Help Upgrade CD

[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.

[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 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.

[shyra1353]

Originally Posted by Greg Perkins

It also weeds out the leechers who just come on to post needless things, and those who show that they would much rather benifiet from free stuff than giving.

I disagree with this statement. Leechers grow up. If you do not give them the chance to spend time on CD, read other people's posts, benefit from the advice, then you are not giving them the chance to grow up. I started on CD as a "leecher" posting only in chit-chat or wherever it was "safe".

Also, if you do have a "you must pay" system on CD, what about guests? Or people who start threads like such where they are recruiting?

The problem with online donations, is not many students have a credit card they can use, and many don't feel safe sending their account information online.

My collective thoughts on donations:
I think donations are a great idea. I think there should be some sort of online account set up in addition to a way for others to donate with cash (besides mail). I disagree with the support bars, because like I said earlier, if someone cannot afford to donate as much as someone else, it does not necessary mean they love CD any less. I am completely against a mandatory fee because a) some people may not be able to afford it, and b) newer users don't always understand the impact of CD until they have been using it for a while so they will not want to pay

[Ryan M.]

I agree with Shyra. If any system of funding for CD is setup, it should definitely be an optional thing, without any affect on... anything.

I would willingly donate to CD, but like many others I don't have a credit card, so any system should probably allow the use of cash. Maybe just an address to mail stuff too. To prevent getting on all kinds of fun lists, you could make it a member's only thing. If you really want to cut down on it, maybe to see it you have to have x (10ish?) posts.

Or whatever.

[Chris Fultz]

I would be all for donations to keep the site running at top capability. This is such an awesome source of news, design ideas and help, that FIRST would really be hurting without it.

I know FIRST does not allow fundraisers at events, so that might not be a good option. Another way for small donations would have to be used, unless we could get a special approval.

I do think small spaces for advertisers would be great. Just an area in the corner, or a drop down box. Sort of like public TV.

I will try to upload $20 now. Brandon, let me know when you get it.

[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.

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by Joe Johnson

How about in addition to the Rep bars on the postings, you'd get "support bars" for different levels of annual support?

All the better--however, for something like this, I'd call it smart to have an option for the user to disable such a feature. Some folks love recognition, while others just want to do what they can to help others, green dots or not.

Originally Posted by Joe Johnson

What I do know is Delphi is in a world of hurt this year. I would not be surprised if funding was cut off or very very restricted this year. Pontiac Schools in not having an easy time either with all the pressure for spending reductions from Lansing.

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

[omutton]

I would give money to support CD. And you could have colourful Canadian money too!

[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.