66 replies to this topic

[94SilverCab]

We miss you Dude!

Jay

[cl42jcg]

p.s. - to address the points the idiot mistakenly assumes:

the membership here is actually quite active. while i can't easily pull up specific numbers on a member by member basis, i regularly purge dead or incomplete memberships, so as not to artificially inflate that number, and have looked at each member periodically. i would estimate that about 30% of our over 2000 members have posted in the last year, and more than 50% have popped on and read. that is actually a very good level of activity, and per member far exceeding that of any other site with 968 content. our number of posts in that year was over 16,000. views was over 160,000.

revenues have been deliberately limited. we did not want the site to be laden with ads. we only sought out enough advertisement to cover physical costs. we were essentially operating as a non-profit. that could easily change. it would not be hard at all to pick up other advertisers. this site could easily make $10000 a year profit, without requiring members to pay a membership fee.

Ok, forget "revenues" for the moment. Can you disclose what the approximate "hard costs" or "physical costs" of maintaining existing site service are, ( i.e. server costs, any ongoing outside service provider contracts necessary to continue the site, any annual renewal of service charges) might be? If I'm not concerned with a financial return on investment, what does it cost just to maintain the site as is without outside revenues?

I ask because I note significant interest in maintaining the status quo. Return on potentially invested capital is a whole different question. If there are parties out there willing to pony up only enough to eat the costs, that would be a factor in your, and their, decision process and would impact an individual or group effort to keep this gem alive. Just asking.

Edited by cl42jcg, 10 December 2013 - 12:50 PM.

[flash]

hosting and license costs are really quite reasonable, and not really a factor. i spill more wine than that. there are no other physical costs, assuming that you don't have to hire somebody to run and manage the site software. to date, we have not had to do that.

again though, all figures and such will be in the package. i expect to have that done in a week or so.

[cl42jcg]

Thanks. My interest is possible outcomes, possibly to help structuring something that would work for all concerned, assisting in putting a deal together. I'm a retired commercial bank Credit Officer and made such decisions daily. I'll check in for "the package" later on. Most important: I don't want to see the existing Forum archives disappear, and permanently preserving what you've accomplished to date is of paramount importance to me no matter how or where the site winds up. If you could use an independent, objective 3rd party opinion on future discussions, give me a yell. I've no particular axe to grind. Sometimes a 968 drive around the block, a beer, a cigarette, and a good night's sleep can make a huge difference.

Best regards

[flash]

just as an update, this got back-burnered. there has been no progress, or even attempts at progress to date. the issue will be re-addressed in the coming weeks. it is still undetermined as to what makes the most sense, but we will be considering options.

in the meantime, some site upgrades should be coming down the pipe in the not too distant future.

membership continues to expand, activity is stable, and all seems calm. just like we like it.

[Rap]

Calm. Hmmmm. Could it be time for a red hot topic? lol

[Tahoe968]

Fingers crossed this thread stays on the back burner! : )