EvelynK has some concerns I would like to address in public

[Susan]

Evelyn, I love you dear; but enough on the hosting matter. If you want to make suggestions make them to me directly and do not post them on the public forum. I am not going to sit here defending myself on the public forum when is what TOS 2 is in place to prohibit.

okie dokie honey just wanted to try different venues for helping us out.

i will keep this in mind!

I have had bad experiences with remote boxes including days without service in prior years. I like having direct and immediate access to the servers. The price is reasonable, and we have no limitations. Even if we switched services it wouldn't save enough to be worth the hassle it would entail.

I always want ideas, I just don't want conflict.

The thing is (and everyone is talking about this on other places) is that the admin hasn't laid out a budget for anyone to see, so we know what we're supporting. It's really a simple question, and the answer is being avoided or deferred to TOS.

It's layed right out there on what we're expected to give, but an answer to a simple question is denied.

Needless to say I was shocked and offended at this kind of accusation. I also know exactly the group of disgruntled former members and ex-staff that is spreading these kinds of malicious distortions and intentional misrepresentations. I made it all perfectly clear right up front...

This is my response to Evelyn's PM.

If you do not wish to support the site, and to help enable me to spend full time working on it then don't.  If you think I am living high off the hog on the support of the members then go elsewhere.

I ask for the members to contribute a total of 2k a month.

The vast majority of that goes to pay expenses. Electricity, Gas, Water, Rent, Enterprise level Internet Service (Much more expensive than what a home or business user pays), Car Payment, Insurance, and food.

The server uses all of those except the car payment, insurance, and water payment. I would have to pay them no matter where it was located.

In exchange, it gives the site a 24x7x365 Network Administrator ($68,375), System Administrator ($72,258), Database Administrator ($69,446),  Web Developer ($63,160), PHP Programmer ($59,276), Community Manager ($51,971), Publisher ($100,217), Editor ($53,500), and Journalist ($38,000). 

That adds up to $576,203 a year, or $1,500 per day; and I am asking a grand total $2,000 a month from members to cover both the site and myself.

I spend around 100 hours a week working on the site,  and often much more. And that's just me.

Those are just the median Salaries, I have 20 years experience with the first 5 jobs I do ($7,689,720).  I have 9 years experience with the second set of 3 ($1,725,453). For a total of $9,415,173 which wasn't figured in the $174,000.00 I talk about in the next paragraph.

Until 2 years ago, a full 17 years after the founding of this site; I did not ask for any support for myself or the the site at all. A conservative estimate of costs for those 17 years comes to the neighborhood of  $174,000.00. It cost me my transition. I fully intend to get paid back for all of the actual costs sooner or later.

If you want to listen to negative stuff people say on other sites that's fine, but keep it off mine.

I am going to share this entire thread of pm's in the announcements forum, so that no one can claim I am attempting to hide your or their concerns behind TOS #2.

I think anyone who honestly looks at the news content on the front page, and the overall redesign of the entire site will think money well spent.

This is not aimed specifically at Evelyn but is a more general proclamation. If you are not happy here at my site, or you are not happy with how I run it; please by all means, leave!

[Wynternight]

Susan has been more than transparent on where the money we donate goes and I find any accusations to the contrary disgusting. $2000 a month...$24k a year to divide amongst all of her bills is not an outrageous request for 24/7 support and the project. Susan and I have talked on Skype and she works her fingers to the bones keeping this site up, not eating or sleeping. I'll defend her vs. any nasty insinuations until my end of days.

[sam1234]

I don't know the average cost of keeping a website, but i do know that it takes work and money. If Susan was just out for the money, then the site would be run in such a way that it would be mandatory for anyone who wants to get on it to pay for it.

Years ago, I knew a woman who was in charge of a rescue facility for coyotes. She spent well over sixty hours a week trying to keep up with all the government restrictions, paying for all the food herself, (whole fresh kill meat is expensive) and more hours trying to get donations. I know its not the same, but it gives me an idea of the kind of work that Susan is having to put in to keep the rest of us sane.

sam1234

[katrinaw]

This website and its forums are here for all of us to use; exchange views, stories, journeys and the like; since joining last November I have enjoyed the diverse people and topics that are presented here.

Susan saw the need to create a meeting place for us all, to help give all transgendered folks somewhere to feel at home with and share experiences.
Succeeded a thousand fold...

The site runs 24*7*365 and is available across the globe, where we all enjoy multinational stories, views and friendships. I believe it is only fair to "chip in" with donations or subscriptions... I willingly and am happily to donate to enjoy the comradary and information that this site brings...

Susan and many other selfless people work tirelessly to keep the site running, I applaud all.

I am from an IT outsourcing background; websites and 24*7*365 hosting is not cheap, especially for an Enterprise capability, as this site is...

L Katy

[iKate]

I work for a large media company running several high traffic websites, TV everywhere and video streaming, and believe me $2k a month is s drop in the bucket...  Yes we have remote servers but we also have admins down at the datacenter because stuff breaks and you don't want to have to deal with "smart hands" or pray that an IP KVM works when you're losing $50,000 an hour in ad revenue:

[Jayne]

I ask any naysayers to ask themselves a simple question, would you sacrifice your transition to help strangers from around the world who you will likely never meet?
No matter how much I intend to help the entire LGBT community for the rest of my life the answer would have to be no I wouidn't, that's one price that's too high for me to pay yet Susan has had the strength & determinationj to pay that price.

Several times over the years the only thing that has kept me going has been this site & the wonderfull people that congregate here, if you doubt this then view random posts from me from 2013 (one of the lowest points in my life).
I know that i'm not the only person who has turned to this site when they felt they were drowning & needed a lifebelt.

[Devlyn]

I remember a few years ago when the site was having difficulties staying up and running. There were many posts clamouring for a way to chip in financially. It took awhile, but Susan set up a system where those in a position to help are able to do so. I am happy to donate my money and time to her because the site saves lives. That really answers the question "Where does our money go?" doesn't it?

You don't owe me any explanations, Susan.

Hugs, Devlyn

[stephaniec]

I've been a member here for about 17 months, I think this is the second time I've seen this argument erupt. Look at the site , look at the product being offered  if you like the product buy it if you don't like what's offered don't buy , but the site allows you to take the product free of charge no matter if you pay or don't pay. I can't comprehend this problem. Susan created this site ,which has helped me get through a difficult time  with healing the wounds of 60 years. If I had the resources I'd donate a lot without question based  purely on the face value of the product. You get what you see , nothing hidden. This site is owned by Susan , it's hers period . Like anything in a free enterprise system if you don't like the product don't buy it. I just don't get it , even if she was the Bill Gates of the Transgender community , so what, I like what she's doing and I think she's a fantastic person for doing what's she's done.

[Mariah]

No explanation is needed Susan. The work and effort you put into this site and the fact you have provided as a place for all of us is all that matters which is exactly why I donate when I can. Hugs
Mariah


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[kittenpower]

IMHO, if someone is donating their money to a cause, they have every right to know where it is going.

[stephaniec]

sorry, I mean absolutely no harm by my response, If I was donating money or time for the feeding of little children , I'd have a right to make sure that's where the money was going. Susan's Place  , as far as I know has no secret access sites , what ever you see is exactly what you get.

[Shawn Sunshine]

Im just glad the site is here. If I was a millionare I would give at least 10% of my salary. But my small piddlings will have to be enough for now. Just think how much money a gamer spends on a video game that may or may not have any lasting help to ones overall mental health. Susan is not asking for much at all.

[Wynternight]

IMHO, if someone is donating their money to a cause, they have every right to know where it is going.

Susan has always been transparent with where the money goes. You can find out where if you choose to look.