I need to pass the torch to someone who is either retired, or who has fewer commitments than I do at this time.Anyone interested, shoot me an email or a PM.
Looks like everyone is waiting for me to sign up! Sorry guys I'm not your man!! Replacing James is not going to be an easy job. HRD
:unitedstates:I think Mr.Potter is having a bad day.From the few hours I have spent reading the old posts,I think we would all be hardpressed to find anyone as dedicated.If there is any way I can help out I will.Lasanga is ready I gotta go..Richard Acton
Young guy with a career and NINE kids....it's understandable for sure. I sure hope your able to find someone to take over, although I'm sure all of us would rather see things just continue status quo. My quess about the "finding a retired guy" is most of us retired guys aren't computer literate enough.
Rich:
Boy you got that one correct. Computer literate and retired just don't seem to go together. James and John (1957 Fords) seem to know everything there is to know about computers, web sites and most of all 57 Fords.
Bob
57 AGIN
I'm in the "retired and computer dumb" crowd as well. I did manage to go through almost all of my Navy career without learning how to use them. Then they (280s) started showing up on ships and we (Electronic technicians) had to repair them. After that I had nothing to do with them until I got a real job and learned basic email and web searches.
Having said all of that....I'm sorry James, I'm afraid it would a mess if I were in control! You do not want me to "fix" this wonderful web site most all of us love.
Kinda the response I was expecting. Well, this is what is going to happen. I have paid for a few months of web service, I will go ahead and pay for the 2 year plan. If, in that time, I have a change of heart or someone steps up to take it, fine. I'll try to keep the rif-raf weeded out, so you guys will still have a basically spam-free site. If anything pops up, text or call me, most of you have my number. If any donations are made to the site, I will use it to extend the web service so the site stays up. I may eliminate the main site, and only keep this forum since no one uses it anyway. It is looking dated, and hasn't been changed in a long time.
I just want to move on. I have dedicated the last nearly 20 years to this pursuit, and I feel like its time for me to move on to something else. There are things that I have missed out on due to my obsession with this car, the club and things surrounding it. I plan to keep my car, at least for a while dont get me wrong, but I own it, not the other way around. I want to thank you guys for making this site what it is, hard to believe it got here from where it started on Yahoo groups.
I guess life will still go on, this site will stay here. I will check in from time to time to see if there are updates, make sure the forum is still up and not broken. The real difference is that I hope to be doing something constructive on my home, my car, or with my kids instead of sitting behind a desk envying everyone else's cool ride.
James, we hear you. Knowing how stressing and time consuming car stuff and sitting behind the computer can be. I have only been here for 2 years but this forum is just an excellent example for people thinking alike and sharing their passion. I have been through what you say many times, even with my first 57 that I sold because other things were more important. Back then it was the right decision for me, but I still keep coming back to the same things all over again and again and again. so keep this in mind, if you want to make a change now, you might miss the old times and do it again. Don't sell your car !
It would be great if this forum could stay up for years to come. Me personally I owe YOU a lot, since I got to meet a certain fellow here on your forum, that I really cherish a lot and I even took a plane, met in person and got a nice 4-wheeled present from him that I now drive EVERY DAY. So this forum has affected MY WHOLE LIFE and still does EVERYDAY !
Thank you James !
What are the typical duties/responsibilities for the administrator/moderator/webmaster?
Duties are everything that causes this site to run, from registrations to fixing things when they break, to updating softtware from time to time. I doubt I could ever really give it all up.just my job is changing, like to maybe not existing, just feeling the stresses of being a grownup. It'll pass.
I envy your persistence and commitment to this project for so long and thank you for your dedication, loyalty, and investment. This site has value as well as the investment of your resources. I have no clue as to your investment in this site. But, duties, software, and fixing broken things costs in hours of supervising, monitoring, and learning curves as well as the financial investment of software, hardware, server site fees, and I have no idea what else. I respect your consideration of your personal and family time, but if this has anything to do with the cost of stuff...is it time for the members to pay dues. I don't want to embarrass anybody or think that money can solve everything. Dues or donations have been mentioned in the pass and many members donated. Sometimes parts have been exchanged for free with the contingency that a donation be given to this site. Even with these occasional offerings, I don't think these are often enough to offset James' out-of-pocket expenses. You have enough depends and you own life to take care of and this site certainly should not be one of your financial drains. This is our forum and we should ante up!
James, this site is very large part of my enjoyment of retired life. THANK YOU!. Meeting you at the Power Tour in Gonzales last year was really great for me. I have no idea of the monetary costs of what you do for all, but I for one will help make sure that you bare NO monetary costs for your generosity. A close friend of mine's job went away this past Monday (at age 62) for the first time in his life, very stressful. I am sure this has happened to most of us (if not all of us) at some time or another. Jobs come and jobs go. Hang in there, all will be the way it should be, forum or no forum. I have been planning on that road trip to Pascagoula to visit and I will make it very soon, hopefully in my '57.
Gary and Lynn said it very well. I'm on SS, so funds are hard to come by, theat's why I've tried to help by asking guys to send donations here when I've shipped out parts...however, as Lynn said, this forum is obviously a large part of my retired life, so when my next check comes in in 2 weeks, I'll be making a donation. It's probably been a year anyways since I've had parts anyone was looking for.
I'm really grateful for everything you've done for us, but I totally agree with the fact that with such a large family to support, stress from monetary issues with this site shouldn't be in the equation.
Than you again
Rich
Its not really the money, or hasnt been anyway. My job with the military is contractual, and some shenanigans went on in the contracting office between two departments, thinking that their petty differences would just affect a small number of people. when they found that they had effectively and totally 100%shut down all our training across the country, panic struck. Now everyone is in a mad dash to try to get everything patched and band aid fixed to keep it running. As of 31 Mar, it's done unless they can get their crap together. I know with the government, things change hourly, but they really screwed the pooch on this one. Not only is it shut down, but if they break up the team that we have carefully assembled over the years that have caused everything to work the way it has, the effects could be permanent. That is what we are most concerned with. There are 4 of us at our site that are going to try to ride out the storm, but if it stretches more than two months, we will each just have to cut our losses and move on. 3 of them already have taken other jobs , and may or may not come back. It really sucks having a job that you're good at, but also one that you really love, one where you actually feel like you are leaving a positive mark, and then someone playing games can take it away...It will get better, I am positive, it's just a matter of when.
Just a little stressed out...like I said, it'll pass, eventually.
Quote from: gasman826 on 2016-03-10 18:46
I envy your persistence and commitment to this project for so long and thank you for your dedication, loyalty, and investment. This site has value as well as the investment of your resources. I have no clue as to your investment in this site. But, duties, software, and fixing broken things costs in hours of supervising, monitoring, and learning curves as well as the financial investment of software, hardware, server site fees, and I have no idea what else. I respect your consideration of your personal and family time, but if this has anything to do with the cost of stuff...is it time for the members to pay dues. I don't want to embarrass anybody or think that money can solve everything. Dues or donations have been mentioned in the pass and many members donated. Sometimes parts have been exchanged for free with the contingency that a donation be given to this site. Even with these occasional offerings, I don't think these are often enough to offset James' out-of-pocket expenses. You have enough depends and you own life to take care of and this site certainly should not be one of your financial drains. This is our forum and
we should ante up!
Without this great Forum, I would have made a multitude of costly mistakes by now in building my Ranchero. I'll gladly "ante up". Tell me where to send the money.
John
James I know exactly what you are going through. It happened to me. A job opportunity moved me from TN to Birmingham to only be massively screwed over by one of my coworkers. Fear, depression, anxiety, and yes some what could I have done differently are all normal.
I know you are a man of faith. Faith is what kept me going. As it turned out that pot hole in the road of life opened a different door and resulted in a job that I loved. It gave me real purpose again and that satisfaction gave me peace.
Keep the faith man.
Thank you for all you have done to make this place exceptional for all of us. I'm sure things will work out for the best in the future. As Bill said most of us have probably hit one of those pot holes in life at some point. I hit mine in the mid 80's but it eventually opened a door to something better. Then the better hit a sink hole when I was 58 and had quite a struggle until I finally had to start collecting SS at 62. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would own another 57 but it happened. This site has been a blessing since I joined. I wish I could help but I'm a computer idiot..
I may be able to help you since I am always working on this damn thing 24/7.... saying that..I am a TOTAL Mac guy.. I know NOTHING of the lower intelligence PC hahahahah
But.... if you need help. we may be able to sort stuff out.
:unitedstates: in some language crisis and opportunity are the same word.we are an international organization and have a mission and duty to save many more 1957 Fords.i am proposing all members pay dues $50.per year.We should have membership cards with date of joining and acceptance.We can develop that plan but I would like a card.Moneys collected can help with costs and providing some salary to officers.I would appreciate some ideas .Thanks Richard acton
racton:
In the distant past 57 Fords International did have membership cards, I've still got mine around somewhere. I, too would support anything that could help James continue our great site. However, I agree with Ford Blue Blood, James livelyhood is in jeopardy due to some idiots elsewhere in the company he works for. This is an extremely difficult time for James. But I also agree with Ford Blue Blood, this may end up opening another door for James. Mine occurred about 2 years after I got out of the Navy, Ford Aerospace lost a maintenance contract at JPL in Pasadena. I received my "pink slip." I had recently bought the house we still live in 45 years later and we were going to lose everything. God was looking over us and several opportunities in succession opened up and our lives continued on and kept getting better. James, keep the Faith, you have hundreds, maybe thousands of 57 friends thinking of you and praying for your success.
Bob
57 AGIN
I, for one, appreciate your thoughts on the forum. In our new internet world (in my mind) your suggestions may difficult to apply to this forum. Money, while a concern, may not be the issue. We all do this for the love of these cars as I am guessing James does. I also imagine a lot of small internet forums such as this one are started and continued by a few passionate folks with a common interest. If it turns out that money is a problem that threatens the continuation of this endeavour, then I am all in. I personally would prefer a less formal arrangement....
I agree with Lynn. I think the money should be voluntary, and hopefully there are enough of us who would volunteer the funds to make it work. A mandatory fee would cut new and old membership drastically I'm afraid, and the point of this forum is to get as many participating as possible. I've met many '57 owners at shows, etc that frequent this forum as guests, not members, even when there is no costs involved.
Money is all too often a difficult or stressful subject to discuss so I jumped in. I didn't read between the lines and think that money was the issue but I didn't want the lack of money to add to difficult time. I also do not support a membership fee. On the other hand, I have no problem with a budget being posted with a running donation total. I also support an estimate of what each member's fair share. If more donations come in than are needed to cover costs, then forum manager can disperse as one sees fit...they've certainly earned it! With a posted budget, members can check from time to time and donate accordingly.
I noticed also James removed the thread regarding donations That was up top on the forum. I would like to see it reinstated, but with a link to a paypal or traditional address added so we know where it is to be sent. Don't know if there are any risks involved posting that info publicly.
I'll go with whatever the final decision is. Thanks to all that make this site happen. Thank you Mr. Potter. I have a better perspective now. I didn't realize the site required so much. The discussions are good for people like me to understand.
Agreed. There are too many legal issues, irs and so on with having a paid membership. It would involve at the very least, incorporating, and im just not not interested in it. Plus, the factbis like Rich says, people dont join now and it's free. I knowni could lock up all the forum info except a welcome page, but again, I just dont want to do it. I like it the way it is. Once my job sorts out, and it will, I am sure, just not sure when, everything will go back to normal. As always, the donations are appreciated. I got one yesterday, and it will pay most of the webhosting for the next several months. Thank you much, Mr GS, , you know who you are.
Hang in there James, I hope your work situation works out its problems. If it doesn't use it as an opportunity. I made a life changing decision this past year that affected a lot of people, my whole life I've always fixed other peoples problems, it was time to fix my own. A leap of faith as it was. If the need arises, with the fine group we have on this site, we'll find a way to keep it running, Mark
Quote from: KYBlueOval on 2016-03-11 03:24
Without this great Forum, I would have made a multitude of costly mistakes by now in building my Ranchero. I'll gladly "ante up". Tell me where to send the money.
John
I'll stick by my word...........I'll forward a contribution...........someone tell me were to send, how to send it etc..
John
Yes, I need to know as well.
Me too - this sight is great and I will gladly contribute.
Putting a donatioon thread back up...
Would delegating some duties help? I'm certainly not experienced enough to take over the site. But, maybe I could do some little, mundane, time consuming task. Maybe co-moderator?? Remember...baby steps.
Sheesh, been away for a while as my wife has pneumonia, first chance I've had to have a proper look round here and had a good read through this thread. Spare time for me is minimal, so physically helping is difficult, but I've just sent a donation to try and help financially, but I'm prepared to donate more as & when required. This place has been invaluable while rebuilding my Ranchero and I'd like to see it continue and flourish.
Thank you guys for your generosity. I will be renewing the hosting for about 2 more years by the end of the week. It has gone up for whatever reason, and I am trying to figure out why. I did n ot order any upgrades, as our current service had been adequate. I hate paying for more than I need. Again, thank you everyone for your generous donations.