[2011] A request for a donation [Achieved]

[Floris]

Dear friends,

After 10+ years of running and building communities, and never asking for support, it's time to make an exception and invite you, our members, to consider giving me a donation between $9 and $99 (whatever you're comfortable with). My hosting bill for 2011 is pending and comes out of my own pocket. This has been a problem in the past but one I've overcome. So far.

This year it's a bit harder than expected. And so, for the month January a header link to our account upgrade page will be visible. http://xenfans.com/account/upgrades

We're happily hosted with LeaseWeb.com and have no reason or plans to change our setup or hosting. Thankfully LW supports PayPal; The received donations into my PayPal will be forwarded to theirs.

Please use our account upgrades page; You will show as a donating member, some donations will be compensated with additional account upgrades, which will expire July 1st, 2011 (or existing months extended).

If you're more comfortable with an anonymous donation feel free to send it directly to mrfloris@gmail.com.

I'm very happy with our member base, the content we all created, and the activity to the web site. I've never been commercial and have always gladly paid the costs of running the sites. After ten years I feel I can make an exception, as upsetting it feels to me, and ask.

Thank you so much for your support,

[EDIT Friday; January 14, 2011] After receiving some donations from generous friends and members I've been able to pay a part of the bill. Together with the money out of my savings account I've been able to lower it even further. There is about 250 euro left now, which hopefully gets covered by either more donations or my benefits, but that is looking a lot better than a few weeks ago. Thank you ALL so much, let's hope we will reach our goal.

Floris Fiedeldij Dop
founder wetalk network,
vbirc, wetalk, xenfans

 

[Mikey]

I hope you get lots of donations, Floris, the site is worth it and you offer some pretty neat features for a low down price on here on XenFans ​

 

[Floris]

Thank you Mikey, and thank you for your donation. Much appreciated.

 

[Stormraven]

I will be donating again soon too. We appreciate the work you put into the website. I'll be getting some money in my PayPal within the next few days, so I will make a donation then.

Hope you are well.

 

[Miles312]

Unfortunately, I can only manage 10-11 in Euro, but here it is.

Paypal is giving me crap about sending even though I have a balance left there. Give me till teusday or so. >_<

 

[smacklan]

Didn't donate, but did upgrade to the premium account...every little bit helps I'm sure

 

[Floris]

Yeah, every bit helps. Thank you John and welcome to the site.

By the way, please note that the Premium account also grants you rights to publish paid items in the marketplace or job board forums. In case you got a paid style you desire to advertise

 

[smacklan]

Thanks Floris, that's great to know and a perk I'll be sure and utilize

 

[Topics]

What type of hosting do you have Floris? VPS or Dedicated?

 

[Floris]

Dedicated solution at Leaseweb.com

 

[datheme]

Hope this site goes well, just sent my little contribution

 

[Floris]

Thank you we are making progress and will be announcing an update in the coming week

 

[Floris]

An update.

My savings account is empty, and after paying rent I had some money left in my benefits. Last year I've pre-paid a bit. And I had to compromise with some of the extras that came with the setup. But thanks to your donations I have been able to credit the account with the full amount they want for 2011. And just in time as well. The upcoming invoice for February 1st can be paid in full now.

Thank you very much for your support, contributions, donations, and kind emails.

 

[imported_Pope Viper]

Awesome!!

 

[Floris]

Wednesday; February 2, 2011

I logged in to the control center of the provider and the credit is 0 again, and the invoice is paid in full.
And I don't want to log in to the online banking to find all my accounts having 25 euro in them

But without your donations those accounts would be at a negative, and I wouldn't have been able to pay my rent.

Our hobby communities and sites under the wetalk network including wetalknation.net, vbirc.com, xenfans.com, have hosting until February 1st, 2012.

Depending on my financial situation, the health of my family and myself, and the state of the sites, I will be planning on moving away from dedicated hosting to a VPS solution, or even discontinue the hobbies. Our aim of course is to continue without change. Canceling the dedicated hosting is possible before the end of November 2011.