Times, they are a-changin'.

The layout got a freshening, but what'* with that section at the top that now says "Advertise?"

Yes, the financial reality is that the site needs to start to paying for some of its expenses. For the past four and a half years, I've footed the bill; now, with the extra expense associated with the new, faster server, I've decided that I can't do it alone. The reality is that hosting a site like this is expensive.

The goal is not to get rich; the goal is to minimize the red ink. If by some miracle I happen to come out ahead, I'll roll the funds back into a member picnic or something.

After conferring with people who run similar sites, I've come to the conclusion that donations alone won't come anywhere near covering expenses. That'* not to say that donations are not appreciated; on the contrary, I'm working on implementing a system to gracefully handle and recognize donors. Among other things, donors won't see the ads.

I anticipate that there will be resistance, dismay, and anger about this decision, but the long-term viability of BonnevilleClub requires that it stop hemorrhaging money. Believe me when I say that I put it off as long as possible. It seems that people have come to expect an ad-free site, and as much as I hate ads, that era has ended.

Don't see this as the beginning of the end; rather, see it as a way to ensure that BonnevilleClub will be able to afford its continued existence.

Thanks,
Jeff

I don't see a link for making donations, is this yet to come or am I blind?

Yet to come.

Does the site get any money if we click on the links?

Yes.

On a related note, malicious clicking won't help anybody -- the all-powerful Google can sense click fraud, and we don't want any problems.

Anything to keep the club going! This place is great!

If you go to paypal, one of the options is to add a donation button to your site. It'* real easy to add, and payments are secure.

I totally don't mind the ads. I completely understand why they are there. I think a donation program would be great too. I have saved a boat load of money on doing repairs on my car instead of taking it to the shop. I wouldn't have been able to know how or got ideas on how to do them without this site. I would definitely be up to returning help back to the site.

Maybe there could be something setup like BITOG has. It puts an icon in the avatar area on the supporting member'* names (if you haven't seen it already). I don't like the icons that they use, and think just a little blurb under the user'* name would be sufficient. Just something like "supporting member" by the user'* stars. I think that would be a nice 'thank you' for anyone that donates. Just a thought.

AHAHAHA, I totally didn't even notice the ads until I started reading this thread... Waiiiiiiiiiiiit a minute here

I don't mind.

Yup, that'* part of the plan. I'm working on integrating the process with phpBB so that donors can be recognized.