A big announcement from Dave, Part 2

Not a problem Dyson!
I have dozens!

Ric

LOL : )
Jeff is probably saying.....Oh,.... my goodness! What have I gotten myself into this time?

(giggles) : )
~Lucy

Yes but I only had 2 kids aging me............................ LOL!

LOL. I think one should at least be taped onto Jeff's head (temporairly of course), and the others where ever you can stick them.

OH, that was ugly and below the belt! LOL

I was leery when I first began reading your message. But your excitement, eagerness and repeated assurance of the purpose of DG and all we enjoy now going forward, has won me over. I wish you and all the gang the best on this great adventure into the stable but somewhat unknown future. Congratulations and Best Wishes!

Dave, I hope to see you, Trish again, and maybe Terry this time??..... at the Statewide RU in College Station this spring (Apr 28th)!!!!

Hey Jeff!!!!.......want to join us for a personal Texas experience?? I promise it will be warmer down here by then!!

Sheila_FW

Trust? I'll try. Not so easy for me...I've become so cynical...about politiicans, about big corporations, about a lot of things. I'm getting old and grouchy and want things to stay the same. And that is because it seems like so little in life changes for the better. So prove me wrong!

Dyson, did you invent 'the Animal'?? We LOVE ours!!

Sorry to be late to the party but I just saw your message.

I really love reading stories about people who focus on doing what they love and it ends up in commercial success. It gives me hope! (If only I had a good idea of my own....ahh, some day!). I have no reason to doubt your intentions and your sincerity and so will trust you to remain the wonderful guardian you have been so far.

I am a novice, well more accurately, pathetic, gardener and must admit that I have spent many more hours in the Pet's forum than any of the gardening forums. (My tomatoes are a disaster, but my dog is doing great!)

I have never had a web experience as enjoyable as Dave's Garden. I have 'met' some really wonderful people here whose kind support has helped me through a broken leg, job troubles and the loss of a family member. And yes, they've even had gardening advice! Some evenings it's felt like coming home to a group of waiting friends.

You've really created something special here. I wish you (and us!) all the best with this new venture.

Lee

Congratulations Dave, Trisha and Terry! I have to admit I was also sceptical at first ... but mostly because I love DG just like it is. All my friends are here ... I love to dig for all the great knowledge and it's completely accessible to everyone no matter what their challenges are. :-) I'm so glad you're reaping the reward of this wonderful site. It's only fitting ... and wow an American dream!

Congrats to Jeff and the crew ... cause they sure are fortunate to have y'all!
... Elaine

Ric - pink flamingos in the snow - LOL! I lost it!!!

Congats to Dave, Trish and Terry. Namemedia couldn't have chosen better folks than you all! Davesgarden has given me some of the greatest joys in my life. Friends and flowers. Here is a community of people who truely care about each other. I hope Dave, that all your other projests will be as amazing as the one we know and love.

Hugs and Blessings
Tina

Way to go Dave, Trish and Terry!

I for one, am happy that things are finally paying off for all of your hard work over the years, you guys/gals deserve it!

Marilyn- the pixamo guys are doing a lot of work an the site right now. You should certainly be able to upload more than 9 however! We're not directly working with that project, so it would be best to email them through the pixamo site to tell them about it.

Jody- I've mulled the GA fund question around in my head for about a month now. One of my (many) accounting nightmares on DG has been the GA fund. Especially when people pad their subscription to help others. We love that the members help each other out, but it is a bookkeeping nightmare. Trust me when I say that NameMedia is not going to want to deal with these issues. (!) I think that we're going to have to brainstorm to figure out the best way to deal with this- but I don't know what it is right now.

However, let me say again that the fund is WELL padded. We're not in any danger whatsoever of running out soon. As always, feel free to email me, or the helpdesk with people that you know are in need of help. The Committee then reviews the case, and I fill in with any admin info that we may have (such as if admin has repeatedly warned someone of lauguage or whatever). The committee looks at the person's particiapation on DG, plantfiles, etc.

Trish

Trish,

Thanks! I'll do that.

Marilyn

I just wanted to add my congrats as well, and also say I think the site shows improvement already. It shows that admin. has had more time to focus on the site...and this is only a few weeks worth? I can't wait!

If anyone's not noticed the improvements, the ones I've noticed are...
how great the search function is working (!!!!!)
the new forums
the GoGardening feature
BugFiles
Latest Posts on our DG home page

I'm not certain when each of these things showed up, sometimes it take me a while to notice things, lol. But if this is the direction DG is going in, I'm very excited to see what's in store for the future....and I thought DG was great before! =^)

Dave, I bet Jeff and his minions are amazed at the outpouring of affection for you and Trish and Terry. And more convinced than ever that they have done a wise thing [for them] and that keeping you in charge is definitely the only way they can go.

I've always felt like you were having a garden party and we were guests. And have always appreciated the gentle hand that keeps us from getting nasty with each other. I figure it's Dave's garden and Dave's rules that makes this the place it is.... Or should I get more up to date and say "Dave Rules!!" hurrah.
~Blooms

Rasta Dave et al,
WOW, finally made it through ALL of the posts...short and sweet.....
Congtats to you all. Nice move. Sounds like an exciting time for all of you and I couldn't be happier for you all. I as many will continue to support your site and you to thank you for giving us more than me for one expected from a site such as this. Not to mention all of the info that is available but the comraderie as well.
Glad you get to stay in Byron. My twin sis just moved home from the Alvin area after being there awhile. It's nice down there. She got tired of me asking, "Are you sure?" Glad to have her back home in IL though.
My best to you all in your new endeavors.
Sincerely,
Laura Mullen

LindaTX8, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I look forward to showing you that not ALL corporations are evil and nasty, and that some change can be good. :)

Dave

Let me add my congratulations as well...looking foreward to this exciting new adventure!

Jeff...welcome to DG and thank you for adding your two cents and posting. I think that's really cool! We DO need a picture though in your DG shirt wearing a flower headdress. LOL

Or just a regular picture of Jeff will do. It would make us all feel more comfortable to see you. Like Dave, who certainly doesn't mind showing his face. We'd like to know you better.

Pink Plastic Flamingo?

Dyson - that would be a blu-pink plastic flamingo! LOL!! :)

Please let me extend my congratulations to you, Trish & Terry. This website would not be so awesome without all three of you! My many thanks for all the wonderful forums, plus Garden Talk, PlantFiles, GardenWatchdog, GoGardening, PlantScout, Bookworm, BugFiles, Journals & Trading have transformed our lives for the better, as we have all become a big gardening community thanks to all the efforts at DG. I know that lots of new changes are on the horizon, but change is good and I look forward to seeing DG continue to grow & bloom.

I have been watching and reading, I guess it's time to weigh in.

How can anyone begrudge this major step? Things move on, decisions have to be made, people have to look after their interests, but that is true on both sides.

I have mixed feelings too, so am adopting the wait and see policy. Having said that I can't imagine my days now without DG, every part of gardening is made so much more enjoyable being able to discuss and share what we do. I have also made some great friends here. It would be a very sad day if it should all turn sour.

While reading through, many of my thoughts have been raised, some questions also answered.

I did see someone raise the question of paying subscriptions via Paypal, which I find much more convenient and seems not to be available now. The only method I really have left is by Credit card, and I'm not sure I feel comfortable with that.

Another thing which I would like to know if Dave feels able to answer it, is can he tell us if he has fixed himself into employment for a certain term. So often you see a company taking over a business and somewhere down the road the original owner and the new company don't see eye to eye, or the new company has different plans up their sleeve which only become apparent later and the person who started the whole thing gets kicked out, or leaves. If that should happen, then all our photos etc. would go to the company.

The new fee sounds reasonable, but I already spend more than I can afford on plants and feel that the workers are paying to work, after all the site would not be a site if it wasn't for the people contributing to it, albeit Dave gives us the place to do it. Will the extra money put a lot of people off joining, it took me a while to convince myself that I should even spend the $15 on Subscription instead of plants! If less people join then that is less income, so will the company then think they should raise the subs. fee again? Surely the numbers make up for a lower subs. fee? Could it be a case of 'pricing itself out of business'? Many here are not flush with money, and spend their time here because they are ill, alone, out of work etc., and many have little income.

Like LyndaTX8 said above, I have been there and back so many times I am spinning in circles, I have become wary and cynical, getting old and grouchy too! I hope this safe haven of ours remains to be that way.

Hey now, don't be telling Jeff about "Blu"! I don't think he is ready for the insanity test yet! Besides, if he is a busy COO, he probably doesn't have the time to wade through all 2396 posts!

Blu lives!

mg

(but IF he happened to be bored and wondering if he would pass the insanity test....... http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/550014/ )

m_g - you're right - I hope I didn't spill the blu-beans....


:P

blu beans?

Now you just know I can't resist that!

mg

oooh, we better stop ---- everyone will be wondering about - blu
blu skies smiling at me ....
my "blu" sky angel! Shhhhhhhhh

It looks like Dave is going to loose control of this thread! LOL!

But aren't we Blu because of the changes?

One word....highjack.

Who will do the billing and who will let us know. My sub. is up in March and I don't want to loose a moment of stimulating threads. LIZ

Wallaby1 - I ditto everything you said! So honestly written. I, too, have a wait and see attitude. I am hopeful that this new situation works out very well for everyone. Time will tell. :-)

LC2, FYI
The subscription price will be going up, which Dave had already planned to do, but is still at $15 for now. You need to go ahead and extend at the low price now, and not wait.

Congratulations Dave, Trish and Terry.

O.K., I'll see your "Blu" and raise you "A picture dog" LOL
Pati

http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/530015/

I remember that!

OMGoodness that was a riot too.

mg

Dave,

You had said earlier in this thread that you hoped to have Gardens.com up by Friday. I've waited until today to try looking at it but I can't find it. I typed in Gardens.com on my Internet Explorer page and it doesn't bring me there. What should I do?

When I go there, it still says coming soon so my guess is it's just running a few days behind.