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us whatever we need to do to keep it running smoothly

I'll say this, because I know it's easier for me to say it than for Ryan. If you haven't gotten a premium membership yet, please do. And convince your friends to get one too. That means skipping one cup of coffee once a month. A veritable bargain, if you ask me. Or if someone wants to know what to get your for your birthday, ask for a premium membership. Or GIVE one as a gift. I believe everyone can see what time and effort goes into this site, and every premium membership will help Ryan upgrade to a bigger and more powerful server, and do many more things to keep this ship running. Membership in this site is growing crazily, but unfortunately Premium Memberships are lagging. I don't get tons of bells and whistles for my membership fee, and heck..I even get some bells and whistles I don't WANT (lol) but all in all I support the time and effort that goes into a site that helps me maintain so many boxes so easily. So I pay. But for everyone of us that pays, 25 aren't...and many of those people use this site as much as me, if not more. Please take the time to join. Seriously. Start throwing your change in a jar or skip one tank of gas and you'll easily make it.

LW PhD
"Nice Counts"

I liken my premium membership to a magazine subscription. As I have all but stopped the paper subscriptions to my doorstep, I cannot imagine giving up my AQ! It's always entertaining, filled with useful information about the world around me, and a dynamic TOOL that allows me to pursue my favorite hobby. I am compelled to support Atlas Quest.

speedsquare

so....
did you just now become premium?? or were you premium already??
that green cap looks really fine on you either way :)

LockWench said:

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If you haven't gotten a premium membership yet, please do.

And I couldn't agree more! Currently, a Yearly Membership is only $30... A YEAR! (Hence "yearly"). That's only $2.50 a MONTH. As LW pointed out, that's less than a cup of PNW coffee!

But perhaps you don't drink coffee... perhaps you are not swayed by her eloquent yet empassioned plea. Maybe if I put just how trivial this sum is in perspective....

THINGS THAT AQ IS LESS THAN:

A YEAR of AQ is only HALF the price of an Orange Velvet Elvis Painting (http://tinyurl.com/y8yzh7)

AQ is LESS than buying 3 Fake Doggie-DooDoos a month (http://tinyurl.com/w6pnu)

AQ is LESS than Chewing Gum that has NO FLAVOR! (http://tinyurl.com/vhtzl)

AQ is LESS than a Goth Straight-Jacket! (http://tinyurl.com/stbuz)

AQ is ONE SIXTH the price of a Purple Leopard-skin Lamp! (http://tinyurl.com/wc88o)

AQ is ONE QUARTER the cost of a Sushi-Roll Toilet Paper Cozie! (http://tinyurl.com/v54a2)

And of course, a YEAR of AQ is less than ON TENTH the cost of hiring an HOUR of a "Yo-Yo Master". (http://tinyurl.com/t9qos)

Just trying to help, Ryan!
-wassamatta_u

Hmmmm, 6 memberships vs. that STUNNING lamp... what a decision!!!!

It's a beaut, no?

I agree, a Premium Membership costs nothing if you break it down over the year. I got mine a couple days after joining when I realized I was going to be spending hours every day on the site. I also felt like I had no business complaining about things I don't like (which so far is nothing) if I wasn't contributing to all the hard work that keeps this site running. Ryan always seems to be here to help us out and the dedication of his time and money must be astronomical! It's the least we can do to take a tiny bit of that pressure off with a Premium Membership.

Thanks for everything Ryan!

Red Soup

If ALL I did was access clues and keep my find record on AQ, it would be well worth the $30. As it is, I find myself checking out AQ more than I check my personal e-mail. I just don't think we could ask for more in a user friendly, easy to navigate site. I can't imagine the time that goes into (and has gone into) putting this site together. When I read Ryan's post somewhere (don't remember where - sorry!) about making sure the site was user friendly for anyone who was color blind I thought that's a level of customer service I don't get from businesses that REQUIRE me to pay them (cable, water, electricity!!!) I'm happy to pony up my $30 as a very, very tiny way to show my appreciation for the site and all it requires in time (and money) to keep up and running!

Thanks!
Galaxy 4

Joining was a no brainer for me. Even though I don't post often, I use the sight a lot for finding clues. Thirty bucks in nothing for all Ryan does......Heck, I spend that on a bottle of wine without evening blinking.

Nice bottle of wine!

MC

I agree, although I was fortunate to have my membership given to me as a Christmas present!!! Thank you daughter!!! I find too that I am on this site way more than checking my own email!!! Thre is so much to learn here that I feel I have become addicted!!!

Thank you Ryan for all the time and energy you put into the site making it run smoothly.

LtW

It's a bargain at less than 9¢ a day. I think that I get more than my money's worth from this site. The drama, the comedy but most importantly my letterbox clues.

FG

I've been a premium member for 2 cycles. I would have been one on my AQ birthday, but I had never used Paypal, and I was *afraid*. So I didn't get in on the best subscription deal. Still a bargain.

I asked for a membership for Christmas. Have asked for one (early) for Valentine's Day, but I just can't wait...payday is Friday, so I'm gonna get me one of them fancy caps with the perty flower. When I first discovered AQ, I wasn't sure I was going to be using it much...boy was I wrong! I'm utterly addicted to every aspect of this hobby, including lurking on the message boards. I know becoming a premium member will be well worth the money.

~J of JBBK2006

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but I had never used Paypal, and I was *afraid*.

Yes I was the same. In addition I was unsure how converting the dollars to English pounds would work out. I wasted a whole two weeks pussyfooting around before Donning my Cap.

It was so easy, everything can be done straight from the AQ page and it automatically converts any other currency. So don't be afraid just jump right in.

Thanks GT for your marvellous site.

YT

Ira Glass used to do a humorous spot on NPR to get people to pledge. It turned out that folks who
listened to NPR all the time and even promised to send in a check (while chugging down some Starbucks coffee) did not follow through. You'd be surprised how many people who frequent this
site and communicate on the boards don't support the site.

"how many people who frequent this site and communicate on the boards don't support the site."


I am guilty of that, we have been boxing since September and I wanted to make sure it wasnt going to be another passing phase like so many others I have started. But I am totally hooked and will be getting my pretty feathered hat later on today!!

crazyolis

Wow that cap shows up quickly!! So how does it look?? Is it me??

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I am guilty of that, we have been boxing since September and I wanted to make sure it wasnt going to be another passing phase like so many others I have started. But I am totally hooked and will be getting my pretty feathered hat later on today!!

Congratulations! I think it's important to support AQ and LBNA financially, that's why I'm a premium member at one and a donor to the other. You don't get a pretty green hat when you donate to LBNA or any extra perks like here on AQ, but you do get the satisfaction of knowing that you're helping to ensure the largest bank of clues will remain open for business. And that's satisfaction in itself.

Dewberry

Congrats, Crazyolis! Now, see...that didn't hurt a bit! And I DO know you will get your money's worth as you are a great contributor to these boards and all. I think it was a wise decision to kick the tires, try it out...and see if letterboxing "stuck" before purchasing your premium membership. Nothing wrong with that! Now, if we could just get just even HALF of all the other "addicted" ones to pony up..we'd be be good shape.

I don't want anyone to misunderstand me here. Every one should have their priorties in order..babyfood before premium memberships...and all that. I am just trying to appeal to those people who I KNOW think nothing of driving through multiple states to get that "find count" pushed up and then spend hours on here entering them all....or who will drive 300+ miles to attend a gather listed on here and then spend days talking about it on these boards, or will spend all the money to plant 50 boxes and spend hours on here maintaining and tracking them, or those people who tell me "but I only use AQ for PLB's...it's not really letterboxing" ( and they're signed up for a dozen of them on here). I am just trying to appeal to those who STILL haven't sacrificed the tiny bit it would cost them ( $2.50 a MONTH) to start paying for a site that they check more than their own email, ( YOU KNOW YOU YOU ARE! LOL)

Heck, a dime in a jar every day will help your membership. Do you realize that? You could skip some days and STILL have enough to pay for the ENTIRE year. Please don't make me get a picture of Ryan with a tin cup and using his "sad turtle" eyes. Heck, that image alone should make you want to join! lol

LW PhD
"Nice Counts"

"as you are a great contributor to these boards and all"

HMM...does that mean I talk a lot???

No not me!!!

my mom used to say I started talking at 9 months and never shut up!! LOL...

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"HMM...does that mean I talk a lot???

Honey, that would be the pot calling the kettle black! I was rather insulted the other day when someone posted that those with a lot of stars were just yapping to "up" their "star" count. I think the great majority of our posts are issue based, or passing information to a newbie, or encouraging someone, or thanking someone, or cracking a joke to keep the "good vibes" going. And even our most heated posts make a point and I believe add something to the conversation. So I've decided they just don't have anything intelligent to add and are maybe a little jealous. Or are too new to remember when we early members were encouraged to "get these boards" moving....

So keep posting!

LW PhD
"Nice Counts"

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Please don't make me get a picture of Ryan with a tin cup and using his "sad turtle" eyes.

Is there such picture? :-) I'd like to see it! It might work...
One thing I miss now that I have my feathered cap is the random pictures that showed up in these posts... :-)

I just noticed that membership will be going up to $35/year soon, that should be an incentive for people to join now!

Six Ps

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THINGS THAT AQ IS LESS THAN:

A YEAR of AQ is only HALF the price of an Orange Velvet Elvis Painting (http://tinyurl.com/y8yzh7)

AQ is LESS than buying 3 Fake Doggie-DooDoos a month (http://tinyurl.com/w6pnu)

AQ is LESS than Chewing Gum that has NO FLAVOR! (http://tinyurl.com/vhtzl)

AQ is LESS than a Goth Straight-Jacket! (http://tinyurl.com/stbuz)

AQ is ONE SIXTH the price of a Purple Leopard-skin Lamp! (http://tinyurl.com/wc88o)

AQ is ONE QUARTER the cost of a Sushi-Roll Toilet Paper Cozie! (http://tinyurl.com/v54a2)

And of course, a YEAR of AQ is less than ON TENTH the cost of hiring an HOUR of a "Yo-Yo Master". (http://tinyurl.com/t9qos)

how do you come up with these things?

so this really what you do in your down time- look at leopard skin lamps and trying to be a yo-yo master.
come on fess up

kwm:)

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Ira Glass used to do a humorous spot on NPR to get people to pledge. It turned out that folks who
listened to NPR all the time and even promised to send in a check (while chugging down some Starbucks coffee) did not follow through. You'd be surprised how many people who frequent this
site and communicate on the boards don't support the site.

I loved the one where he'd call someone up and ask for them to donate ALL the money for that year to keep NPR going! LOL

We back premium members way back as well and loved it so much, we also made it a gift for someone. In retrospect, I didn't even use AQ back then as much as I do now, but as it's improved, I've found it even harder to do without. Boy, if Ryan had to shut this baby down NOW...well, as my Southern granny used to say, "Chil', I don't even WANNA know whut I'd do!"

It looks wonderful!!! Congrats! I have had mine since Christmas day, and I love it!!! Gives one a "jauntiness!!!"

LtW

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Congratulations! I think it's important to support AQ and LBNA financially, that's why I'm a premium member at one and a donor to the other. You don't get a pretty green hat when you donate to LBNA or any extra perks like here on AQ, but you do get the satisfaction of knowing that you're helping to ensure the largest bank of clues will remain open for business. And that's satisfaction in itself.

Dewberry

Nicely put Dewberry. We're all one big Letterboxing family. Support both AQ & LBNA as they both provide a service to a great hobby for all of us to enjoy.

I just love my feathered cap,
Sahalie

Yeah.

jackbear (upping his star count) heeheee...

See our pretty new green hat? It truly sets off our eyes (all five pair!)

Wild Dreams

Speaking as a newbie, I am most grateful for all of your posts! I have learned so much by observing your conversations. I'm still unclear on some stuff, and really afraid of sounding completely clueless, so I'll keep the postings to a minimum until I at least learn more vocab!

Thanks!

Wild Dreams

You should never be afraid to ask questions Wild Dreams. There are a ton of super kind and patient people here who are happy to help you out.

Red Soup