As you may or may not know, a site such as PCQandA requires a lot of money to run. Hosting alone runs us approximately $370 per month. Overall, we need about $4,500 per year to operate. Advertising such as the Google ads above and the Commissioned Links below that bring in some money, but not nearly enough to keep the site afloat.
We figure that we need another $4,000 more to take us comfortably through to next year at this time. That's where you come in. In the last month alone, almost 340 users posted to PCQandA. If each of you donated $15, we would reach our goal with room to spare. (Of course, donations above $15 are more than welcome as are donations less than $15.)
If you'd rather send a check or a money order (in US Dollars -- sorry, but we can't accept International Money Orders at this time), make it out to Jason Levine and send it to:
Jason Levine PO Box 392 Slingerlands, NY 12159
Be sure to include your e-mail address in a note along with the check/money order so we can thank you. (PCQandA screen names would be nice also in case the e-mail doesn't go through for some reason.)
You can also support PCQandA by buying from one of our Commissioned Links, but that won't count towards the fund raiser.
Curious just how close we are to our goal? Check out http://www.pcqanda.com/fundraiser.php for the most up-to-date figure. (Payments are added to the total manually, so don't expect the figure to update the minute you make a payment.)
Jason, As soon as I get my first pay check of the school year I will send a donation. We start back on Aug 7 so it will be a few weeks before I get paid. Daylilydayzed Daylilies are the Lord's smiles, new one every day.
Sent in through Paypal. I regard this donation as the best value that I give to each year. All one has to do is read all the posts every day and learn from them.
Just sent $'s via paypal. Where would I have been if this site had not existed huh? Many thanks to everyone who ever has (and will in the future no doubt)helped to keep my PC ticking over nice and smooth.
Very many thanks to all that support this site and especially so to those that put in the hours to make sure it functions well.
Keep up the good work please and know that you really are appreciated! This is one of the best and most worth wile sites of its type on the internet - our dollars will allow it to stay that way.
So keep the $ coming please as I see we have a way to go yet (today the 19th we are at 1/3 of what we need)
>How are we doing Jason? >Do we need to pass the basket for more? ------------------------------------------------------ Taken from his first post: as of 7-18 http://www.pcqanda.com/fundraiser.php
You've got mine. I sent it earlier, but didn't post about it here, so you didn't have my e-mail address. I also want to say that I really appreciate everybody helping each other on this forum. If it 'gets to the crunch' and you need more let us know. I read Shelly's post.
This site has helped me with big problems and small. It's the one site I check daily and several times a day. It has taught me so much about computers, and I'm still learning. I when I can share something I know with someone else(rarely) I get excited! "I've gone through that" And using my computers to help with research to find cures for cancer and aids, I found here. If this site was gone, it would be hard to replace. Thanks to Jason, Shelly, Grogan, and all the moderators, for making this a fun part of my life, and for making me look smarter than I am to my freinds, who ask me all those little computer questions, like "What's spyware?", "What programs do I need to protect my computers?", "I downloaded a picture to my computer, and can't find it, where did it go?" on and on.............. Second Paypal send! Denbeau (Dennis)
I just sent my donation via Paypal this morning. I'm sorry it took me so long to do it.
PC Q&A has saved my ass so many times! Often I've been close to tears & frantic with computer disasters and PC Q&A has rescued me. Not only have they helped me, but they've done it in a very timely manner. There is always someone here available to help at almost any time of day or night to read my cries for help and offer solutions.
C'mon, people. If a geezer like me, living on social security, can afford to help pay for this great site, then so can the rest of you. If you can afford to own a computer, and you can afford to pay for Internet access, then you can afford a few dollars to support this site.
Just think of all the great info and help you have gotten here. What would you have done if this site and all of the wonderful geeks and nerds here were not available to help you, day and night? Where would you go for help?
C'mon, most of you can afford $10 to help keep this site up and running.
Dell Dimension 4550,Win XP Home SP2, 2.4 GHZ P4, 512MB DDR PC2700 Ram, ATI Rage 128(32MB),Cable Dell Inspiron 5160,XP Home SP2,2.8 GHZ,512MB Ram,32MB Video
I just contributed and am happy to do it. : ) It's been a few weeks since I came to this forum, so as soon as I saw the plea for help, I sent something.....I hope you make your goal!
Roberta Dell Desktop/Windows XP SBCYahoo hi-speed internet thru Outlook 2002/IE 6.0
Just sent in a second donation after reading Shelly's recent post.
Maybe we should post a "sticky" with the names of members that have donated? Shouldn't be necessary...but come on. This site has helped many, many people out. Surely a small donation from ALL users, once a year, is not too much to ask.
Dell Dimension 4550,Win XP Home SP2, 2.4 GHZ P4, 512MB DDR PC2700 Ram, ATI Rage 128(32MB),Cable Dell Inspiron 5160,XP Home SP2,2.8 GHZ,512MB Ram,32MB Video
Over the years, including the PC911 period, 12,747 members have registered as members to date. Some of those were one time visits never to return, some have died, and a few have been banned.
In any given month we have posts from an average of 350 distinct members, and there are an unknown number of lurkers who do not post and visitors. Note that it is not exactly the same people who post each month. So the answer to your question is hard to pin down.
Since you have all of our email addresses, would it be too presumptious to do a blanket mailing (yeah SPAM ) to our membership requesting support?. It could be a reminder to those who have been away that we're still here. I would not object to receiving such an email.
No way... you don't do things like that with people's email addresses. We'd quickly find ourselves unable to send mail to many domains if we started doing things like that. It would also annoy a lot of people, some of whom don't even come here anymore.
We require email addresses so people can register to post, so they can receive requested topic notifications and possibly so users can be contacted by admin to resolve a problem, or possibly contacted by other forum users (if they've chosen to make the email link button available on the board). Sending out bulk email to solicit donations would be abuse, in my books.
Thanks for your good intentioned suggestion though. While it might result in more donations in the short term, it would have consequences. (and rightly so)
#65. "RE: Annual PCQandA Fundraiser" In response to Grogan (Reply # 63) Fri Jul-28-06 07:04 PM by Pcqandaman
>No way... you don't do things like that with people's email >addresses. We'd quickly find ourselves unable to send mail to >many domains if we started doing things like that. It would >also annoy a lot of people, some of whom don't even come here >anymore. > >We require email addresses so people can register to post, so >they can receive requested topic notifications and possibly so >users can be contacted by admin to resolve a problem, or >possibly contacted by other forum users (if they've chosen to >make the email link button available on the board). Sending >out bulk email to solicit donations would be abuse, in my >books. > >Thanks for your good intentioned suggestion though. While it >might result in more donations in the short term, it would >have consequences. (and rightly so)
If you don't want to issue a mass e-mailing how about a selective one; say everyone who has accessed the forum in the last year, explaining this.
I live in the UK and I'm mailing a cheque, am I correct in thinking the NY in Jason's address is New York. ?
Jason Levine PO Box 392 Slingerlands, NY 12159
Is the address below correct ? (Just so the Post Office in the UK get it correctly). e.g., 3 days ago I sent a package to England, I got the same package returned to me 2 days later, and, I clearly marked the recipients address as "TO---" and on the back my address as "FROM ----"
Mr. Jason Levine. PO Box 392 Slingerlands, New York. 12159 USA.
We are now 70% to the goal with $2,826.06 raised. Only $1,200 left until we reach the goal. Keep those donations coming!
A quick apology to the people who mailed in donations. We might be a bit slow depositing them partially due to our Car Accident, but we will get them deposited.
Two updates in one day! After adding in some mailed donations that Beth just retrieved, we're up to $3,136.06, or 78.4% of our goal. Almost there everyone!
#88. "RE: Annual PCQandA Fundraiser" In response to Shelly (Reply # 87) Mon Aug-07-06 01:17 PM by mickster
I reached back into my pocket and sent another small token of my gratitude. It's about what my copay is for my insulin every month and PCQ&A is nearly as important. Wish I could do more and I may.
#91. "RE: Annual PCQandA Fundraiser" In response to emes (Reply # 90)
Good going Michael. I sent in my third $20 5 days ago. Would have sent more if I could afford it. It's good to see some multiple donors taking up the slack.
I've just been laid off (believe me it is a good thing) but I will send my donation with a friend whi will be able to mail it from the USA next monday.
That's not a given. We had a package that was reported at the Kansas City facility and it took 7 days for the USPS to get it 10 miles to our local branch.
Sorry for the delay on the recent donations. With the car accident, computer classes, and Noah's birthday this week, I have a batch of thank you notes to go out. I will try to work on them tomorrow as I work on my Excel homework and laundry.
Update: All thank you notes have been sent out for donations that have been received to date. If you did not get one yet and you mailed yours in it may be at the PO Box (I haven't had a chance to go in a week). We also have a mystery donation that we are unable to thank. So, thanks to this person who has continued to send in the donation at each fundraiser.
#104. "RE: Annual PCQandA Fundraiser" In response to npmcl (Reply # 103) Wed Aug-16-06 08:18 PM by emes
It is to be expected that the $ requirement for continued site support will probably rise each year, and while I know that our individual financial situations differ considerably, just for interest, I would like to know what the 'average' contributer donation would need to be at the existing 4k mark, shared by the present number of donation contributers (as opposed to site users). Thanks.
-But more importantly.....
Jason, Beth, Moderators et al.
Very many thanks for the ongoing support that you give us. You ARE really appreciated and you need to remember that all the time! Your work and dedication help so many people that use this forum, so give yourselves a big pat on the back (or a hug- whatever turns you on)
Sorry. Noah's 3rd birthday celebrations got me off track a bit. I've just posted another update to the fund raiser page. We're now up to $3,865.48, or 96.6% of our goal. Only $134.52 more to go!
Almost. Unfortunately, Paypal takes a small chunk out of every payment. (It's a small price to pay for being able to accept credit card donations online.) So we're still $4.20 short.
Just in case Candee's payment doesn't go through, I just made a donation that'll put us over the top with a little wiggle room .
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In the computer world, there’s a right way, a wrong way, and the Mac way. The Mac way is essentially the same as the wrong way, except it’s much faster and on a much larger scale.
Sid
) to our membership requesting support?. It could be a reminder to those who have been away that we're still here. I would not object to receiving such an email.
Jane
