Author Topic: IF YOU WISH THE WEIGHTLIFTING EXCHANGE TO SURVIVE... (Read 4678 times)

Chris Ⓐ LeRoux · « **on:** Jun 24, 2007, 10:03 PM »

Dear Members and Guests,

Unfortunately, John has decided to sell the server which hosts this website out from under the membership which donated significant money for its purchase. I have been given four days to get a new host, or the person John sold the server space to will shut the site down.

I have been preparing for such an eventuality for some time. I have constructed a new forum using superior software. I can and will transfer the database to the new software, but I can not afford to purchase a new yearly contract for a new host for the site right now. In order to do this, unfortunately, I need to ask the membership and guests for donations again, despite it not being a year since the last request.

The good news in this is that I will now have full control of the database, the server, and the domain. The software I will now convert the database to has many very cool new features that I hope the members will enjoy. It will be much easier to maintain and has the capability for much easier upgrades. Also, because WE are using video hosting sites like Revver, Brightcove, Youtube, etc to host the bulk of the video this site provides, the cost of said server is much lower than what we needed last year.

Thanks for you support either way, and if its the end I am sorry for all of us.

Shaun Le Conte · « **Reply #1 on:** Jun 24, 2007, 10:51 PM »

Sorry to hear that Chris. I appreciate the site, and believe that this sort of format is preferable to something like WebBBS - it's why I have switched my online participation (related to weightlifting) almost solely to this site.

Honestly though, I do not want to see you work like a dog under any circumstances. IMO We'd need significantly more active members before doing anything fancy would be worth it. And as you said, youtube/revver is doing a lot of the hosting nowadays.

I want to support this type of format pretty badly, but a possible idea I would like to suggest is to join forces with an existing forum such as Fortified Iron. They have the same infrastructure in place, and have a wider base of members due to including other sports.

Anyway, I am here.

Chris Ⓐ LeRoux · « **Reply #2 on:** Jun 24, 2007, 11:17 PM »

Shaun,

Thanks. Transferring the site to a new domain and software would be a big job, but it would make running and maintaining the site much easier afterwards.

Leighton Dougall · « **Reply #3 on:** Jun 25, 2007, 04:30 AM »

Let us know which route you are going to take and how long once you've figured it out. I need a few days for my girlfriend to go away so she doesn't interrogate me about this strange charge on the credit card. I think it's worth a donation for the quality content, and I'm really looking forward to the worlds this year! Fingers crossed for good footage from there.

Leighton

Chris Ⓐ LeRoux · « **Reply #4 on:** Jun 25, 2007, 07:04 AM »

I was asked what would happen to donations if they do not equal the necessary cost for a new host. If the donations came via paypal, which would be best given the time constraints WE are under, I would refund the money. I do believe paypal would take a small fee out of the initial donation though regardless of whether the money is withdrawn or refunded. I will look in to it later and post an update. It may also be possible to host the site on a month to month basis as a stop-gap measure or host it under a less expensive plan. I can not really find this out until John and the person he sold the server space to give me information I have requested concerning how much space and bandwidth the site is currently using.

Thanks for your support.

Paul LaDuke · « **Reply #5 on:** Jun 25, 2007, 08:45 AM »

Chris,

Count me in on another donation. My vote is for you to keep this website going as it is the best organized, best moderated, best video archive, best HOF, etc. on the internet. I visit this site more frequently than my email account! This forum is 100x better than that goheavy forum and the members have much more class.

My vote is to keep this forum with the improvements that you have mentioned and keep it going. If this forum goes by the wayside, I for one will not know what to do with all that extra time on my hands :wink:

Keep up the great work, I for one appreciate what you have taught me through this website.

Chris Ⓐ LeRoux · « **Reply #6 on:** Jun 25, 2007, 08:45 PM »

I have made good progress preparing for the transfer to a new host and new software. We need another $100 to get the transfer done. After that, I will handle the expense for now on although donations will always be appreciated and used toward making the site better. The new site has an excellent advertising management system that I managed to install and this should take the burden of the hosting costs off the members and myself permanently, especially as I continue to host more and more of our pictures and videos off site. I am ready to make the switch as soon as I can raise another $100. The site may be down for a short time during the process, but it shouldn't be long, though I can't promise an exact timeframe.

Thanks again for all your support.

Jason Stanly · « **Reply #7 on:** Jun 27, 2007, 05:20 PM »

Chris,

Congrats on a great lifting career over the years. It has been nice to get caught up on the action over the years while I was away focusing on my business. I trained under Coach Hatch and was '89 Jr. National Champ(67.5kg) and '89 Jr. World Team member. I can not find any results on the net for the '88, '89 and '90 Juniors and I am also looking for the '89 Junior World results.

I will pay top-dollar to you or anyone else who can produce photos of yours truly as well as video of '88-'90 Juniors and '89 & '90 Seniors and of course '89 Jr. Worlds. Preferably on DVD but that may be a stretch.

Count me in for a donation of $100 for your assistance. My email address is jbsgroup1@aol.com.

Thank you in advance.