Currently the Joomla software that the BB is using wont let us do other than what we have done regarding status of posters, that is one of the reasons the Club is spending $30,000 to change to new software and upgrade the whole system.

The $40 does not get you a hard copy magazine, we recognized that some people did not want the magazine so instead of the $55 membership with the hard copy magazine we reduced it to the lower amount. In fact we should be charging $65 instead of $40 for full cost recovery, so that is one reason why a $20 subscription may not work for us, however it will be discussed at BoD level.

It is now in process to have all donors publicly listed unlike in the past when they have not been recognized, those who wish to remain anonymous will remain so, their donation will be listed under that heading.

Agreed there are a lot of things that should have been changed long ago, currently there is a new team of Directors that are willing to make these changes, we are also wanting input from members, hence the likes of this thread to get information and gauge sentiment to change or proposed changes. The Club will become more relevant to members needs as we move forward.

Wombat

A $20 BB subscription is more than your getting now. If not that than what amount? Definitely need a BB option without the magazine, either hard copy or electronic. I would urge BB responders to back off the freebees until this is settled. How much incentive is needed to get this done?

I accessed a lot of information and was given a lot of information. Without the help from this bb my tractors wouldn’t be what they are. After a lot of backlash regarding my membership, I joined and really enjoyed the magazines for a couple years. Unfortunately I said some really stupid stuff and the lost the respect of several members if not more. So I was feeling like an outsider and never rejoined. I still frequent the bb and occasionally say more stupid stuff. I will become a donating meMber so long as that’s identified. Thanks John. Ps. Still my favorite website

I'm still working through this and held off on replying as I thought it was initially written to get input from "Guest Members" but I think I'm OK-

1. Will an IP address be stored to keep someone from signing on under a different username after the prescribed posts are surpassed?

2. Will the BB be accessible for reading regardless of number of visits and limited based on posts? I understand this is the thought, but just clarifying.

3. Four Groups suggestion: 1. ACMOC Member (no magazine). Writes a check of a minimum amount $$ regardless if donation or otherwise. 2. ACMOC Subscriber (with magazine) and dues are higher and that class of member pays for what they want above benefit of BB chats 3. Visitor. Once the Visitor reaches the posting limit, goodbye.

4. Managing more inventory / store items requires more infra$structure. Be careful or we will just end up feeding the beast. I have no problem with merchandise but the basis of the BB is to share ideas and common interests. The more added the more it will cost-time and otherwise.

5. Does the BB have an archive of photos-tech info-etc. that are posted? For example Discussion between Old Magnet and EDB recently illustrate they are deleting info, which is their own personal data they have offered up, but when the posting allotment is full, they need to delete if they continue helping with additional posts. Are those images and data lost until reposted or are they saved in an archive? That could be a management nightmare, but just asking...….

6. I'm thinking "BB" means "Back to Basics" for this initial step with membership definition; keep store and ACMOC services at a minimum and go from there. I continue to focus back on a few things-why do people initially come to the board and how can ACMOC afford to maintain that desire with limited volunteer infrastructure and resources.

I'm sure more thoughts and better refinement will come to mind.....great work team, I am happy to be here.

Have fun!
Bernie

As it currently stands and its been that way for a long time (decades) "Attachments" have been provided and hosted on the posters personnel computer and files. The allocation of files that the BB software can handle is doled out by the software administrator, has limits and unless expanded the original poster has no choice but to purge files to recover allocated space. The only part "ACMOC" archives is the dialog. As many have found the dialog has pretty limited use when no attachments are retained.
Supposedly or a least at one time new software is to capture both dialog and attachments and become property of ACMOC. I have no idea of how the new proposed software is to handle these items nor any idea of how this new BB will be configured. Believe me I have reservations as the track record is not good. As far as the "Attachment" material goes, and I'm speaking for myself, nothing that was posted has been lost, just resides in the files of the original poster unless deleted or lost or wiped out in computer crashes. Yes that's a risk.

I was basically oblivious to the financial needs of the site, until contacted by someone in administration. For most people, using the internet is free. I was grateful to the administration in that contact. Maybe that needs to be done more often. Just my 2c worth.

as a "guest member" I have to confess that I have just been lazy about signing up. I absolutely enjoy this forum and the interesting feedback from all of the members. The wealth of knowledge here is unsurpassed. Even though I will never own most of the equipment talked about here, I still find it very interesting ans sometimes entertaining. $40/yr is a small price to pay.
Nothing in this world is free, somebody is always paying for it. I will be a member today!

"beaver-flat" wrote:

as a "guest member" I have to confess that I have just been lazy about signing up. I absolutely enjoy this forum and the interesting feedback from all of the members. The wealth of knowledge here is unsurpassed. Even though I will never own most of the equipment talked about here, I still find it very interesting ans sometimes entertaining. $40/yr is a small price to pay.
Nothing in this world is free, somebody is always paying for it. I will be a member today!

Well said Beaver-flat, and thank you for wanting to become a paid member.
I would like to thank each person that becomes a paid member, whether it be the full
Meal deal, internet only, or even a small donation.
If we don’t support the club, how is it going to be able to continue on to help us in our hobby?
JanM made a good point, the BOD is comprised of volunteers, most with jobs they have to maintain.
The club has overhead, and money has to come somewhere to make ends meet.
I’ve been a paid member for some time now, and the amount of information and technical advice I have received here has more than paid for itself. I and many here are on FB sites, and you might get the information you need there, but majority of the time, fingers point back to ACMOC if you really want to know how to repair something or proper procedures/tech/where to resources.
As one old timer told me years ago, when I started a small trucking business:
“Quit giving the store away” being nice always won’t pay the bills....
Rant over for now. JM