Support Maple Leaf Up!

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #1 13-04-10, 18:31

Gentlemen,

It's that time of year again! We need your financial support to keep up the fine standards which have been ours for 12 years now.

These last few months have been tougher than normal because having been arbitrarily retired from my old job, it's proven tougher than I'd reckoned to find a suitable replacement. Having said that, we're hanging on, but we need your help to maintain the level of service we have up to this point.

You know I've given my all to this since 1998, albeit with some help from many of you over the years. I'd appreciate your help again now, and I don't think a few dollars is too much to ask for the magnificent community we have built here! God willing, MLU will progress for many years yet!

I simply ask you to consider what MLU means to you, and how much you might be willing to donate to help 'keep it running'.

Anyone, anywhere can send me anything you choose via PayPal at gwball - at - sympatico.ca (make the necessary substitution for the - at -). North Americans may also send me cheques or money orders (International only please!) to the following address:

Geoff Winnington-Ball
1558 Queen Street East,
Toronto, ON
Canada M4L 1E8

Thanks so much for your understanding, enthusiasm and generosity! We have a damned good thing going here and I think we all want to see it continue.

Thanks again,

Geoff/Jif/SUNRAY

Rich Payne · #2 15-04-10, 22:56

I don't post that often but I miss it when it's down. I've bunged some loose change in the hat.

Keep up the good work !

Rich

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #3 16-04-10, 00:26

Thanks Rich (and Bruce!).

Sorry about the outage today... it was apparent to me last night that someone's program had dumped a massive amount of raw data into the root directory of our server, filling the directory to capacity. It took me from 0600 to approximately 1500 today to find someone who knew what I was talking about. Oi vey... anyway, we're back up now!

Cheers,

Jif

peter simundson · #4 16-04-10, 00:59

....will start the ball rolling. Will $200.00 help??

Peter S

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #5 16-04-10, 01:52

Peter,

Every little bit helps! We have to remember that MLU doesn't run itself... in 12 years I have spent many thousands of hours and many more thousands of dollars out of my own pocket to make this what it is now. I'm damned proud of it, and damned proud of the fact that I've not been forced to levy subscriptions as have so many others. We're better than that, but I can't do it all myself (of course if I won the lottery...)

Anyway, yes, any donation you can make will help.

Jif

Bob Carriere · #6 16-04-10, 03:17

It is absolutely amazing what has been done by Geoff and what information has been accumulated through the efforts of MLU and Geoff's own sacrifice and contribution....... I do not know of anyone else who could have give so much, to so many, for so little....

However..... let's be adults about running such and exhaustive service as MLU.

Yes, Geoff has resisted having ANYKIND of levy or membership but last time I looked at my Calendar it said 2010..... the economy is not the greatest for anyone and to expect to be able to continue the same way for another 12 years is in my mind being irresponsible towards the MLU site and all the efforts made by Geoff. We all take it for granted until is it down... like Rich Payne just mentioned ....we miss it when we can't access it any more......

Let's not kid ourselves a number of us have been calling and emailing fellow MLU members as soon as the site was down asking ourselves what we could do .... not only to revive MLU but make sure that we have the necessary financial safety net to insure that it will continue to trive for another decade + with the guidance of Geoff.

I pay, quite freely and satisfied with the services, for my membership to OMVA..... I suscribe to US military magazine, I pay $35 a year to belong to the Ottawa Valley Woodturner club, etc..... and honestly I get ten times more information, enjoyment and camaraderie from the MLU site. I have made so many friends near and far......

I suggest we put in place a process to effectively collect and manage funds that will guarantee the future financial operation of MLU and remove the financial burden from Geoff's shoulders.... for now and forever......

Let's get off the tit guys.....

Let's free Geoff to continue to administer MLU and make it live up to its full potential.

Geoff ...... Thank you for bringing us all together.....we owe you a lot...... we can never repay you in full......

Let us do this for you.... for MLU.... for the hobby.... lets work to stay together.

Your friend

Boob
PS.... some immediate seed money is on it's way by Pay Pal.

Derrick Eastman · #7 23-05-10, 13:42

Hi Geoff, check for 125.00 on the way via snail mail. This forum is awesome!!I live in the middle of nowhere,north of anywhere and I would never see all these wonderful restorations and vehicles if I didn't have access to this forum.Salute , and thanks!! Derrick Eastman

rob love · #8 25-04-10, 19:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball

Anyone, anywhere can send me anything you choose via PayPal at gwball - at - sympatico.ca (make the necessary substitution for the - at -). North Americans may also send me cheques or money orders (International only please!) to the following address:

Geoff
I am very opposed to paypal (anti-gun, high fees, yada yada....), and am not even sure I could dig up my passwords to the site on this crappy laptop. Are you able to accept EMT (certapay)? As long as you bank online with any of the charter banks (not credit unions) this method is fast and the fees are minimal.

I am still over in Kandahar for a short while yet, and MLU is one of the first sites I go to each evening right after I check my emails. I could not imagine life without it.

If you were going to go to an annual fee, might I suggest that you merely lock out some of the more desirable areas of the forum (such as the buy and sell, and the mess sections) to only allow paid up members to access. This would still allow newer members to to get to know the site without having to shell out funds right off, yet entice them to later pay up to see those portions that they are missing. The annual fee really is a small price for a seller to pay to access the right crowd for our type of material.

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #9 27-04-10, 19:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by rob love

Geoff
I am very opposed to paypal (anti-gun, high fees, yada yada....), and am not even sure I could dig up my passwords to the site on this crappy laptop. Are you able to accept EMT (certapay)? As long as you bank online with any of the charter banks (not credit unions) this method is fast and the fees are minimal.

I am still over in Kandahar for a short while yet, and MLU is one of the first sites I go to each evening right after I check my emails. I could not imagine life without it.

If you were going to go to an annual fee, might I suggest that you merely lock out some of the more desirable areas of the forum (such as the buy and sell, and the mess sections) to only allow paid up members to access. This would still allow newer members to to get to know the site without having to shell out funds right off, yet entice them to later pay up to see those portions that they are missing. The annual fee really is a small price for a seller to pay to access the right crowd for our type of material.

Thanks for your suggestions, Rob. I will consider each very carefully!

In the meantime, yes, we can arrange a bank transfer if you prefer, as long as it's a Canadian bank-to-bank transaction (foreign gets too expensive).

Take care of yourself over there, and hopefully we'll see you soon.

Geoff

Alex Blair (RIP) · #10 27-04-10, 21:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball

Thanks for your suggestions, Rob. I will consider each very carefully!

In the meantime, yes, we can arrange a bank transfer if you prefer, as long as it's a Canadian bank-to-bank transaction (foreign gets too expensive).

Take care of yourself over there, and hopefully we'll see you soon.

Geoff

Jif..
I agree with supporting MLU with CASH..there is enough of us..You should not have to bear the complete burden..Your labour at $0.05/Hr. is more than your share and the rest of us should handle the majority,if not all of the rest of the expenses..
The little MLU mementos..flags..stickers ..sweaters hats..should have sufficient mark up to create a profit to support the goodies side of MLU..

I do not use pay pal..on line credit cards or other method of payment..as with my manuals ..all was CASH transaction..
While all of us can not do this, I see you at least once a year and will continue to donate cash,as was the case in our Gracies gather ups..for the past several years.. and need my fixes..
I expect to see you at Bobs in June ,At which time I will grease your slippery officer palm...I enjoy MLU ..
Should you not be at Bob's..Cash by mail is the next step..
I know what retirement is like..but I have no company pension..just gummint hand outs..stuff I have paid into for the past 48 working years..
I guess that there are others like me but many arrangements can be made when it comes to getting the bills paid..And the bills are not being paid here..
To all our readers******..No one likes a MOOCH or Freeloader..*****
Support Jif and MLU and help pay the bills..
Rant over..

Frank O · #11 28-04-10, 01:46

As a new member who has been a member of other private militaria collectors forums, let me say this is an excellent site that really deserves the support of its members. My hat is off to Geoff for his commitment to the many and varied subjects covered here. Any search involving Canada and WW2 will invariably lead one here as it did me while pondering the purchase of a CMP truck. At some point anything worthwhile on the internet must and will evolve into a user pay system. This is a great site that should be supported before it is gone, as has happened to so many other fine sites. -Frank

Col Tigwell · #12 28-04-10, 08:33

Living so far away, and yes I believe that in the past I have given a leg up, what I suspect is that many of us find it hard to get past all the garbage to send a few dollars.

I belong to another site which whilst it does not solicite funds directly on a calender basis, does when the bank is getting low ask for help. What they do is open the bank for trading and keep accepting monies till them have what they need. These members get special access priveliges and their payments along with all others are listed. Some guys have payed sizable sums and some guys pay small amounts cause that is all they can spare.

I have scratched my head of how I can send money without the mistery of the pay pall account. I could access funds to release if it would be easier.

Perhaps Jiff there is an easy way to do this cause you make it hard to send funds then some will put it off for too long. If you could get your annual subs in one lump should help you do the budget, rather than dreaming of things that could be done.

If you give me your snail mail address I will send you cash and hope it does not go astray.

Any way my Captain these are some thoughts that crossed thru my mind.

Regards

Col

kosbie · #13 25-04-10, 19:36

Hi all
I hope this isnt out of order as I havent been a member for very long (but I have put my money where my mouth is with a small contribution) but I do feel if we dont support this thing we dont deserve it. I like the idea of most of the site being 'open' but some bits closed without membership, to encourage people to look at the site and then sign up if they find it useful. Alternatively limit the number of access visits for visitors (say 20 visits) and then you have to sign up?
Remember you never appreciate what you have until you lose it.
Rick Overy

servicepub (RIP) · #14 10-05-10, 04:03

My contribution Paypal'ed just now. MLU is the cheapest form of entertainment I can think of as I log-in every day.

Rick W · #15 18-05-10, 22:31

Just had a message from Paypal saying donation rejected due to user not being registered with PP? Confused as the payment had been sent ages ago.

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #16 18-05-10, 23:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick W

Just had a message from Paypal saying donation rejected due to user not being registered with PP? Confused as the payment had been sent ages ago.

Makes no sense to me, Rick... I've now received 29 donations by PayPal alone, the latest yesterday afternoon (thank you!). I've had no problems with this account since 1998. Verify your full name and address to me via PM, ok? We'll sort this out.

Jesse Browning · #17 20-05-10, 02:04

Rick; Double check the spelling of the recipiant. If misspelled, it will set at paypal for a long time "pending" before they will contact you to inform you that it is unclaimed. Been there. Jesse.

Bill Murray · #18 20-05-10, 02:30

Which is why I do not use PayPal.

Mr. G......
You Gonna cash my check???
Bill

Michael Hughes · #19 26-09-10, 02:13

Geoff
I have not been on for the last 4 months. But after stripping the Cab 12 a bit yesterday the bug is back. Lodged on this morning after catching up on some topics I think a membership fee is a good thing, to keep MLU up. I have sent a paypal payment to you for your services

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #20 26-09-10, 03:38

Michael, that was terribly good of you, thank you!

Geoff

Pete Ashby · #21 04-10-10, 11:01

Geoff

Pay Pal sent, have been reading the comments in this thread, I vote with those in favour of a fixed subscription. Most if not all of us belong to MV clubs around the world and think nothing of paying a fixed sub to belong so why not here?.
best regards

Pete