I'd be willing to pay a reasonable subscription/membership fee; it'd be a
small price/investment for the benefit, as others have noted. It might also
provide for other features, such as a chat room or whatever may be desired
(or not). : )
I have seen web sites that operate off of donations, 'tho that seems a bit
precarious.
My wife is a member of a message board site that seems to do quite well
charging $15.00 per year; I don't know how many members they actually have,
however or/vs. how many people are actively on this list, but it might be
worth some discussion.

Cya,
Robert

----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael S. Nichols" <msnichols@MINDSPRING.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2004 4:05 PM
Subject: Re: It's been almost 5 years that Gerry and I have lived
together...

> Hello fellow listers,
>
> I want to begin by thanking all those IT savvy folks that have made this
> list possible.  This is something I could never do, even though I can,
> thanks to the list,  keep my 2 1981 air cooled Vanagons up and running
with
> little if any repair shop help.  I do wonder though about all the
commercial
> vendors who benefit financially  from this list.  Hey,free advertising is
> great--- that's the American way.  But it is also the American way that no
> one rides for free.  For example, I sell about $100.00 worth of used
Vanagon
> spare parts on this list a year.  I should pay something, I would think,
for
> the benefit of being able to do this. How much, perhaps, and how?
>
> The large commercial and "hobby" parts sellers, what might they
contribute?
> Bus Depot is a successful concern, not just a mom and pop company.  Chris
at
> JordanWv, well, he advertises  lots of parts, but only for a hobby.
> VolksCafe, Van-again, both for-profit concerns.  Stan W. in Dallas, Texas,
> did I miss anyone?
>
> The reality is that folks like me get a ride for free based on someone
else
> doing all the work,  volunteering their time and money to make this list
> what it is. How can we make this arrangement work better?  Should the big
> vendors run the list and pay the cost?  Should the big vendors be asked to
> contribute financially to sponsor  someone else running the list?  The
large
> vendors pay other folks for advertising, and I keep seeing lots of
expensive
> Westy "newly arrived"  items being plugged on the list......
> My question to the list:  Thoughts on this issue?
>
> Regards,
>
> Mike Nichols, Atlanta GA 30306