Admin: Thank you for editing the post in this thread, I saw it earlier and found it objectionable, if only for the one word. I appreciate your efforts to provide a friendly environment for all here on
.
Please let me explain one issue (one last time) before I get into the actual thread. From the end of 2003 when planning
, the newsletter ... until April of 2008, I spent those years providing my newsletter and website content (July 2005) to thousands of people in 65 countries, for free. In early 2007, as most of you know, after discussions with my good friend and wine buddy who owns/operates CellarTracker, I followed his strategic advice and asked for "donations." I was very thankful for those that helped to support my efforts and time spent on providing the
concept material ... now over 40+ pages in each newsletter and plenty more on the homepage.
Derek and others here, were very direct with me last year and let me know that they would much prefer a
subscription basis as they felt it was far more "transparent." I heeded that advice and after nearly four years with little to no real income (beyond a six week project every year) changed to a subscription to defray some of my costs and provide me with the *wife points* so that I could keep my Port writing and web presence going. I certainly am not apologizing for trying to make a semblance of a living, but thought that this explanation might temper some of the gentle disdain I sense, for charging $ for a small portion of what I do.
There are ONLY 4 things on
that are for subscribers only:
a. the newsletter
b. access to my TNs
c. ability to upload photos to PORTraits
d. a little if ever used PP Forum that is a non-sequitur
That is it. 90-95% of the website's content is open source. So, I hope that for the last time, people will understand that
no income would've absolutely resulted in the closure of FTLOP's website and newsletter as there was no way I could continue to compensate folks who devote their time and energy to administering the site, plus the mounting operational and developmental costs.
We continue to add content and innovate and on Tuesday,
PORTfolio, a new Port financial resource will go live on the site ...
open to all, in collaboration with a Canadian company.
Now ... onto
A Question for the Port Trade. As currently, 23% of The Port Forum members are subscribers to
, I thought it germane to alert those folks as to what was coming up ... including Derek himself. It is my belief that the information contained in the responses from the Port trade, are extraordinarily enlightening and Derek's question provoked the most detailed answers I have ever seen come from the trade. I wanted to thank him
HERE publicly -- for having raised such a fantastic topic and I hope that those who care to read their responses will make sure to actually read the newsletter that they already subscribe to. This in no way, was meant to pander to those that don't subscribe, as of course, they've already made up their minds. No harm, no foul.
Ben Read is correct, and the next newsletter will not be launched until June 30th or July 1st, but a "heads up" a couple of days ahead of time was nothing more than that.
I thank you all for allowing me the privilege of sharing my thoughts here!
) I would like to alert you that Derek raised a question for me to ask the Port trade. I thought it was going to be blown over with some simplistic answers from a couple of respondents. I must say I was very wrong.
