BuckeyePlanet Spring Drive 2009

[HoltWVU75]

Originally Posted by LitlBuck

I guess we will have to show the Mountaineers football team some respect this year. Thanks for your support.

Haha, we need all the support we can get...

[Deety]

Greetings, everyone! It's time to take a look at summer finances and take a look at what BP has accomplished so far in our somewhat-loosely-named Spring Drive.

Thanks to your many, very generous donations, we have raised $8,240 between the Spring Drive launch date of March 3 and today. This is fantastic work by all involved, and covers expenses for March, April, May, and most of June. Ad revenue during this period was $1,119, which gives us a start on July.

You all know that we've always looked at handling some of Clarity's expenses as part of the drive. It's always been tricky to figure out how to balance privacy and the site's need to know what is going on in order to address it. The simple facts right now are that an unfortunate increase in medical downtime over the past months and current economic factors require us to find a more permanent financial solution, and so our continuing goals for keeping the BuckeyePlanet community up and running will reflect both personal and site expenses. Incorporating just basic necessities, we've decided to keep the $2,200 figure as a monthly goal for total site revenue, with $500-800 going to site bandwith and maintenance.

Contributing to meeting that $2,200/month figure, we currently have two sources of ongoing income. We now have 25 monthly donors giving a total of $185/month, with some fluctuation as "donor subscriptions" expire. Ad revenue for last month was $460, and it looks as though that is going to be a fairly stable base figure on which to build. The remaining amount to be raised is $1,555/mo., through a combination of better ads and donations.

For those of you who subscribe or might be inclined to subscribe to other websites of various types, please think about BuckeyePlanet's value in comparison to your other choices, and consider making a donation or becoming part of our monthly donor program. The great part of having a completely free resource like BuckeyePlanet is that whether or not to support the site is completely your choice. Your choice to toss a little something in the piggy bank would be GREATLY appreciated!

As an interesting note, we now have 161 donors on board, which exactly matches last year's total. Looking at the two lists shows that a significant portion of those who donated last year did so this year as well. I've decided to send a PM to those who did not renew donations this year, just as a little memory jog for those who planned to donate and just haven't gotten around to it yet. If you get one, please know there's no pressure, it's just an "in case" reminder. It's just plain amazing to look over the lists for these two years and see how many people have become practically family over the years.

An Important Request

Another thing we really need right now is to get some of our own ads in place. It's financially necessary to get ad income to an acceptable level, and doing so will give us much more control over the quality of ads. Besides, BP has very strong ties to the Columbus area, and it would be great to be supporting local businesses and people tied into this community as much as possible.

If you own or work for a company that advertises in print or online, please consider advertising with us or getting us in touch with your marketing folks. PM me for more information. If we have any strong salespeople in the Columbus area who are well-known to us and willing to show a commitment by bringing in a couple of contracts, we would happily consider putting together a modest commission setup for a more in-depth, ongoing arrangement.

And now - because this post is just too short, isn't it? - enjoy a little copy-pasta.

Incentives

vCash

With the expansion of the vEconomy, the rewards for donating have been increased from 1:1,000 to 1:10,000. Now you, too, can be a vHave!

For example:

$5 real cash = 50,000 vCash
$10 real cash = 100,000 vCash
$100 real cash = 1,000,000 vCash

... and so forth, without limit. vCash totals will be updated once a week for all confirmed donations. Please be patient as some transactions take several days to clear the PayPal/BuckeyePlanet system.

NEW! DOUBLE THE FUN! BB73 has offered to double the vCash out of his personal stash. We'll double the amounts and send him the bill. Make him pay!

Thank You List

We will be recognizing donors on BuckeyePlanet's homepage. All donors will be listed alphabetically by username (without amounts), unless you request not to be listed. The list will stay up until the next drive.

Donor Badges

You know this image. It's spiffy. Chicks dig it.



And you can get the newest model for your very own! Chicks REALLY dig it. Collect them all!

How to Donate -PayPal, Snail Mail, and Monthly Donations PayPal

Link found on the front page of BuckeyePlanet, or on the black navigation bar at the top of most pages.

NOTE: Please be sure to include your BuckeyePlanet username with any donation so we can credit your account with the appropriate reward.

Snail Mail Donations

Joanna Bryant
5794 Gradey Pass
Galloway, OH 43119-8598

Please add "BuckeyePlanet" to the memo line and make the payment out to Joanna or Will Bryant.

NOTE: Please be sure to include your BuckeyePlanet username with any donation so we can credit your account with the appropriate reward.

Monthly Donation Program - v100,000 Bonus!
Do you want to contribute more frequently? Do you want automatic payments like the pay sites have but 100% completely voluntary because BP is 100% FREE? Let the equivalent of a monthly cup of coffee grow into a significant contribution by becoming a monthly donor!

Please note that it is very important to all of us that we remain a free community based on the freely given support of our members. Signing up for the monthly donation option is simply a way of automating donations, and does not afford access to any "premium" sections of the site - because we don't have any - or want any!

We want to encourage monthly donations as a way to stabilize BP's financial future. Monthly donors will be awarded an immediate bonus of v100,000 (automated!) upon registration for the program in appreciation of their continued commitment to the site. This is in addition to any other benefits. Eligibility for any giveaways will be calculated based on the full six-month amount. Our 11 current monthly donors will receive the same bonus at the start of this drive.

How it Works

Click here, or in UserCP, near the bottom of the left menu, click "Paid Subscriptions." Select the amount you would like to donate monthly, and complete the PayPal transaction.

Use your own bank account or credit card through PayPal if you wish, or the balance in your PayPal account.

NOTE: Please be sure to include your BuckeyePlanet username with any donation so we can credit your account with the appropriate reward.

[LitlBuck]

Those of you those of you who have not contributed yet to the prolonged Spring Drive please think about doing so. Our man has not been feeling very well the past couple months and need your help as does BuckeyePlanet.

[Deety]

Three new participants on today's list... thanks, guys!

[Tresselbeliever]

Monthly donation sent through paypal.

[Deety]

Originally Posted by Tresselbeliever

Monthly donation sent through paypal.

Awesome.

[Bucklion]

Originally Posted by LitlBuck

Those of you those of you who have not contributed yet to the prolonged Spring Drive please think about doing so. Our man has not been feeling very well the past couple months and need your help as does BuckeyePlanet.

And remember every little bit helps. I know for me I sometimes am overwhelmed by the generosity of others, but you have to realize that if everyone gives a little, the total will be a lot, so no donation is too small or meaningless. So, in these hard economic times, if you can only spare a few bucks, that's cool. Pleast pitch in. Like, for example, if ordinarily you would like to give $77, but you can only give $49.95, well, that's OK...

[LitlBuck]

Please read the first post by Clarity in this thread

June Updates: Me, the state of the site, etc.

very much but yesterday right before I was leaving this site I noticed that there was a post from Clarity and if you don't have time to read the entire post below is part of what he said.

So I hope each of you will forgive the extra push this year to really have an effective drive. It's a regrettable but necessary one that comes entirely from me, and it's literally because I don't know how to cover expenses over the Summer. If anyone has any ideas, I'm absolutely open to any and all. We have nothing but available ad space, for example, and I remain confident that we can bring companies far more bang for their buck in the Columbus area than any other form, television included. Without some sort of meaningful Ad solution, the drive needs to produce somewhere in the neighborhood of 5-6k over the next 3 months. That's a huge problem, particularly since we've always had fewer donors who give often and more, Than more donors who give less. I would absolutely prefer the latter, which is why I just want to (even as I hate to do it) call for new donors. It can even just be a dollar or two. We're set up to take smaller monthly donations through Paypal, or smaller one-time payments through the same, or through snail mail. If you feel the site brings you value, and you've never given before, now is probably the time to send a little something. This is not a plea for people who have given to give more, it's a plea for those who haven't to take a moment and decide if what we have here is worth a few bucks, and whether or not (in very difficult economic times for all) you can reasonably spare those. BP may be free and non-commercial, but we have hosting/administration expenses on par with the biggest for-pay fan sites around.

I think the majority of you know that he does not like to ask for money so this must be a desperate time for BuckeyePlanet not to mention the man himself. Many of you come here and have never given a penny to the side but you are allowed to express your views and opinions because that is why Clarity started this site. It is pretty easy to tell those of you have given and those of you who have not contributed anything (I know there are some exceptions) just by looking at the top of your posts and not seeing any banner or banners.

I think it is time for some of you who have not contributed anything to step up to the plate and contribute something. You never know what you enjoy until it is gone and while Clarity and some of the other people who have given so much of their time and money to this site will never admit it, it is my opinion that if people do not start stepping up to the plate there could be very rough times ahead not only for BuckeyePlanet but for Clarity and us who enjoy this site so much. So please for those of you who have not contributed this year, please think about how much you enjoy coming here and being able to find out things free and be able to express your thoughts and opinions. Please it is not that hard to donate.

[Deety]

We have 8 new donors since the update on the 17th - welcome aboard! With monthly donations and some generous second or moreth donations from folks, we're currently at $8,609 with 169 donors. Thanks!!!

[Deety]

$8,819 with 171 donors.

Thanks to the new folks and those who chipped in again!

[Deety]

New Donor Benefit!

Spring Drive 2009 Donors of $20 or more are eligible for a $40 coupon for a personalized wine-making experience at WineMakers Guild! To participate in this exciting offer, after you donate, PM Deety and request your coupon. If you've already donated, you're already eligible! The coupons expire in approximately 90 days from issue.

WineMakers Guild is a winery, and a wine on premise where customers make their own signature wine.

As a wine on premise, customers have the opportunity to make their own signature wine. There are more than 120 variations to choose from. Creating signature wines is surprisingly easy ... and a lot of fun!

We supply the ingredients, equipment, and know-how to provide you with a premium-quality wine made with grapes from the world's leading production regions. Full 6 gallon batches (30 bottles) of wine range from $170 to $270 dollars (before discount) depending on the type of wine selected.

Once you select a wine as your signature, the expert staff at WineMakers Guild takes over the fermenting, racking and filtering of your wine. In 4-8 weeks (depending on the wine you select), the wine is ready for bottling. Now you are ready to take home 30 bottles of your own signature wine!




Terms and conditions:

May be used for on-premises full batches of wine only.
Not valid with any other discount, promotion or coupon, including promotional or discounted Gift Certificates.
One coupon per transaction. Coupons may not be duplicated; assigned validation code required.



Discuss this offer here!

[DA-Bucks]

I made a small donation and will try to repeat it a few more times this year. Money's tight here too, but I want to give (again). I don't post here as much as I'd like, but I still come by fairly often and really appreciate what this site has to offer.

[Deety]

New total is $8,904 with 172 donors. Thanks, all!

[Buckeye86]

So, utilities took a bigger chunk out of my finances than I anticipated and I won't be able to make a donation at this time like I said I would, and I may be touch and go for the rest of the summer, but I will make another donation at some point in the future.

[Jake]

I decided to repeat my Spring donation today. This site is worth it. Besides, with football season looming I can use the extra vcash for vbets.