OK, I created this topic to ask the question of myself more than anything :-) I would definitely consider signing up for one of the monthly payment levels. The first problem is actually getting the payment to Terry: I can't make payments into a US bank without incurring *big* charges, and Spring can't (?) accept credit card payments. Catch-22. Secondly, what is the benefit of the Patron level vs. the Member level (apart from the smug feeling of self-satisfaction ;-)) ? Maybe the patron level could offer even more teasing options...just a thought. So, what say you all?

There's finally a way. PayPal now accepts International payments. They go against your credit card or can be debited from your bank account (your choice). They can be made to anyone with an email addresss. Wish it was functional when I was doing the fundraising a couple of months ago.

It works, Mike _ I used it and Karen should have both my extra $5.00 and her finder's fee to forward to Terry!

I haven't gotten the referral bonus for you yet, Marcia, and have emailed them. BTW, the payments are still going to Kaylene as we still have an outstanding balance. If you want to sign up, Mike, I can post my link so that I'll get the referral bonus and you will get whatever is being offered as an equivalent. All bonuses collected are being turned over to pay for the Yapp bill. https://secure.paypal.x.com/refer/pal=rosie45%40hotmail.com

oh no, am i a member or a patron??? *ack*

Go to the www.spring.net page and access the membership link.

k!! (hi marcia *HUGS*)

Sounds good. Why are we paying for Yapp, by the way? It sucks in a serious way :-)

Why? Otherwise, there'd be no Spring. The number of daily hits has vastly exceeded the limits of our license, causing Yapp to shut itself off periodically. Frankly, I like Yapp. Do you know of any other conferencing software? Our discussions would be sooooo boring if we had a threaded message board IMO.

I don't like threading either. However, at Delphi (www.delphi.com) there's quite a nice compromise between linear discussion (just as we have here) and being able to reference somebody else's message. You should check it out. I really like it there. As for other conferencing software, there is other stuff around but it's probably not much better. There are lots of things I would like to be able to do (go to the Suggestion Box topic and look back about 12 months...all of those things, plus more :-) but Yapp either seems to (a) not support them or (b) be so complex to set up/lacking in documentation that it's not possible. Still, this is just me all over. Never satisfied with what's available, always wanting more :-) Just ask anyone here, they'll tell you *grin* But, if we're paying for Yapp maybe we could look elsewhere. Just to evaluate possibilities....

OK, there is a message board written in Perl called DCForum. There is a 'lite' version, which is $35 and the full version is $99/year. This software is very much like the Delphi that I described earlier. I like it a lot. How much is being paid for Yapp?

Oh, the Lite version is also free to download for non-profit/personal use. Ideal for evaluation purposes.

We, and by "we" I mean mostly the Ladies of Drool, put up around $1,300 for an extended Yapp license. I just sent Kaylene $339 and got $50 back in Paypal payments (for which I sent out some color nature photos). I like Yapp and folks here have managed to live with it, but I'm always open to a better solution. Cheaper may not be better . You can't beat the support that Kaylene and http://www.armidalesoftware.com provide. By the way, Mike, this is a good website to get some of your hosting questions answered, they have the technical docs for hosts that you'll need for your business conference (some of which are in the spring's help web pages).

And the license is forever, in essence, until we exceed a certain number of hits per day on a recurring basis. This is NOT an annual fee. Also, some of the payment was for additional consultant services associated with Spring's move to digihost.

Exactly Karen, Kaylene has been extremely nice and tolerant in letting me "ride" on this bill for a long time. And I am grateful that we were able to all pitch in and meet this obligation.

*Breathing out again* Much thanks to Karen for her persistence adn not taking no for an answer. We need each other and I am more than pleased that it all has been taken care of - if I understand correctly. Mike, Yapp works great - has for me in Geo, at least! And crafts conference...

Once again I'll be leaving this subject alone.

Once again I'll be leaving this subject alone.

Twice :-)

Time to donate! I just spent a bucketload on a new server and owe for another year. I'm out a few thou and could use some help, especially with the year's server hosting fee which is due now. Paypal banking@wholetech.com ... any amount appreciated.