Changes coming to OKCTalk

[Patrick]

As you may have read, we are abandoning the Premium Member System, in favor of a system that reflects better our overall purpose for the system to begin with. The Premium Membership System was created to try to raise money to offset the operating expenses of this site. Unfortunately, many didn't understand the concept, and viewed it more as a profit-making model.

We are in the process of switching to "Contributor Model" which will better reflect our attempts at soliciting donations from our users.

We will be building a donation page in the next few days. Our thoughts are to post our monthly expenses with a donation bar next to each item so a person can donate to one of several items such as:

Operating Expenses (hosting, software)
Marketing & Promotion
Labor (our compuer programmer expenses)

If expenses are not met for that item the balance is rolled over to the next month so you can easily see the total amount we are ahead or behind for the entire year.

In addition we bring back the small Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum bars and assign a donation amount for each bar.

I hope this new system will clarify better our purpose for donations, and at the same time will allow our users to see exactly what our operating expenses are.

[metro]

Cool. Thanks for posting this Patrick. Let's all do our part to help this site!

[Dungeon Master]

I didn't see anything wrong with the Premium Member deal but either way, count me in. I already advertise for OKCTALK by having a link to it on my web site but I'll make a donation as well. It's well worth it.

[BricktownGuy]

Just asking.... what happens to "premium members" that still have time left on their membership????

[Lauri101]

I was going to ask that myself, since I'm one of the newer premium's.

I assume we will be suitably recognized?

[Karried]

This is just my opinion but I would think for those just becoming PMs that it might be prudent for you not to donate for awhile (since you just did) unless of course, you really want to!

On the flip side, for those who have never been able to pay for the Premium Membership, this gives them the opportunity to donate a small amount if they so chose.

Hopefully, it will all even out and we can keep this place open 24/7...

[Patrick]

I was going to ask that myself, since I'm one of the newer premium's.

I assume we will be suitably recognized?

We're going to change your status from Premium Member to Contributor. Really, there won't be a caste system anymore, as everyone will have access to the same features, only we will recognize our donors with a special user title of some sort. So you will be recognized for the donation you've made to OKCTalk.

Really, people never gave to Premium Membership for the features, IMO. They gave because they wanted to help us out with financial costs. So we're just changing the system to reflect that more.

[Lauri101]

Really, people never gave to Premium Membership for the features, IMO. They gave because they wanted to help us out with financial costs. So we're just changing the system to reflect that more.

True at least in my case. I figured out quickly that this forum had enough information on it to make it work the approximately $.13 a day cost!

[madison]

I think this is a great idea, I know seeing where my money goes will definetly make me what to donate! And make me feel responsible if money isn't made for the month! If I haven't given

[Todd]

Hello Everyone,

Here is my first crack at the new OKCTalk donation page.

http://www.okctalk.com/cmps_index.php?page=funding

[Patrick]

By the way, we found a different hosting company with a better price. So, he just recently switched over. I think we've cut costs about as much as we can.

[BricktownGuy]

Just something to maybe look into...

I believe if my knowledge is right if a organization is non-profit, businesses can make donations and they count as being tax-deductible.

Maybe if OKCTalk were to go non-profit, we could find more corporations and businesses willing to make a corporate donation. (Corporate Sponsorship)

[Lauri101]

Even though I'm blowing my somewhat thin cover, I'll chime in as a Tax Specialist for IRS on this one.

Cash payments to an organization, charitable or otherwise, may be deductible as business expenses if the payments are not charitable contributions or gifts. If the payments are charitable contributions or gifts, you cannot deduct them as business expenses.
However, corporations (other than S corporations) can deduct charitable contributions on their income tax returns, subject to limitations. See the Instructions for Form 1120 and 1120-A for more information. Sole proprietors, partners in a partnership, or shareholders in an S corporation may be able to deduct charitable contributions made by their business on Schedule A (Form 1040).

See here.

Now, for the second part of the question:
An organization may qualify for exemption from federal income tax if it is organized and operated exclusively for one or more of the following purposes.

Charitable.
Religious.
Educational.
Scientific.
Literary.
Testing for public safety.
Fostering national or international amateur sports competition (but only if none of its activities involve providing athletic facilities or equipment; however, see Amateur Athletic Organizations, later in this chapter).
The prevention of cruelty to children or animals.


To qualify, the organization must be a corporation, community chest, fund, or foundation. A trust is a fund or foundation and will qualify. However, an individual or a partnership will not qualify.

The 501(c)(3)status must be applied for and granted by the IRS. See http://www.irs.gov/publications/p557/ch03.html#d0e2875 for further information.

[The Old Downtown Guy]

Thanks Todd and all of the volunteers at OKCTalk for listening to the views of the scbscribers and then taking the next step of being responsive and making adjustments in the funding process. I agree with others that contributed because they value the site not because of the PM perks. Hopefully we will see a larger number of subscribers being equally responsible by providing a little more $ support. Thanks for making this important public forum possible and thanks for the time all of you contribute.

[BricktownGuy]

funding link....
http://www.okctalk.com/cmps_index.php?page=funding

Is the link on the home page?