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I've been thinking about this lately... I really think we need to try to pursue more sponsors for the forum. For one, I think MileHi should be a sponsor. I know there are a ton of people on this site that support his company! Also, there are other companies out there that sell fermenters and such that might be willing to sponsor the site. I dont know who would set this, but I think it would be nice. I know that on almost every other forum I go to, there are a ton of sponsors.

This money could be used to host the site on a more reliable server platform like godaddy.com or whatever. Im sure there are some members that could chime in on a way to make the site more reliable.

I'm just throwing it out there. I think a fee of 50-100 dollars per month would be reasonable, and raise more than enough money to better host the site.

Anyone else agree?

We can't force anyone to be a sponsor but if they choose to that would be great... I, for one, don't believe in soliciting for sponsors but others may have a different set of morals... I can't say for sure but I think at least one company has made a donation without requiring credit for doing so...

Hosting changes ARE coming. Patience please.

It is a pain (for everyone!) when the site craps from overload of the pipe, or the home-run server. I do not know if there will need to be donations to intially get this done. I personally would rather get it done, then figure out what it costs, and inform everyone, and let donations come in to offset costs. Then possibly yearly (a month or 2 prior to the money being needed), again run a fund raising drive, with a known target.

The people that have kept this site going, from the get go, have done so from the kindness (well, BDog may not be 'too' kind, lol) of their hearts. All hosting costs (until recently), have been funded on UJ's back. Up to now, the system has been a home run server on a higher end DSL, which UJ has paid for. The main costs over his 'normal' costs, have been for the DNS name, the static IP, and a larger pipe DSL.

Now, moving to a professional hosted server, the costs are not really all that bad. Likely, it will be similar to the extra UJ was paying for the static IP (which he can now let expire).

I know a lot of people want to help out, but right now, it really falls down to getting a few behind the scenes people into a discussion exactly which hosting company to go with, to get a contract drawn up, and to backup move and restore the site, then see just how much additional work will be needed to get the new site running on the new host, then when things look good, simply switch the DNS record to point to the new site.

We can let the costs figure themselves out later. I honestly do not worry much about that, because I know the amount of information contained here, and the number of people that really (almost ravenously) care about that information, and seeing it available.


However, I do think we may address a little company sponsorship, and possibly sell a link or 2. A lot will depend upon how members feel about this. One of the things I like most, is HD has been an open forum, and FREE to anyone wanting to play here. We are not looking at making HD a money making venture (even though we do have to double the standard user's payrate when we promote someone to a mentor). We simply should look at the site as a whole, and try to keep it from only being something that is a single persons expense to bear.

H.

Thank you for the update Husker.

I think it would be nice to have links to a handful of sponsors At the top of the Forum where its just an empty blue space. I personally would have no problem with at all as long as sponors didnt come on the site secretly trying to push their product. BUT, they could do that now anyway!

I think it would be great if we had links to directly go to a website that sells yeast, or glass containers, or ferment equipment, or even stills for those that dont want to build there own.

I will be curious to see what other members have to say about this.

I am a regular at another site about mead. They solved the question of advertising by having a separate page for that purpose. However, the main sponsor's adverts are still all over the site and they dictate the terms. I know about at least one case where they did not allow someone to advertise their product because it was similar to the main sponsor's.

Another thought, companies may not be too keen to be seen promoting an activity that is illegal in most countries.

Thinking out loud here.... what about a pay to play forum? Free membership for 10days, no copying ability, no posting (if that is possible). Then after 10 days pay a nominal fee for a 3 month or what ever time frame period and have full access. Seems like if a person can afford a bag of sugar to make a wash they could cough up a few bucks for the site where they learned their chops.

Cheers
stilly

HD will not be a 'pay to play' forum.

Husker wrote:HD will not be a 'pay to play' forum.

I am glad to hear that. I would never have joined if they thrust such a hurdle in front of me. Whether it would be a loss to HD is of course yours to decide

Husker you the man. You play fair. Whatever you deceide is fine by me.
ArkyJ
Gee! That sound like ass kissing to me. FU Husker, but whatever you deceide is ok.

This should never be a pay to play forum. That would go against all of our free spirit attitudes! (No pun intended) My idea is simple. There are companies out there that sell shit we all buy. They could pay a small fee for a link to their site. This income would cover all hosting fees.

Hell if I owned a plastic bucket company i would pay for a link!

bgrizzle wrote:This should never be a pay to play forum. That would go against all of our free spirit attitudes! (No pun intended) My idea is simple. There are companies out there that sell shit we all buy. They could pay a small fee for a link to their site. This income would cover all hosting fees.

Hell if I owned a plastic bucket company i would pay for a link!

haha,, i agree. i was just thinking today,,,,,,,"self,, after all of these flute builds,( with the 4" fittings,, and the triclamps,, and the sight glass apperatus),,,,,,,,, i wander if these companies are thinking,,,,, "self (company),, why is everybody buying this shit, and how can i get them to buy more"...
we ( HD) could create more jobs for these workers,, and more workers for these jobs,,, WE COULD STIMULATE THE ECONOMY!!!!!!!!!
YES WE CAN!!!!!!!!!! lol
but like i was saying bgrizzle, ill agree with ya!
spooky BTW,,,,,,, F B.S yall know what i mean
spooky

I just laughed until I crapped my pants. Lol...

bgrizzle wrote:I just laughed until I crapped my pants. Lol...

my daddy use to say " just wipe it up and go on"
spook

I think sponsors are a great Idea. I hope to be one soon with Hillbillystills.com

I'm not sure that I like the idea of commercial sponsors. It could get kinda hard to drop a commercial sponsor, if the forum takes commercial money and that company does something unscrupulous what do we do? If we drop them we loose funding, if we continue to carry their advertising then it's kinda endorsing their bad behavior.

I would like to see the forum self supporting by it's own membership rather then be beholden to an outside influence.

rubber duck wrote:I'm not sure that I like the idea of commercial sponsors. It could get kinda hard to drop a commercial sponsor, if the forum takes commercial money and that company does something unscrupulous what do we do? If we drop them we loose funding, if we continue to carry their advertising then it's kinda endorsing their bad behavior.

I would like to see the forum self supporting by it's own membership rather then be beholden to an outside influence.

dont put no contracts in it... if the sponser stays true, they can reep the bennifits,,,, if they fall out of line,,,, we dont need them anyway... i believe in a honest days work for a honest days pay.
after all,,, were not taking their money,, were giving them advertisement... its called rent
spooky

How about coming upfront with how much you need? A progress bar with % of the target this month can do miracles. Psychologically.

Got no problem with a small number of carefully screened sponsors. But I do think this forum should be able to pay for itself via donations from members. Hosting costs are not that much for a text and still image based forum.

A lot of people have made coils, parrots, etc and sold them off this forum. It would be nice if those of us that have made a profit donated say 10% of the profit back to the forum on a volunteer basis. If the person buying it new that part of the money was going to support the forum they probably wouldn't mind paying a bit more as well!