Read This Now!

[BIG E]

OK guys... we need to talk. After a long conversation with Ray on the phone, I see where the issues are with this board. For many people on this board, it is a playground. They post, but dont offer to donate any money. Many people lurk for days, and post nothing at all. They take and offer nothing in return. I am not saying your posts are not worth while, but this is not something "free" for Ray. He spends money EVERY month on it. He spent an arm and a leg on the re-design for the site. He incurred this expense on his own.

I asked him for a favor. I asked that he turn the board on for the weekend or until the replies to my post get so stupid that it is annoying, then throw in the towel.

Ray is not “down and out” he is just tired of the way the posts are going, the lack of interest, and the lack of donations. The amount of information on this board is priceless. PRICELESS. I don’t think a small monthly fee would be a bad idea, at least to help with what he spends on his own.

What bothered me the most is that only one other person than me emailed him when the site was taken down. Did none of you care???

Now, don’t start PMing him with chump change offers to buy the board. That wont cut it. We need ideas. Let me say it again… WE NEED IDEAS. Not only ideas, but donations.

Bottom line, we have 3 days to come up with a solution. I asked him for these three days because I have faith in guys on this board. I have faith that we can pull together to get this site moving in a direction that is positive. In my opinion, GT is the best board on the internet for those interested in ANY facet of Latin America. Travel, women, language, real estate, retirement, relocation.. the list goes on and on.

If you are going to post something lame and talk trash, please don’t waste your time. That just pushes the board one step further into oblivion.

I know that there are some guys on here that do not travel as much as I, and some others, do. I feel those guys would be the ones who would be MOST motivated to throw out some ideas. Our posts are the ones they login to view. Our posts become their motivation to travel. Come on… newbies, old timers, HOF’ers, Gringos, Latinos, Asians, and everyone else who posts here… GET ON THE BALL.

If you are ready to say goodbye to GT… then lets say our goodbyes and move on. That will suck if that is the case, but this is a community choice we have to make.

We have 72 hours…. The clock is ticking.

[BIG E]

And I just spent the better part of an hour sending PM's to many of you in hopes that you will login and post something that will help keep GT alive.

[Juan de Fuca]

Hello Big E, Why wasn't a monthly and/or annual subscription fee part of becoming a member of GT? I just do not understand how you could rely on donations,as opposed to the cash flow from advertisers and subscribers. You are so right Big E; GT is PRICELESS, but let's put a price tag on it just the same. There's no free lunch;there's no free GT. That's my 2cents worth. I have really enjoyed GT. I appreciate Ray's handiwork, and want to thank him. But, it's now time to pay for the privelege of belonging to GT. Besides me, are there any takers?

[BIG E]

Originally Posted by Juan de Fuca

Hello Big E, Why wasn't a monthly and/or annual subscription fee part of becoming a member of GT? I just do not understand how you could rely on donations,as opposed to the cash flow from advertisers and subscribers. You are so right Big E; GT is PRICELESS, but let's put a price tag on it just the same. There's no free lunch;there's no free GT. That's my 2cents worth. I have really enjoyed GT. I appreciate Ray's handiwork, and want to thank him. But, it's now time to pay for the privelege of belonging to GT. Besides me, are there any takers?

At one time, it was a pay board. A VERY nominal fee. I think it was about $10 a year, and there were people who complained about paying it.

I would pay $10 a month for access to the information here. I really hope that more people feel the way we do. It will be a damn shame if GT is gone because people want a free ride.

Knowledge is free, but you have to pay to gain knowledge... and this board is packed FULL of knowledge and different opinions and views. A fee is a SMALL price to pay for what is on this board.

And I dont think you will find a better group of people than right here on GT on any other board online dedicated to the same subject matter.

[BIG E]

Well guys, its 6am. I have been up pondering this all night and have a few ideas. But right now I must lay down and sleep as my evening tonight is feel. However, I will be free all night late on Thursday and all day Friday and through the weekend posting some ideas. Hopefully, together, we can make GT stay online!

For now... good night... or good morning.

[Micky10]

Big-E and ALL -

This board means very much to me, probably more than most. Being that I live in Colombia full time and it is really my connection with english speakers. I have been here (in the U.S.) for five months working to pay for the work in the apto in Medellin. I go home two weeks from today. I have one more contract to fill and that is it. Money wise I can not help a lot, my retirement is just about $1,000 a month. I would certainly pay a annual membership fee to keep the board alive. Also when I get home and get the computer working (Dora and Junior break it when I leave), I had planned on posting more fotos of different places and the happenings in Medellin. I always am here for members of the board to answer any and all questions about my city, not really here to help with hooking up with women. I have a list at home (Medellin) with the alternative hotels that I will list when I get back. Wheather the move is to charge a fee for use or WHATEVER, I am there. So if I can be of any help I will do that. One thought, I will offer any help at all when members come to visit Medellin, something like a one day tour of the city, the Metro, how the bus system works, the taxis, different areas of town, etc., etc.. Of course, no charge for members of the board. And if Sailover, in Cali, Dennis in Bogata and if there are other members willing to do the same kind of thing in other cities if we have them, I think that we have a somewhat new member living in Manzanales. Anyway anything, if there are other ideas I am there. I am willing to do a regular column on Med and/or answer all questions regarding Med at all times for members. I did not send Ray or anybody else a e-mail about the situation here because I do not have contact info for anyone here, other than LL, and Tinto. Bottom line I will help in ANYWAY I can.

EVERYBODY STEP UP!!!!! - DO NOT MAKE ME CRY.

Love - Micky

[Tinto]

BigE,

Thanks for your comments and I appreciate your contacting Ray and passing on his sentiments. I would appreciate hearing from him regarding this situation as well when he has the opportunity.

I assumed that things were going well financially with the board with the various changes occurring this past year or so. It went from a pay site to a free one, no advertisers to half a dozen+, an old format to a new one. From all outward appearances and with no communication about lack of funding for the board's monthly operation I thought that things were going well, at least generating enough income to pay the bills.

I do not want any of my comments to come across as criticisms but it surprised me that Ray would close the board without discussing this first on the forum. I consider us part of a "family" and feel that we can speak our mind freely as well as share needs and concerns. Warning us about the possibility of the board closing and presenting some alternative ideas would be a better solution IMHO. Rather than having a 3 day limit I would like to see everyone of the participating members of the forum chime in and discuss this constructively. I think that under the circumstances it would be wise to send out a personal email to everyone and request that they log back into GT. I would imagine that there may be a large number that saw the closed notice and won't check back on a regular basis to see if by chance the forum has reopened.

Not to pry into something that might not be any of my business but what would it take to keep the board afloat financially? What expenses does Ray incur each month/annually to keep the board running? Is the current advertiser base enough to pay the bills and if not, how many more would be needed. What do you think a fair price to join and participate on the forum would cost if a paid membership were reinstated?

There are numerous Latin interest forums out there to choose from and GT is my favorite site. None of the others to my knowledge require a paid membership to join. Why are those other forums able to keep afloat while GT, as long as it has been in operation, having such a difficult time?

Thanks for reopening the forum even if it is only temporary but it is my hope that all the active forum members will receive notice with an invitation to discuss this problem so it can be resolved.

[KPunch2]

Thank you Big E for the PM. I wasn't aware that the board was off-line until today when I logged on. Recently, I was away from GT for a little while, as some of you might know, I purchased some property in Colombia, and I am currently proceeding with the acquisition of another plot of land for early 2009. And I always consider Gringo Talk on of my favorite sites.

I really hate to see GT fade away into oblivion, and I would offer any assistance to help keep this site afloat. I know times are tough for everyone, and the US is going through a terrible economic period so I think that asking for donations, although a very thoughtful and noble suggestion, is mute. I personally think that this site needs a better marketing strategy and something to entice membership. I'll work on some ideas and I will post them asap and let see if we can solve these issues.

[Sailover]

I have offered endlessly to meet guys and show them my Cali. Not one has ever made the connection. (well, okay GA did, but I was paranoid for some reason.)
Until I get working here I am barely making ends meet, but the moment I am, I will step up because I do generally enjoy what goes on. There does seem to have been quite a bit of nonsense lately for some reason, but hopefully that is cyclical. Once the fluff is sifted through, there is stuff here you won't find anywhere else.
If you are interested, send me a message and I will send you an email contact, just in case.
Regardless, thank you Ray for your time and money. It has truly been a slice.

[Charlie640]

I agree with Tinto 200%

Big E... pretty hard to PM when the board is down.
I made my feeling known on another forum when I learned the site was pulled.