Donate to keep the site robust and ad free!

[Randall Flagg]

The last few weeks of every year, I ask for donations to keep the site ad free, and also robust.
This year was quite expensive to purchase and install a new server.
The Paypal button is on top of each page (the payee is my wife Dolores, so don't freak).

Any help would be appreciated so that we can keep this message board going.

Thanks,

Jerome

[becca69]

Will hit this up on Friday :D

[Merlin1958]

I'm already in for a few hundred sent by check. Jerome and his family should not have to shoulder the burden of all the costs to keep this place up and running. Pony up, folks!!!! Give what you are able!!!



Robust? Is the site putting on weight? lol

[Randall Flagg]

If you enjoy the site, and come here often, think about a dime a day. That would be $36.50 for a year. I sure hope we provide two nickels a day in enjoyment.

Look under the couch cushions and beneath your car seat. Should be enough change there in a year to help.

[Merlin1958]

Is a "thermometer" out of the question? A target number? I always do better with a number to hit, just me I suppose but if it ain't too much bother it would be nice. I could then adjust amounts to be paid accordingly and I would think others might like the ability to measure their contributions vs the costs, aggravation factor and time spent so to speak. Just a thought is all. I defer to your judgement, El Jefe.

[Randall Flagg]

Is a "thermometer" out of the question? A target number? I always do better with a number to hit, just me I suppose but if it ain't too much bother it would be nice. I could then adjust amounts to be paid accordingly and I would think others might like the ability to measure their contributions vs the costs, aggravation factor and time spent so to speak. Just a thought is all. I defer to your judgement, El Jefe.
A thermometer isn't out of the question, but I simply don't want the non-stop pressure on members to donate.


FYI, I'm doing things a bit different next year. The Haven Foundation Fundraiser will not start until January 19th. 19 days doesn't sound like much, but I think it's a relief, and perhaps less is more. I'm even considering reducing the fundraiser to 90 days instead of the current ~130+ days.
One thing for sure; we have a challenge ahead to come up with a better Grand Prize than we had this year.
Rest assured, I have a surprise planned.

[Randall Flagg]

I've mentioned that the server hosting cost is $100 per month. I had to replace the server this year.
The new server and the drives cost me over $1,600.
I could have simply let the site die, but I feel an obligation to my friends (members) to run and maintain the only true King discussion forum and King wiki in the world.
I'll run the site as long as I can-with or without help.

[Merlin1958]

I'm doing what I can, El Jefe!!! lol All thos who log in here every day should do what they can as well. "Sofa Change" is welcome!!! lol

[stroppygoblin]

Donation sent, will kick in the same again before xmas.

[wizardsrainbow]

I paid for one of your month's costs.

[webstar1000]

Just a thought here... why would it matter if there was a banner or two of ads? Would it really matter? You could even do it King centeric... Having publishers like CD and PS... not to mention places that do slipcases, Brodart, etc instead of the members paying. They could advertise sales and specials and actually aid the members at times. Is this not an option?

[wizardsrainbow]

I do not advertise at Betts, but I'd pay something to be "outed" here.

[webstar1000]

I do not advertise at Betts, but I'd pay something to be "outed" here.

Even though your well known David.. "guests" and "lurkers" might not know. Would make sense for sure. I for one am all about it....

[peripheral]

Donation sent...

[Theli]

I couldn't figure out how to send rolls of nickels and dimes through paypal, but I guess a regular donation will have to do.

[jreitan47]

Will be donating on pay day. :)

[Randall Flagg]

Thanks to all have donated.

[Ben Staad]

I put in what I could. It doesn't matter if the site has ads to me but I really wanted J to know I appreciate his effort here.

[amd013]

I put in what I could. It doesn't matter if the site has ads to me but I really wanted J to know I appreciate his effort here.

Ditto.

[dnemec]

Donation made. Plan to double it after the holiday. We can't even begin to thank you for all you do, Jerome. I love this place!!!

[wolfehr]

Donated!

[jreitan47]

Tried to make my donation but having issues with it here at work. Will try again when I get home.

[jreitan47]

Tried to make my donation but having issues with it here at work. Will try again when I get home.

Finally worked. Wasn't a whole lot but all I can do today. Will donate more once I get paid again this month. Thank you RF for all you do here keeping it going. Love the community here and couldn't live without it as a King collector!

[Tommy]

I kicked in a little bit, hopefully can do the same next month too. Thank you for allowing me to be a member and for allowing me to buy/sell on your site!

[Ari_Racing]

Donation sent.

[Dano]

Donation sent!

Dan

[Randall Flagg]

Thanks to all that donated. I'll be pulling the donation button in a couple of days.

[jhanic]

I finally remembered my password. Donated.

John

[Randall Flagg]

I finally remembered my password. Donated.

John
If John can manage to donate, then the challenge has been set for members who are fortunate enough to be healthier. A dime a day is $36.50 for a year.

crownandcola@aol.com

[dnemec]

Thanks for the reminder - meant to donate a second time this month.

[Randall Flagg]

I'm removing the donation button in two days.
Thanks to everyone who has donated!

I am extremely grateful for the support.

My "hobby" has been delightful for the last 9+ years.
Eerily reminiscent of my original job. I started at the very bottom and worked myself to the the highest position. It took me ~ 15 years at my job to get there and I loved the first 20 of the 30 years I was there. I had bad days, bad weeks, yet loved the first two decades. I had the pleasure of actually looking forward to going to work-a rare thing nowadays. The last 10 years were done under duress from a take-over company, but I consistently produced the highest sales and profits in my region ( ~180 supermarkets).

Early on in 2007 I begged for a job here. Had Patrick not gone out on a limb to beg for me by proxy, I'd have never been "hired".
Over 1,000 labor hours were spent creating and populating the Catalog and Calendar. I had a great deal of help so it was not a solo task...it was/is a labor of love.

After 10 years of service here, I plan on retiring from this hobby at the end of 2017. I don't believe I can continue to perform here at the highest level. There is no succession plan.

It is disheartened that no matter what I do, people more and more (that's the internet, I know), want everything for free.
In 2015 members donated well over $2K. This year (despite me spending over $2k on a new server which had to be purchased or the site would have literally died with no notice, and over $1K on hosting) members have donated just over $1K.

I retired from my actual job after 30 years (no pension). I'll be retiring here a bit after my 10 years of service (a pleasure).

Thanks to every member who has helped and I promise to deliver the best and most informative Stephen King site on the internet through 2017.


A hobby is one thing, a job is another. A job usually pays, and a hobby always costs...

Jerome

[herbertwest]

Regarding Jerome's post here :
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?20712-Donate-to-keep-the-site-robust-and-ad-free!&p=1038601&viewfull=1#post1038601

First of all, thanks for the many hours spent on this website, and maintaining it.
Do you mean that you will close the board in a year, if nobody wants to keep it?

I personally do not mind advertising : i actually work professionally on websites owned by a company within the Lagardere / Hachette conglomerate, and we rely on advertising. The fact that more and more people use adblockers is an issue for us, but it's also because the advertising industry have been doing a lot of bad things too.
But, I support advertising as long as it's not too annoying and is relevant.

Also, why not stopping the HAVEN FUNDRAIDER for actually doing a fundraider for keeping the forum online instead?
I personally dont care about the Fundraiser as I am not an american freelancer, and I dont think that people here would care that much if it wasnt to try to get a signed /personalised book.

Just my two cents.
Also, unfortunately I didnt give this year because I had waaaaaay too many expenses this end of the year, and uncertainty about my wife's upcoming incomes. I could however do a modest donation now that i have been payed and if the button was still up.

Thanks again.

[Theli]

That's sad to hear, boss! But I completely understand. Hopefully someone else will have the time and means to keep the forum afloat. I know it won't be me, I have neither of the two unfortunately.

You've done great work for the King community, and raising funds for charity. I really respect everything you've done here and look forward to spending the last year of the site, or at least with you as admin, with you.

[Ben Staad]

Jerome, Thank you for the heads up and putting this awesome community together. My collecting days are basically over due to various reasons but I still find myself coming back to this board for information and community interaction(s). I have very little history with internet forums but in my limited experience this one has a unique "feel" to it and is singularly the most informative in regards to SK.

Whatever happens here I want to thank you for your efforts and time here. Thank you.

[Roseannebarr]

When my Stephen King hobby feels like a job, I am out of here. I enjoy collecting and looking at the site, although limited lately, because my funds have dried up as well. I seriously considered selling my collection a few times to pay off much needed medical bills, but i thought the bills will always be there and my books would take forever if ever to get back. Anybody have regrets selling their collection?

i think the Haven Foundation Fundraiser is great, but I even had to cut back on donating to that too.

I dont think ADS would be a bad thing, i would like to see the site up and running for along time. I miss some of the frequent posters to the site...

[Girlystevedave]

So, am I reading your message right? That the site will inevitably cease to exist after 2017 unless someone wants to manage it? :(

[Room 217 Caretaker]

A couple questions:

Jerome,

Are you stopping because you're tired of managing DT.org? If so, I completely respect and understand that and thank you for a wonderful time. I consider DT my second family.

Are you stopping because last year members donated $2000 and this year $1000? If so, stop the Haven Fund Raiser and make it the DT.Org fundraiser. If money is left over from the DT needs, by all means, give to the foundation.

How much a year do you need in order to maintain DT.org?

Mulleins

[Girlystevedave]

I agree with the above post. I've donated to keep the site ad free and would be up for donating to keep it running if that's what it takes. This place is like a second home to me and I'd hate to see it go if it's because of the financial burden of it.

If I see it go because Jerome is simply wanting to retire from it, I can do nothing but respectfully accept that. I mean, I'll still go cry in the corner when it's all said and done, but...:lol:

[Ari_Racing]

I can't imagine myself not spending time here. I LOVE this place and spent a lot of great moments here. If the problem is the money, I think there should be a visible target. And the Heaven FR should come in second place. First this place. It's our space and I think a lot of us enjoy it more than we could explain.

Jerome, besides the donation, what else can we do to help you with? Please let us know. As I said: I LOVE DT.ORG.

[Theli]

^Good thought Ari! Maybe sharing the load a bit might make you feel a bit more at ease here again.

[zelig]

Well, I love the site and the community of friends I have made here. Like Mulleins said, if you're just tired of managing it then I respect that. If it's more about the money, then the idea of doing a fundraiser makes a lot of sense.

[Randall Flagg]

I'm just a bit disillusioned and a bit down that there are numerous members who could send money, but don't. Many of these people have received numerous bargains by coming here, saving sometimes hundreds of dollars annually. There are also sellers who save quite a bit in fees, yet for reasons unknown, don't contribute. I understand if money is tight, and hate to come off as not being sympathetic, but it's baffling that people who come here ever day can't give a dime a day. Even if it was $10 four times a year.
This year was tough as I had to buy a new (refurbished) server, drives, etc. to build it, a fair amount to ship a 70lb. unit to L.A. and the labor for someone at the server farm to install it.
The replacement was preemptive and neccessary as one of the processors failed on the unit and if the second unit failed, the site would instantly turn off and likely be down for 1-2 weeks.

Between last years donations and this years donations I should barely break even.

For those of you who want to see what a discussion board with ads looks like, I suggest you do a Google search for "Acura Fuel Gauge Problem".
Go to what should be the #1 result-Acurazine.
Navigate through the posts and see if ads pop up.

[Lurker]

Why pull the donate button down? I (and others) may be a little short right now, but maybe after the first of the year or later will have some extra. I don't think it bothers anybody being there...

[Randall Flagg]

Why pull the donate button down? I (and others) may be a little short right now, but maybe after the first of the year or later will have some extra. I don't think it bothers anybody being there...
The primary reason is that when we start the Haven Foundation Fundraiser, the button is used for that.

[Room 217 Caretaker]

As already mentioned, do a fundraiser as always, but this site (ad free) comes first. Anything left over, send to Haven.

I'm one of the members that hasn't put money in yet that Jerome is talking about. Why? Because I purchased a signed King to donate as a prize. But if it's only for the Haven, I'm not helping now. Sounds mean, I know. Look at this way...without this site taken care of first you won't have donations by DT members to even give to The Haven Fund. The cart (DT.org) comes first.

Mulleins

[peripheral]

I'm now just over a year into this place and love it - I've made friendships and learned a hell of a lot. (And I've always bloody hated the idea of online forums, until this one). I'd hate to see this place go, and it takes a certain disposition to keep the wildlife tame (which RF does very well, so I'd hate to see you go too RF). I think Ralph and Ari have a good idea - perhaps a % of every donation to the Haven Fund goes towards running this place (e.g., say 10%, until a threshold is reached)? This in addition to the donation button. And perhaps if the donation button has to go, there can be some permanent reminder banner on the site that "Donations are welcome, message X or Y" and PayPals can be sent... Whatever it takes - there's no place for SK collectors like this place.

[Sai Sheb]

I would be very sad to see this site go. I don't have account with any other site (face book, Twitter, Pinterest etc) although my wage goes on my three girls two dogs and medication i would make cut backs on painkillers to see this place continue... but if you WANT to retire from this then thank you for the enjoyment that you have given!!!

[ICry4Oy]

I concur with the above sentiments. A lot of us have reasons for not being able to donate at this time but after the first of the year I would be in better shape to do so. I don't have to stay in Mississippi any more and spend money on my Mom's care or her funeral and can get back to Dallas and have a secure connection. I have always donated to the site/ad thing and Haven but this year life got in the way.


The site should come first and Haven second. Sure it's nice to make Uncle Stevey happy with a big check to Haven but if the site goes, so does that.

[Jon]

While I was ale to contribute this year; last year I was not in position in time. The button had come and gone.Furthermore, I'd like to contribute several time a year but there seems to be limited times when the button and my budget correspond.

With all of the hook ups and relationships, eHarmony or Match.com subscriptions are saved too!

[east-tennessee]

Just donated what I could. Love this place :huglove: would hate to see it gone.........><

[bdwyer19]

I made a donation yesterday. Was very happy to help in whatever way I could.

[T-Dogz_AK47]

I am very short of funds, but I will donate what I can!

[jsmcmullen92]

One note for people who would like to donate year round.
If you go to Settings at the top right, then on the left hand side under My Settings there is a module called Paid Subscriptions. if you click this it gives you an option to send a subscription to Jerome for the site any time of year. $1 for a month or $34 for a year (math is a little off). This is one way you can send donations any time of year or you can just PP F&F the money to RF with a memo of donation for the site. If you do not know his email to send the funds to follow the previous steps and his email will appear as the email for the paid subscription. Then you can use that to send any amount to. I understand that it's not the most straight forward but it works. Am I saying you have to do this? No. Am I saying you should do this? That is up to you, but is it available? Yes.


J if you want some help adjusting the amounts on the subscriptions let me know.

[webstar1000]

I still wholeheartedly think and believe that King centeric advertising is NOT ONLY GOOD FOR US but would be welcome. It would provide enough revenue that A) RF would not need to feel this way, B) Make site more valuable if it were to be sold, C) Benefit the members by not having to pay AND seeing specials and sales on home page, D) RF would even make some money for his time AND E) drive more potential members here as via search engines. Why this is not already underway I will never know. IT IS A WIN WIN FOR ALL.

[Tommy]

I still wholeheartedly think and believe that King centeric advertising is NOT ONLY GOOD FOR US but would be welcome. It would provide enough revenue that A) RF would not need to feel this way, B) Make site more valuable if it were to be sold, C) Benefit the members by not having to pay AND seeing specials and sales on home page, D) RF would even make some money for his time AND E) drive more potential members here as via search engines. Why this is not already underway I will never know. IT IS A WIN WIN FOR ALL.

I tend to agree with you and really would not mind ads at all. However, RF has said numerous times he hates ads.

[Randall Flagg]

See the last paragraphs of post #42.
Follow the suggestion, and then let me know what you think of ads.

[Tommy]

See the last paragraphs of post #42.
Follow the suggestion, and then let me know what you think of ads.

I did whenever you posted and honestly I don't mind it. This site, more than any other, is totally worth the very slight annoyance. I seriously doubt that anyone here would stop visiting the site because of ads. That's just my opinion.

[webstar1000]

See the last paragraphs of post #42.
Follow the suggestion, and then let me know what you think of ads.

I did whenever you posted and honestly I don't mind it. This site, more than any other, is totally worth the very slight annoyance. I seriously doubt that anyone here would stop visiting the site because of ads. That's just my opinion.

No one would.

[Iwritecode]

For those of you who want to see what a discussion board with ads looks like, I suggest you do a Google search for "Acura Fuel Gauge Problem".
Go to what should be the #1 result-Acurazine.
Navigate through the posts and see if ads pop up.

There are a couple of ads on the right side and it looks like in every thread the first couple of posts have ads underneath them. Other than that, I really didn't see anything too obtrusive. Nothing worse than any other site on the internet.

[Ben Staad]

I don't know exactly what is on the mind of Mr. Flagg but if advertisement were put into the site wouldn't that create more to do and make this more of a "job" and less of a "hobby" for him? I know next to nothing about computers but I'm guessing there is a level of work involved to acquire, maintain, and comply with advertiser agreements and ads.

[Tommy]

That's a good point. Sorry. I didn't think about that.

[Merlin1958]

Perhaps, all those who are so anxious to have "Ads" on the site should consider responding to this one with a modest donation? Just a thought.......................

[Tommy]

Can't speak for anyone else but I have contributed and plan on contributing more when I can and I'm not anxious to have any ads, I'm anxious to keep the site going.

[webstar1000]

I don't know exactly what is on the mind of Mr. Flagg but if advertisement were put into the site wouldn't that create more to do and make this more of a "job" and less of a "hobby" for him? I know next to nothing about computers but I'm guessing there is a level of work involved to acquire, maintain, and comply with advertiser agreements and ads.

Yeah that does make sense. It would be more work... no question.

[wolfehr]

My favorite idea so far is having one year round fundraiser where a % of proceeds go to keep the site up and running. I *think* it's fairly common for charities to hold back a little for administrative costs. I know I personally would be okay donating knowing that. At the end of the day, if this forums goes down the Haven Fund doesn't get anything, right? Better to lose a small percentage than all of it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ICry4Oy]

Threw some in the pot.


Receipt said for Haven fund.....hope not.

[zelig]

An overabundance of ads is annoying. And least I feel it is. Especially when there are popups. A subtle ad strategically placed would be fine. But I still lean toward no ads at all.

I've donated each year. I will also donate an original drawing from the Firestarter project. Will be signed by Steven Stroud. The proceeds can go to site costs.

[Br!an]

Ads don't bother me.

Probably because I block them. :wtf:

[Randall Flagg]

Ads don't bother me...


https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/7d/73/0c/7d730c42c595e698b332c93a92bc3d0d.gif

[Theli]

^there's something very wrong about that gif. I'm not sure the hand on the right is that of an adult :|

[Kingfan24]

Ads don't bother me...


https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/7d/73/0c/7d730c42c595e698b332c93a92bc3d0d.gif

Viagra only got a somewhat negative stigma because most people don't realize it wasn't designed to treat blood pressure issues. It just has the fortunate side effect of helping guys get it up.

[Sai Sheb]

Ads don't bother me...


https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/7d/73/0c/7d730c42c595e698b332c93a92bc3d0d.gif

Make mine a double

[Merlin1958]

..............And there goes the neighborhood!!!! :thumbsup:

[ke7285]

Donation made! Ad free is very nice, A lot time and dedication is put into maintaining this site.

[fernandito]

Let us know what we can do to keep this place open forever, Jerome.

[Sai Sheb]

Let us know what we can do to keep this place open forever, Jerome.

That's what she said...

[Girlystevedave]

Let us know what we can do to keep this place open forever, Jerome.

That's what she said...

:lol: