-=> Quoting Daryl Stout to SEAN DENNIS <=-

 SD>That reminds me - I finally put my very small ham radio file section online.
 SD>I've got five CD's worth of older shareware files sitting on the hard drive
 SD>also, but I just haven't had time to put them online into the BBS.  I'm also
 SD>pondering making my filebase available online (subscriber access only, meani
 SD>you have to be a member of the BBS also).

 DS> Ok, here's my dumb question for the day.  Being a member of the
 DS> BBS means a verified user, correct?? I know that you realize that
 DS> Sysoping is a financial black hole, just as I do...and even with
 DS> voluntary donations, it's like pulling teeth getting folks to

        I'm feeling the old memories of the '80s and '90s bbsing
        and running my board.  I'm watching the BBS Documentary
        finally now and its bought back a ton of memories.  But
        they mentioned one aspect of good donations - get togethers.
        In the old days we'd have breakfast parties or just parties.
        A sysop would then get donations by saying what he had
        planned and asked what users wanted.  Today that's pretty
        much impossible.  Not enough users and the apathy of users.
        I never actually had fund raisers in that aspect.  I only
        put a simple bulletin up in the bulletins if folks wanted
        to donate they could.  A fwe thousand $$$ later in donations
        which i never asked for i was able to register and get
        new toys.  It always seemed to come (back then) out of
        the oddest place.  Like a 75 year old guy who liked to
        play his simple chess games and donated 150$.  We later
        becomae good friends after that for a few years before he
        died.  The 12 year old kid who liked a door so wanted to
        spend his birthday money on a reg.  I did it and gave
        him the door credit for it.  Course those donations ended
        a decade ago.  Now with me having a "life" of work and
        such I can afford it myself though I've actually not put
        much money into the bbs in years.

        So how to raise money?

        * Non-obtrusive bulletins/posts/msgs
        * Obtrusive bulletins/auto posts openly asking for money
        * fund raisers/parties
        * A what do you want and if so will you donate drive

        At least 90% of the users out there don't know that things
        like doors cost money to reg.  Frankly they just go in
        and play.  BUT if you as sysop let them know they can
        go beyond level 30 in this game by simply regging and they
        enjoy it they'll reg it.  So a sysop has to let them know
        of these things.  A hall of fame also helps.  I have a list
        of all my users and donations still on the board in recognition.

        hmrmm..I never paid taxes on those donations...oh well...
        guess uncle sam forgives me...

        You realize though getting money today is nearly impossible.
        So don't be shocked :)

--- Fringe BBS