Forum Costs

John Hawkins · Post by **John Hawkins** » 1 Jan 2003 3:44 pm

I will probably get b0b "on my case" here but I'm going to make a suggestion anyway !

How about the forum members making a donation to the forum for whatever amount you can --knowing that it is right after Christmas and things might be a little tight but having having said that , this great place to visit , meet friends and learn from, costs b0b out of his own pocket to maintain and it would help him ( and us - young and old ) to continue to be able to visit this valuable asset b0b has created .

I know b0b will probably protest this suggestion to the forum members but I sent my donation a few weeks ago just " out of the blue"! I will continue this format as long as the forum exists and I can " muster up " a few bucks !

Thanks b0b for all the efforts and expense you put forth to maintain this fine place to visit and learn from .

B0b , I know you did not ask me to post this but I felt as though I should anyway .Have a great year 2003 !!

John

joe long · Post by **joe long** » 1 Jan 2003 5:44 pm

It's a great idea.

Ken Lang · Post by **Ken Lang** » 1 Jan 2003 5:54 pm

John. Good suggestion. I will put an extra $20 in the checking account tommorrow and send it off this weekend. Thanks b0b, for all you have done for us. Ken

John Hawkins · Post by **John Hawkins** » 2 Jan 2003 5:50 am

Post by **b0b** » 2 Jan 2003 11:12 am

Don't worry. I won't get "on your case", John. Donations are cheerfully accepted.

The more I think about it, the more I like the system used here in the USA for public television and radio. Under that system, people who enjoy the programming voluntarily contribute to support it. People who can't afford to can still enjoy it for free.

About 35% of the Forum's gross income comes from donations. The other 65% is from the sale of CDs, strings, etc.. BUT - the donations cost us next to nothing, where the profit margin on CDs and strings is low. So in reality, more than 50% of the cost of running this place comes from member donations.

Things have been looking up lately. Looking over the books, I see that last year I only had to put $360 of my own money into the Forum (compared with thousands in years past). A few big donors came up with similar amounts, and a lot of you sent in $25 or so.

Most donors say that they would support an annual membership fee. I don't like that idea because of the bookkeeping involved, and because it would lock out retirees and students who really can't afford it.

Now's a good time to send in a donation, if you can. Remember, this resource could not exist without the help of "members like you".

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<img align=left src="http://b0b.com/coolb0b2.gif" border="0"> Bobby Lee
-b0b- quasar@b0b.com 
-System Administrator

Stephen LeBlanc · Post by **Stephen LeBlanc** » 2 Jan 2003 11:25 am

Yeah definitly...Bob, do you have a paypal account? or is there a link where I can donate? if so you should post it here.

$10-20 each from the majority who post here can go a long way.

Thanks for providing this great forum.

Dave Birkett · Post by **Dave Birkett** » 2 Jan 2003 11:33 am

Can we use PayPal?

Post by **b0b** » 2 Jan 2003 11:37 am

Yes. Direct PayPal payments to my email address: quasar@b0b.com. Remember to spell b0b with a zero.

Thanks for asking.

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<img align=left src="http://b0b.com/coolb0b2.gif" border="0"> Bobby Lee
-b0b- quasar@b0b.com 
-System Administrator

Al Burk · Post by **Al Burk** » 2 Jan 2003 5:59 pm

Bob,
I'll be sending you a PayPal donation shortly. Thanks for everything.

Al Burk

Perry Hansen · Post by **Perry Hansen** » 2 Jan 2003 8:48 pm

B0b, e-mail me your snail mail address and I'll send you a check.

Jim Vogan · Post by **Jim Vogan** » 3 Jan 2003 5:40 am

B0b's forum address is as follows.The Steel Guitar Forum
148 South Cloverdale Blvd.
Cloverdale, CA 95425 USA

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Jim Vogan Emmons Sd10
G.D. Walker Stereo Steel Combo
Bakelite Ric
Hilton volume pedal

Post by **b0b** » 3 Jan 2003 12:26 pm

Thanks for posting that, Jim. Also, any time you need the Forum address, just click "How To Order" on any page of the Forum Catalog.

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<img align=left src="http://b0b.com/coolb0b2.gif" border="0"> Bobby Lee
-b0b- quasar@b0b.com 
-System Administrator

John Hawkins · Post by **John Hawkins** » 4 Jan 2003 1:15 pm

Come on forum members !! Help out here !!! Donate a little something if you can !!

John

Roy Ayres · Post by **Roy Ayres** » 4 Jan 2003 2:11 pm

b0b:

Check for $25 is in the mail.

Thanks for being there.

Post by **b0b** » 6 Jan 2003 5:26 pm

Got 3 more checks today. Thanks, members!

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<img align=left src="http://b0b.com/coolb0b2.gif" border="0"> Bobby Lee
-b0b- quasar@b0b.com 
-System Administrator

Post by **b0b** » 11 Jan 2003 11:43 am

5 more donations arrived yesterday. I think we'll have no problem paying the internet bill this month. Thanks again, members (you know who you are).

A special thanks to Carter Steel Guitars, for a very generous donation. That's what really put us "over the top" this month. They even included $30 earmarked for Off Topic, so that we won't have to put up with ezBoards banner ads over there for another six months. Thanks Bud, Ann and John.

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<img align=left src="http://b0b.com/coolb0b2.gif" border="0"> Bobby Lee
-b0b- quasar@b0b.com 
-System Administrator

Bob Carlson · Post by **Bob Carlson** » 18 Jan 2003 9:09 pm

Do you accept checks on the First National Bank Of Tiejuana? They are printed on used inner tubes.

I'll gladly get one In the mail also.

Bob.

Bob Carlson · Post by **Bob Carlson** » 20 Jan 2003 10:47 am

Hey every one...lets give b0b a hand. Mine will go out In todays mail.

If we end up sending to much...his time Is worth something.

Bob.