Dave's Garden: Rumors about changes at Dave's Garden, # 2

I took the liberty of starting a new thread. Other was getting a tad long.
Bernie


We came from here;
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1070930/



This message was edited Jan 23, 2010 7:28 AM

Michael,
I want to wish you my open-minded and cautious welcome to DavesGarden! I like progress and understand that change is not instantly a bad thing. I sincerely hope that you have the best interest of this site in your mind and not just $$.
You have heard the support for Dave from many sweet people here on DG. I dont really have a sweet bone in my body so I am just going to give you my honest feelings...

Dave, it is very nice that the new company has decided to keep a place for you, but if you find yourself in a place where your hands are tied and you decide not to keep them...this is my personal e-mail. [edited]
Just let me know the name of your new site and will be one of the first to send in a 5 year subscription. No questions asked, because I have witnessed the integrity, morals and dedication you have to making this garden a very peaceful and enjoyable retreat.
I would be more than willing to rally the roots that would drop this site in a heatbeat in order to get you up and running again!
Hoping for the best,

Chris

Dave already has everyone's email addy. He's no dummy, I'm sure he has a back-up copy of all of them. That already occurred to me.

Karen

I know he does and I also knew it wouldnt be up there that long, but they sure are quick for an early Saturday morning. LOL

It fills my heart with joy to see how many Gardeners and Nature Lovers and Friends that support Dave. Even Better, how many friends that support each other here should say something in itself. I always used to think the internet communication was some sort of a "MINDMELD" ... Dave certainly has a group here that have formed a MasterMind Alliance.

chris_lcf530, I edited out your email address. You don't want that publicly posted!

Well, Dave, how's it feel to be so loved by so many?
Robin

Thanks Dave, I knew you would, just didnt think you would catch it so quick. lol

No Dave, no renewal, pure and simple. I'm barely computer literate, and have no problems either posting a comment or photo.

As for this being a "Christian site", it took me over a year to learn this. I'd call it a "Golden Rule" site, instead. Play nice with others, don't be a jerk, and you'll be OK.

The people here are some of the most friendly and helpful people I've ever had the pleasure to "meet". :D

Marsha.

Mike, you have learned from the folk great and small:
DG without Dave is no DG at all!

I was just writing you a personal email Dave & decided I better come check what was being said over here and my email was along the same lines as chris_lcf530.
I'm keeping good thoughts but want you to know, just in case, I am ready to prepay a membership/development fee too. No strings attached.
But hopefully we will soon be having a celebration for YOUR half-millionth member! 494,604 this morning!!! I think when we hear Internet Brands has made a contract with you there will be a lot of rejoicing..
There are a lot of us who are standing with you and your family & Garden family.

Kin, will you repost your beautiful picture? Thanks for making it.

I've been reading all these well-written, thoughtful comments -- and just want to say I'm with you folks, too! This is the ONLY site on which I'm a paid subscriber -- and I'm totally satisfied here!

Thanks, Dave!!! God bless you in this new season of your life!!

Well since I haven't been a member as long as a lot of you guys I am very uncertain as to whether or not I like this idea of change or not. Personally I would rather Dave stayed in control of this site. I have been around enough to know when a CO is sold or taken over there will be Big Changes and I don't want to see this all go down in vain. I want to let Dave know that if this doesn't work for him and he decides to start anew I will be there in the blink of an eye. I have never been on a site any better that DAVES GARDEN and will probaly never see one that is as well run and easy to work with as it is. The people on here are some of the most glorious people in the world and I have made so many friends and don't want to lose any of you, so here is to hoping everything works out ok but if not I will be a very sad person.

My opinion.

Yes, please Repost the Picture.
I want to Thank you for putting my name on it. Looks great.
I'm hanging in here to see what is going on and to Cover Dave's back.
You never know when Help is going to be needed.
thank you

;)

Talk about roller coasters! This is quite a ride. I am hoping that there are no substantive changes; from an occasional user I've become a daily visitor to Dave's site and I've laughed and learned a great deal here. The Christian aspect isn't a factor for me but the Golden Rule definitely is, and I love the way people here are so caring and helpful. Thanks, Dave, and Michael, if it isn't broken let's not try to fix it.

I apologize for not getting ALLof Dave's supporters but I had to leave room so you could see Dave!!!

I love your photo of Dave GardenGuyKin!

That is a wonderful picture of Dave, and a very good idea.
We support you and want you here Dave.

Dave, I don't think we can even allow you a vote on this one.
GardenGuyKin's constructed photo is definitely the cover for the 2011 Dave's Garden Calendar! No question.

GGK LOL! and Thanks for all the effort that had to have gone into that photo work.

Also just wanted to say how surprised I was to see so many of us ORVG Forum members represented there.
The Friendships I've developed there
(and of course on the many other Forums I follow daily)
are the reason I'm here!

Ric

Great pic GardenGuyKin. I agree it should be the cover of this years calender :) We love you Dave.

Nice job GardenguyKin. Thanks for adding my name to your list of staunch Dave/DG supporters.

The big panic moment was when we thought Dave was being ousted...Michael has assured us that was a misunderstanding. Now we must adopt a wait and see attitude. As long as Dave, Melody, Joan, Terry and all the Ubers are handling things, any change should be considered for the betterment (if that is possible) of the site. A few hundred of us have made our position clear, and a few thousand have evinced their concern by viewing the thread.

Our bottom line seems to be: It ain't DG without Dave and company...and without them, it ain't for me. Now we must hope for an equitable contract for Dave and Company, with the understanding that he is what made DG so successful, along with a group, a very large group of good, though very outspoken subscribers who appreciate what Dave has provided for us, and have no qualms about voicing their support, even if it means leaving the site. If DavesGarden was not profitable, IB would not have been interested in purchasing it. That being said, we can only hope that the folks at IB will appreciate what they have purchased and be savvy enough to allow the status quo. I think at some point in the very near future Michael needs to acknowledge the commentary here.

Oh My. I'm afraid this is not going to be good. I just went through a lot of Internet Brands other sites and they are exactly just what I skip over when I search the net for information - not for a product - but for information. The first thing that pops up on their sites is a link to sell you a product related to whatever information you're looking for. When the first thing I see is a commercial sell I'm gone.
Brace youselves folks.

This message was edited Jan 23, 2010 10:08 AM

Great photo, Kin, thank you!

You still smilin' today, Dave??
Hope so, because when the smile fades out in Texas, looks as if it might fade out everywhere else, too.

LOL KIN! So delightful and so cool! Perfect for we all do support Dave! You are so clever! LOL

Welcome Michael. As you can see Dave is The Man around here!

Listen you guys, this company will direct more members to us.. I just know it... most of these sites on there are click related.. I know cuz I am in the automotive biz and we use alot of those net search/click lead generators at my dealership.. like carsdirect. etc. .. think positive thoughts..we can only hope.. surely this company recognizes the value of such a large membership here. ( I do wonder where the Gardening venue where fit in there, tho)

I wonder if Dave actually had any choice in the take over, as with Cadbury's in UK when Kraft took over!!!

Seeing as how Namemedia was the owner of record, probably not.

Will the team stay with you Dave? I've read over the many posts but didn't see a direct statement if the staff will stay with you. We are all anxious to see what charges are to come and what will remain the same. Dave, you have a huge group of friends and if nothing else good comes from this - you KNOW how important you are to DavesGarden and the many members. What an amazing tribute to YOU.

Kathy

I just found this thread. I am so in the dark. What is going on?
I just started really using DG end of last summer. It has been such a blessing to me, meeting new people, sharing plants & seeds, sharing ideas and much more.
This is the only site that I have a membership in also.
I tried a couple of other sites and quickly dropped them as they didn't meet my needs. It would be terrible if DG became something different from what it is now, a 'Community' of great people and great Forums.
I to would follow Dave to a new site if that is what it comes to.

Great photo GardenGuyKin and thanks for adding my name to it. Do you feel the love Dave?

When I saw your sweet face Dave, my eyes filled with tears and said a prayer. Hang in there, He's still in control. But you already know that.

Debbie

GardenGuyKin--I love your picture too! I agree with everyone who said it belongs on the cover of the calendar next year.

As far as the new owners--I think we all just need to hang in there and see how things go. It's natural to be worried about what might change, but they may not change the things that are important to us. Everyone was worried a few years ago when NameMedia took over, and none of the things that everyone was worried about ended up happening, so I'm keeping an open mind this time around. The fact that they want Dave to stay tells me that they do have a desire to maintain the spirit of the site.

I think Dave knows the score now from his fans/members though this contined thread. If the new owners don't do this website justice, then most of us will move on ... hopefully with Dave! :-) Dave knows he's got an internet community of support, so he has options if it doesn't work out with IB.

Now it is a wait and see situation. I, personally, will continue to enjoy DG and keep a close watch on this thread and any other developments associated with the new ownership. And I think I will be sharing my email address with my close cyber friends here, just in case. :-) Keep all lines of communication open as a back-up plan. :-)

Keep the faith DG friends! If IB is smart they will keep things running as is and reap the rewards from their faith and trust in Dave and his staff. :-)

GGK - Awesome photo! I feel honored to also have my name on it! May I download it to my computer? :-)