Vote***financing Fauna***vote

There have been a number of threads lately about the increasing costs of providing new equipment and upkeep on Fauna. I wrote this thread to provide a central place for y'all to vote your opinions.
Many people are helping via their contributions as well as participating in the Fauna Fund; however the costs will continue to exceed revenue without a more global approach. The % of contributing members is small compared to the vast numbers now visiting the site.

If you take the time to come to the BOI, **PLEASE** take the time to vote in the poll and/or discuss your opinion. It takes only a moment to vote and it is IMPORTANT!

I vote that all the forums, including the Board of Inquiry, remain free to read and post in, but that members must pay to post ads in the classifieds.

A $10 fee would be less than .03 cents a day. I don't think that is too much to ask for all the benifits received here.

I agree with Kelli.

Originally Posted by KelliH

I vote that all the forums, including the Board of Inquiry, remain free to read and post in, but that members must pay to post ads in the classifieds.

Fauna is like a family for some; for others it is a resource for information, and for MANY others it is the site of the BOI, a unique and hugely successful way to help and promote integrity in the reptile world.

I believe that it is worth the minor investment that this membership fee represents. Most of use spend more taking our family out to eat or going to the movies than an entire year of membership costs here. The benefits are many; I think it is time to require a fee so that we can continue to enjoy the many services here.

I very much appreciate this place from the forums to the BOI. I think it is worth my support, and I think it is worth yours too...

I very much appreciate this place from the forums to the BOI. I think it is worth my support, and I think it is worth yours too...

I totally agree Lucille. It is a great site, and I appreciate it very much as well. That's why I have given my support and will continue to do so. I still feel very strongly that the BOI and other forums should be free of charge. A annual fee to be able to post ads in the classifieds would be a great way to collect some revenue for the site. I worry that if there was a fee charged to post on the BOI that some, or maybe even many people would stop posting there.

Originally Posted by KelliH

I still feel very strongly that the BOI and other forums should be free of charge.

I agree with Kelli. And I vote no basic membership fee. A membership fee of $35/year would be high enough to discourage me (i'm currently poor) and many others. And a fee for advertising in the classifieds ONLY if it is wayyyyyyyy less than Kingsnake charges (please dont let fauna become another kingsnake).

There are varying degrees of commitment to fauna amongst its members, and we need all of them. We need the lifers and the casual passers-by, and everyone in between. I say, continue along the line you were going with the contribution/sponsorships, add more levels with increasing privileges granted accordingly. Or just with a different colored medallion over there on the left under our names - that's all I want

I think that now we know there's a money problem, those who are really committed to fauna and can afford it, will happily pitch in to save it. It makes the burden fall unevenly heavily on a few, but heck, at least the burden will be on a few instead of just one (Rich) !!!

I agree with the $35 membership fee and leave the BOI free. If you want to post classifieds then you need to be a member. This is the way it should be. This would enable the site to be upgraded and new features from time to time.

I consider this place a good envestment as far as knowledge.If i had to pay a membership fee to be here id probably do it...now.If i was new to herps and this site i dont think id be inclined to pay 35 dollars, just my 2 cents.... Josh McDermott

I did vote I would not return if there was a membership. I've taken a few minutes to sit back and think. Without a doubt I would pay the membership fee. I believe this site would loose alot of people if this were to happen but the scams and such would stop (more so IMO). Then again I think you should make a free 30day period or something to that effect to get newbs into the site. they would have full access (maybe only a week for the classifieds or none at all). The BOI Is great but at the same time to me it's like politics which I dislike greatly. Some immuture people fighting over stupid things. Although it does have alot of good points. Some information I find to be non-sence. I've been going to some of them same herp shops for years. One deal goes bad (regardless of fault) and a person trys to slaughter someones business. Which in all honesty may effect a few but not near as many as one would think. I do find people in this industry to be cut throat. Someone says or does something wrong and it's all over the place. Why not try and solve things and as a last resort use fauna? I mean give people the chance to come clean and so on before you act. So many people want to jump the gun. I know people that completely ignore everything and anything they find on fauna. I do believe it's a great place and contribution to the herp world. Sorry to get a little off course but I thought I would tie it in.