I've tried several times to get into the "resources" section, and keep getting a "404 error message". Dang!

Is this just my computer, or what?

What is in this section, or (if under construction or renovation) what will be here?

Thanks,
Menolly

My apologies for never bringing this online. When I can afford it, I am going to add a scripting program that will allow all of us to database information on the internet, mostly links to specific resources. We can then rate them, etc.
I am planning it for our next major upgrade to the site. That will probably happen in 2-3 months. I'll be upgrading the software and modifications to the latest version. I'll probably be adding new graphics for the site, thought he old ones will remain. (You will be able to select)
Sorry for the delay on that!

David

DAVID- I KNOW ALL THESE EXPENSES ARE OUT OF POCKET FOR YOU-SO WHAT ABOUT HAVING AN ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEE TO PTO--TO HELP YOU WITH FUNDS- I WOULD BE GLAD TO PAY AN ANNUAL FEE, AND AM SURE THERE ARE OTHERS HERE WHO WOULD TOO-THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO PAY FOR WHATEVER REASON- I AM SURE WE COULD WORK SOMETHING OUT FOR THEM- JUST A THOUGHT

David, in line with that sherri suggested, you might check out this link if you haven't already been there.

http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/subst/fx/help/how-we-know.html/103-9641185-0207017

I made a donation through Amazon to an inmate pen-pal site and I "SURE" would do it here! I don't know if a webmaster can set things up from that site tho?

DAVID:

SERIOUSLY, SHERRI IS RIGHT.... MAYBE YOU DON'T WANT TO CHARGE A MEMBERSHIP AT THE BEGINNING, BUT ONCE A MEMBER HAS POSTED SO MANY TIMES, THEN IF THEY WISH TO CONTINUE, THEY MAY WANT TO JOIN THE SITE.


THINK ABOUT IT. iT COULD ENLARGE PTO TREMENDOUSLY.

LOVE YA
DONNA

Well Gee, Dave;

Who'da thunk such an obtuse question from a newbie would start a membership drive for funding the site! Yeah!

I was HOPING to see things in "resources" like LISTS of addresses to all the prisons and their key staff, or top 100 recommended books etc.

Menolly

P.S: I am one of those "Inveterate List-making Women" everyone dreads, but whom everyone turns to when they need concise info, and solutions to problems.

I'd be happy to spend an afternoon putting together a list of good books on prison reform etc. It would be so easy. They're in ALPHABETICAL order (Of course! List-makers are also anal-retentives!) on my living room bookcases! HAHAHAHAHAHA

Oh and Dave?

Maybe you should rent a Post Office Box that people can mail cheques too...

You do good work here, and peopel seem to want to help. Let them do so, eh?

Love,
Menolly

Menolly, it just takes a few that enjoys looking at possibilities to get "others" on a roll.

And with this "group" it sure doesn't take much, to get stuff rolling all over the place! LOL

Great minds............Great people= PTO

Oh, Glad you said we're getting STUFF rolling, and not something else...

Unless, of course, it's people rolling in the aisles with laughter!

(Gotta tell you an anecdote about one of my patients this morn. He's 89 years old, and terminally ill.

I offered to make him a cup of tea. He said "You're gonna die an Indian death, you know!" Perplexed I just said "What?" He said "You drink so much tea, you're gonna die in your tea pee!"

Well, Bray, I was rolling in the aisle! And I've got one of those contagious kinds of laughs that made him start laughing too. And in walks the cleaning lady, who promptly became so mystified...)

Menolly

humor is life sustaining!!!

lol, Sherri.. As always.. ;)

First, thank all of you for your support with our community. I'm not going bankrupt keeping PTO "up" but it is nice to know there is a support system there, should a time come when I get in a financial pinch. Also, as we grow, hosting will become more expensive, but we are still a ways away from that.

I think I am most comfortable with the idea of donating, if you would like to. I appreciate your willingness to have an annual membership fee, but I don’t feel right with the idea that anyone pay to access PTO, even after they have been around for a while. On the other hand, I would be willing to look into the possibility of special features, or areas for those who would like to make a yearly donation, or something related to this. Custom “titles” would be a given, of course. (I’d like to hear everyone’s input and ideas on this)

Donations or any type of financial assistance would go a long way in helping get the newest features installed into our community, upgrading software, etc.
Yes, I'd like to take 100% credit for the implementation of PTO, but I had to enlist the help of a "coder" to assist me in bringing my thoughts fully into reality. In the event that we add new areas to the site such as a Resources Area database (there are a number of them available that will interface with our community software), Photo Gallery (also another REALLY COOL add-on that runs off your user accounts without you so much as you having to log-on to another system - but gives members their own areas for photographs, as well as categories, "send a postcard", reply comments, and much more) I will probably need their help again to install these programs, or at least trouble shoot them if I run into any problems. In addition to installation, I have to register the software/scripts for use. They are not very expensive but it all adds up. I don't mind paying them out of my pocket but that is sort of hard now that I am back in school. Any assistance I receive from our community will expedite bringing these features online.

Again, these are just some of the things we can add to our community to enhance it.
I’d like everyone who is interested in donating to know that all the money I receive will go to doing just that.

I do have a P.O. Box available for PTO use. Here it is if anyone needs it for any reason.

PrisonTalk Online
P.O. Box 10616
College Station, Texas 77842-0616

B-Ray, I'm fixing to go check that link out. I know PayPal also has some type of donation system you can install on websites.

David

Menolly,
We were all "newbies" here.. But, good job.. :)

What you mentioned is a large part of what I am looking for in the resources section. I want organized links to everything with reviews and ratings. There is a nice package out there to handle it too!
Our members here will fill resource section with all the information. I have a great deal of info I want to include myself.

Thanks again "Newbie". Though, I see by your post count you've been active so you may have lost that title! :)

David

>>>you may have lost that title!<<<

It sure doesn't take long for that to happen around this "group"!

David, I hope you do come up with an online donation system of some kind. I'm set up with PayPal & Amazon. I think you would get more of a regular donation if you did, instead of a one time shot. I know with PayPal it can be a checking account or credit card that a person can use and it doesn't cost the "sender" anything.

I know how you feel about "I'll do it myself". I did that back in the late 80's/early 90's with a prison audio tape ministry until I couldn't handle the cost and there's wasn't any help. The equipment and supplies are still in the garage. I doubt that things are any good now, with all those years being in that heat? So, when I speak of California's prison Chaplains concerns, for inmates religion/psychology, well being (back then) comes 1ST hand!

I.ve used paypal to donate, & it seemed pretty easy.----Ken

ACK!!! Fed-X, I lost my title? Does that mean I can't keep my tiara?

It's good to have the address. Do you accept Canadian funds? T'aint worth much compared to U.S. funds.

I think you're right to stick with donations as long as you can.

I imagine that some spouses who might come here, might be having a bit of financial difficulty, if their "spouse inmate" is no longer able to contribute to the family's finances.

It would be an absolute shame if we "lost" a member before they even signed up, because there was a "user fee". Such a person would perhaps be the one MOST in need of our support.

Oh and Dave, since I have your ear, I just want to say that all you are doing is MAGNIFICENT!

I'll polish your halo, if you polish my tiara...

Menolly

BRAY, Ken and Fed-X;

I just love when you guys all talk "teckie talk". I've no idea what you're talking about, but I'm sure you're really cute when you do.

HAHAHAHAHA...

Just a little payback for all those guys who've EVER said to me "You're so cute when you get so riled up!" Hmm, do you think I ever hear that? You can collectively WHAPP! me. Why not? I do it to them.

Someday I'll tell you my "6 months of payback" story, to a guy who once announced in a meeting that I should leave the meeting because "You're such an abrasive bitch." It involved calling Proctor and Gamble, and ordering a T-shirt with a picture of a can of bathroom cleanser on it, and wearing it to every single committee meeting from that day forward...

Menolly

MENOLLY-YOU ARE TOO MUCH!

Menolly... thanks for making me smile today... I needed it... perhaps we could don you with your own unique title so you can keep your tiara... (like BRay's "ole goat" title)... how about PTO Princess?? :)

>>>your own unique title<<<

Apparently she's done had a few of them there thangs?

Maybe she should list them, and we could "vote" on one? LOL

good idea BRay!! :)

Whew, ducked that bullet... and just in time, I was turning blue! Not an attractive color on an old woman with butt length gray hair. Been holding my breath on that "membership" thing. afraid I was going to lose my new family. Not that I'm opposed to paying my share, mind you. It's just that right now I don't even have a penny to squeal. Having been involved with grassroots stuff in the past, I am well aware no matter how hard one may try, you can't do it all by yourself. Been there, done "tried" that!
Soooo, dear David, I am once more indebted to you.
I shouldn't be standing on this damn dock, too much longer, in the fog. Soon as I catch sight of that schooner, you can count me in!

I think the idea of donations is great ~ I don't ever want it to reach the stage where David is struggling because of his commitment to this site. I don't think it should be a membership fee; like others have said, we all have varying levels of income/lack thereof, so we wouldn't want to limit the site just to those who can "afford" it. Some months are more affordable than others, too!!

If we wanted to send donations, who would be address them to? Like if we did a money order ~ ?? Or could there be a PayPal account for PTO and we could send it directly there and David would get it??

: )
Colleen

PS ~ Menolly, from one list making woman to another, I applaud your anal-retentiveness!!! You cracked me up today!!

I agree with the rest, donations would be better than any kind of user fee.

Menolly, Sherri is right, your great, LOL

Cheena, the power of all grass roots organizations, is the diversity of it's members. I feel we are stronger having you as a member. I don't know David very well, but I feel I know him well enough to say it's inconceivable that David would deny anyone access to full PTO resources, because of a membership "fee", for those same reasons Menolly has stated.

I too would like to join the David "fan club." I was talking to my daughter about this site, & explained to her, that not to many people are able to touch so many lives in such a positive manner, as David has done by creating this site. Like the Phoenix, David has created something so positive out of something so negative. David you have my utmost respect, & admiration.--------Ken

Hi Everybody!
Just my two cents, if it's worth that.... :)

Charging a mandatory membership fee might not be such a good idea, Dave. I run a website of my own and I know it gets pricey sometimes. But the people who need this site the most are people who can't afford the information they find here. Where else do you find free 24 hour counseling, entertainment and support??? I agree with your decision of donations and I'd be happy, no, I would consider it my duty to support this worth-while group in it's evolution.

You had a vision to create a site to help, let's keep it so that everyone can get that help.;)

OKAY, I RESPECTFULLY WITHDRAW MY IDEA ABOUT A MEMBERSHIP FEE-- I'M ALLOWED ONE BAD IDEA, RIGHT??? LOL

No ideas are "bad"! All ideas open up a dialog of possibilities.

Just remember, you can chaulk up all the at-a-girls you can muster! But it only take one ah-shit to wipe the board clean.

B-Ray mess'n with the girl

Veronica, I agree, with your sentiments. We have to look out for each other. The ones who can afford will donate, when those that can't do it now, may be able to in the future. With all the support on here, there is no reason why any one person should have to shoulder all the expenses.

Sherri, I agree with B-ray, there are no bad ideas. You throw things out & see what the reponse is. In the future when someone ask about donations, or membership fees, then we will have an answer because of this dialog now.---Ken

THANKS GUYS-I FEEL BETTER NOW :)

I would be happy to assist in a regular donations.I would regard this a a must household expense.With out you all, our family would be quite lost. Steve&kids

You Guys;

Pickin' on me when I'm doing something responsible like going to work!

Bray: My grade 6 teacher wrote on my Striaght A's report card, only 7 words. I've been so proud of them ever since. She said

"Silence is golden; she'll NEVER be rich!"

~~~~~~~~

As for the "abrasive bathroom cleanser" T-shirt, I really did order it, and wear it to committee meetings, always smiling beautificly at the committee chairman. I never said a word to him for what he'd said about me, but he looked like a fool from that day forward.

Oh and JD's Wifey, I thought BRAY agreed he was "the ol' goat" and I was the "rebellious menopausal old hag". They get tiaras, don't they?

(Oh, and by the way, REBELLIOUS menopausal old hags don't get hot flashes. We get POWER SURGES!)

HAHAHAHAHAHA

Menolly

Hey Sherri

From one bad girl to another...

As soon as Fed X is finished polishing my tiara, I'll let you borrow it, o.k?

Love,
Menolly

Combining the (Greek) "tiara" and the (English) "bad girl" is indescribable! LMAO

Menolly

I enjoy reading your posts...you have a great sense of humor & you always seem to know how to put a different spin on things!!

How abouta little Latin too?

Mea Maxima Culpa.

I've got to look up the origins of "TIARA". Doesn't sound Greek to me...

Maybe it's Irish. HAHAHAHA

DJ:

We have to laugh, my dear!

One of my heroes is Charlie Chaplin. From him I learned you either lay down and give up, or you laugh in their face.

Laughing's less painful!

Menolly

tiara:

[Mid-16th century. Directly and via Italian from Latin, from Greek tiara(s) , probably from a language of southwestern Asia.]

So, take your pick (where from). Greek sounded better in my post LMAO

DJ, Thanks!

It was a challenge that has/is becoming a habit too color outside of the lines in the thinking department.

Both side of my family has had a dementa problem envolving both sex's and it scare's the GEE-BEE's out of me now that I'm older.

I agree w/you Menolly I would rather laugh...makes things seem a little better if it's only for a moment.

I have enjoyed reading many of your posts as well BRay...I like your views & the great advice you have given many people here including myself.

You know BRay I have learned it's a whole lot more fun to "color outside the lines" makes life more interesting! I have heard a saying that I try to stick w/no matter what..."Always smile...it keeps em guessing!"

We're supposed to colour INSIDE the lines??????

Sheesh!!!!

Nobody ever tells me anything around here!

Menolly

:ha: :ha: :ha: :ha:

THANKS MENOLLY--I'D BE PROUD TO WEAR YOUR GENTLY USED TIARA

Hey Dave; When you're done polishing my tiara, pass it over to Sherri, o.k?

And here's your halo back, spit-polished, as promised.

Hey Sherri, do you think there are more chores around here that we can get these guys doing? It irks the daylights out of me that the ol' goat is fritterin' away his time COLOURING, when I have a job, and kid, and messy house calling out to me.

BRAY, I'm emailing you my laundry.

KEN, I'm faxing you my dirty dishes.

STEVE, how handy are you with a toilet brush?

C'mon Princess Sherri, let's watch...

Menolly

Menolly....
Think you could send one of the boys over to mow my lawn?? :)

Yup, JDW

Just as soon as I cram this lawnmower into that little slot thingy, in my computer.

There's already some dirty laundry hanging out of it, that I tried to send to BRAY, (or was that Ken)...

Dang! Now there's smoke and flames...

My Teenager's gonna kill me, for futzin with his computer!!

Maybe YOU should email me a nice cup of tea! Earl Grey, with honey'd be nice, right about now.

Menolly

Guess gonna haveta WOOP-ASS around this here place! One go a stray'n 'N da rest be a follow'n. Geezze a guy can't be relax'n fer no time!

[_]? tea for menolly.

Lovely Ken, thanks!

Menolly