Posted by ShelliR on April 1, 2001, at 17:57:51
In reply to Re: membership fee idea, posted by Dr. Bob on April 1, 2001, at 16:33:40
Dr. Bob,
The pledge drive could be really easy to put into place fast. It is at the least a temporary way to bring more money in.
Now that you're rethinking the whole membership fee thing again, I can see the time just goin' by again and no money coming in for a long time.
Why start vacillating again now? Why not just go for the pledge drive and debate the manadatory membership later, so at least one thing concerning finances gets done?
Personally, if you make this a paid site, I think you will be very disappointed at the outcome and truely regret it. You will need to explain why this board, out of all the hundreds of free boards, requires payment. There are boards with paid staff psychologists and psychiatrists answering questions, and they don't even require money. As far as I tell, you are the only one who thinks this would be a good idea. (And truely, I'm not being facetitious here, I "hear" that people are willing to pay a donation, or help you work to find a sponsor or grant, but don't want a membership fee for a myriad of reasons.) It might be worthwhile to really listen. You've got a lot of bright people participating on this board.
But that decision can still be made later. Hey, it's your board. But why not see what a pledge drive twice a year brings in and continue to look for a sponsor.
ShelliR
p.s., if you're truely headed towards a membership fee requirement, then I don't want to put any more energy into ideas to bring in money. It would just be a waste of time. (Again, not meant to be disrespectful, but it's frustrating to see people try to help think of ways to bring in money and have you return again to paid membership again. What is the point of brain storming if that is where you're going to end up anyway?)
Well, yeah, I guess I'm a bit annoyed that we're backtracking again.
poster:ShelliR
thread:619
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20010315/msgs/961.html