Re: several items concerning the archives.

From: wanliker@....

>Changing to a separate server has been discussed before, and it was decided
>that even with Yahoo's faults there are advantages.

Yes, but Yahoos faults are increasing rapidly, and I suspect real soon
now they will be asking for money to host this. I am very happy to hear
an archive exists off of Yahoo. If yahoo wants to our entire site could
dissappear in an instant. Remember the "dot bombs" of last year. A lot
of much bigger companies have gone.

>1. If we go to a separate server we could lose everything in the event of
>that persons inability, or unwillingness to continue to host it. Or any
>other problems like getting flamed like I have been in the past.

There are many web hosing companies around that would run this group for
under $50 per month. They own and manage all the hardware. They could
also go bust, but then we could just move to another host as long as we
owned the domainanme.

>2. There are links all over the Internet now pointing to Yahoo, we would lose
>these, and that would limit the ability of a lot of people to find the group.
> Heck even Google.Com finds us.

Sure, so we leave the group on Yahoo as long as they last, at a minum
level, and just direct people that find that to the new site.

>I am getting older, so I have two individuals that can take over in the event
>of my inability to continue to run the list. I want the list to continue on
>independent of me.

>I doubt that we can guarantee the list continuing with a server ran by
>someone that was not completely dedicated. I have over the years seen
>several groups disappear.

If someone wanted to run this as a part time busineess it could be very
viable. We have over 2000 users, at $20 per year thats $40,000 that
could cover a lot of time. Im sure we would loose a few people that just
subscribe because its free, but there is the basis of a small business
here. And there could also be by-products, like selling a quarterly CD
archive, or maybe even printed material.

So, there is a nice business outline for someone, who will step forward
to do it?

ron ginger