URGENT: The future of VWCamperFamily.com

[Big Blue's Driver]

Hey all - I have an update about this site that we probably need to address as a group. So I am looking for feedback and ideas (and action?) on how to move forward.

As you know, this site is powered by Ning. We own the URL, but they control all the content and the login info, accounts, etc.

Ning just announced a pretty big rate hike.

Up until now, the site has cost about $240/year to run. I've always paid it without issue as I felt like it was a small price to pay for the community to be together.

Ning is going to raise their rates to $588/year on October 1st. As you see, that's a huge increase, and one that can't be hidden from Mrs Big Blue's Driver so easily.

So, I'm open to ideas, but we don't have a ton of time to decide.

Option 1: abandon Ning and try to put some sort of forum in place like TheSamba.com has, which is free, but not so user friendly as Ning. Note: we own VWcamperfamily.com, so we can do anything we want with that URL.

Option 2: pony up the $$$ to stay on Ning. How? Fundraiser? Pass the virtual hat? Problem is they could potentially just keep raising the price each year. I'm fine with paying the $240 I have been paying, so we'd need to raise like $350. And then raise it again a year from now. and a year after that. and. and.

Sponsorship: One idea I had was to find a sponsor. Perhaps a business in the VW community would pay the $350 or even the full $588 to be a sponsor. I'd be happy to put their logo on the site and work with them on making it known to the VW world that they are covering the cost of the forum. Or maybe even a few sponsors at a lower rate?

Okay - your turn. Let me know what you think. Happy to hear all thoughts good and bad.

Thanks,

Brett

[westywoman (Melissa)]

I suggest moving the link to the top of the page now that it is set up. Then it won't get lost in the comments below. Nice job, Brett, you are $280 on the way to $588!

[regis101]

Dollar amount is creeping on up there.  You volks are the best.

[Craig & Barbara]

Yes, we're out of time to look elsewhere so we need to pony up for now,  but I would encourage all to start looking around for a cheaper provider so we're not dealing with such increases this time next year.

[Craig & Barbara]

Big Blue's Driver said:

Big Blue has a paypal account. Do you just need the email address to donate that way? If so. it's [e-mail]. I'll move whatever comes in that way over to the GoFundMe.
 

I tried doing paypal but when I enter the above email addy, I get three different names to select from.  D. Hartenstein,  M  Delguidice  or  G. Hynes?

[Big Blue's Driver]

Well - that's not good. While those seem like good fake names, I've used none of them.

Not sure why it would do that - Tom Powell sent some money through paypal, so the address is correct and I know it worked.

At any rate, we hit the goal, so we're good for this year. Hold onto your money and we'll see if we need it for whatever solution we come up with.

Thanks!

Craig & Barbara said:

Big Blue's Driver said:

Big Blue has a paypal account. Do you just need the email address to donate that way? If so. it's [e-mail]. I'll move whatever comes in that way over to the GoFundMe.
 

I tried doing paypal but when I enter the above email addy, I get three different names to select from.  D. Hartenstein,  M  Delguidice  or  G. Hynes?

[Craig & Barbara]

Heck, I'll then just bring extra smoked Salmon to next year's Bus City gathering in Guerneville.

[Big Blue's Driver]

Best donation yet!

Craig & Barbara said:

Heck, I'll then just bring extra smoked Salmon to next year's Bus City gathering in Guerneville.

[regis101]

I dunno much about website mechanics. I would think though that any host will charge a fee.
I'd hate to see us piggyback off of thesamba.
I actually thought yearly cost is more in the grand-ish amount.
Perhaps a thread / forum discussion thing should be started. Not exactly camping , yes, but it affects us all

[regis101]

Money is still rolling in.  

[regis101]

...and rollin' and rollin' .

Yinz are the best of the best.

[regis101]

Gotta like them Lucky 8's.  It seems that the donation drive stopped at 888$.  That's just peachy and full of good luck karma kudos kismet kindness kinda omen thing.  

Yinz need to give yourselves a round of applause and get out there and rotate them tires and change that oil and get ready for the fall/winter/spring camping season.  

Bring wood.  Bring wine.

Yeah, I said it

[westywoman (Melissa)]

I vote for a planning meeting at Bothe-Napa State Park sometime between now and next May.