CaptOblivious Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 The JNSForum needs the support of its members. Since its inception, Darren Jeffries has generously funded JNSForum from his own pocket. However, the costs of running the forum are increasing, especially with the addition of the Wiki. Like all of us, Darren is starting to feel the pinch. So I am asking our members who have found Darren's hard work a valuable resource to help out a friend: Please consider making a donation to our fund. Even better, a small monthly contribution would be of tremendous help. Let me be clear: We are not requiring subscriptions. You do not have to donate if you don't want to. We would never charge for access to the content of this site. Your membership status will remain unchanged by your decision either way (although you will get a donor badge like this: ). We are accepting donations through Paypal and have set up two buttons at the bottom of each page on the forum to lead you though the steps. The first button, labeled "Donate" allows you to make a one-time contribution of whatever amount you like. The second button, labeled "Subscribe" allows you to make a recurring £5 donation monthly. All money will go directly to paying the fees associated with running JNSForum and JNSwiki. Absolutely none of it will go to supporting my model train habit. I would like to thank you, our members for your continuing contribution that has made this forum the success it is. CaptOblivious Link to comment
David Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 What level of support is needed to maintain the site? Is this on the scale of everyone chipping in a fiver, or is that a drop in the bucket compared to the monthly hosting costs? Link to comment
Guest ___ Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 I don't think there is any support level. This is just a basic request to help offset the costs. Darren, funds the site entirely out of pocket himself. Link to comment
CaptOblivious Posted November 20, 2009 Author Share Posted November 20, 2009 I don't recall the precise costs off the top of my head (but I know that Darren does!), but it's on the order of about 75USD/month right now (and we have no plans for doing anything that would increase that). So, it's not excessive, but it is a bit much for Darren to have to bear on his own in this economy. FWIW, I've committed to giving half of the shortfall each month. Link to comment
Guest ___ Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 I didn't think it was that high, but then again I cant recall the exact figures. Link to comment
Darren Jeffries Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Its actually higher, but only marginly. The cost is around the £47 mark (Or US$77.50) a month Link to comment
Bernard Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Just double checking, everything is set up now for donations and it's in English Pounds? Link to comment
Darren Jeffries Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 it is in pounds although it makes no difference how its sent, it gets converted in to pounds. Link to comment
Bernard Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 it is in pounds although it makes no difference how its sent, it gets converted in to pounds. Why I ask is that recently I bid on a train on ebay and didn't realize it was in English Pounds instead of USD, and bid more than I wanted to. Luckily I was outbid. Link to comment
Darren Jeffries Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 I've done that... and unfotunately won!!!! Link to comment
Claude_Dreyfus Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Nearly £50.00 a month is a lot for one person to take on. More than happy to make a donation to keep this resource going... Link to comment
Guest ___ Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 Its actually higher, but only marginly. The cost is around the £47 mark (Or US$77.50) a month I hadn't realized how bad the exchange rate has become. Link to comment
marknewton Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 Darren, how do I go about setting up a regular, monthly donation instead of a one-off? Can it be done, or should I just remember to chip in monthly? (I didn't realise that the running costs of the forum were coming out of your own pocket. Thanks heaps for supporting us so far! ) All the best, Mark. Link to comment
Darren Jeffries Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 Hi Mark, to be honest i dont really know if you can do that with Paypal. I think it would be a case of remembering. As Capt said though, please dont feel you have to do anything, this is not a subscription board and never will be, and regardless of donations, will continue for as long as it is wanted by its members. That said, any donations are greatly appreciated. Link to comment
marknewton Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 In that case, I'll set up a reminder on the calendar thingy! I appreciate what you and the Captain are saying about donating, but it's something I want to do, rather than something I feel I have to do. There are only a couple of forums/boards that I belong to and participate in, and this is by far the one I value the most. So it's good to be able to give something back. All the best, Mark. Link to comment
alpineaustralia Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 appreciate what you and the Captain are saying about donating, but it's something I want to do, rather than something I feel I have to do. There are only a couple of forums/boards that I belong to and participate in, and this is by far the one I value the most. So it's good to be able to give something back. Couldnt agree more. Link to comment
westfalen Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 There's a lot of useful information and discussion on this forum, so it's worth the price. Since I've been here I've been spending more money on Japanese trains though. Link to comment
CaptOblivious Posted November 24, 2009 Author Share Posted November 24, 2009 At Mark's request, I'm adding a separate button for a monthly recurring £5 donation. No way to allow you to enter your own amount, sadly, but this seems a reasonable number. If people want to donate more, I'll fix things up later :D Don't let the button text "subscribe" fool you: It's just an optional donation, same as the other button, only it recurs until you cancel it. Link to comment
Lawrence Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 Must say £47 \ month is very steep for hosting, there are much better deals out there should Darren consider switching providers, a quick google or browse thru the computer mags may reap benefits. Also, where are the buttons, I don't seem to be seeing them, is this me (most likely) or Firefox? Link to comment
CaptOblivious Posted November 25, 2009 Author Share Posted November 25, 2009 Must say £47 \ month is very steep for hosting, there are much better deals out there should Darren consider switching providers, a quick google or browse thru the computer mags may reap benefits. Also, where are the buttons, I don't seem to be seeing them, is this me (most likely) or Firefox? The buttons should appear at the very very bottom of each page, but only in the Hikari Railstar theme. Are you using a different theme? Link to comment
Darren Jeffries Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 We looked at hosting charges once when we were dreaming up the wiki, and when weighing up the costs between bandwidth, web space, VPS servers and quite importantly customer support, it was decided that actually we get quite a good deal. We are not on any sort of BASIC package, and cheap is not always best. Link to comment
Lawrence Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 and cheap is not always best. I agree with you there Darren, you only get what you pay for these days, it's just the Fifer coming out in me, we are notoriously tight fisted (if you believe what you read!), and you are obviously happy with what you are getting, so I'll get me coat, again! The buttons should appear at the very very bottom of each page, but only in the Hikari Railstar theme. Are you using a different theme? Ah, was using the Core theme, now I have swapped I can see them Link to comment
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