Fed-X
04-11-2002, 01:28 PM
In the last month I've received 2 email inquiries about donations. Today, I received an anonymous donation from one of you (I am assuming) and wanted to both thank whoever sent it, and address the subject of donations in regards to Prison Talk Online.
First, donations are not required, but they are welcomed. I am doing all right at supporting the hosting and maintenance for this site but there are a lot of things that can be done to enhance the Prison Talk Online community. I will list a few things I have plans for once they can be afforded.
1) Photo Gallery - There is a really terrific photo gallery program (and they know it) available that was designed to work with our community software. It looks very similar to our current forum layout except it is designed around Photographs instead of threads. You can post photos with descriptions that can be searched for by subject, your user name, event type, ETC. Other people can post replies to your photo (if you want them to). Send Postcards and SO many other things. Members have their own photo albums. Categories can be created for events and just about anything else. It’s pretty spectacular in my opinion. You can see examples at the following sites:
http://www.dodgetalk.com/gallery/index.pl
http://www.clublexus.com/cgi-bin/photo/index.pl
http://www.londonphotoclub.com/photopost/index.php
http://wildtexas.com/gallery/index.pl
2) Database Links & Resources Section – This is another add-on that will work seamlessly with PTO and allow us to create categories for links with descriptions and even banners. Members can fill & search this area with fully searchable links & information on Prison Reform, Support & whatever else that will beneficial to all.
3) “Calling Cards” & Banner Ads – I’d like to have a number of banners and calling cards designed that we can pass around to other websites to help get the word out to those who don’t know about Prison Talk Online.
4) PTO Site Makeover – The template – “design” we are currently using is nice but there are a LOT of things that can be done to make it more functional for new & current users alike. Adding “hacks” such as a “shout-box”, enhanced private message functions & controls, news windows, and many others will turn up the volume on functions & member control.
Some of this I can do myself but the other will need to be done by someone with php knowledge.
5) Brochure publishing & Mailing – I really like the idea of having a PTO brochure that we can pass out in visitation rooms & other places, AND mail to inmates via bulk-rate mail / post cards. This idea is still in its infancy but a number of you are working hard to make it happen and I want to do my part to see it happen.
Any way, in summery, all money received will be dedicated to enhancing OUR Prison Talk Online Community. I will be looking into opening a Pay-Pal account for anyone else that wants to have that option.
If you want to send snail mail please use this address:
PrisonTalk Online
1004 Ashburn Ave.
College Station, TX. 77840
I do want to make something completely clear - PrisonTalk will remain open no matter what. The only way I would allow this site to “go down” is if every last one of you quit coming here. I wish the prison industry would crash and give all of us no reason to need PTO, but I don’t see that happening any time soon. Also, I want to reassure all of you that we WILL NOT have Pop-Up banner ads like you see in so many other forums and mailing lists. I personally HATE these. Especially when they have nothing to do with the subject matter. We may eventually incorporate some sort of mini rotation system built into the design so we can rotate mini-banners such as the ones you currently see on the forum title bars, but that is a way off if it happens, and would only be used to get the word out about oranizations and things that can benefit prisoners and their families.
One more thing before I close…
I want to thank all of you for making Prison Talk Online what it is today. A wonderful community for the prison reform / prisoner support / family support system. I know we will continue to grow and benefit many who are lost, in need of help and support. Together we are making a difference.
Have a good one!
David
admin@prisontalk.com
First, donations are not required, but they are welcomed. I am doing all right at supporting the hosting and maintenance for this site but there are a lot of things that can be done to enhance the Prison Talk Online community. I will list a few things I have plans for once they can be afforded.
1) Photo Gallery - There is a really terrific photo gallery program (and they know it) available that was designed to work with our community software. It looks very similar to our current forum layout except it is designed around Photographs instead of threads. You can post photos with descriptions that can be searched for by subject, your user name, event type, ETC. Other people can post replies to your photo (if you want them to). Send Postcards and SO many other things. Members have their own photo albums. Categories can be created for events and just about anything else. It’s pretty spectacular in my opinion. You can see examples at the following sites:
http://www.dodgetalk.com/gallery/index.pl
http://www.clublexus.com/cgi-bin/photo/index.pl
http://www.londonphotoclub.com/photopost/index.php
http://wildtexas.com/gallery/index.pl
2) Database Links & Resources Section – This is another add-on that will work seamlessly with PTO and allow us to create categories for links with descriptions and even banners. Members can fill & search this area with fully searchable links & information on Prison Reform, Support & whatever else that will beneficial to all.
3) “Calling Cards” & Banner Ads – I’d like to have a number of banners and calling cards designed that we can pass around to other websites to help get the word out to those who don’t know about Prison Talk Online.
4) PTO Site Makeover – The template – “design” we are currently using is nice but there are a LOT of things that can be done to make it more functional for new & current users alike. Adding “hacks” such as a “shout-box”, enhanced private message functions & controls, news windows, and many others will turn up the volume on functions & member control.
Some of this I can do myself but the other will need to be done by someone with php knowledge.
5) Brochure publishing & Mailing – I really like the idea of having a PTO brochure that we can pass out in visitation rooms & other places, AND mail to inmates via bulk-rate mail / post cards. This idea is still in its infancy but a number of you are working hard to make it happen and I want to do my part to see it happen.
Any way, in summery, all money received will be dedicated to enhancing OUR Prison Talk Online Community. I will be looking into opening a Pay-Pal account for anyone else that wants to have that option.
If you want to send snail mail please use this address:
PrisonTalk Online
1004 Ashburn Ave.
College Station, TX. 77840
I do want to make something completely clear - PrisonTalk will remain open no matter what. The only way I would allow this site to “go down” is if every last one of you quit coming here. I wish the prison industry would crash and give all of us no reason to need PTO, but I don’t see that happening any time soon. Also, I want to reassure all of you that we WILL NOT have Pop-Up banner ads like you see in so many other forums and mailing lists. I personally HATE these. Especially when they have nothing to do with the subject matter. We may eventually incorporate some sort of mini rotation system built into the design so we can rotate mini-banners such as the ones you currently see on the forum title bars, but that is a way off if it happens, and would only be used to get the word out about oranizations and things that can benefit prisoners and their families.
One more thing before I close…
I want to thank all of you for making Prison Talk Online what it is today. A wonderful community for the prison reform / prisoner support / family support system. I know we will continue to grow and benefit many who are lost, in need of help and support. Together we are making a difference.
Have a good one!
David
admin@prisontalk.com