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CCarr
Canada
1200 Posts |
 Posted - 10/06/2002 : 13:19:35
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Ghost, you responded to Roy's commentary on the poll results regarding relative income of 100 files over various time periods. You once again, sent out a rallying call - "Lets organize right now!"
I found your comment while I was looking, then searching all over CADO, with growing frustration, to where has the "Fire Scene ..." thread gone; I have no interest in retyping segments yet again.
But, in this futile search to date, I found some interesting data, that made me give your noted post more thought. As you will recall, I to, have waved the flag of "organization"; but neither of us have received any concrete support for the notion.
However to my search and the data found - CADO seems to have approximately 275 "paid members", this found in the "paid members" screen. "Statistics" noted at the bottom of the forums page listing the threads, we see there are 1904 "members".
Sadly, to me, this means that "paid members" only represents 14% of the "members".
The print media, particularly magazines, "work their nembers" to help establish advertising rates. A given magazine may have an audited paid circulation of 2,000,000 copies per month, but will advertise - based on surveys - that they have a readership of over 2,750,000 people per month - a ratio of 1.37:1
With CADO, there appears to be a "membership" (readership) ratio of 6.92:1 "paid member". Overall readership ratio by the public at large, would be much greater yet.
CADO "paid membership" costs $60.00 per year, and can be paid at $15.00 per quarter. By anyone's math, this is not a lot of money.
What are the benefits of "paid membership" over just "membership"? I had no idea until I looked today in the membership information screen. Little there appeals to me personally, but that does not sway me from still allowing $15.00 per quarter to be taken from my plastic.
The membership info screen says that, ".... becoming a "member" of CADO will help support this site allowing us to provide more services and features ....". Then it talks of a "membership" fee of $60.00 per year.
On another screen, I saw that CADO has 1750 "registered users". Registration seems to be for "paid members", "members", and non-members; just a record of those who are going to make a post.
Then, at the top of the forum screen, I clicked "members", this opens 96 pages of "member" information. The listings appear to be in descending order according to each "members" number of posts made on CADO, but also carries "title" information.
Newt, is at the top of the list, and noted as a "junior member", "member" since 07/25/01 ? I am noted as a "new member", "member" since 07/25/01 ? Ghostbuster, is noted as a "starting member", "member" since 09/04/02 ?
So, in that area, we seem to have - "new", "junior", and "starting" members; but I am confused about the "titles" and "member since" data of the examples noted.
So, Ghost, back to your comments, ".... getting yall to move ....", if only 14% of those who get called a "member" of CADO see fit to pay $60.00 per year for the use and benefits of CADO; how would you expect any type of "organization" to evolve?
I have really no idea now, why I pay $60.00 per year to CADO, for my usage of it; when the same access is free. Personally, I thought it was the right thing to do at the time.
"Organization" involves resources, planning, etc etc, that will cost money; to derive any benefit from the exercise. $60.00 per year would be a very conservative figure, but the data I have presented does not support any notion that many people would pay it.
In closing, I think, all of the CADO forum threads should be restricted to "paid members" only. |
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Admin
547 Posts |
Posted - 10/06/2002 : 20:19:01
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I'm sorry for the trouble with the Fire Scene thread, somehow it was moved to one of the private forums. It has now been moved back to the public forums.
This is a good time for a membership conversation. I had planned on making this announcement a month ago but got busy so I will post it below.
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Admin
547 Posts |
Posted - 10/06/2002 : 20:37:08
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Paid Membership
I have decided to suspend the paid membership program effective 10/5/02. Please click the contact link below to contact me if you wish to receive a refund for your remaining period. Please allow three to four weeks for the refund. If you paid with a credit card or by electronic check we will not process any additional payments. Some of you may have noticed that no payments have been made against your cards in over six months.
I would like to take this time personally thank the more than 300 members for their support of CADO in the past. Your support has meant a great deal to CADO and to me personally. The reason for this decision is because we do not have any additional benefits or services to provide the paid membership that are not already available for free. The only area affected by this decision is the Member’s Den, which will be closed. We will continue to accept donations and corporate sponsorship as a way to support the site. However, no payment of any kind is required to use any area of the site.
Sincerely,
Roy Cupps
Founder
CatAdjuster.org (CADO) |
Roy Cupps -
CatAdjuster.org :: Contact\Feedback :: Adjuster Roster :: Current Forum |
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Admin
547 Posts |
Posted - 10/06/2002 : 21:35:49
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I realize that we have a lot of new visitors who may not know the history behind the "membership" and I would like to take this time to clear up a few things.
CADO was started back in 1995 without a membership program or any sponsors. I paid for everything related to site and never requested or asked for any payment of any kind. After being online for about a year some the visitors started sending money to help defer the cost related to site. Up to about the time we started planning for the first CADO convention we had less than 100 sponsors. (we did not call them members at that time) However, I believe it was about this time that we changed the title from sponsors to members. It seems that since the convention more visitors have become members expecting something in exchange for the membership payment. Since CADO has always been a free site I did not want to restrict any of the currently open areas to “paid members”. So I have tried to come up with some things to offer the membership but without much success. For example we have had “paid member only” forums and bulletin boards for years but they have seen very little action if any at all. We have also tried to get member discounts on products and group insurance but also without success. The failure to come up with any additional benefits or services and the increasing expectations of members lead in part to the announcement made earlier tonight. |
Roy Cupps -
CatAdjuster.org :: Contact\Feedback :: Adjuster Roster :: Current Forum |
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Russ
USA
75 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2002 : 09:22:06
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| I urge all USERS of this site to support it in ALL ways. Not only with donations but with the passing of information and knowledge. Running this site is not free, and the benefits we derieve from it are substantial. This site has helped me more than any other media or organization ever has. Roy has ALWAYS kept the site current by changing to better software and constantly upgrading the site to make it more user friendly. Roy started this site to give Cat Adjusters a voice and a forum to pass information and share knowledge. We will certainly miss it if we dont help this site prosper!!! |
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Todd_Summers
USA
69 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2002 : 13:30:55
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Roy, it is too bad you couldn't work something out on a group insurance plan for members. That would have been fantastic.
On another note, Claude Wilson had a very sharp looking Cado cap that he wears all the time. The tornado logo is very cool. I would be very interested in purchasing similar merchandise. (T-shirts, golf shirts, caps, jackets, keychains pens, etc.) and would proudly wear them and use them.
I, for one, would be willing to pay high retail prices for such merchandise and considering the number of hits you get here, I would think you could make a substantial amount of revenue from this to help offset the costs of running this site... at least until everyone gets outfitted. To all readers... sound off and let Roy know if you too would be interested in this merchandise.
If you decide to do this Roy, stay away from the cheap stuff, you can make more $ on the high end stuff. |
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CCarr
Canada
1200 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2002 : 14:23:14
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I agree fully with Todd, regarding Roy's merchandising the "brand" with high quality items.
But, I still can not give up on the thoughts in my mind relative to Roy's decision to make this a free based communication medium.
It cost money to go to your church, to absorb the good you get from that, it cost money for parents to send / enrol their kids in Boy Scouts - the "brotherhood" of all youth; it costs money to join and participate in any worthwhile venue, group, or .org.
I see CADO as having two basic functions, that as a resource base and as hub for the interchange of information. Resource material and information exchange hubs are valuable assets, they are worth paying money for.
Roy's benevolence, is tough to take issue with; but on an annual basis the costs in time and maintenance capital, would go way past that of minimal.
For some years now, I have subscribed to the theory of "pay it forward", with mixed success and with broken consistency. However, "pay it forward" initiatives are mostly issue specific and the concept brings a result, and you move onto the next one.
If this is in any way Roy's concept of "pay it forward", what more respect could we give an individual for that initiative.
However, if it is used as a way to resolve his stated concern, " .... the reason for this decision is because we do not have any additional benefits to provide paid members that are not already available for free ...."; I then respectfully suggest it is the wrong course of action. |
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Linda
USA
127 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2002 : 22:48:55
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PAID MEMBERSHIP
Roy, I respectfully request you reconsider NOT having paid memberships. I cannot begin to enumerate the assistance and education I have gotten from this site. The $60.00 per year is nothing compared to the benefits! This site exists from your generousity and belief that adjusters can and do help other adjusters. Without this site, there are many of us who might never realize any of our goals.
It is not fair for anyone to expect you to continue bearing the brunt of the costs of maintaining CADO without help. Perhaps we could "brain storm" and come up with other benefits of becoming a member. I know the vendor/services sponsors support through advertising banners but with all our brainpower, surely we can come up with additional benefits from paid memberships.
I am not a cap person, but I do have a CADO cap and am proud of it!
I even got to meet Ghostbuster!
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jlombardo
USA
212 Posts |
Posted - 10/09/2002 : 07:26:50
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| Roy.......You finally found a subject that we all agree on....We appreciate you and your efforts and we feel that we should all bear the cost of this site......and as Linda posted, without this site,some of us would not realize our goals......or find out which vendors were okay to work for.....or even who the vendors were.....where to get cougar paws....or a good deal on a disto....etc. |
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Newt
USA
657 Posts |
Posted - 10/09/2002 : 08:04:42
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Ditto Linda, I don't have the cap, and have not had the pleasure of meeting Ghost Buster. Yet I feel I know lots of folks here through our correspondance on the forum. I have gotten more out of this than most, so with that in mind, I feel we have a benifit package already. I was really shocked to find that only a percentage were paid members.
We do need an area to conduct business for the organization Ghost Buster is wanting Cat Adjusters to form. I am for it, however getting these CATS together seems to be a chore. In the past I have noticed Roy has tried many specific areas for the adjusters to no avail. We always migrate to the general forum.
The only things I can suggest is that we pay dues every six or twelve months to cut down on the paper work. We can take a pole of CAT Adjusters that want to organize, have a forum or meeting to decide on the direction to go, and get a committee formed. Nothing will get done without leadership and dues. |
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katadj
USA
315 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2002 : 07:59:04
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I will GLADLY pay whatever the cost might be.
The previous posting which urge Roy NOT to discontinue the "Membership" appears to be the consensus of opinion from those whom have participated over these past years.
Why not create a poll for the Yea or Nay of a "Private Sector" for paid memberships at $100.00 per year. Or a lifetime membership of $250/500?
This is the ONLY thread we have to communicate, ruminate and voice our concerns, objections, and offer education.
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JSVenning
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2002 : 17:52:12
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IMHO this site, it's forums, bulletins, and lively discussions have been worth more than any of the CE courses I've taken and paid for. That wasn't wasted money, and this is a great site.
Keep it up, it's worth paying for!
PS: How about 6"x6" magnetic CADO logo signs for the truck/car to let other "members" on a storm know who we are? |
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"Membership" ???
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