Help Upgrade CD

[devicenull]

If I can donate at nationals, then I would be more then willing to give $5 or more, but I don't want to use paypal

As for benefits... having these forums is the biggest benefit I could get, I wouldn't want anything more as long as they stay up

[Andy Baker]

Here is an additional idea:

Would CD be open to companies who would want to advertize on their site?

I could see a limited space, off to the right, listing "sponsor companies" and showing their logos. I bet CD could have 10 companies signed up within a couple of days.


Andy B.

[Kevin Sevcik]

Since I'm seeing a load of negativity towards Paypal donations, would people consider using the Amazon Honor System?

[Conor Ryan]

I really don't like the idea of having advertising on this site. But if there is a fundraiser I really think there should be a goal, like, $474.70 or like a system to show how much money will by what for the community. I just think that it should be an open information system, so you can see where your 47 cents go. But a goal is essential, competitions always have a goal, we are competitiors, we'd just be people if we didn't have a goal.

[Jay Trzaskos]

Originally Posted by devicenull

If I can donate at nationals, then I would be more then willing to give $5 or more, but I don't want to use paypal

As for benefits... having these forums is the biggest benefit I could get, I wouldn't want anything more as long as they stay up

I agree, I;m not big on Paypal, but I would definitley donate at Nationals. I personally believe that these forums are a huge benefit. All I want is for them to stay up. I'll pay $10 for that.

JT
229

[RoboMom]

Without Chief Delphi, there would be no NEMO

Give me a bottle, I'll stuff donations in it and will put it on the table at the NEMO workshop at the Championship.

Thanks again to Brandon, who has listened to all my requests over the past year and has granted EVERY SINGLE ONE and has corrected all my garbled mistakes with much patience.

[Ryan Dognaux]

Paypal is awesome. If you set up a Paypal account, I bet you'd have at least 100 dollars in the first day. If there was a Paypal account set up, I'd donate 5 bucks today.

[devicenull]

Originally Posted by Kevin Sevcik

Since I'm seeing a load of negativity towards Paypal donations, would people consider using the Amazon Honor System?

My problem with things like that, is I lack a credit card, and from what I've heard about paypal, I don't want them having my bank account info. But cash, I always have cash

[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.

[Steve W]

Originally Posted by Steve W

Just a thought after discussing with some people. CD has been a great service to FIRST and all of those involved. I was wondering, without talking to anyone at CD, if there was say a yearly fee of $2- $5 (voluntary) would people be willing to help out to continue this exceptional service. I will start a poll and just see what happens. Be honest.

If everyone notes that in my initial post I said voluntary. I do not think at this time anyone on CD would want to exclude people that did not/could not contribute.

Let's look at this another way. Let's say that I invite you over to my house for dinner. When I give the invitation I expect nothing in return. However you know what a great cook my wife is and really look forward to coming over. NOW, some people will ask if there is something they could bring. Others would not offer but just come. When the guests arrive, food in hand or not, they are still welcomed guests and treated equally.

I guess that what I am saying is that I would be willing to bring a small token to the table. Those that can't or choose not to would still be welcome and treated no differently. I speak for myself and not CD.com but I can bet by the GP that these people have shown, that they would agree.

[JackN]

I think that a donation system at regionals or nationals would be awesome. You could print off a page here and put your donation with this page that has your username on it. CD could give you a different donation avatar or something like that.

[Mike]

Looking at the statistics...
Chief Delphi uses about 100 GB of bandwith a month
Other sites are hosted on this server, so lets say a nice round figure of 200 GB/month

A top of the line Dual Xeon 2.4GHz, 1.2 TB bandwith, 160 GB storage, and 1 GB RAM server costs about $250 / month

I'd say that the CD server costs about $125 / month.

[BandChick]

Frankly, I love CD and everything it stands for. I've made more friends from this forum alone than I ever expected to meet in FIRST. Chiefdelphi is part of the reason I'm a college mentor instead of a 'former FIRSTer.' I'd give just about anything to keep this system up, upgraded and going on long into the future. It's not even enough to show my thanks and gratitude.