Date: Wed, 4 Mar 1998 14:07:31 -0800
Reply-To: Ron Lussier <coyote@LIKEMINDS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Ron Lussier <coyote@LIKEMINDS.COM>
Subject: Re: List Hat
In-Reply-To: <2.2.32.19980304213144.0097ce70@mail.speedlink.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
At 01:31 PM 3/4/98 -0800, Gail Fitzpatrick wrote:
>I can imagine that a popular item like a hat, especially so reasonably
>priced, must seem like a good vehicle for fund-raising.
I agree.
>Though I'm a bit behind in reading my mail, I haven't seen any headings
>discussing financial issues, and I'd like to know more. I, for one,
have
>found the recent list problems quite confusing. What I understand is
that
>the type 2 list was extremely accommodating in keeping us going, and our
>listadmins were, for the most part, not communicating. This is nothing
>personal, but I found it extremely frustrating not to be able to learn
the
>status of the list for weeks at a time.
Unfortunately, both Chris and I have been very busy, and there was no news
to be reported. HP sent the incorrect part *twice* to the local repair
shop here in S.F. I did send a bi-weekly update to the list, but perhaps
you missed it. It was fairly short, and said "The server is still in the
shop, and we're awaiting a new motherboard."
>I've only been on this list for about 15 mos., and confess that I have
not
>the slightest idea what is involved in the duties of list
administration.
>I would imagine the chores would be increased when there are major
>hardware and/or software problems. And that those who volunteer to
>be responsible should be entitled to some kind of reward, or at least
>full remuneration for expenses. But Gerry [the original] never
solicited
>for funds, that I know of.
The original list was run on University equipment and at the University's
largess. Equipment failures were handled by the school. Eventually this
largess ran out, and the administrator said that he would shut down the
list unless someone else took it over.
Chris and I offered to do so. We raised the funds necessary to purchase
equipment and software, and our respective companies agreed to provide
bandwidth and other services.
I want to stress that neither Chris nor I have received any compensation
for our efforts, monetary or otherwise. List administration takes me up
to an hour every day.
A reserve of funds are necessary for the list, to cover repair costs,
software upgrades, etc. Without this reserve, a major failure will bring
the list down permanently. Our current reserves are detailed at
http://www.vanagon.com/links/list_donations.html
We currently have just over $200 in reserve... a fairly small amount.
Coyote
-- /\_/\ ____
Ron 'Coyote' Lussier ( ) \ _/__ http://www.vanagon.com/
(415) 284-6972 \ / \X / Travel with us to the
coyote@vanagon.com \_/ \/ end of the world!