Support Maple Leaf Up!

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Mark W. Tonner

A membership fee of $20.00 dollars a year works out to approximately $ 1.67 a month per member.

Cheers

Originally Posted by aj.lec

Well that is mighty good value then.
One way of looking at that equation is it is less than half the price of one cup of store coffee per month.

Another way to look at it is that it is the cost of enough petrol to drive a CMP about 3mi/5km.

[rob love]

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.

[kosbie]

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

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Mark W. Tonner

I’m curious Geoff, what is the approximate monthly operating expense of the forum, I think that would give people a better understanding of the monetary requirements that are needed to keep MLU up and running. A membership fee of $20.00 dollars a year works out to approximately $ 1.67 a month per member.

Cheers

Sorry Mark, I missed this earlier.

You're really missing the point here; whether my costs are $35 per month or $135 per month - USD, BTW - is irrelevant. I've had to pay both extremes and regularly in between. There are domain charges, software charges, bandwidth charges and much else.

The point is that I want to make MLU better, and I can't do it by myself. I want to streamline the whole operation and I want to offer you all things which I know you want. For better or worse, having been pensioned off last year I haven't the resources... and part of that is because of the time and money which go into MLU every damned year.

As I said before (and no doubt will again), all but a handful of you have gotten a free ride for twelve years. It's been a pleasure and a privilege to bring this unique entity to you, but we can't grow without your help.

In short, it's your turn. I can only repeat that MLU doesn't run and fund itself. How much is all of this worth to you? 18,000 posts a year, on average? A cup of coffee a day too much? Entities like ours, so unique in their own right, do not grow on trees.

Thanks,

Geoff

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

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)]

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]

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]

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

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Col Tigwell

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

Col,

My snail mail address is on the first post of this thread. I've never had a problem sending cash anywhere, as long as you wrap it in two sheets of paper and seal the ends with tape. That prevents sneaky postal people from going in the side of your envelope and pulling out what may be covered by the paper...

I don't know why this is, but it seems both bank transfers and international money orders outside of North America are prohibitively expensive, as are services such as Western Union. It's ridiculous, and it's what has made PayPal so successful.

PayPal is really simple to use - you simply sign up using an appropriate email address, create a secure link to either your bank account or credit card (might take a couple of days), and go from there. You can transfer any amount in any currency to anywhere in the world with no charge to you. If you're receiving money however, there is a small percentage which comes off the 'sent' amount, but it's negligible compared to the alternatives.

When you do receive PayPal amounts and wish to withdraw to your bank account, the process is simple. They say it takes five to seven business days for the money to be electronically deposited in your account, but in my 12 years of using PayPal (without incident I will stress), I've never had it take more than two to three business days. For example, the last batch I transferred over I initiated on a Wednesday morning and it was in my account Friday morning.

PayPal really is safe, easy and cheap, certainly no more complicated than using online banking in and out of your own account. A lot of people have been suspicious of them in past, partly because of internet-based rumours, but it really IS safe and certainly cheap and easy.

Col, you have to understand that while I really don't want to levy a tariff to be a full member of MLU, I can't afford to keep this going this way, and it's not fair to those who DO contribute to keep all the others floating on their own. If I have to create a tariff system, then there WILL be access levels input into the system, based upon number of posts, certain forums and whether you're paid-up or not. I know it sucks, but nothing comes for free and perhaps my greatest failing is having provided all of this for nothing for so many years... the expectations are out there and natural.

But I'm telling you now this can't go on. A cup of coffee a day per member is no big deal methinks - all of this has cost me a great deal more than that, many times over, and there's much more which needs to be done.

Thanks,

Geoff

[Tony Smith]

Let's let Geoff spend his own money on Coffee.

[RHClarke]

Geoff,

What Bob said. Cheque is in the mail. Keep up the outstanding work. For me, this is the best "metal porn" site on the web...

[Col Tigwell]

For those of us who live overseas.

I decided that as I would not use it too much that I would go the Pay Pall route and for a non literate user appear to have no problems.

Did not take long to set it up and even quicker to post the transaction.

This was sent at 11.51 GMT 28/4 and it will be interesting to see when Jiff gets it.

Regards

Col

[zemsi]

Originally Posted by Col Tigwell

This was sent at 11.51 GMT 28/4 and it will be interesting to see when Jiff gets it.

... probably 0.01 sec later. Paypal is really fast

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Col Tigwell

For those of us who live overseas.

I decided that as I would not use it too much that I would go the Pay Pall route and for a non literate user appear to have no problems.

Did not take long to set it up and even quicker to post the transaction.

This was sent at 11.51 GMT 28/4 and it will be interesting to see when Jiff gets it.

Regards

Col

I received it before you even posted this note, Col... thanks! Easy, eh?

[Paul Singleton]

Thanks Geoff for all the time you spend on the forum.

Paul

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Paul Singleton

Thanks Geoff for all the time you spend on the forum.

Paul

You're quite welcome, Paul. In 1998 I was in the right place, at the right time, with the right mindset. I started MLU because I was interested in the subject matter, and it just grew from there... in many ways you, and those like you, bear as much responsibility and credit as you give me.

I'm happy to say that as of today, I now have received 25 donations... 19 by PayPal, one by EMT and five by snail mail or personally delivered. This is a record, and I am grateful for your generosity... but you are 25 out of 546 core users. Gentlemen, 521 of you are riding the coattails of the 25 who have chosen to contribute. Ask yourselves... would this be satisfactory to YOU, if you were in my position?

I don't know what else I can say... YOU have to decide what you think this is worth to you.

Geoff

[cliff]

Originally Posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball

Gentlemen, 521 of you are riding the coattails of the 25 who have chosen to contribute. Ask yourselves... would this be satisfactory to YOU, if you were in my position?

I don't know what else I can say... YOU have to decide what you think this is worth to you.

Geoff

Geoff you still have not replied to me as to whether you received my PayPal payment of Nov 1 2009 for $55 AUD being the MLU's share of the few MLU Calendars sold so I have to ask if I am concidered to be amongst the 25 or am I concidered to be bludging off others who have donated?

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Don't be silly, Cliff... of course I received it (as PayPal will confirm) and no, you don't owe me a cent - the work you've done for ALL of us over the years more than demonstrates your dedication to this hobby and to the world of MLU.

I salute you... you've done far more than your share.

[cliff]

Thanks Geoff I appreciate the kind words. I'll try and send more when I can as I have benefited greatly from all the other members posts and knowledge as well.

[Col Tigwell]

I am sorry Geoff if you are not getting the support you need.

I belong to another military forum, who just open a bank when funds are needed and when they have enough they close it down.

The sorry fact is that out of 3000 visitors they only get about 50 who chip in.

I suppose that some think my small pittance is not enough but if every one threw in but $10 then you would have a good bank.

Other than having a levy coupled to various levels of membership seems that is the way that many forums are going. I do not know the answer but there are some who think the internet is free.

The site I run, airman aircrew has no levies mainly because we have a most generous memeber who picks up the tap. I suspect that a levy would produce the same results as you.

If you have a levy, some will go away. However the answer is would they be missed.

Regards

Col

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball

You're quite welcome, Paul. In 1998 I was in the right place, at the right time, with the right mindset. I started MLU because I was interested in the subject matter, and it just grew from there... in many ways you, and those like you, bear as much responsibility and credit as you give me.

I'm happy to say that as of today, I now have received 25 donations... 19 by PayPal, one by EMT and five by snail mail or personally delivered. This is a record, and I am grateful for your generosity... but you are 25 out of 546 core users. Gentlemen, 521 of you are riding the coattails of the 25 who have chosen to contribute. Ask yourselves... would this be satisfactory to YOU, if you were in my position?

I don't know what else I can say... YOU have to decide what you think this is worth to you.

Geoff

Jif

With the big paycheck gone and living hand to mouth like the rest of us,some like me on small Old Age and Canada Pension and what ever savings we may have made in our working life,the ability to fund an internet web site ,let alone dedicate the hours needed to administer same is beyond reasonable expectations for anyone who enjoys this site as much as I have and has been here as long as I have,being the first non Winnington-Ball family member to post on MLU.JIf was first..his son was second and I was third..and I am proud to call Jiff Friend...
]Now it is time to have my say..
This forum takes money to run..If there is approximately 500 of us hard core types,rig up the site so that the first page only can be read ,and the first posting in each thread can be read but no posting with out membership or no reading any more..
Don't dick around with part access,other than that..
Either we are in or out..and I suggest $10.00/year membership..
Any more could be a hardship on some of our elderly members or younger members..and less and there may as well be no membership fees..
But lets stop acting like officers and beat this thing to death with no action other than lip service..
Start acting like SR.NCO's and get this outfit rigged up to "Pay to play"..and pull your finger out Jif and get it done..

[Marc van Aalderen]

Hello Geoff, I just noticed the announcement on the first page. Up to now I've only seen the posts. Although I've not been a member for long I do enjoy reading the Forum. Therefore I have sent a donation to help you keep going with this great Forum. Come on fellow Dutchmen, send over some donations and prove that the general idea that the Dutch are misers is wrong!! Or should I hold you at gunpoint first? r Cheers, Marc van Aalderen

[Bill Murray]

I tend to write books, so bear with me.

I have watched this thread for some time now trying to get a feel for what a subscription to MLU should be in terms of money.

I have no idea what the annual costs are to maintain this forum at a reasonable level. I do know that I looked, with Jif, into doing one of my own dealing with my own field of interest. To do the basics was not overwhelming, but when you added in all the bells and whistles it got fairly expensive.

Not.......even to speak of the personal time it looked like it would take to keep everything up to date, keep the Phishers out and so on.

Given that I really don't know what Jif requires, I am sending a cheque for $50 tomorrow (I seem to be one of the few that had nothing but problems with PayPal). That is twice the amount I pay for a few other pay to play forums but I get twice out of this forum than any other and more.

As well, I will forever be in Jif's debt for the support he gave me in 2004 when my Pat was out in California for six months when my Dad fell ill and I had to stay here and run our business, the house and all of the pets. You can't put a monetary value on that.

In any case, it is not all that unusual to be asked to give monetary support to an enthusiast website and I hope that more of us will give it the thought necessary and take action.

Bill

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Marc and Bill, thank you both for your comments and generosity! People like you make this effort worthwhile... the loyalty and commitment you demonstrate is worthy of the highest praise.

Col ... I'd carry this place by myself if I were of independent means, but I have not been so blessed, thus I must periodically ask for help. I just wish more people recognised the effort which goes into a project like this... and we could be so much better...



Geoff

[matilda IIA]

G'day Geoff
I've just sent you a little someting via paypal to assist with your outstanding forum/web site.

Kind regards
Matt
opm123

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally Posted by matilda IIA

G'day Geoff
I've just sent you a little someting via paypal to assist with your outstanding forum/web site.

Kind regards
Matt
opm123

Thank you, Matt! Received in good order.

[malcolm erik bogaert]

Jiff small contribution on its way to you via paypal...many thanks and keep up the good work...I get more usefull information from this site than any other....cheers malcolm

[eddy8men]

hi fella's

i would like to apologise to the people that run and manage this forum, i have been dropping in and out for some time now and i never thought once about those that give so freely of their time and money to make it all possible.
i bought a carrier from john at midwest military on monday and it was on this forum that i saw the ad, my money is on the way to you.

many thanks

eddy

[rob love]

Originally Posted by eddy8men

hi fella's

i bought a carrier from john at midwest military on monday and it was on this forum that i saw the ad, my money is on the way to you.

many thanks

eddy

I didn't think that carrier would be on his site for long. Congrats.

[eddy8men]

thanks rob

i'll post the restoration pics on here when it starts

eddy