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freds · October 10, 2023, 09:45:58 AM

When I first signed up you had some sort of contributor membership that I paid extra for.

Does the website still support this?

Krash · October 10, 2023, 02:03:23 PM

Couple years ago we had set up a donations feature on the forum that had three donation options ($10.00/3 months, $30.00/6 months, $75.00/12 months) that gave the member a silver, gold, or platinum badge displayed in their profile and on posts. IIRC, we had discussed giving donators access to back issues on the website, but that would have to be done manually and don't recall if we went ahead with it. At some point Gary decided to end donations (I think he felt bad asking for money), and tried to replace it with Google ads. That's been more of a pia for everyone, and now we've removed the ads. Would be a bit of a project to reinstate donations, it required a lot of custom coding to modify the core paid subscriptions feature, but should be doable if there's sufficient interest.

luvrbus · October 10, 2023, 02:38:57 PM

If you think something Google will pop a ad up when you are online

Krash · October 10, 2023, 02:54:02 PM

AFAIK, Google ads are only supposed to display where you code them on your website. There shouldn't be any popups, and most browsers will block unrequested popups by default. Without actually seeing one, can't really guess where it's coming from.

CrabbyMilton · October 11, 2023, 03:57:14 AM

As I may have stated, I really don't have a problem with pop up ads. Just so long as we have the ability to X them out after they stayed on for their intended time. Much the way when you can skip an add on YOUTUBE after a set time. I did notice the popup issue more when on my phone than on a standard PC. Perhaps I just didn't notice the "X" to delete the ad. The ads are good in that they help pay the bills as long as they are configured properly.

windtrader · October 11, 2023, 08:52:38 AM

Quote from: Krash on October 10, 2023, 02:03:23 PM
Would be a bit of a project to reinstate donations, it required a lot of custom coding to modify the core paid subscriptions feature, but should be doable if there's sufficient interest.

I'd be happy to donate to help the forum. It should be very easy to add a block in the layout that basically includes a link to a 3rd party donation site, even gofundme works. Run a quarterly donation campaign, every bit helps.

lovetofix · October 11, 2023, 08:00:12 PM

I will donate as well! I'm a magazine subscriber to help support this all even though I only read small parts of them. I'm young and new to this great adventure so I don't post much but visit here daily and read every post as well as searching through the posts of years gone by on questions that come up. I would really hate to see any of the BCM platform go away.

HoBoJo Busman · October 15, 2023, 12:07:14 AM

Hi Gary,
I don't say much here on the forum and no longer travel in the old bus as we used to as (we are 70 & 80ish)
and just cannot do all we used to, (enjoying traveling and such),
but reading you stating the possibility of shutting down because you are spending personal $$ ... just in order to keep this fine operation going forward,
we (the 2 of us) are inclined to want to help in what ever way we are able, to keep the last of these old bus conversations going for the good of all invested.
Do continue to let us know what you need, and maybe collectively, we can keep it all here for each of us that need it as well.