Earlier tonight I deleted a stupid comment someone made about our Supporting Memberships. There was a reference made to our ad prices and the fact that we had a lot of nerve offering the memberships.

Let me start by saying that the Supporting Memberships are helping us to grow and bring more services to our members. As stated before, a portion of this money will go to taking the moderators of this site on a well-deserved fishing trip.

I am not getting rich off this site. I am sure there will come a day when it makes a decent income, but as it stands, my business pays a very average salary. I drive a 1998 Chevy Truck and don�t indulge in many extravagances. Over the last 8 years I have eaten my share of Ramen Noodles and at times paid the web-hosting bill before many of my other basic monthly bills. My uncle told me, �just keep the door open and your hat out and eventually you will have enough clients to call it a business.� Besides a few other important factors, like mule-stubborn persistence, this has proven to be true.

If things continue as they are, sometime in 2005 I plan on taking the income from the Supporting Memberships and creating a special account that will serve to fund member activities � 100% of the money raised will go back to the members. When this is put in to effect, anyone that is interested will have access to the Supporting Member accounting.

I have 1000�s of dollars and man hours in this project � as you can see, this particular comment got me a little fired up.

Anyway, I appreciate the support everyone has shown. We�ll do our best to keep y�all happy.

JP,
IMHO, you have a winner here and I really benefit from the forum! Thanks for providing such a useful venue to help me enjoy my hobby. I was glad to pitch in a small amount to help you in this endevor. Please keep it up, and thanks again.

Awe come on dude, you know you are paying for those leer jet flights to and from Islamorada, fishing from that 36' Yellowfin, smoking big cigars and such.

Don't I wish.

JP, you have every right to make a good living off of this idea. If it pays you enough money to live comfortably then good for you. Don't feel embarrassed if this site makes you money.

I work for a 3 person website and I sell all of the advertising for the company. Needless to say the owner of the site I work for is making a very good living.

Keep it going. My only apprehension is that I am moving to Florida in September and therefore will not be as much a part of this site anymore. I am sure I will lurk around it but won't be as active a poster. Maybe that is a good thing.

Anyway, I have enjoyed the site immensely over the 1 1/2 years I have been posting and reading posts here.

JP, if anyone deserves to prosper from their work, it's you. The TFF provides so much for so little, I can't believe this is even a topic.
Although this is a little online community to several of us that live here when we're not out fishin, the TFF is publicly accessible at no cost to anyone online across the planet 24/7/365.
Just like a small town on an interstate highway, there will be those just passing through that will stop for free directions and move on, those rebel rousers that stop and cause a commotion and eventually move on down the road, and then there will be those that stop, appreciate it for what it is, settle down, and consider it home.
I envy and appreciate your work, and I wish you much more success. Thanks JP, for providing maintaining the TFF.

JP,

I don't know who the person was that made the post, he could have been someone I know and like from the TFF, but you did the right thing.

An attack on the ad and prices is an attack on those of us that have contributed something in an effort to keep moving forward with what we have here. You and the moderators make the TFF unique, and if I can contribute something in order to thank ya'll for what you do here then that's a choice I've made and I don't appreciate anyone telling me I did the wrong thing.

Likewise, if a person does not wish to make a donation, that's his choice and he still has all the privileges to share information as those that do. That is that person's decision based on what he believes. Nobody is pressuring anybody to pay for a membership.

Keep up the good work, and if you make some money in the end I'm all for it. People deserve to make money off good ideas, it's the American way!

JP, I never even thought about this site being a business also. You have done a great job here and I hope you make all the money you need. I really enjoy logging on through out the day and checking everything out. Keep up the good work!

There seems to be one, at least one, in every crowd that just doesn't get it....

I would have almost no need for a computer if there was no TFF. Thanks for hanging strong, JP, we love your site.

J.P.

You should be able to profit from a great idea. Personally, it is none of my business what you do with the money. It was a no brainer for me to contribute a small amount (wish I could afford more) to the forum. I get back way more that I put in. I also think the wardens to a great job of keeping the forum a place that I am not afraid for my wife or kids to look at.

Keep up the good work!

JP,
Dont let the one out of thousands that enjoy and support this site bring you down. There is one in every group. Allthough I am relatively new to this site I already feel a part of the family and was happy to do what I can do to help this family grow. Wish I could have given more.

Although I can't afford to suppot the TFF with a membership at this time, it's really none of anyone's business, including mine, if you turn a profit off this web site. You'll always have your share haters in a group of people this size. If they don't want to support the TFF with a memebership donation, then don't do it, but don't gripe about others who choose to do so. As the old saying goes "You can't make 100% of the people happy 100% of the time".

As soon as i get out of the tight spot im in i will send in a membership payment. I really enjoy this forum, i feel that i do provide good info as well as the others on this site. People that enjoy the same hobbies and activities should be able to share information with each other in a friendly and beneficial environment.

I think this forum is great and anyone who wants to learn something new or get info for an upcomming trip should sign up and become a member.

I will do so as soon as possible

JP, there is no reason you shouldnt make money from this web site! There are just people out there that just dont no how to keep there mouthes shut!!! This is the most informative web site that I have ever been on and it is just plane fun too!! And if you are not making money from this site, than you should be!!! I congradulate you for everthing you have done here and THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I`m sure theres other members like myself that are just waiting to get the extra money for a supporting membership as well. I think what you have put together here is a wonderful thing J.P. I dont see any issue im making some income form this site. This guy was just one heckler. There a lot of us here that do support and appreciate the time and trouble you take to make this place as fun and informitive as it is. Thank You J.P.!