Considering this involves board architecture and viability issues, I'm willing to defer to the collective will of the Stompies about what option/course of action would be best.

I agree with this sentiment. I also don't know enough to have any clue of how to find out whether a dedicated server would solve our problems.

A thought for later -- If we go with the dedicated server, we may wish to partner up with businesses that give us commissions for buying things we'd buy anyway. It would ease the financial pressures.

I agree this decision should be left to people who have technical knowledge. Two comments/questions:

1. If we do go with FanGeek, we should try to raise the full year's fee right away, so that we don't have to pass the hat every month or put the Keeper of the Accounts in the position of having to spend her own money.

2. What would happen if, for one reason or another, we decided to move on before the year was up?

I wonder how much a business DSL connection and a server sitting in a Buffista's home would cost...

It would cost millions in terms of the life of the Buffista. They would then be a Linux/MySQL administrator, responsible for backups, patches, security, redundant power, redundant DSL -- the sort of things we take for granted with most any hosting package, even the cheapies.

I'm weighing in with an opinion and an abdication. If we want board stability and if this looks to be the solution, even though it is 10 times what we pay currently, it might be worth it to have the stability. A year long contract doesn't seem like such a big deal to me because a year of stability might be something nice to look down the pipe and see.

Also Kristen has been, IMO, a profoundly helpful person who has worked with us extensively.

However, in spite of my opinion, I have no issue with leaving this in the hands of those with more technical prowess than IO. Also, this is precisely the kind of issue that I think voting should not be used for. I believe in those of us who have more technical know how and therefore abdicate my usual desire to vote to those with more knowledge.

I am Kat on this issue.

I also believe, based on what I've seen already from the amazing Buffistas, that we will be able to raise the money. I'm a little concerned about what happens a year from now, but I think that's enough time to figure stuff out in the meantime.

And I don't think it's possible to express how glad I am that we went with FG in the first place, because working through this stuff with Kristen is 1000 times better than working with just about anyone else, I'm sure.

I'm with Matt. I trust the Stompies. And I'll certainly kick in new money to the pot to support whatever we decide to do.

Oh, and I do think there should be a general announcement about this stuff.

I feel safe leaving this decision in Stompy hands, and I'm also willing to make a significant donation to the moving fund if it's needed. This place is certainly worth it to me.

Yes. This. My invisible friends are an important part of my life, and I would be more than willing to help with the finances. I also agree with whoever suggested that we try to get a year's worth of fees together up front.

In terms of raising funds, maybe some of us who make stuff could donate various items to be auctioned off on eBay to garner some dough.

Stability and speed seem to be two top priorities - to my non-technical ear, this sounds like what Kristen is offering, and she and FG have been greatly helpful, so it sounds like a good path for us. That said, whatever the stompies and more tech-minded folk decide is ok by me.

As far as the money goes, my understanding is that we have enough right now for the set-up and first three months under FG's offer. That gives us a little time to come up with the rest of the year. I don't think we'll have too much trouble, and by the end of a year we'll have a much better understanding of our needs and problems so we can decide where to go from there.

I put a link to this discussion in Press.