, but was more realistically expecting no more than 200. Four years ago, I funded the site out of my back pocket, because it just didn't take much money to keep it alive.
Forty-two months ago, we had to move to a more spacious hosting account, because we were bumping the limits of the account we were running on. Thirty-three months ago, I was racing to get things moved over to what seemed to be a monster server. I was sweating bullets, because I was trying to get the site running faster to keep everyone from complaining about slow load times. We were about this >< close to being shut down, because we were exceeding the limits on the hosting we had at the time. When we got onto our current server, I relaxed, because I knew there was no way we could ever burn up all the resources.
Little did I know. That was 1,818 members and 66,291 posts ago, before we had a Photo Gallery and a Tech Library. Now, with all the added weight, we're starting to stretch the seams again. And what really frustrates me is the amount of money it is going to take to get some more breathing room.
Still with me? Good, because this is where I really start getting nervous.
Over the last few months, we've been doing pretty well at hitting the donation quota. Last month, we even took in an additional $50 or $60, which gives me a bit of insurance to cover a possible shortfall in the coming months. But how is everyone going to react if I suddenly raise the monthly quota by $100/month?
Of our current 2,257 members, we have 105 members who are allowing this site to be here. I'm not going to mince words here, because if those 105 members were not covering the bills, we wouldn't be here. I cannot afford to operate this site without the financial support we're getting. And now, I'm faced with having to ask for more.
Yes, I know, when you look at the total number of members and the total monthly expenses, it seems to be a non-issue. At the new level of expenses, assuming the move to the new server, $270/month comes to $3,240 for the year. If all of our 2257 members would donate just $1.44 each, we would be in tall cotton. And if wishes were horses, beggars would ride. :shrug2:
The downside to all this is that I have to consider the very real possibility that we may never get more than 105 members willing to donate anything at all. I start each month at $0.00 and then I sit back and worry that I may never get another dime in donations. If we don't take in a dime of donations in February, I could keep the site alive through March. Come April, we wouldn't be here any longer.
We talked a few weeks back about changing things around, to create some perks for those of you who are generous enough to donate. And maybe there is a solution in there, somewhere. But it would amount to setting up an entirely new system.
Pay a $35 fee for an annual site membership. As in renewable every 12 months. With that membership, you get to display an avatar, where non-members do not. Members can have a photo album, non-members cannot. Members can display a profile picture, non-members cannot. Members can have the ability to store a large number of Private Messages (200-300) where non-members can store only 5. Member can attach pictures to their posts, non-members cannot. Members get access to the member-only forums, non-members do not. Members can browse the forums in invisible mode, non-members cannot. Members can access the members list, non-members cannot. Members can access the Mobile skin, non-members cannot. I don't really want to close the Library to members only, because that prevents the search engines from crawling it. I keep hoping Library articles will encourage people to visit the site and join.
Frankly, I don't want to adopt this kind of system. When you have members, you start sounding like club. This is not a club, this is a forum. But it has the possible benefit of encouraging more people to become members, which means the site would not only be paying for itself, but would suddenly be able to turn a profit. (Be still, my beating heart!) Then again, it might alienate enough people that we couldn't afford to move forward. Let's be honest enough to admit that we're all feeling the money crunch.
I'm really open for suggestions, here. I know that any decision I make is going to upset some people. But I also know my only other options are to ditch the Library, ditch the Gallery, ditch the ability for members to post attachments and hope we can hang in here for a few more months, until the problem rears its ugly head again. I don't think that is going to make too many people happy. I suppose we could set a date for the closing of this site, which eliminates all of the problems in one, fell swoop. I'm betting that would make even fewer people happy.
But I need to do something, because we're at a point where the problem cannot be ignored any longer.
To review -
A) We can eliminate the Gallery, the Library, profile photos and post attachments, which might keep us going approximately 6 months
B) We can add $60/month expenses for a year and then add an additional $100/month expenses for another 2-3 years beyond that point
C) We can add $100/month expenses for another 3-4 years
E) We can shrug our shoulders and walk away from the site as being too expensive to maintain
I really need your input. Take a look at these 4 options and then please, take the time to cast your ballot.
Then tell me how you feel about our current donation system, compared to an annual membership system.
There are two poll questions, please cast both ballots.
I hate this part of running a Web site. Money problems suck, that's all there is to it.
There's plenty of good news to relate. We continue to grow, beyond all my expectations. B.C. will doubtless chide me thinking this, but every time I see we have a new registration, I am convinced that will likely be the last one. How many T-Bucket enthusiasts are there in this world? When I look back to where we were 4 years ago, I am most certainly humbled by the incredible support so many of you have demonstrated toward this site. We were barely hanging on, back in those days, yet a lot of you decided you were going to stick around and help grow this site. And look at what it has become.
After a lot of lost sleep and creating a flat spot on my forehead, by banging it on my desk, we've managed to get the Tech Library running as I had envisioned it, over a year ago. The software is finally doing what I wanted it to do, rather than just what I was telling it to do. As a result, the only limitation I see to the Library becoming the go-to resource for all aspects of T-Bucket building is the lack of article submissions. I know, it's easy to think the worst of ourselves and our abilities, but some of you fellows have got some really great experiences to be shared with others. So give the possibility of submitting an article some consideration. If you think you're writing skills aren't up to snuff, let me know and I'll help you make the necessary edits.
I've been teasing the lead developer at Invision Power Services, because he seems to be dragging his feet on getting the upgraded Gallery script finished up and ready for a release. Guys, you are really going to be amazed when you see the new Gallery. The Beta version of the new software really puts the current release to shame. I'll be upgrading to it, as soon as it is made available.
Now, I come to something I've been fretting over for the last several days. And I'm going to be asking for some input from each of you, as I try to decide how best to move forward.
Watching the forum grow is a good thing. Unless you're looking at the way we've begun putting some strain on our server. Yeah, this is going to be about money and expenses and all that stuff that is less than fun to consider.
We're out-growing our resources. Again. With no sign of it slowing down, either. Which means I need to start making arrangements to get things moved into larger living quarters. The really down side to all this is that we've grown to a point where it gets pretty tough to add some resources for very few dollars. We're already large enough that the only changes we can make are expensive changes.
As I see it (and believe me, I've looked at this from every possible angle), we really have a couple of options. Unless removing resources from the site or shutting the site down are options, that is.
At our present rate of growth, I can move to a server that should keep us in good shape for another year. Maybe 14-16 months, but most likely for just a year. That move is going to increase the hosting expense by $60/month. Which is a heckuva lot of money, if you ask me.
But the cheese gets even more binding than that. At the end of that year, the next option is going to increase the hosting expense by an additional $100/month. The only good news to be found in there is that server would be large enough to keep us in good shape for as much as another 3 years, before we run out of room again.
So here is how that play out, using a projected 4-year model. The next year is going to add $720 to our monthly expenses. Then the next move would add another $1200 per year, making it a total cost increase of $6480 over what we are currently paying, for the next 4 years. That amounts to $135/month increase over what I paid this month for us to be here.
Scary, isn't it?
I have managed to work out a deal to move to the larger server, straight away and at a lower monthly cost. If I take the larger server now, I can buy it for an additional $100/month. Over the 4 year period, that would end up saving a total of $1680 over the first option.
Four years ago this month, I announced I was going to be shutting this site down, because of no participation. Four years ago, I was hoping to get as many as 250 total members, but was more realistically expecting no more than 200. Four years ago, I funded the site out of my back pocket, because it just didn't take much money to keep it alive.
Forty-two months ago, we had to move to a more spacious hosting account, because we were bumping the limits of the account we were running on. Thirty-three months ago, I was racing to get things moved over to what seemed to be a monster server. I was sweating bullets, because I was trying to get the site running faster to keep everyone from complaining about slow load times. We were about this >< close to being shut down, because we were exceeding the limits on the hosting we had at the time. When we got onto our current server, I relaxed, because I knew there was no way we could ever burn up all the resources.
Little did I know. That was 1,818 members and 66,291 posts ago, before we had a Photo Gallery and a Tech Library. Now, with all the added weight, we're starting to stretch the seams again. And what really frustrates me is the amount of money it is going to take to get some more breathing room.
Still with me? Good, because this is where I really start getting nervous.
Over the last few months, we've been doing pretty well at hitting the donation quota. Last month, we even took in an additional $50 or $60, which gives me a bit of insurance to cover a possible shortfall in the coming months. But how is everyone going to react if I suddenly raise the monthly quota by $100/month?
Of our current 2,257 members, we have 105 members who are allowing this site to be here. I'm not going to mince words here, because if those 105 members were not covering the bills, we wouldn't be here. I cannot afford to operate this site without the financial support we're getting. And now, I'm faced with having to ask for more.
Yes, I know, when you look at the total number of members and the total monthly expenses, it seems to be a non-issue. At the new level of expenses, assuming the move to the new server, $270/month comes to $3,240 for the year. If all of our 2257 members would donate just $1.44 each, we would be in tall cotton. And if wishes were horses, beggars would ride. :shrug2:
The downside to all this is that I have to consider the very real possibility that we may never get more than 105 members willing to donate anything at all. I start each month at $0.00 and then I sit back and worry that I may never get another dime in donations. If we don't take in a dime of donations in February, I could keep the site alive through March. Come April, we wouldn't be here any longer.
We talked a few weeks back about changing things around, to create some perks for those of you who are generous enough to donate. And maybe there is a solution in there, somewhere. But it would amount to setting up an entirely new system.
Pay a $35 fee for an annual site membership. As in renewable every 12 months. With that membership, you get to display an avatar, where non-members do not. Members can have a photo album, non-members cannot. Members can display a profile picture, non-members cannot. Members can have the ability to store a large number of Private Messages (200-300) where non-members can store only 5. Member can attach pictures to their posts, non-members cannot. Members get access to the member-only forums, non-members do not. Members can browse the forums in invisible mode, non-members cannot. Members can access the members list, non-members cannot. Members can access the Mobile skin, non-members cannot. I don't really want to close the Library to members only, because that prevents the search engines from crawling it. I keep hoping Library articles will encourage people to visit the site and join.
Frankly, I don't want to adopt this kind of system. When you have members, you start sounding like club. This is not a club, this is a forum. But it has the possible benefit of encouraging more people to become members, which means the site would not only be paying for itself, but would suddenly be able to turn a profit. (Be still, my beating heart!) Then again, it might alienate enough people that we couldn't afford to move forward. Let's be honest enough to admit that we're all feeling the money crunch.
I'm really open for suggestions, here. I know that any decision I make is going to upset some people. But I also know my only other options are to ditch the Library, ditch the Gallery, ditch the ability for members to post attachments and hope we can hang in here for a few more months, until the problem rears its ugly head again. I don't think that is going to make too many people happy. I suppose we could set a date for the closing of this site, which eliminates all of the problems in one, fell swoop. I'm betting that would make even fewer people happy.
But I need to do something, because we're at a point where the problem cannot be ignored any longer.
To review -
A) We can eliminate the Gallery, the Library, profile photos and post attachments, which might keep us going approximately 6 months
B) We can add $60/month expenses for a year and then add an additional $100/month expenses for another 2-3 years beyond that point
C) We can add $100/month expenses for another 3-4 years
E) We can shrug our shoulders and walk away from the site as being too expensive to maintain
I really need your input. Take a look at these 4 options and then please, take the time to cast your ballot.
Then tell me how you feel about our current donation system, compared to an annual membership system.
There are two poll questions, please cast both ballots.
I hate this part of running a Web site. Money problems suck, that's all there is to it.
) so I'd hate to see it leave.
