Ark Update

[SydTheSkeptic]

For those of you who don't know, Ning will cease to be a free hosting service on July 20th.

In order to maintain a Ninglet, if you have one, you'll have to pay about $3 a month to do so and even then, you won't be able to upload videos.

Here's a summary of the three plans they're offering >>> Ning Pricing

I've been so busy, I haven't had much time to explore our options as a teeny weeny video-sharing site, but here are the facts:

1. I've been paying $20 a month to keep the Ark ad-free. That's always been my choice based on my desire to have a home-base that is free of clutter, which is why I never accepted anyone's help to pay for it, even though many have offered (thank you so much for that).

2. To maintain the site as it is, it'll no longer be a choice to pay $20 a month and we'd have lots more flexibility with regard to the features (not much, though- just with regard to the design and functionality).
The bad news, HOWEVER, is that we'll no longer be able to upload videos directly to the site. We'll only be able to EMBED. This, to me, is a big deal. We won't lose existing content, it'll all still be here, but we just won't be able to add new content unless it's a video embed from another site.

3. Lastly, In order to still be able to upload to the site, the monthly fee would jump to $50 or there's an option to save %17 by paying the yearly fee of $500. That's a lot. I definitely won't be able to afford that.

I'm giving you guys a few days to respond here and give your thoughts before I let you know what my plan of action is. I may not be able to afford $50 a month, but I could pay one month just to buy us some time to decide on what to do.

Please let me know what you think, even if you've not been active for some time. The more ideas we have, the better.

Thanks Arkians!
-Syd

[SydTheSkeptic]

One option:
Miss V over at Chatterheads said they had a funding drive for the $500 (they've almost reached their goal).

If we did that, I could pay a one-month fee of $50 to buy us time and we could see if we have it in us to raise that much in order to keep this place going another year and still be able to upload. I could swing an initial $100 to get us going on it...

That's one idea, anyway.
MissV also said y'all are welcome over there if the Ark's unable to go on.

[SydTheSkeptic]

This is pretty important so I'm going to post a vlog later today.

Based on the response to this blog and the vlog, I'll conduct a site poll on Thursday or Friday and make a decision based on that.

[SydTheSkeptic]

Hey Strawman- actually, Ning's got a new application where you can put a "Donate" button up and people can pay in any way they want, keeping it secure and private.Pretty cool.

[BlancheNoE]

I too like the donate option. I pay 42 bucks a month for a land line I don't even use. A few bucks is more than worth keeping in touch with the folks here and keeping our upload option.

[photo2010]

I'm pretty strapped for cash right now, (read: broke), but I'd try to come up with a few bucks. I'd hate to lose the Ark.

[JustAnotherUserName]

Of course, I'm in too, but along with a financial commitment, can we have a commitment to actually make and upload the videos?! This place can go days--weeks even--without a single new comment, video or post. It's one thing to write a check (which is a very difficult thing for some members), but there's more to supporting the site than that. Is it financially worth it for the handful of us that participate? Or should we all join a more active site where we can still stay "together" but have a little more visual stimulation? Just my initial reaction. I'm looking forward to seeing the other comments.

[SydTheSkeptic]

It seems the Ark goes through phases of low activity based on how busy we get and the usual vloggerhood cycles (summer's always slow).

I sure don't want people to feel that they're obligated to upload just to keep the place going and even though I'm host to the site, my schedule's too tight to be able to keep things fresh and active here.

If someone from the usual suspects actually has the time and energy and wants to take on the actual management of the site with that in mind (someone I can be sure has the trust of the others), I'd be okay with handing over a set of keys.

This place is what you guys make of it- it's up to you if you want to keep it going. What we already have going for us is that we have a talented group of video makers who are in it for the creative challenge, not for the drama. A year and a half, and we are still afloat without any of that BS.

That says a lot, and I think this place deserves to be nurtured into something that's distinctive and viable.

I just with I had the time to do that.

[BlancheNoE]

I with you did too, Thid.

[Chig]

email. thanks

[SydTheSkeptic]

FYI-
Okay, Chig just donated $50 to go toward the first month. I deposited it into the account on a temporary basis until we figure out where we're going. Thanks, Chiggums.

So far, here are the options:
1. Some kind of fund drive- goal would be one payment for one year, $500
2. Stay as is, I'll pay $20 a month but we can only embed from other sites
3. Close down the Ark, go elsewhere, form a creative collab group there
4. Simply disband :o( <--please, no.

Any other ideas...?

Again, I'll do a poll to see where people are at in a few days and a vlog tomorrow (was gonna do that today but I wanted to add the refrigerator magnet tag- lol)