At 10:56 AM 2/14/2006, Woody wrote:

...

Ed wrote:

Who gives a rip about what websearch tool or browser you use or whether you like MicroSoft.

People who give a RIP crop up when they find out companies who do this kind of marketing have violated their privacy. Then they get very angry, and in some cases that anger is unfairly directed at AMSAT. If you don't believe me, send me an email and I'll share emails that blame us for disclosing it or an equal amount that claim we are "too strict" on protecting personal information. We are committed to protecting all of your personal information and I personally will resign before I work as a volunteer for any organization who isn't committed to the protecting your information.

There is no easy way for an organization that is volunteer led to develop the bandwidth to make sure we can endorse any such scheme. The alternative is to have your contributions and dues go to pay staff salaries rather than have that money go to build satellites. Unfortunately, if we were to grow that large, the trend is that non-profits are more likely to sell off your information to pay for overhead.

At AMSAT, none of us are paid staff. I certainly am not. We barely get compensated for our out of pocket expenses, and Area Coordinators get paid nothing for gas and mileage (and in my case, transportation to give presentations in California, some of which are up to 500 miles away!)

On the other hand I have been a long proponent, even before I joined the board and since joining the board, that we could ultimately raise at least $100K per year if we could advertise on our website. However even this is controversial and I have been shot down every time I have proposed it to the board, I think is going on three times now. But I respect the people who have been opposed, though I disagree and grow tired of the same arguments it is a board decision, and we must abide by the votes.

To many of you, all of this including, the web search thing, must seem like a no-brainer. I can assure you that it isn't. If you think it is, ask yourself where someone doing targeting marketing to you got the information. Then ask yourself this question:

Are you willing to allow AMSAT sell off your personal information to launch a new satellite?

Certainly some of you may, I suspect most will not.

A better way to deal with this is to consider this: Is it worth it to you for AMSAT to keep your personal information private?

If you think so, go to the store and donate $10 - that's the same as a couple of thousand clicks or so. If you don't want to use the online store, call Martha at call 1-888-322-6728 (USA and Canada). Better still, pay for the call by dialing (301) 589-6062. You can also send a check or even (*gasp*) just send a holiday card with a $10 bill.

It's all good, and if you want it to go to Eagle or P3E, tell us - we will make sure it gets there.

73,

Emily, N1DID

At 10:56 AM 2/14/2006, Woody wrote:

Ed wrote:

...

Who gives a rip about what websearch tool or browser you use or whether you like MicroSoft. Those that can utilize this search tool to help raise a few more bucks should. If you can't or won't use it....then send Amsat support some other way...geesh my delete finger is getting sore from this thread.

FINALLY! Someone had something intelligent to say about this thread.

Thanks, Ed.

73,

Woody KJ4SO

----- Original Message ----- From: "Edward R. Cole" al7eb@acsalaska.net To: "G8IFF/KC8NHF" nigel@ngunn.net Cc: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2006 6:40 AM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: [bod] A web search tool that costs you nothing and generates donations to AMSAT

...

At 10:43 AM 2/14/2006 +0000, G8IFF/KC8NHF wrote:

...

Who'se doing the insulting. It's about time that the majority realised that Microsoft isn't the ONLY way to go. Some of us exersise the choice we've been given.

If you're happy with Microsoft products, that's fine. I'm not.

I thought this was about raising funds so we could launch satellites ....Like Eagle? Who gives a rip about what websearch tool or browser you use or whether you like MicroSoft. Those that can utilize this search tool to help raise a few more bucks should. If you can't or won't use it....then send Amsat support some other way...geesh my delete finger is getting sore from this thread.

ALL that I am going to say....don't bother to flame me...I will not respond...this is enough, already!

Ed - KL7UW

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