|
Post by captbob on Jan 24, 2017 11:30:03 GMT -5
I think if Tony wants to take it on, then let him. On this I agree. He is a big boy and can decide if this is something he wants to invest his time and money in. That's quite a huge bonus if others are willing to pay for it - what would he have to lose?
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Jan 24, 2017 11:38:56 GMT -5
I think if Tony wants to take it on, then let him. On this I agree. He is a big boy and can decide if this is something he wants to invest his time and money in. That's quite a huge bonus if others are willing to pay for it - what would he have to lose? My thought is that most people here are only interested in the forum. If he wants to take on the home page and setting this up then that would be his payment. Of course, if people have reservations about it, then they don't have to contribute.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,176
|
Post by jamesp on Jan 24, 2017 11:40:23 GMT -5
royMixing business with pleasure can stain pleasure in a hurry. No surprise. Would not surprise me if you could pull off a pleasant business here though. In this day and age it only takes one PIA complainer to reap havoc though. Perhaps not worth taking a chance.
|
|
|
Post by 1dave on Jan 24, 2017 12:02:29 GMT -5
With good interested moderators - like John Sands - anyone can run this site as the past has proved. Most members are here for the rocks and what can be done with them. Few are here just for the politics - and (we) are easily ignored. I'd like an existing long time but young active member owner - Here is the short list.
|
|
Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,683
|
Post by Tommy on Jan 24, 2017 13:23:33 GMT -5
I don't want to step on any toes here. I did not read through this thread to see that this idea had already been floated out there with Tony's name attached. I'm a big fan of Tony and if he feels strongly about purchasing the forum with personal or group money and managing the site hosting transfer and managing the day to day Admin duties then I will yield to him. If any other toes are being stepped on I am not aware of your efforts so please contact me. I was going to conduct my activities in private until I read through the last few pages of this thread and feel a sense of urgency to step up. So... I have made what I feel is a reasonable offer to Mark to purchase the site outright using a crowd funding campaign for all members to participate in. I will launch the campaign with a goal amount to be revealed later. To reach said goal I would launch a campaign here on the board publicly and privately, as well as on Facebook. I feel that I am a highly qualified candidate - if not the best candidate - to own the forum for the following reasons: - I am an experienced forum owner with forum software experience on several platforms.
- I already pay yearly for a hosting plan with unlimited bandwidth and disk space available to me.
- I have had my hosting account for 10 years approx. and know it to be reliable and good host.
- I have sold a busy forum that I helped build, to a major hobby magazine publication so I have a sense of the inherent value.
- I am familiar with moving forums - the database needs to be migrated to the new owner's host.
- I have the time and energy to devote to managing the day to day operations and appointing moderators with similar energy and vision
My intentions are to preserve and improve the forum as a purely hobbyist based experience for the indefinite future. I am not interested in using it as a business platform or profiting from it very far above simple tools (advertising or sponsors) to cover the hosting cost. Very similar to what Mark has been doing - maybe a little more. My plans for change: - Day-one I would turn on photo uploading. I consider a forum experience like this crippled without it.
- Freshen up the board as discussed in this thread
- Award donors with special recognition items such as a "contributor" level they can wear proudly (or not) - or an email address on the domain etc.
- Improve and expand the selling experience for members - grant "trusted seller" level members (ie: Tony, Roy, etc.) space to maintain their personal BIN sales and auctions similar but in my opinion better than Facebook.
- *Explore* upgrading within Proboards, or moving away from Proboards. This is a tricky (and expensive) proposition and would not be taken lightly without a lot of planning.
Your thoughts, encouragement, hatred, whatever else would be appreciated via PM. Tommy
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Jan 24, 2017 13:40:20 GMT -5
Hey Tommy- Well, I can tell you are serious. You're the first person to post a resume. Great idea and great resume. I love the vision. I especially love the sale section idea. Would that mean we would have to migrate to a different platform?
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Jan 24, 2017 13:44:22 GMT -5
Works for me! I didn't really desire the work load this will entail, (heck the Facebook stuff scares me!) but made a serious offer to keep the forum from falling into hands (when buying the RTH domain name) which may not care about the forum itself.
Couple things...
I don't believe the forum can be "moved" to another hosting site. Pretty sure everything here (content) "belongs" to Proboards.
Changing the URL from andy321(etc) will kill all links that now exist. Huge loss if one considered the number of links -on Google alone- back to this site.
There are a few other considerations that I have thought of (for the benefit of whoever the new owner is) but I'm right in the middle of something and will get back to this.
Adding - I don't know about any urgency as Mark has said he wants to have his offer on the table until Feb. 23rd. Whether that is subject to change I do not know.
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Jan 24, 2017 13:53:43 GMT -5
Works for me! I didn't really desire the work load this will entail, (heck the Facebook stuff scares me!) but made a serious offer to keep the forum from falling into hands (when buying the RTH domain name) which may not care about the forum itself. Sounds like you were being a nice guy. Seriously, thank you!
|
|
|
Post by rockpickerforever on Jan 24, 2017 14:24:19 GMT -5
I don't want to step on any toes here. I did not read through this thread to see that this idea had already been floated out there with Tony's name attached. I'm a big fan of Tony and if he feels strongly about purchasing the forum with personal or group money and managing the site hosting transfer and managing the day to day Admin duties then I will yield to him. If any other toes are being stepped on I am not aware of your efforts so please contact me. I was going to conduct my activities in private until I read through the last few pages of this thread and feel a sense of urgency to step up. So... I have made what I feel is a reasonable offer to Mark to purchase the site outright using a crowd funding campaign for all members to participate in. I will launch the campaign with a goal amount to be revealed later. To reach said goal I would launch a campaign here on the board publicly and privately, as well as on Facebook. I feel that I am a highly qualified candidate - if not the best candidate - to own the forum for the following reasons: - I am an experienced forum owner with forum software experience on several platforms.
- I already pay yearly for a hosting plan with unlimited bandwidth and disk space available to me.
- I have had my hosting account for 10 years approx. and know it to be reliable and good host.
- I have sold a busy forum that I helped build, to a major hobby magazine publication so I have a sense of the inherent value.
- I am familiar with moving forums - the database needs to be migrated to the new owner's host.
- I have the time and energy to devote to managing the day to day operations and appointing moderators with similar energy and vision
My intentions are to preserve and improve the forum as a purely hobbyist based experience for the indefinite future. I am not interested in using it as a business platform or profiting from it very far above simple tools (advertising or sponsors) to cover the hosting cost. Very similar to what Mark has been doing - maybe a little more. My plans for change: - Day-one I would turn on photo uploading. I consider a forum experience like this crippled without it.
- Freshen up the board as discussed in this thread
- Award donors with special recognition items such as a "contributor" level they can wear proudly (or not) - or an email address on the domain etc.
- Improve and expand the selling experience for members - grant "trusted seller" level members (ie: Tony, Roy, etc.) space to maintain their personal BIN sales and auctions similar but in my opinion better than Facebook.
- *Explore* upgrading within Proboards, or moving away from Proboards. This is a tricky (and expensive) proposition and would not be taken lightly without a lot of planning.
Your thoughts, encouragement, hatred, whatever else would be appreciated via PM. Tommy Wow, nice credentials! Thanks for stepping up the plate, I think you are the savior we have all been hoping for! You have NOTHING BUT my encouragement.
Heck, I'll even forgive you for not taking and posting pics of the BBQ at Tony's (normally posted after the event for the enjoyment of those poor souls that will never be able to make it to either Q or the BBQ, and have to enjoy it vicariously through pics of the happening ).
Wishing you and RTH the best, and a successful transition. Jean
ETA - I did not send via PM because nothing of a personal note here. Just in case you wondered.
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Jan 24, 2017 14:27:20 GMT -5
LOL It happens. Kinda like a blue moon.
I am not a seller, I'm a rock hoarder. So I didn't see this as a venture to turn a profit - heck I kinda doubted that this would even consistently break even. Not without increasing ads (unacceptable to me) or branching out into selling areas that I'd rather not spend the effort on at this time in my life.
Basically figure the forum must be saved and doing so was no skin off my nose - other than the time involved - which I have a surplus of. Dealing with the Facebook groups on a daily basis was my biggest concern. Kind of a Luddite here. With a couple good moderators, this forum can take care of itself.
I did go and purchase a couple domain names the other day (before I knew this was a month long sale timeline) that I believe could be used to aid in bringing new folks here. Domain names are cheap! Will discuss them with new owner as need be.
|
|
Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,683
|
Post by Tommy on Jan 24, 2017 14:55:36 GMT -5
Works for me! I didn't really desire the work load this will entail, (heck the Facebook stuff scares me!) but made a serious offer to keep the forum from falling into hands (when buying the RTH domain name) which may not care about the forum itself. I don't believe the forum can be "moved" to another hosting site. Pretty sure everything here (content) "belongs" to Proboards. Changing the URL from andy321(etc) will kill all links that now exist. Huge loss if one considered the number of links -on Google alone- back to this site. You have illustrated my point about stepping on toes perfectly - I didn't know you were interested or had made an offer. I only knew of one other offer that was made and it wasn't accepted and wasn't you. I just saw a bunch of banter back and forth about "we" should do something by committee and based on my management experience committees are a downward spiral for any project (just my opinion). Depends on the location of the database. In the forum software I have dealt with the database was located on the external host - the transferee would install the software and create a new database and migrate the data over. 72 hours to propagate - URL's stays the same - no links killed etc. I will dig deeper - if the database is located at Proboards which I see now based on the URL then that is a blessing and a curse at the same time.
|
|
|
Post by 1dave on Jan 24, 2017 15:07:21 GMT -5
Tommy I have also owned several websites and it can become a big problem if targeted by any number of hackers. You seem to be just the kind of owner I've envisioned. You have my support.
|
|
|
Post by spiceman on Jan 24, 2017 16:49:35 GMT -5
That's a good idea.
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Jan 24, 2017 16:51:48 GMT -5
Just came back inside for a water break and reread Tommy's post. Missed a part of this the first go round. I have made what I feel is a reasonable offer to Mark to purchase the site outright using a crowd funding campaign for all members to participate in. I will launch the campaign with a goal amount to be revealed later. To reach said goal I would launch a campaign here on the board publicly and privately, as well as on Facebook. So this offer is contingent, like the same idea using Tony's name, on "donations" from other forum members? I love Tommy's credentials and he has always seemed a stand up guy to me, but so are Tony and Roy and John and several others here. This goes right back to the many paying for something to be owned by one. Right? While I'm not into selling stuff, in my few days of overthinking the many aspects of this purchase, I figured there is actually a pretty decent potential to turn a profit (possibly quite respectable) with all that is being offered here, should one care to do so. Yeah, folks may "donate" or not as they choose, I get that part. But still, a sum somewhere north of a couple/few thousand bucks is gonna need to be "donated". Heck of a gift. I have no problem with this if it's what people want to do, but figured that it needed pointing out. Some here may not understand this. My plans for change: (include)Improve and expand the selling experience for members - grant "trusted seller" level members (ie: Tony, Roy, etc.) space to maintain their personal BIN sales and auctions similar but in my opinion better than Facebook. Free? If so, now several are being presented a gift. ETSY sellers to be included in this free advertising space? Others? Who decides who gets free advertising? Oh yeah. eBay sellers gonna want to have links to their auctions? See this coming - "But I donated 20 bucks, I want free ad space too!" Are all animals equal? Whomever a "crowd funded" purchase goes to may make out quite nicely and sellers getting free ad space do alright as well. The potential for profit from paid advertising and/or other promotions may be a rather (seriously) impressive amount. Maybe those that would benefit should be the ones doing the buying, without requiring funding from the community in general. Heck, Mark may want to keep it himself if folks are gonna just give him a couple/few thousand bucks. just thoughts ...
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,176
|
Post by jamesp on Jan 24, 2017 17:27:54 GMT -5
Go Tommy !
|
|
|
Post by spiceman on Jan 24, 2017 20:29:38 GMT -5
Ok, I have one ball park figure on the price of RTH, so what is everybody else's? Let's roll the ball.
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Jan 24, 2017 22:39:13 GMT -5
I should have said it more explicitly before- I support Tommy's plan. He has a plan, the credentials and the time. I like the idea of having someone expressly interested in running the forum. He is someone who has always been a good RTH member and friend to many. We may still be faced with some of the issues captbob is pointing out. These are kinks that will need to be worked out. But, it sounds like Tommy has some ideas already. It doesn't have to be difficult. When all is said and done whomever it is that ends up with the magic bid, I hope it is someone from the site and not an outsider. That's my only concern.
|
|
|
Post by spiceman on Jan 24, 2017 23:05:15 GMT -5
We need to figure out who can hold all the donations. Find out how much we have Place a bid
I will put a hundred to donate, who can match me? Now who can match me?
Let's get this ball rolling. Stop talking, get it done.
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Jan 25, 2017 9:32:25 GMT -5
Why am I reminded of a scene from Animal House? I hope that no one took my previous post as being against Tommy or Tony or Roy or anyone else here running the site. All fine, outstanding members here, and Tommy has listed an impressive list of qualifications. Works for me - as I said. Opposition to a specific person was not my point and had nothing to do with my post. Ya'll want to play Santa and give someone a couple thousand dollar gift, with the potential to turn it into something much larger, have at it. May actually be a gift to ourselves if it maintains forum continuity. As Tela said, it doesn't have to be difficult. I'm just bringing up some relevant questions and considerations. I'm helpful that way! We did go from Tony to Roy to Tommy in a quickness. Anyone next? Is the purpose of a group donation drive to "buy" all this for one person or to turn it over to a group to manage? Is this a here ya go, run with it deal or would those that contribute have a say or vote in matters? Is that important? Are there other issues that need to be discussed before members here donate thousands of dollars to buy something and just turn it over to someone? Like I said, heck of a gift. Not sure that the Animal House "Let's do it!!" approach is well thought out. carry on ...
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Jan 25, 2017 10:04:41 GMT -5
I getcha captbob. And I do think you bring up some thought provoking and valid questions. I think what Tommy had in mind is to do a go fund me type thing in which this will all be spelled out and become clear as mud. He just hasn't gotten to that part, yet. We can all hit him with questions at that point. Don't stop with the questions because they are good ones and ones I'm sure he'll flesh out or ask help with.
|
|