---------------------------------------------------------- Stratus-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Sat 11/01/03: 1 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 01:18 PM - 2003 List Fund Raiser - Please Support Your Lists... (Matt Dralle) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 01:18:09 PM PST US From: Matt Dralle Subject: Stratus-List: 2003 List Fund Raiser - Please Support Your Lists... --> Stratus-List message posted by: Matt Dralle Dear Listers, During November of each year, I have a voluntary Email List Fund Raiser to support the continued operation, development, maintenance and upgrade of the Email Forums sponsored here. Your Contributions go directly into improvements in the systems that support the Lists and to pay for the Internet connectivity primarily dedicated to supporting the Lists. The traffic on the Lists continues to grow and the numbers are nothing short of impressive! Here are some statistics that show how much traffic the Lists generated this year alone: * 11/01/2002 - 10/31/2003 o Web server hits: 10,446,780 (870,565/mo) o Incoming Email Posts: 58,918 (4,909/mo) List-related upgrades this year have been plentiful, and List performance has substantially improved as a result. Upgrades and enhancements this year have included: * Internet Connection upgrade to a full, commercial-grade T1 Line! * New Web Server platform - Dual 3Ghz Xeon with 2Gb Ram and U320 SCSI! * Upgrade of Email Server platform - Dual 1.7 Ghz Xeon with 1Gb Ram! * All new SPAM Filtering Appliance - filters about 98% of the SPAM! * All new, web-base List Chat Room society! As you can well imagine, this year's upgrades translate into a fair amount of cash outlay on my part and this annual List Fund Raiser is the sole means by which I fund these upgrades. Unlike most of the other "list servers" on the Web these days, I have a strict *no-commercial-advertisement policy* on the Matronics Lists and associated List web sites. I was again approached by a number of vendors recently with advertising deals that have been very tempting. My commitment to providing a grass-roots, non-commercial environment prevailed, however! Commercialism on the Internet seems to be increasing exponentially every year, with more and more SPAM and pop up ads, not to mention the ever increasing Virus attacks. My goal with the Matronics List Service is to provide all members with a commercial-free, virus-free, and high-performance system with which the may share information, ideas, and camaraderie. The best news this year is that, with the gracious help of Andy Gold and The Builder's Bookstore ( http://www.buildersbooks.com ), I have been able to significantly expand the lineup of fantastic Gift offers to support the List Fund Raiser! In all, there are eight awesome free gifts this year ranging from List Archive CD's to Flight Computers with qualifying Contribution levels. Those great Jeppesen Flight Bags that were so popular last year are even back! A special thanks goes out to Andy Gold again this year for his very kind and generous support of the Lists. Thanks Andy, for these great incentives!! Over the next month I'll be posting a few reminder messages about the List Fund Raiser, and I ask for your patience and understanding during the process. Remember that the Lists are *completely* funded through the generous Contributions of its members. That's it! There's no support from a bloated advertising budget or deep pockets somewhere. Its all made possible through YOUR thoughtful and generous support! To make your List Contribution using a Visa or MasterCard, PalPal, or with a personal check, please go to the URL link below. Here you can find additional details on this year's great free Gifts as well as information on the various methods of payment. Contributions in the $20, $30, $50, $75, and $100 range are common. The Contribution web page is kind of long this year with the details of each of the gifts, so please scroll all the way down! SSL Secure Contribution Web Site: http://www.matronics.com/contributions I would like to thank everyone who supports the Lists this year! Your Contributions truly make it all possible!! Thank you!! Matt Dralle Matronics Email List Administrator Matt G Dralle | Matronics | PO Box 347 | Livermore | CA | 94551 925-606-1001 V | 925-606-6281 F | dralle@matronics.com Email http://www.matronics.com/ WWW | Featuring Products For Aircraft