Is there anything WE can do to help restore and keep up the "old site" ?
I am certainly willing to pitch in and help anyway I can.

I have only been on that site about a week, but it's become my life blood for support, encouragement, and just getting stuff out of my system!

Great question!

I know LCAndrea does not want to ever ask for financial support, but I'm sure that would help with upgrades and server traffic.

Could we make investments into a site that's been so very very very valuable to so many of us?

Please say yes... and realize no one would offer if we didn't want to do this, Andrea. And anyone who isn't interested in sending a little financial love certainly shouldn't feel any need to, pressure to, or anything else.

I see it like PBS. Consider this a little pledge break.

Hope
210/181/165
Atkins since 12/15/02

I've seen a lot of sites with a paypal address that gives an option for anyone to make a donation to help support the site.

Nothing is expected or demanded and there are no requirements. That might be an idea here.

Hope, as long as you don't repeat the toll-free phone number forteen-kagillion times in a 5-minute period OR interrupt my regularly scheduled programming, you can keep on with the NPR-like fundraising breaks. ;-)

Emelia

"We can only learn to love by loving." - Iris Murdoch, Irish writer
294/208/174 since 25-Nov-01

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Could we make investments into a site that's been so very very very valuable to so many of us?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I don't think it could hurt for Andrea to know how many of us want to do just that.



Always eat your veggies first!

I REALLY REALLY appreciate your asking about this.

However, the issue is not "one-time" support, but ongoing financial stability.

Yes, donations now will help "get us over the hump", but then what?

I absolutely CANNOT commit to dedicated hosting based on the income from the site as it is. And even though everyone says they're willing to make donations, I would have to commit to paying the fees myself in the event that donations didn't do it. And they probably won't . Dedicated hosting involves a long-term, contract committment and a large financial committment as well.

No, what needs to happen here is a permanent solution. And that is exactly what I'm working on.

If I can't come up with a permanent, long-term solution (and I have come up with several workable ideas already) I will let you know, and ask for donations.

But that will be a last resort.

love you all,
andrea

I would be willing to pay a nominal fee each month...this site is well worth it!!! That would be something you could count on each month...just an idea.

I too would be willing to send a small donation. Believe me, I know what it takes to finance a website. This is such a lifeline to sooooo many of us. We would be lost without it. I can't see doing this WOL, staying the course and not having all these FRIENDS I've made here to keep me on the up-n-up without this sanctuary. Andrea, I hope you know how much this place means to us and how much we truly are ready to help. Having the site be down for a bit has taught me how much I depend on you and this site. (I know, it's a BIG resposibility) I not only get a lot of helpful tips and insight, but it really helps me to be able to help others. I get a tremendous amount of gratification by helping the newbies. It's the Pay it Forward thing, ya know? Just know, I'm here for ya!!!

Barb
Atkins-3/14/03
174/151/135

Ditto on financial support. I'm thinking more like an annual fee, due at a certain time each year...payable per credit card or pay-pal...or heck if the fee had to be more substantial, let folks only buy 6 mos at a time. Just thinking out loud.....we really DO want to help, andrea, in any way you need us to

Shelley

sg
***********
"if it ain't broke,
don't fix it"

Andrea
all of the above goes for me too.
Rob

Me too Andrea!

I CAN do this!
205/136/125 ~5'2
began 12/02/02
lost 69 lbs!

BTW- it feels funny being a "newbie" again! lol

I CAN do this!
205/136/125 ~5'2
began 12/02/02
lost 69 lbs!

I also am in full agreement. I would gladly pay a fee. I truly believe I could not have made it this far without this support group.

Andrea, you are certainly worth the money.

Susan ( AKA Northwest)
207/178.5/160

I think we need to follow Andrea's advice in a thread long ago...

"People may not always believe what you say, but they will always believe what you do."

I will be sending a check, even if it's a small one, every month. That is my pledge to you and this site. It's the LEAST I can do for all you've done for me.

So there.

Hope
210/181/165
Atkins since 12/15/02

Bump! This is important! We can all help!

Hope
210/181/165
Atkins since 12/15/02