Re: Voluntary Commitment

[Kat Nagel <katnagel -at- EZNET -dot- NET>]

>From:         Jennifer Lett <jlett -at- CSC -dot- COM>
>I really like the way Eric is approaching this issue.

[IrritatingPhrase alert] Me, too.

>In his call for
>commitments he said, "The best option right now looks like free membership
>(just as it is now) with voluntary donations/contributions to cover costs."
>
>It's something like the way public television stations do fundraisers. Want
to
>keep this freely available service going? Great! Ante up. I'm sure there
>will be enough people willing to contribute to cover expenses, and
hopefully,
>leave something additional for the Rays.

The public broadcasting analogy is attractive for a number of reasons:
  ~All basic services are free to everybody who wanders in
  ~Some neato extra stuff (ticket giveaways, answers to phone questions
     about programs) is free to anyone who specifically asks for it
  ~Some even neater extra stuff (monthly program guides, discounts
     for products of supporting vendors, subscription premiums) is
     available only to annual subscribers
  ~Voluntary subscription fees and vendor support allow content
     development and minimal staff compensation

I support our local public radio and TV stations, and a couple of arts
organizations because I think they provide an important set of services for
the community, and because I want them available when I need them.
Wouldn't mind adding TECHWR-L to the list, as long as:
  ~Payment is voluntary
  ~Basic services are available to everyone, not just those of us
     who fork over cash or volunteer services

>There will be no subscription, no membership, no
>dues, no
>prorated refunds, no new rules. Simple.

Well, I don't quite agree with everything in your.  I *do* think there
should be membership as we have it now:  free on request, after approval.
And I think that voluntary subscriptions (a few extra privileges, but no
prorated refunds) is a good way to handle the financing.  New rules, such
as putting all ads and course/seminar announcements in a separate daily
mailing like the Computer Book Publishing list does it, would certainly
enhance the value of the TECHWR-L list for me.

>I'm quite willing to let Eric handle the administrative setup as he sees
fit.

Another 'me, too' on that one.  Whatever works, as long as it doesn't throw
new inconveniences in my path <smile>.  Frankly, I like the light-handed
moderation that keeps out the worst of the spam and troll problems that
plague some of my other lists.  (Yes, I get my wrist slapped here,
occasionally.  So what?  I can live with that.  None of the bruises have
lasted more than a few days <smile>.)

So...go for it, Eric.  Pick a server alternative that doesn't put too great
a burden on us, and let me know where to send the check.

Kat Nagel, MasterWork Consulting Services      katnagel -at- eznet -dot- net

"We are not seats or eyeballs or end users or consumers.
 We are human beings, and our reach exceeds your grasp."
prolog to the cluetrain manifesto  http://www.cluetrain.com

 From ??? -at- ??? Sun Jan 00 00:00:00 0000=