Announcement - Oct 2

The announcement is here: http://davesgarden.com/message1.php

This thread is for the discussion of the announcement.

Dave

So Dave, do you have your credit card machine handy?? LOL Let me know. I will pay to play. I think the fee is reasonable. Since I am one that complains when things are slow, I will gladly support the effort to speed things up. I know I am newer here, but feel that I have been welcomed.
Cheers to a new and improved DG!
Michele

Sounds good to me, Dave. No problems here with me.

NO problems here either, just have to wait til Friday.
((((((((Dave and Trish))))))))
Onward and upward!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

only the link is still showing on my home page:)
okay and now it's not!!! LOL!!

This message was edited Tuesday, Oct 2nd 10:10 AM

BTW - Click on "Subscription" in the Menu to learn more. From there is a link to the credit card form.

CHeers dave! I don't mind paying at all...I figure it is like this, like a magazine sub. but only better! Thanks dave! looking forward to the changes!

Hmmm... I think I will end up subscribing, but I'll have to let it soak in for a few days to make sure that's what I really want to do. I don't blame Dave for doing it...I was wondering how he could afford to do it without any sponsors or fees.

Works for me, Dave!

I'm with ya!!!

Dave, I knew all along in my heart that this was something that had to be done. You have my full support. Count me in!

"eyes"

Dave:
The site is excellent now I can't imagine what its going to be like.
I'm with you.

Paul

Dave and Trish,

This is great. I know there will be some grousing, but where else in the world can you get information, entertainment and friendship for $15???

I would be willing to help set up a "scholarship fund," as well, if you have a couple of people who we can't lose - and I know that even that amount can sometimes be hard to come by from experience!

best in everything
Kathleen

Me too Dave, and I'm with Kathleen.
Cala

Ditto. I'd like to help with such a fund in any way I can.

Count me in! That fee is exceptionally reasonable! Seems to me for a mere 5cents a day I not only get access to great knowledge, a journal, good friendship, and downhome comraderie but I'm also getting "never seen before" pics from all the rest of the members! I love it! And guess what ya'll...I also get a place to throw some of my silly humor at ya!!! Nahh nahh nah boo boooo! (course now, that means ya'll still have Horseshoe to pick on from time to time! ;>)

I see 15, and a million good reasons here in this thread!

"eyes"

I would like to kick in a couple of extra bucks to the fund.

Ditto. I'd like to help with such a fund in any way I can.(COPIED)ty vols! =] This is a great place and faster is GREAT! We can get more done right!
remember Dave-"YOU THE MAN"!
im with ya'll 100% as my friend horton would say!
great job
dori

I'm in....will we get a reminder when "dues" is due again? Ginger

Well...I'm sitting here wondering about it and I think I'm leaning towards not subscribing. I guess it all comes down to what you want to get from the site. I absolutely support Dave's decision to make this fee based...because it's only fair to his livelyhood. For me though, I enjoy looking at the pictures, discussing various subject and talking to a few friends. I haven't been here long enough to make a ton of friends, so it's not too hard to walk away right now. I'll miss it, but I think I just don't have the needs that others do. I know my land well and have a pretty good idea how plants will behave here in my garden, so I don't use this site for information as much as others might. That's not to say that I never need help, because I do. I'll just have to pull out my books when I need reference on something.
To add to all this...the rumors here at work are finally firming up about the upcoming cuts. We've been bought by another company and there are the usual overlaps in certain positions, so 600-700 people will get the boot sometime soon (we're thinking Oct. 11). Although, I think I'm safe...I don't see how they can get by without a telecom analyst...but the uncertainty is always there.
Well, I guess you'll all know in 2 weeks whether or not I changed my mind :)
Good luck Dave and good luck to everyone else on DG ;)

Dave
I have already reaped the rewards of D.G. in learning more about my gardening and the suport from all the post.
Its better than any magazine you can buy. Thanks for making the commitment to make it better. will be with you all the way
Pete

Kathleen: a scholarship fund sounds like a very cool idea, and, although it's currently possible to subscribe someone else (a gift subscription, so to speak), having a full-blown scholarship program where people kick in a few bucks each, and then vote who gets the subscriptions, would be very neat. I'm giving this more thought. It'll take a little programming, so it can't be done immediately, but I love the idea.

Ginger_H: Yes, I will be setting up programs that will automatically alert you when your subscription is nearing the end, both via E-mail or by putting messages up on your screen while you are on the site. I haven't decided how I'm going to specifically implement it, but it will be in place very soon.

Thanks everyone for your support so far. This was, without a doubt, one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make, and so far it's looking really good.

Best,
Dave

This is the only site i can think of i would pay to subscribe to, and will do so gladly. thanks for everything, Dave, family and friends.

So I go out in the garden to stay busy to get my mind off 10:00 and time gets away from me, as always in the garden, then I don't want to take my muddy boots off - etc., etc., anyway.......i'm definitely in..........v

I already sent mine.Sounds like a bargain to me for all I gain from this site. Can't think of any other way to get so much enjoyment for that price.

Dave, I'm one of the "newest kids on the block" but, I REALLY don't know what I would do with out the friends I have already made on here!! Do Bank Cards (or Money Cards) count as a Credit Card? I don't want to put anything on my paid off cards, but usually can use my bank cards just as well. I am involved with 5 sites on Myfamily.com and they had to start charging too, but it has really improved the sites.....no more banners or pop up there!!! Keep up the GREAT work! Love & Hugs, Jo

Count me in, I think this is a small way to say thank you to you Dave and trish, for everything that you have made avaiable for all 4,000+ of us.

I can think of many things that I have just blown money on...this sure wont be one of them!(Blowing money that is) Consider it an investment on the furture!

Jo, if it card has the Mastercard or VISA logo on it, you can certainly use it. Alternatively, you could do a check or money order.

Click on "Subscriptions" in the menu to find the links to the various forms.

Mystic: Thank you!!!!

Best,
Dave

You know, there is one thing that I don't notice here. BIG, blinking, annoying adds, telling me I have won, telling me I have messages, taking over my computer with one box after another that open themselves. What am I referring to? Ads! I don't miss them. I don't like them and I am glad there aren't any here. That is worth double the script! We aren't 'people of means'. My hubby works full time and I work part time. We have four kids and a fifth on the way. There is no such thing as job security anymore for anyone. My hubby has been laid off three times in the ten years we have been together-without notice. When I have a good day, I come here, when I have a bad day, I come here. I'm not always looking for info, but rather want to share and see what everyone else is up to. I can always find a good laugh or funny picture, something or someone having a worse day than me. And better than a magazine, I can fill mine with the content I want. I would have to subscribe to a whole lot of things to get one for mom's, one for gardeners, one for jokes, one for plant ID, one for pretty pics, etc. As I said earlier, I think it is fair. I think anyone that comes here, benefits from it. Dave has been footing the bill for far too long. We ALL enjoy it don't we?

Dave, I have a kind of silly question. Will the population sign change somehow? Just curious - you know me, I've always been interested in DG's stats, which have always been fascinating to watch :)

vols, that's a good question and I've thought about it a bit the past few days. I'm not sure what to do just yet.

Dave

Dave,

Still have your address, will have the check out soon.

I am in this all the way no matter what the fee. I wouldn't want to make it through the day without Dave's Garden in my life. I think that most of us drop that kind of money and much more just for an evening out to dinner with the family. Personally I would rather skip the dinner, grill some hot dogs and use the money for a wonderful year of delightful entertainment, friendship and education at the best site on the internet, Dave's Garden.
I am with you Dave and Trish and am glad you are finally making this change. You have borne the expense much too long and it is time for us to let you know that we appreciate all that you do and have done for us. The way I look at it, you are offering us the best bargain in the world. Long live Dave's Garden!!!!

Behind every GREAT man there is a GREAT woman!!!!
Thanks TRISH! =]

Hey Dave - Didn't take me long to decide. My subscription fee is on the way. Looking forward to great things here. Best Wishes.

While I have no problem with you asking for a subscription I think it has effectively made DG a US site only. That is a pity as many non US citizens are good and active contributers to many of your forums and the database. They (we) also offer an alternative point of view on gardening among other things and many of your overseas contributers have a wealth of knowledge of plants and hoticulture as a whole. While the subscription fee is not prohibative we have to take into account the costs of conversion to US dollars. Were I to send you a cheque for $15 it would end up costing me around 40 pounds sterling which is a cost of about $55 US, which to someone without plastic is prohibative. Fortunately I do have plastic but there are still costs involved.

This is something I will have to think seriously about and I'm sure I won't be alone in that.

What ever happens I wish you luck.

$15 * 4000 = holy cow...


I'm not going to join up. I've seen entirely too many stupid arguments among adults behaving like children, and for the little learning I'm doing here, I can get that emailing the folks I want to talk to.

Sorry, Dave. I'm out.

I'll just read if I want to learn...

-Jennifer

I'm in! I don't think I could make it through with out DG! Besides, with the trades & SASE haven't we saved much more than $15 in plants???? Julie

Baa,

I spent a great deal of time thinking about the international ramifications of this decision, and I'm interested in hearing from you in E-mail some more of your thoughts on how we can get around this. We have countless non-US members who are valuable assets to our community, and I want to do what I can to keep them here.

I'm sending you an E-mail.

Dave