As promised:
Why are we fundraising?
I’d like to share a bit more info on what is currently happening with the site. Ali and I have started the migration of the site to my ownership. To that end I have opened a new account with a hosting provider. The annual hosting fee of US$ 102.77 has already been paid by me. The files have been transferred to my hosting account, so I am now sort of “in possession” of the site. That means I can now also get the professionals involved to help with making the site accessible again. By that I do not mean access for you, the users. The site is still online and visible for you – except for some parts of it that only show up as code. However, the main issue is that access to the backend of the site, i.e. the interface where the admin can manage the website, is currently impossible. That is caused by an outdated software version. Hence we need a web designer to help us make the site usable again.
This is where the fundraiser comes in. Apart from the hosting fees mentioned above, other costs will be incurred. I already have one estimate from a developer/web agency in Germany who charge €88 (US$ 100/£75) per hour. I have not got any estimate on how many hours they might need to sort this out, but I am guessing this is not a half-hour job… I am still waiting to hear another estimate from another developer – which may actually be a bit cheaper.
The bottom line is: We probably need a few hundred dollars *minimum* to get RAnet back on its feet. I hope that the items on auction and on sale for the fundraiser will appeal to you. They are either handmade items by me, as well as quite a number of items donated for future auctions by fellow fans (especially LoLo). Oh, and just to say that what you saw in the trailer above, was only a little sneak peek. There will be many more items available. Please do have a look from Friday, 29 November 2019 until Monday, 2nd December.
How does the fundraiser work?
- The auctions will start on Friday, 29th of November 2019. They will each run for 3 days, finishing on Monday, 2nd of December. Bidding on the auction items is through eBay – which allows easy access and reliable processing of the bids. The fees will be covered by the auction proceeds, as will the postage fees.
- Instead of a custom-made shrine, I am this time offering some handmade mini books for a fixed price. Since eBay’s fees for fixed price offers are quite expensive, I am going to sell the mini books via my Etsy store where the fees are less than half of eBay’s. Etsy is an online marketplace for handmade items, not an auction platform. There is no sign-up required in order to buy an item on the platform. Instructions and links will follow in the fundraiser post on Friday.
- The auctions will be staggered with a few minutes in between each auction – this is to give me time to activate the individual auctions and to process/add up the final bids on the last day. The mini books will all go on sale on Etsy at the same time on Friday.
- A post with descriptions of the items/sets will be published on Friday here on my blog as soon as all auctions have been activated. I will provide links to the individual auctions and to the Etsy items for easy click-through. Alternatively you can also follow the auctions through my seller page on eBay, or bookmark my (already existing) Etsy store. I am called “guylty” on eBay, and “ScissorsAndSmiles” on Etsy.
- Like in previous auctions, I will post updates with current bids over the duration of the auctions (most probably once every day). Highlights and milestones will probably also be communicated over on Twitter where you can find me as @GuyltyPleasure.
- The auctions are open to all, items are shipped anywhere in the world, free of charge.
- Finally, just a reminder that the auctions and the Etsy sale are a charity fundraiser. The proceeds will go to fund the update and migration of richardarmitagenet.com, one of our beloved fan sites. (Note: Postage costs will also be covered by the proceeds.)
- Since the auctions are a charity fundraiser, once an auction winner has been determined or an Etsy item been sold, the items are non-refundable. So please only bid and/or buy if you are willing to pay!
So much for the small print. The main point, however, is: This is an opportunity to have fun together and to club together in order to save a site that we all care for. We have taken the first step by setting up a new hosting plan. Now we need to tackle the technical issues. Let’s get it done together. I hope to see you over the Thanksgiving weekend – bidding, buying, tweeting, watching. Can’t wait!
Two addendi after original posting
- Some of you have asked whether donations are possible in case of missing out on auctions or when you don’t want to buy any fundraiser items. Yes, it will be possible to simply donate to the fund. I will facilitate that via Paypal as previously done in our birthday auctions.
- I forgot to mention – this is mini mini small print, but just to let you know: In the – hopefully – unlikely event that we are not able to rescue the site and funds from this fundraiser are left over, these monies will be donated to one of Richard’s charities.
Guylty Pleasure 
Let me know if there’s a possibility just to donate w/o purchasing anything. Thanks!
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Oh, yes, thanks for the reminder, S. I’ll definitely open the donations via Paypal again, too!
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Yes, I second that! While I can’t wait to see the lovely items up for auction, I’d also just like to donate money. It’s definitely a worthy cause! 😉
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Fab – thank you S! It’s lovely to see so many fans so keen on saving Ali’s work and the fantastic resource that RAnet is. I have just updated the post with a little PS to that effect. I will post details on how to donate, in the fundraiser post on Friday.
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Thank you for doing that G, its helpful. Thank you for your hard work! 💕
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And thank you back to you for your support!
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Your video has brought me to tears 😭👍🏻😁❤️
I have a question. If I don’t win anything (it might be a busy weekend for me), how can I donate directly?
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That’s a good question, Olga – I will leave instructions for opportunity to send a donation in the fundraiser post on Friday.
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Great! Thank you again for all your hard work. I really appreciate it ❤️
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What a fabulous video! Thank you so much for your hard work, creativity and passion, dear G. You are a rock star!
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In this case, many thanks go back to you for actually sending me so many Zox straps that I wanted to organise a separate auction. All the better that we can now use them for this fundraiser.
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Guylty, I have some Zox straps that I was wondering what to do with… If I photograph them tomorrow can you add them to the items for sale? I’ll be happy to post them to buyers… 🙂
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Oh, you do???? Sure, let’s put them in this sale if you are ready to part with them.
In terms of photographing, can you take pictures of them with the accompanying cards, and both front and back (so that I can see the name of the strap and the little serial number – it helps with selling them to collectors).
Thank you in any case!
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Email with pics on the way shortly! 😊
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Received!! Fantastic and thanks!!
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Your videos just keep getting better and better, G. Your talent knows no bounds. Thanks to everyone who donated and to you for all your work in organizing auction/creating treasures for all to enjoy. Wishing you a massive success. ❤️
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Ah, that video was really not much work. It is based on a template already available on iMovie. I just came up with the words and added the pictures.
Looking forward to the weekend now.
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HI , I’ve got some wallpaper border by one of my favorite artists, (Mary Englebreight) that didn’t seem to fit into our house we moved to after we moved. I would be happy to pay postage to send to you if you think you could use it for any upcoming fundraising needs. I’m very marginally tech savvy so will send you a photo of border on twitter if you are interested. Best of luck Guylry and thank you again. Have loved Ali”s site since first look.
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Thank you Ann – that’s a really nice offer. I’ve seen the picture on Twitter. Very pretty. However, I am not quite sure whether the border will really fit into the auctions – which are usually of fandom related materials and items? I hate to refuse donations, it makes me sound really dismissive. Which is not the case – it’s just that I think that maybe there are other places you could donate the border and make someone else happy? Hope you understand.
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Sounds great, Guylty! Also like the idea of some fixed price items. I’ll be there. 😊
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Great. Yes, the fixed price items have been long on the cards, and finally I have found an idea that works with it. Hope they will find buyers 🙂
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The trailer, the movie, the whatever! Real music! Credits at the end done in big and little type just like real movies! You guys are the best! OMG I love this fandom!
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Hehe, too much credit for a trailer that already existed as a template. It was made by a dummy (i.e. me) who only had to add the words and the pictures. But if it made you smile while bringing across the info, then the objective was reached 😉
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Brilliant video Guylty, you should work for RA’s production company heh heh! And I echo all the others with thanks for all your hard work – thank you and here’s to the auction.
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Oh no, definitely not. I have to give credit to iMovie – which provided the template for the trailer. I only decided on the words and the illustrations.
Hooray, only two days til auction!
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Je félicite la petite équipe pour se lancer dans cette épopée et vous souhaite bon courage à toutes.
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Thank you for the kind wishes, Squirrel.
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Thanks for all the hard work you and Ali put into this, I´ll be there…
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Fabulous! It’s all *by* fans *for* fans. And preserving the hard work that Ali put into the site over the years. Fingers crossed that we can secure it for the future.
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I love the video! What a fabulous job you’ve all done getting this up and running to save such an important and loved site. 😊❤️
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Here’s hoping that all will work out. I have yet to find and employ a professional to help with the migration to an accessible platform. The fundraiser is our next step.
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*rubs hands*
Boy oh boy, the excitement.
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IKR! I am already finding it hard to concentrate on anything else…
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Super idea, Guylty. Can you help me by the way – I don’t get your posts any longer and it might be because I signed up with an old email address that no longer exists… helen@the-wp.com. Can you check for me? Xxx
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Hello – I have just checked and that e-mail address is still part of the e-mail list. We could try unsubscribing you and then you resubscribe?
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Klasse Video! Du solltest das Marketing für Richard übernehmen. Lieben Dank an dich für all die Arbeit, die du dir machst. Die Vorfreude wird bei mir leider etwas getrübt, weil ich die ersten beiden Tage definitiv verpassen werde. Aber zum Glück kommt das Beste ja eh zum Schluss, richtig 😉.
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Das Video war ein easy-peasy vorgefertigtes Dingens, das ich nur noch mit den passenden Worten und Bildern bestücken musste. Das reicht leider nicht fürs Profi-Showreel für unseren Liebsten. (Aber seinen Social Media Auftritt würde ich gerne mal für ihn überarbeiten… 🤐)
Und schade, dass du Freitag und Samstag verpasst – aber läuft ja bis Montag!
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