In case you want to know the answer to: "WHAT IS A SUPPORTING LEDGIE?"
 

This information is actually included under the FAQ section at the top of the board (frequently asked questions):

A "Supporting Ledgie" is someone who, through a nominal contribution, helps us to meet the expenses of The Penguin and the Ledge. All contributions are either used for enhanced functionality or to offset running expenses. We pay a monthly fee for a dedicated server providing ample bandwidth, speed, and space to reliably run the Ledge and the rest of the Penguin. In addition to helping to support the site, "Supporting Ledgies" receive the following additional benefits: no banner advertising as they browse, the ability to turn off the Ebay auction listings, up to 150 private message storage capacity, a green username on the Who's Online List, their name listed on the 'View Forum Leaders' page, contribution status indicated under your username, a maximum Avatar Size of 75x75 (instead of 50x50), and the ability to be invisible on the Who's Online list.

Contributions can be conveniently and securely be made via Paypal in the Paid Subscription section of your User CP. Subscriptions can be purchased for either $6 for 6 months or $12 for 12 months. That only a dollar per month -- less than a cup of Starbucks coffee!

If you think about it, some folks here use The Ledge as their personal guidance counselor, sounding board, venting house, confessional, advice column, a place to find out where and when to purchase tickets, sell stuff on eBay, promote their school work, etc-- it seems the people that post the most could certainly come up with a buck a month for having a place to talk to others. Everyone wastes a dollar a month somewhere, even college kids--why not help with the upkeep and do something positive for everyone?

Is The Ledge worth 4 cents to you per day??!!
 

It is to me!! It takes even less than that to be a Supporting Ledgie!!

I think most of us here think The Ledge is a wonderful place for fans of Fleetwood Mac. A lot of us are here every day. Michele (michelej1) has done an excellent job. She wants to keep this site, but is losing over $200 per month trying to do that.

All of us could help to keep this site in Michele's capable hands. Please consider becoming a Supporting Ledgie!

I just paid $6

I would actually like to hear some reasons as to why more Ledgies don't contribute and become Supporters? Especially ones that are here day in and day out. It only costs a pittance!

I have said as far as me. It's not about 12 dollars a year either. Surely we all have that. But again, news of the site either selling soon, possibly even closing, still leaves a lot unclarified as to whether or not our 12 dollars together is enough to save this site, cause it's looking to me like the heads want out from under it regardless at this point, even though they say it's against their wishes. Would hate for everyone to start paying and the site close anyway if it doesn't sell. I have no idea what is going on and seem like the only one asking real questions unless those privy on here know things from others behind the scenes that us others aren't as privileged to be aware of.

^Unless someone who is really comfortable financially buys it and can fork over the $235/month to keep it up, then it makes sense to support the site now and help out either the current owner or the future owner.

It would really suck to lose the site-the board too, but we can always discuss in other forums. It would take eons to rebuild the info that is in the site....

Say we have over 3,000 registered? If 1,500 of those people all came together at once and put up their 12 bucks, maybe that would make a dent in keeping up the site for a while and in a perfect simple world, everyone would easily do that but do you really see it happening? And this is what scares me if just 25 of us paid our 12 dollars. Because with the monthly running costs, seems like it's going to take more than that to keep this site up and running, nothing against the owners, just talking business and keeping real. No one's really saying just what's going on or might just happen. If it were mine or anyone elses site to run, what's so wrong about just coming forward and laying the facts out about raising more funds to keep this great site open for everyone. Because I think anyone else if they were in charge would have no problem making an official announcement on here if they wanted the site saved.

Yeah, I have no problem becoming a supporter...I'd just like to know that I'm not going to pay, and then it closes in 2 months.


(or sells to someone who lifts the bans on evil people):lol:

Also some may not like it, but I see no problem if the site does remain open, then why not incorporate small tiny ads between posts or pages like City Data does? Minimal ads, not in the way of browsing. Along with yes, more paid memberships from those enjoying the site. Because like most anything, to keep a good thing running sometimes takes some money. That's just life as I'm sure we know. I just wish all of this had been brought up sooner to us on here before the owners were forced to talk selling or closing.

Yes, you'd lose--what-- like $4.00 on a board that you've been posting on daily for years. C'mon Homer, change your name to green. It's the right thing to do. Be a leader, and you'll still get to tell us all what you're having for dinner every night. A few more people helping to lighten the burden would help the current owner and hopefully keep it going.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2308/...6e4cb92354.jpg

Your name is still "brown" to me.

Wow. We've been singled out....


~peer pressure~

It seems like lots of arguments against parting with $12. The problem is that if a new owner bought it tomorrow, they still have the same costs and the problem is that you still don't know if your $12 is going to stop the site closing within that 12 months.

Michele's point as I see it is that she can not financially afford to keep paying for this site. So basically because no-one is supporting this site it runs the risk of closing. So the very reason against supporting the site (closing) is the reason it is for sale and obviously if no-one buys, may close.

Maybe in the USA $12 is worth a whole lot more than it is in Australia. I mean I know you don't earn as much per year as we generally do in Australia, but I didn't realise you were THAT poor!

Thanks for starting this thread, and keeping the discussion going, folks. For further clarification:

1) When you pay to become a supporting member, you pay via a Paypal account. No one here at the Ledge will ever see your credit card or banking info. They Ledge owner, Michele, simply receives a payment from Paypal.

2) The cost is $1/per month. This can either be paid in a 6 month installment or a 12 month installment.

3) Unless a buyer steps forward, or the board quickly begins supporting itself with enough paying members, the Ledge is in very real danger of disappearing.

Yes, in order to get the discography in database format we had to start over from scratch in 2004. It took 2 years just to get what was on the old discog pages in to the new. Then, from 2006 to now to build up the content on all items in there now (since y'know we all work full time and squeeze it in when we can etc.). It just figures in a few weeks I'd be ready to enter "new" things FINALLY then it may be all for naught. Hopefully not though, someone did have an idea in the other thread about all supporting ledgies paying 8 dollars a month and I might be able to swing that but of course there's bound to be some SL's that can't or may have good intentions originally then life's unexpected expenses crop up etc. Finger's crossed though & I'm open to ideas. :)

John

At this rate is 12 dollars going to help at all? is my point. It would take a lot of registered members putting together the 12 dollars to get them (the owners) the money they need to continue operating month to month at this point it seems to me. And Tango? We understand your frustration but it's not right to go singling people out, many may have their reasons until they better understand what's about to take place soon here since no one's really come forth and made any official announcements about helping save the site. Right now all we know is it's up for sale.

I've dropped posts encouraging people to become supporting members the past year or so. I remember you in particular responding to those posts in the past. You aren't interested in becoming a supporting member, and that's just fine.

:wavey:

If every single person who has read the announcement about the Ledge sale (which is posted at the top of every forum) became supporting members, this site would not just support itself, it would earn money. This revenue could be reinvested into not just the Ledge, but the rest of FleetwoodMac.net. There is so much more FleetwoodMac.net could offer. :)

Exactly. There's nothing wrong with asking what may happen. Just because we might raise $500 now, doesn't guarantee that The Ledge will still be here in 3 months, right?


A few years ago, someone was singling out people who weren't "supporting", and the mods scolded them for doing so. Maybe that policy has changed, since it's "desperate times".:shrug:

I would support if I could. As it stands right now, I honestly can't (poor college student with no job and $22 to my name). But I wish there was more I could do.

And I couldn't back then(due to astronomical vet bills).

I can afford it now, and have said that I want to now, but being chided for asking questions, certainly isn't loosening the chain around my wallet. Quite the opposite, to be honest.

Guys, don't feel badly about your inability to be a supporting member of The Ledge at this point. And please know that if you contribute now, the site may still be sold or go offline. Let's hope that someone will buy it and decide to keep it going.

The point is that if this place closes there will be lots and lots of people who post here a lot more regularly than I do that will be sad. The simple fact is that if just a few of them had contributed we might not have got to this point.

Sure not everyone can afford it and that is fine. If you can't afford to put food on the table then the ledge isn't going to be a high priority.

Someone said somewhere that there were only 31 people who were supporting ledgies (don't know how accurate this figure is?) but that means there are at least a couple of hundred regular users who aren't. Surely they can't all be too poor to contribute.

Yes we could all send money and the site could still close, but the point is simply that if more people had helped we would probably not be in this situation.

Anway, I have a toddler to put to a morning sleep and so I'm outta here....

I decided to become a supporting member now even though it may not help save the site. But, I've enjoyed hanging out here for a few years and I can afford $12 in the hopes that things may turn around. I encourage anyone who can afford the $12 for a one-year membership to please do the same. It may not be a guarantee that your money will save the site, but if you don't support it definitely won't. Also, it doesn't mean another solution won't come along later. Personally, it's worth the investment to me to hope the site won't go away. I dare say I've gotten $12 worth of entertainment in this year alone -- and wasted more than that at the movies.

I can afford $12 (once anyway). Look I'm green! :D

I don't recall those conversations and to the best of my knowledge, I have always kept my opinions about joining/attempting to become more involved here, to myself up until now. It wasn't ever about the 12 dollars and still isn't. I never said I wouldn't contribute but that should be on everyone's own terms and not ridiculed or forced. At this point it seems they want out from under it and it might not sell and maybe just maybe, go offline soon no matter what.

Thank you for understanding Jannie. I know we don't conversate much on here but you have always been a fun, reasonable moderator.

Come Friday I will become a supporting member. But maybe the mods should hit up Karen and see if Stevie would be up to foot the bill ;)

What about Mick???
Oh... never mind.

Mick can't pay his damned electric bill...:laugh:

I just donated $12. Totally worth it to me as I have been on this board now for 9 years and it has supplied me with endless enjoyment and entertainment over the years. I wish I would've donated sooner and more often.

If someone can't afford it, that is understandable. I've had plenty of times in my life where I couldn't have afforded it. We're just trying to encourage people who can afford it to contribute. I don't want anyone to feel stigmatized. People will do what they can. I think everyone will accept that.

Besides paying money, are there any other ways Ledgies can help?

If you are on Twitter, please follow me @CA_Dream and RT in the campaign to advertise the sale & ask for supporting members.

Thanks! :wavey:

supporting members <---info avail here.

adsense should be bringing in $$$ on the impressions alone. yes/no?

i have been a supporting memeber for YEARS. i am lucky to have extra at the time of renewal and i understand totally those that are unable to. but i also believe there are those that can and are simply unaware of the option -- pretty sure many do not linger in FAQ long enough to notice, if at all.

if you can, do. if you cant, dont. i do find a tad lame those that can but wont with the reasoning given due to a potentially limited time frame the ledge will be here. maybe time for a bit of payback for what you have enjoyed for so f'in long?! :shrug: close your eyes, imagine you are purchasing stevie's newest CD release, or the Buckingham Nicks ANEW album...im thinking most would be all over those purchases. :rolleyes:

perhaps the ledge should consider the change to paying membership -- pay or dont play.

I'm considering becoming a Supporting Ledgie for the 6 month version. I'm just concerned about PayPal and putting in my checking account/debit card number. I've never used PayPal. :confused:

I like the idea of having a higher limit of PM's as I've had to delete alot I wanted to save since I've been here.

So if you like PMing, remember that extra perk!

Correct.

The idea of pay or dont play is for those interested in saving fleetwoodmac.net NOT necessarily forum chatroom frolics. There are forums available for FREE to create as well as other unledge forums to participate in.

Ditto .

If I counted correctly there are now 34 supporting members. It would take $7 a month per member to cover the monthly fees-or roughly 200 more members to become supporting members.