Premium Membership

**Dan-Sam** · 08-18-2022 12:35

Moved posts from Real Online WoG thread:

Originally Posted by Dan-Sam

I am afraid we can not. As you noted, we are more guardians or "fillers" than programmers. There is a try how to get Keith back at least once or twice per year to fix these troubles (preview on Home Page is also a fin example). It is not easy, he has his own life pretty much out of the Aerodrome, but I still believe "few hours a year volunteering" can be a way for us.
The other topic is complete migration to new (= not dead) system, but that is for absolutely different thread.

Originally Posted by Diamondback

This makes me start to wonder what's being done with our "premium membership" dues that are supposed to keep the place running...

Originally Posted by camelbeagle

Yea, good point!

**Honza** · 08-18-2022 14:28

I was wondering about the same, when i realized the level of helplessness and the unusually non-responsive server side. Where would that money go? But then again, i didn't want to sound malcontent.

**Oberst Hajj** · 08-18-2022 21:05

I don't have much time for a detail response right now, but the premium memberships are paying for what they have always paid for: VPS server, lots of extra storage space for all of our images and files, SSL certs to keep the site secure, and all the other little things add up to quite a bit each year. Part of the issue is also that the forum software is super old and no longer supported. The site should really be moved over to a newer forum software and probably a new host/server, but that runs a high risk of losing a lot of our data not to mention most if not all of the custom coding what was done to setup this site the way it is. I will try and add more next week when I have a bit more time and answer any questions or concerns you guys and gals might have.

**Flying Helmut** · 08-19-2022 03:11

Thanks, Chief!

**Biggles downunder** · 08-19-2022 05:50

Thanks Keith!

**Stumptonian** · 08-19-2022 10:51

My Gold renewal will go through in early September, as always.

Thanks, Keith.

**Diamondback** · 08-19-2022 15:47

Having to keep an antique train on the tracks does explain a lot.

Suggestion, if we do look to a new platform, maybe set it up on a parallel server and mirror all the data over then let a tester group see what works and what doesn't first. Also designate someone specifically for "make-it-fail" testing.