YIPPEEEE!!!

[Thor]

Luger forum is back on line!!!! Just had to do that!! <img border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" title="" src="graemlins/drink.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" title="" src="graemlins/drink.gif" />

[Greg]

And may I add my 2 cents worth in agreement. John, you are a class act Sir!

Greg

[Luke]

What Greg said . . .

Luke

[Edward Tinker]

I was worried, since John pays all out of his own pocket, hell, I would have gotten tired of that years ago, and quit freebeeing the forum.

I think he should charge a small amount as an anuual fee.

That said, I am happy as heck that we are back, I missed it, even if only for a weekend!

<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />

Ed

[John Sabato]

Glad the system is back up... Jan's forum is fine, but it ISN'T this one!

I know why there isn't a fee for this forum... John D. discussed it a couple of years ago when the subject came up.

If a fee were charged, or advertising were permitted, then the forum would become a revenue channel and all funds would have to be strictly accounted for and TAXED as income. Since this is not a "for profit" activity, John D. made a personal decision to fund it privately himself... and blessed are we all that he does...

Many Thanks to our benefactor John D. !!!... Who could have imagined little more than a year ago that we would have nearly 1600 members world-wide!

May God bless and prosper you and your other business for making this forum possible.

[Thor]

Thanks John Dunkle for all you do for all of us!

[lugerholsterrepair]

I missed the Forum as well. Like John says the two Forums are different and I like them both but The Luger Forum is special to me. Viva la Forum Luger!
Thanks John and by the way weren't you supposed to send me something? I hate to be a nag but you have given me credit for something I have not done and I would sincerely like to do it....Jerry Burney

[unspellable]

On another forum the owner was in a really serious financial bind. We passed the hat to re-imburse him for his ISP fees. He didn't charge anything. There was no profit. It was all voluntary. On the down side the usual grousers groused even though it was all strictly a voluntary contribution to the cause. As if he were going to get rich off the group paying for the ISP.

[John D.]

First â?? my thanks for your comments in this thread..! They are probably more appreciated then you know.

For that, I also want to express my sincerest â??thank youâ?� to those that e-mailed while I took this Forum off-line from Saturday evening until Monday evening. I guess â?? in my world â?? it was simply â??the right thing to doâ?�. Thatâ??s just me.

However â?? Iâ??m not sure that I ever stated publicly or privately that the reason I didnâ??t solicit funds/sponsors/members â?? was for tax reasons?! (Where did you EVER come up with THAT one!!! ) LOL!!!!!!

To the point, this Forum rides â??off the backâ?� of my other sites, and Jenâ??s and my paychecks. Now, please understand â?? that isnâ??t a â??slightâ?�, as I pay for this each month as Lugers. Luger collecting and enthusiasts are both my passion and my hobby. And the community that exists here isnâ??t paralleled in any other gun or weapon Forum that Iâ??m aware of. But rather reality, after â??hostingâ?� both the site and itâ??s costs for 5 years â?? Iâ??m at a personal crossroads.

The crossroads are to take â??Sponsorsâ?�, or Memberships or some way to help defray the increasing costs of this site. In short â?? thatâ??s why I made a very few folks â??LugerForum Patronsâ?�, as they have done something to assist either me, or with the monthly costs, or simply made a gesture of assistance â?? and those acts should be recognized. On my other site, I have â??Membersâ?�, which is voluntary (anyone is free to post, etc.), but â??Membersâ?� get some special privileges and features. Does that â??modelâ?� make sense here? I donâ??t know â?? Iâ??m still thinking about it.

I guess in short â?? there is â??no pot of goldâ?� running/hosting/programming an Internet site â?? and Iâ??m not in it for that reason, as you probably guessed. If I were, you would have seen this site go â??Members Onlyâ?� or have Banner Sponsors, or something â?? and Jen and I would have quit our â??real jobsâ?� from the proceeds from any of our sites. We havenâ??t, but it doesnâ??t negate the fact that this site costs real money each and every month. Ergo â?? the crossroads â?? as some how, this site needs to be self-supporting, in some way.

Anyway, those are my issues, and Iâ??ll continue to think about how to handle it best for everyone here.

Again â?? my best to all â?? and my thanks again for your comments and supportâ?¦.!

[Pete Ebbink]

Hello John D.,

I think a reasonably priced membership fee due on a yearly basis is more than reasonable.

For $ 45/mo. the NAPCA gives you a monthly AutoMag newletter in the mail. Cannot compare to the unlimited access afforded members on the Luger Forum. You could and should certainly charge more than this...

And as the Membership continues to grow, there might be a chance to have yearly renewal fees reduced somewhat, due to the volume of the growing membership...as long as your costs are met.

You set the price and I am sure many will pay. Maybe allow new members a month-long free trial and then they need to decide to pay the dues.

You might also need to decide if all members pay on the same month each year or if you want folks paying on their anniversery dates...

I will be the first to send in my yearly dues !!! Just say when...how much...and where...

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

[John D.]

Hey Pete,

My sincerest thanks

However, I guess in my mind - this site will not be - ever - "Member Only". That's kind of "me". For the same reason I have a problem with "banners" in the Forums. Sure - I know they pay the bills, but I hate banner ads. And that's just me. Most sites use those - like the Glock Forum, 1911 Forum, etc.

See, folks who understand the value of the Forum, such as yourself, will want to support it in a private fashion. For that - I'm more then grateful and want to build a different paradigm - and I think it can be done. As well - that's just "me" as well.....

Please be assured - this Forum will NOT be shut down - that I can and will assure you. In the meantime, while I figure this out, please know how much your post is appreciated, and your support noted. It's folks like you - and thousands of others - that make the "Lugerforum" a community. It's not anyone else - it's the collectors and enthusiasts who visit here each and every day. Those that post and those who simply "lurk" and post on rare occasions. This Forum is for them - and folks just like you......

For that - you have my support and my sincerest thanks....

- John D.

[Russ]

John D
I'm with Pete

Russ

and thanks a lot for many hours of enjoyment!!!!!

[John D.]

Hey Russ...!

Thanks.......

Actually - this Forum is my "enjoyment" as well, and for that, I will tell you - it won't go away. I notice you were one of the first folks registered (#22), way back when - and for that - this site will go under some fundemental changes - I believe for the better. Again - this site isn't about me, nor the Moderators, nor the administrators, nor....

In short - it's about folks like yourself - who log in - and just "enjoy". You are just like me. I don't post much, but I too, enjoy the site and the community for what it has become.

My thanks for your post and your support.... As Pete's post - it's more appreciated then you may realize.... We'll figure this out. Promise....

[Edward Tinker]

Hey, I've got it! Some rich guy can just send you a blank check, and if you feel "funny" about that option, then they can send it to me (I'll give some to Russ) and then we'll send you the rest,

Ed

[AGE]

John D,

Count me in for a few bucks. I really am entertained by the forum, even though most of the collector stuff is over my head.

[John D.]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by Edward Tinker:
<strong>Hey, I've got it! Some rich guy can just send you a blank check, and if you </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva"><img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

<img border="0" alt="[bigbye]" title="" src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" />

<img border="0" alt="[hiha]" title="" src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" />

Why is it - I LIKE that suggestion??!!!!! <img border="0" alt="[jumper]" title="" src="graemlins/jumper.gif" />

Heh...!!!

Thanks Ed...!!!!

[Dok]

Hi John,

Let me add my sentiments to the collection. We all, from the beginning, have been overwhelmed by your generousity and support of the Luger Forum, and while today, I clearly fall into the "Lurker/Occasional Poster" category, one cannot fail to see that without your effort, the forum would not exist in it's curent form. A form, I hasten to add is the finest on the net.

I feel really ashamed that I haven't contributed up till now, (spilling water in your lap doesn't count does it?) but I'll try to correct that oversight. John you are doing a great job, and we all truly appreciate it.

Dok