How do we keep the Luger Forum up and running?
 

After reading the conversation in the For Sale column, it has become apparent to me that our beloved Luger Forum is not self-sustaining, and will cease to exist at some point in time. So my question is what is a reasonable amount for active members to pay, monthly or yearly, that will keep the status quo?
Maybe it is time for some of us to step up to the plate. Memberships? Ideas?
dju

David..In the not too distant past, Ed Tinker and I organized a raffle to help take some of the pressure off financially. John supports this expensive site almost wholly out of his own pocket.
I know Ed is up to his ears in keeping afloat and with my recent move and the demands of my trade I am a little busy too but if someone could team up and successfully do what we have done before..run a simple raffle.. it would go a long way towards keeping all this together.
In the past I have donated what I could..and others stepped up..even with some major prizes. People who won pistols in the last raffle were very pleased indeed! I would do it again..so if there are a couple of entrepenurial types out there who would be willing..let it be known. Running a raffle isn't hard if you have a couple of traits..honesty and lots of time!

Instead of that..there really must be more of an effort to recruit contributors. Patrons are needed..hey..$10-25 bucks. Whatever you can afford without taking food off the table. Not that serious for most of us but necessary to keep the site up. Be a part of it and encourage your luger Friends to do the same..What's more important in the collecting World? Besides I know John and he puts every penny to work.

Surely it ought to be worth at least $25 per year for all members to contribute to help keep the forum up and running. If you examine the good info and the enjoyment you get from the forum, you know what I am saying is true. I'm just saying---think about it.

I think I have run five, maybe six raffles - the last three we gave away 4 or 5 guns (not in ea one, a couplein ea) and probably a dozen of prizes each time

John has said before he does not desire a paid site, it took a long time before he added the donation button at the top of the page (upper right)

my profile | register | faq | search
upload photo | donate | calendar

Ed

I help fund raise for Public TV.

We've recently had success with monthly subscriptions that can be ended at any time. Sign up and the money comes out each month sent to the organization.

I'm not sure of the mechanism for setting this up, but could check.

If most active members were willing to subscribe for as little as $2 a month, it would surely help quite a bit.

Marc

I'm in complete agreement with Neil. I don't expect the newbies or the casual forum visitors to have to contribute, however I think that those who spend a lot of time on the forum (you know who you are), should do what they can to support it. I send a check every January to this, and Jan Still's forum. I think it's a small price to pay for the knowledge and enjoyment I derive from them.
Regards, Norm

I just noticed that Donate option on top, and since I'm better at writing checks than I am at organizing fund-raisers or raffles, I guess my choice is clear.
Thanks to all of you for what you do.
dju

As some people know by now John put the For Sale area on the P-38 Forum for Patrons only to list. I think he should do the same on this forum as well. To complain about paying $25 a year to support this forum is rather petty as you get to list items for free. Listing these items on Ebay or Gunbroker would cost much more. Supporting this forum shows respect for all John does quietly for us. Curt

Norm..however I think that those who spend a lot of time on the forum (you know who you are), should do what they can to support it.

Would the contributions of such a small group be enough? I have to wonder.

That would get rid of some of the non-posting members as well...Those who only signed up to sell something... :rolleyes:

Jerry reminded me that TANSTAAFL is still a universal truth...And I can live on Ramen for a few weeks... ;)

On a related note, AR15.com makes a fairly good amount selling T-shirts...I haven't bought one in a long time, but I'm attaching a pic of my favorite...The boltface...

I would be interested in something like that from this Forum...Not a garish display, but a subtle theme (like a Luger boltface) that could be worn and not get eggs thrown at you by angry Obamaphiles... :grr:

The money made on something like a t shirt is how much can you make from it, and WHO will run it.

If memory serves me, all the raffles have been run by three people.

My point is that it's hard to make decent money from our membership, as we are small compared to the ar15 website.

That crossed my mind when I was about to post that a 1-year "basic" membership on AR15.com is 'only' $24...But there are hundreds of thousands of members on AR15.com...I don't know where they are in comparison to other Internet sites, but they have to be the largest 'gun' site...

AR15.com is 'only' $24...But there are hundreds of thousands of members on AR15.com..

I havn't Time to go there!

Guess I spend too much of it on Lugers!

Trouble with offering some item for sale is like Ed says someone has to take orders and ship. The other is design, sizes and the initial investment. You might have to order $10,000 to get enough price break to make anything.

Weren't there some embroidered shoulder patches a few years ago that became rather highly coveted? Maybe we need a few products to sell to keep money coming in?
dju

I really like the shirt idea. A shirt with the logo thats on the patch that I have seen on this site, and I believe someone recently remade, on the back of the shirt. Maybe put the website's web address at the bottom. maybe then just a simple little logo on the front of the shirt in the corner, like the AR15 shirt shown here.

That would leave very little creating involved in a logo. But theres the shipping and order taking issue again.

It would be great advertisement for the website and it would look great.

I would definitly take a couple of them and would wear them. Would be great to wear at gunshows!

Patches
 

As the individual who, with the help of several on this forum, "reissued" the beautiful patches desiged by several orgaizers of this wounderful forum, I am happy to help by contributing from the sale of the patches at prices below my cost. As is clear from the price, there is about $1 " profit" per patch, so I am happy to contribute maybe $2/patch. I also think that a monthly charge is a good idea, as are the other ideas that have been offered.
Jim Solomon

Monthly membership charge but have give access to 'some' forums, not the For Sale forum, for first time interested new people. If they decide they want to stay and enjoy other forums, then membership would be required, also allowing the For Sale forum access, although on many other forums where there is equipment involved, there is a required amount of posts before allowed to use the For Sale forum.

For members already signed onto the forum, they could be given a one time discount to continue membership.

A Raffle is always good to boost revenue for the Website owner.

My thoughts ...............

Forum Upkeep
 

I think the idea of a Raffle sounds Great.....and the idea of a Patch..would be glad to buy one of those if available.....other than that....a small membership fee sounds very reasonable to me....I finally wound up with 3 Lugers...(yeah I know ..may be a small collection compared to some :) ) but have 3 that I really wanted....1916 DWM...1918 DWM and a Beautiful 1941 BYF.....so back to the start.....Im sure other guys wouldnt mind chipping in whats needed....Hans Fischer

LugerForum Patronage

The Lugerforum is free - and will remain free to any collector and Luger enthusiast throughout the world. As well, the site has no commercial Sponsors, Dealers, nor Advertising Banners flashing about which might detract from its overall intent and purpose - which is a site for collectors run by collectors. To that end - its entire operation and cost is wholly dependent on private funding and donations.

If you would like to donate and support this site and become a "LugerForum Patron" you may do so by using either PayPal (paypal address - johnd@rennlist.com) or sending your donation to:

Lugerforum
c/o John Dunkle
PO Box 111
Portsmouth, NH 03802-111
USA

Once received, you will have LugerForum Patron added to your Title and have access to several private "Patron Only" Forums - and more importantly, the thanks of collectors and enthusiasts from around the world….

With Best Regards and our thanks!

John Dunkle
Website owner and Administrator

Here's an idea I'll throw out - make the Repair/Restoration/Refinishing Forum 'Patron Only'...

And as suggested elsewhere here, make the For Sale Forum 'patron only' as well...

Rich..As you might guess the Forum owner, John Dunkle has complete control over the structure of the Forum. Only he can make the changes you suggest. I don't know if he has been considering any or all of these types of things.
What all of us can do in the meantime is contribute if we can. Any dollar raised or contributed takes a dollar's worth of burden off of John.
For those of you who don't know..John has many interests..Lugers are not the only one! He has several other Forums and he and his lovely Wife Jen are instrumental in supporting a childrens orphanage in Haiti. They built and operate it. A more generous and humanitarian gesture is unknown to me.
Any dollar spent by John here is a dollar taken away from serious human needs at his orphanage and that is what has me concerned. If we do not take some of the support for this Forum on ourselves.. it might very well disappear.

Take a look at what John and Jen do in Haiti..if you take the time to see Rennwish you will be amazed that John spends what he does here.

http://rennwish.net/place_of_hope.htm

As the saying goes, "The Check is in the mail...". Well, its been written, and put in the envelope - it will actually hit the mailbox tomorrow AM.

I figure I've already learned plenty just by lurking and asking a couple of stupid questions. So the weird newbie felt he should contribute! :D

Zorba, thanks..An old Dutch saying..many hands make for light work. Each of us chip in a little and it 's not painful for any of us.

It's appreciated..
Jerry

I joined the old forum about 1998.

I'd have no problem kicking in a few bucks.
Don't like restrictions.
An awful lot of people get6 directed here from other boards.
Some stick around.

My donation is in the mail today. I like the idea of being a PATRON.

I was just curious about Patron participation. A few people that are not current patrons have suggested selling items or having a raffle. It appears they are reluctant to do the easy thing and just give, it is that simple. Do most members have trouble just giving without getting something in return? Curt

Curt..I was the one suggested a raffle like we have had before..several of them have been very successful in raising money for the Forum.
I think it might be new people offering ideas and their patron moniker might not show up yet?
Either way..it's all good. If I can generate interest and concern then get a little help..every idea and dollar eases the load.
You are right of course..if many give a little it's the easy way to go.

I have also put my donation in the mail. You can't pay enough for all the information that this site offers.

I believe that Jerry has said it best. This Forum costs John D. a significant amount of money to operate and to update and I believe that the users have an obligation to help support the effort. One would think that anyone that can afford to buy a Luger of any variety at today's prices, can afford to chip in $25-30 to keep this wonderful source of knowledge/infornation alive.
Lyn

Keep the forum up and running
 

As a newbie, I enjoy the forum and will continue to do whatever it takes to support it. I have become a Patron with a small contribution, but I really like the raffle idea. Offer 1 or 2 interesting items (this is a Luger Forum, right??) my guess is that it will generate significant income for the site. :cheers:

Offer 1 or 2 interesting items ..Last time Ed and I did a raffle I think we had a couple of pistols and members donated another 18-20 prizes.

Thanks to all of you who are donating a few $$. $Every dollar is an immense help.

I sent in a few bucks-please with hold any titles.
Also don't care for charging for services.

Dropped a small contribution, for Lugerforum or Haiti, in the mailbox this morning.:)

Gene

Gene, Many thanks!~ It is very much appreciated and needed. Thank you.