NZFF Hosting - Next year

[Alex]

Hi guys,

Our hosting plan expires at the beginning of next month, so we've been planning for hosting for 2008/2009. Unfortunately it's not practical to renew our plan with our current provider, so we've had to look around to find the best option for us.

With flexible limits and an excellent reputation, our new hosting plan will give us a platform where we can really expand and continue to keep NZFF as the centrepiece of the NZ FS community.

This great plan does come at a cost however, and it's now that we ask you to reach into your wallet and give NZFF the money it so surely deserves...
But seriously, it'd be great to have some donations coming in, it would be really helpful to us and would allow us to get things rolling through as smoothly as possible, because as much as we'd like it - people don't seem to want to give us hosting for free.

Options for donations? Most probably the easiest option would be through the Godzone online store (thanks Robin for setting this up!), where you can pay through almost any manner imaginable (internet banking, credit card, paypal etc). However, if the internet is not your thing, you can get in touch with one of us and we can arrange for another way for it to arrive.

I can't stress how much we appreciate each and every donation, it really makes a difference.

Questions? Thoughts? Ideas? Ask away!

Alex

[Daniel]

I think a small charge would be good for keeping the site running.
Maybe a $5.00 yearly membership would be ok for members.

Cheers
Daniel

[ardypilot]

QUOTE

Maybe a $5.00 yearly membership would be ok for members.[/quote]
When I started this website, I certainly never imagined charging members to access the content, and I believe that is why member numbers have flourished so much. The donations Alex mentioned are purely voluntary, but very much needed at the same time

We need to raise $300 all up!

Last edited by ardypilot on Sun May 11, 2008 7:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[toprob]

I've now added a donation 'product' to my online store.

Donations can be made via credit card, bank transfer or Paypal. You may also donate via cheque, but this is discouraged because of the high cost of a bank visit. This also applies to bank deposits made by visiting a bank branch!

If you wish to donate more than $5, the simplest way is to just add another 'product' to your shopping cart before completing your transaction. If you wish to donate more than 2 or 3 multiples of $5, just let me know the amount in the 'Add Comments About Your Order' box on the Payment Information page.

Payments via Paypal can only be made for multiples of $5 -- that is, you cannot select your own amount, as the Paypal system does not work that way.

Personally I'd like to see more people donating, and smaller amounts, as last time a handful of members bore the brunt of the cost -- please consider a small donation even if you didn't donate last time -- or perhaps 'especially' if you didn't donate last time. Last year I was both stunned by the generosity of a few members, and disappointed by the small number of donations. Please, let's spread the cost!

A reminder that the Godzone Store is designed to be very secure when accepting credit card orders. If you wish, you can request that your order is deleted after processing, which will effectively remove your credit card details from the system.

[Anthony]

Well I'm happy either way.
I'll pay $5 a year or just a random donation amount if it means NZFF stays running.

Cheers
Anthony

[LMerraine]

Well I've happily paid my money over to a worthwhile forum.

[NZ255]

LONG LIVE NZFF!

Nick

[NZ255]

If you're wondering about whether to donate or not, think about it. 5 bucks. Think about how many times a week, day or hour you login to NZFF. $5 for the whole year means you're paying just $0.01 a day

Nick

[toprob]

I would like to list contributors here on the forum, to show our appreciation. You can choose how to display your name -- it could be your forum name, your full or first name, or 'anonymous' if you wish. The amount will not be shown.
I'll email contributors to arrange this -- to save time, you might want to pop a note in the comments box with your 'order' letting me know how you want your name shown.

[Adamski]

Has the decision been made?

I could offer free hosting on my US/Canadian reseller account that I use for many of my websites. See PageUp-NZ or (more specifically) Hosting.

Their servers are fast - and they keep their versions of PHP/MySQL pretty up-to-date. Someone would need to install IP.Board on top of any standard website stuff, but that's on the cards anyway, for some lucky blighter

There's a *slight* problem *occasionally* with "NZ->Rest of the World" traffic, but their servers are so fast that the net result is often faster than local sites - particularly for heavy CPU (database-driven) sites.

Any use?

[Adamski]

Not sure which of the two threads to post in, so there's another version of this reply kicking around in the donations thread.

[arrrrrgh!] I must be schizophrenic!! Two posts in the same thread!! I'll take my nice little white coat now, thanks. Just do me up at the back, eh?

If it's not too late - and the decision as to how/where to host the site has already been taken ...

In my "real" life, I'm a web developer and use an American/Canadian company to host many of my websites. Compared to NZ, hosting there is almost peanuts. Being such a small country here in NZ, we simply can't can't compete. Anyway ... I have one main reseller account which I can split up how I like.

For my contribution, I was going to suggest hosting the site for free. Renewing the domain would still be a local NZ borne cost - but need only be about $20 NZ.

If anyone wants to take it further, please take a look at my site:

PageUp-NZ or take a look at the hosting details Hosting. That page may be a tad out of date - they upgrade their hardware plus PHP/MySQL very often.

If the NZFF gurus are keen to install/run whatever is needed (IP.Board etc.). I could help too - but I've only used PHPBB.

[happytraveller]

I hope that most NZFF members pay something, as nothing in life is free. I look at the information, help and fun that the site has given me, so do not mind at all donating. Donated already to start the ball rolling.

Cough up everybody, and make the NZFF the world's best.

Smooth landings.

[Bazza]

QUOTE (happytraveller @ May 12 2008, 06:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I hope that most NZFF members pay something, as nothing in life is free. I look at the information, help and fun that the site has given me, so do not mind at all donating. Donated already to start the ball rolling.

Cough up everybody, and make the NZFF the world's best.

Smooth landings.

What he said

Could I suggest that this post be put in "GENERAL" as I almost missed it/

[spongebob206]

Come on Guys and Girls,

Let's show these admin guys how much we appriciate their site and assistance
!

Can we cover 2 years?

Are you behind them, can they count on us?
The challenge is set.

[Daniel]

Just sent off my donation. It would be good if most members can pitch in.
I am quite happy to give money to this website as it offers a great service thanks to Andrew and his team.

Cheers
Daniel

[happytraveller]

Had another thought (I get them occasionally!).........

Look at the price of magazines like PC Aviator or PC Pilot and then compare what we get from NZFF to them. Well worth a $5 (or more) donation to NZFF. The value of information that I have had from NZFF is well above this small amount.

Come on everybody, get donating. Time to give something back.

Smooth landings (donation assisted).

[Anthony]

Just sent off my donation as well. According to toprob in the thank you thread, there's already $200 raised (plus more)!
Come on NZFFers! NZFF is a great resource and it's worth the $5 or so.

Cheers
Anthony

[Pato]

I am happy to contribute. I get a lot of enjoyment and help from the Forum. Cheers.

[Adamski]

Thanks for the PM, Alex ...

Just did the "Paypal dance". There must be some "subliminal" flash movie running on Robin's site, as I found myself clicking on "Across the Straits" as well!!!

[toprob]

QUOTE (Adamski @ May 13 2008, 11:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Just did the "Paypal dance". There must be some "subliminal" flash movie running on Robin's site, as I found myself clicking on "Across the Straits" as well!!!

I'm glad it worked, in early tests people reported feeling like they wanted to walk 'across the street'...