At 06:57 PM 5/1/02 -0700, you wrote:
So, we're not talking about a lot of money. But, what we receive will be
used only for WPPD expenses. And so far, those expenses are very small -
domain name registration, and some web server expenses.
Gregg,
I am so pleased with the WPPD event -- and can only imagine the work
involved -- that I would like to contribute to the cause. I plan to buy a
t-shirt, but I'd like to make more than a $1 contribution.
Could WPPD use money for past or future expenses?
If so, can we send checks to you? And you address?
Thanks to all the organizers for the hard work.
Tom
Hi Tom,
Thanks for your generous thoughts on supporting WPPD. My initial response
is to say "no need for that". But it isn't for me only to say, and I think
it would be good to let you and others know about the money side of this.
To put things into context, the only expenses for planning and promoting
WPPD (beyond the countless hours donated by members of the coordinating
team and translators) are for the web site and the registration of the
pinholeday.org domain name. The domain registration is around $18 a
year. And the WPPD web site is actually a part of the Pinhole Visions web
site - it just has it's own domain name and URL.
Why is it set up this way? Well, I'm a computer programmer and a visual
artist. The Pinhole Visions web site is one of my hobbies. I rent for the
web space for Pinhole Visions from one of the best web service providers in
the world, pair Networks. I pay what many would consider a high price for
this space in order to have access to the tools and databases I need to
write intelligent, "data-driven" applications (like the WPPD2
exhibition). Also, I hate web sites with obnoxious pop-up window ads and
banner ads on each page trying to sell stuff I have no interest in. By
paying for my space from a reputable service provider, I have complete
control of the content for both Pinhole Visions and for WPPD (no ISP pop-up
or banner ads).
My goal with the PV web site has always been to provide a place where
pinholers can participate in a variety of ways. This discussion list
started by James Kellar and moderated by James and Guy Glorieux is one
example. Robert Oehl edits the "directory" of over 200 pinhole web sites
listed on the PV site. And, close to 30 members of the WPPD team have
personal accounts to log in and edit the content of the pinholeday.org web
site. It's very gratifying to me that so many of us are contributing to
that web site. WPPD isn't just "my" web site. It is "our" web site.
I have paid the bills for all of this for about 5 years now. I have
introduced a few ways to reduce my costs such as selling books through
Amazon.com, and I recently began selling Pinhole Visions "wares" similar to
the WPPD "wares". I only advertise pinhole-related items. Book sales from
Amazon pay for 1 or 2 months operation per year. The "wares" may
eventually pay for another month. The biggest support I have received in
operating the PV site is from Zernike Au and the Zero Image
Company. Zernike is my only paying advertiser on the site and I am proud
to advertise his fine products.
I think for the future of the Pinhole Visions site and the future of the
WPPD, it would be good to consider moving WPPD to its own "account". And
that will mean new funding for that. There have been discussions among
some of the members of the coordinating team to set up WPPD as a non-profit
organization. If that happens, funding will be an important issue.
So, to get back to your question, please do not send me any money. Let's
wait until the WPPD3 coordinating team is formed, and see what their plans
are.
- Gregg
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Pinhole Visions at http://www.???????
Worldwide Pinhole Photograhy Day at http://www.pinholeday.org
