To: [email protected] Resent-From: [email protected] X-Mailing-List: <[email protected]> archive/latest/6295 X-Loop: [email protected] Precedence: list Resent-Sender: [email protected] X-UIDL: 002c24ffb8493c654ef53d654d39638d > In a message dated 98-05-08 16:08:58 EDT, you write: > > << RootsWeb has two main > objectives: 1) to make large volumes of data available to the online > genealogical > community at a minimal cost, and 2) to provide support services to online > genealogical activities such as USENET newsgroup moderation, mailing list > maintenance, surname list generation, etc. >> > > I notice the Free of charge has changed to MINIMUM CHARGE. > > Since membership Donations in Rootsweb were not previously required, does this > mean a Manditory Fee structure will now be imposed? > > A Nice reassurig note from Brian, Karen, Marc or the NEW management would be > nice. > > jeff There's a world of difference between "minimal cost" (my words) and "MINIMUM CHARGE" (your words). Running RootsWeb isn't free. Running RootsWeb currently costs about $30,000 per month. And that's hardware, bandwidth, and such. That's $30,000 per month with Karen and Brian donating basically all their free hours to operate the machinery and significant donated time by many other folks (including the time listowners donate!) That's *minimal* cost. I've used every trick I've learned professional and made up a few new ones to keep our operating costs that low. On the other hand, there is no MINIMUM CHARGE. Never has been, never will be. BTW, there is no "NEW management". Palladium's just joined most of the rest of us in chipping in what they can afford so all of us can enjoy better facilities. Cheers, B.