Help Upgrade CD

[Collmandoman]

thank you =)

[Greg Perkins]

Originally Posted by Collmandoman

Greg did you read ANY of what I just posted.. it doesn't seem you did.. pls do and edit your post accordingly

ok...seems i dont fully understand what you mean, but whatever...
i edited my post so i dont hurt anybodys feelings.

[Collmandoman]

All I'm basically saying is .. it is not professional to ask for something in return for doing a good deed. Personal satisfaction should be enough.. and if it is a truly good thing you are doing.. people will note that and thank you.

[Cory]

If my paying $47.47 would help keep CD alive and healthy, I wouldn't hesitate to give that much.

Besides, I'm so hopelessly addicted, I couldn't bear the thought of no CD

[Babyhueyhnx]

I'm all for the donating. As for the rep bars, i could care less about them. I don't feel i should be donating for a rep or a reward. I'd be donating for a reason. id be giving back to a community that has given so much more to me. Really though, if you would consider donating just to get a reward or a "higher status" then there is something wrong. I under stand that this would probably draw more people in, but i don't think its necessary.

Simply put: you should donate what you can and expect nothing in return except a simple thank you.

I don't think its necessary to say any one is leeching off CD. Every one comes her for there own reasons. Whether it is be regarding to FIRST or just to chit chat its all perfectly fine. They may not post in any other topics other than chit chat but they are more than likely coming to read up on problems or fixes from other teams. Sure as shoot-in what they read here makes the competition all that more fun.

[activemx]

Based on the usage statistics, it doesnt seem like CD would need more then five thousand dollars worth of upgrades a year. Frankly i dont think any type of reputation points or recogination is needed for higher donation. As i see its a donation just to maintain the website, it does'nt directly affect the team in anyway. I am glad that team 47 has done such a great job with the effort and costs assoicated with this website every year. I would certainly donate but nothing to extravagent. Honestly, I dont agree with repuation points thats currently in place.

[MrToast]

Show me a paypal link, and you've immediately got at least $10 from me.

I don't think the "reputation" system is a good idea, primarily for reason's mentioned earlier. It's like the story of the widow's mite. A destitute woman gives all that she can, even though it is something seemingly insignificant, while a rich man gives lots, even though it is an insignificant percentage of his income. How do you say who gave more? The people who can only donate $1 but do so would deserve more reputation bars than the people who could donate $100 but only give $10.

Therefore, I think that anybody who donates should get a little badge in his information (maybe like the UFH badges?) that say "I donated to CD!" or something. Then clicking that would pop open the page to donate. No mention of how much, because that's no one's business but your own. Just acknowledgement that you did.

I think that would be much better.

Dave

[Ryan Dognaux]

FIRST has sponsors at various levels - perhaps there could be something added that says "bronze level sponser", and that would be like 5 dollars, and the amount would increase as the level goes up. I like the idea of support bars too.

[Steve W]

Originally Posted by Collmandoman

All I'm basically saying is .. it is not professional to ask for something in return for doing a good deed. Personal satisfaction should be enough.. and if it is a truly good thing you are doing.. people will note that and thank you.

Sponsors can't be recognized if you don't know who they are. It is also the right of someone giving you money to ask to be noticed. It is good for their business. What is good for them helps bring in more money which is good for you as you will continue to get the same or more donations. Like it or not, that's the way it is. Not all sponsors want to be noticed and that is OK too.

When I started this thread it was to see if the CD community would be willing to help better a great service. The numbers I chose were chosen as they were not a lot of money but with many people helping would help improve the system.

I would see no problem with a bronze ($0.47), silver ($2.47) or a gold ($5.47+) designation. You could give $47.47 or $4747.47 and still be a gold member. This would not, in my opinion isolate different people. What surprises me most is that GP being so prominent in FIRST that people get so damning in a simple what if scenario that is brought forth. AGAIN, I am not with CD and have not conferred with anyone on CD about this thread but I can guarantee that they are reading it and see the responses. Please chose your words carefully and reread before posting. Oh yeah

[Joe Johnson]

Originally Posted by Billfred

...(But just for reference--such a plan would be benefitting ChiefDelphi.com, and not Chief Delphi, correct?)

Just to be clear: Right now, ChiefDelphi.com funds come out of Chief Delphi's funds.

Does the money from our kids' fund raiser pay for it?
Does the money from Delphi pay for it?
Does the money from Pontiac Schools pay for it?
Does the money CD saves by having me get myself to and from a regional pay for it?

All of the above and none of the above. It just is an expense Chief Delphi pays every year, just like like registation fees, shipping overages and hotel bills.

I DO know that if the TEAM Chief Delphi has NO FUNDS, as it stands right now, ChiefDelphi.com's bills don't get paid, period.

What I think folks are trying to think about is a way for ChiefDelphi.com to pay for itself (or to pay at least for some of the associated costs) not for ways to raise funds for the Chief Delphi team.

Joe J.

[Steve W]

Joe you are correct. I believe that we should not be a burden to any team. I know that we all thank CD for what they have done but that is no reason not to think of helping out.

[Kevin Sevcik]

I'm all for donating to CD. I too am hopelessly addicted, and atleast I'd feel good about supporting CD instead of buying one of those PSPs I've been drooling over.

Perhaps we should look around at other forums and their donation policies? I've seen anywhere from mandatory donations to post at all, donator only sections, special titles for donators, and absolutely no recognition of donations. For CD, I would lean toward the special titles/privledges for donators. Maybe donators get to have slightly larger avatars or something, more stored PMs, or the donator badge idea.. (Badges? We don't need no stinking badges....) I'd lean away from the donation rep bars, since that just seems divisive and elitest. Enough people argue about the normal rep bars as it is.... Whatever incentive gets put in place shouldn't really cost money, however. Buttons for showing off at competitions would be really nifty, but producing and mailing them would cut into the money that should be going to get us better servers and such. Maybe some printable certificate or sticker that you could print onto your own sticker paper?

At any rate, what would definitely be helpful is if CD set a donation goal and had a bar for us to track our progress or something. Then have a yearly donation run where the bar goes up and people are gently reminded it's time to donate again. Probably two weeks before kickoff when everyone's off and swarming CD with rumors anyways.

[Joe Matt]

I will donate every once in a while with a PayPal link on the main page, but the moment we start charging a fee to access the page is the time I drop from the forums (I hear the few of you cheer....). CD is known for the fact it's a free source of information for teams, going to a payed system would be very disappointing. I won't say it's un-GP.

[Steve W]

Collmandoman, I have started a new thread here to deal with your thoughts. I have copied some of them to the start of the thread. Let's get this thread back on topic. Thanks.

[MikeDubreuil]

Originally Posted by Collmandoman

Mike it seems you just disagreed with me.. but didn't address what I said at all. So I'm curious.. do you disagree with my statement or me?

No, I do not disagree with you as a person. Neither do I have any preconceived notion of who you are and what you believe in. You can find my response in the Donations/Sponsorship - Good or Bad thread here.