Gratitude & Gifts: 2024 Holiday Message from Lathe Trolls

[Steve E.]

Dear Lathe Trolls, members and lurkers,

In many parts of the world, it's that bundling up, try-to-keep-warm time of year. Certainly that's the case in Brooklyn, New York, where your virtual record-cutters' club is physically maintained. And, as we approach the holidays of gratitude and gifting, it's the season that I ask for further help in keeping this site going. If this site has made your year better, and if you have not done so recently, please take a moment now to add us to your gratitude and gifting list: in thought and in direct action: Click here (or the gold button above) to contribute and help keep the Lathe Trolls site running.

In November, I renewed the domains and hosting of the Secret Society of Lathe Trolls chat forum for another year. This week, I updated the "Our Sponsors" pages -- both the current ones, and the older archival ones, upgrading the security and accuracy of older links wherever possible.

Thanks to all those who have already contributed to this year's Lathe Trolls fundraiser. We're now at the 119 contributors. All have been thanked on the "Our Sponsors" page. In a very real way, these contributions are what allows the Lathe Trolls website to keep functioning.

This year's fundraiser has had 8% participation from those who have logged into the site since May 2023 (A year from when the fundraiser started), and 10% participation if we measure from those who have logged in over exactly the past year. By the second measure, we are 3/5 to our goal of 16 2/3% participation from our site's recent logged-in visitors. (It's difficult to gauge how many visitors don't log in; but it might double these numbers, or more.)

Can the enthusiastic stragglers among us help reach and surpass our goal NOW? If you have not yet done so, please contribute and help keep the Lathe Trolls site running. I know times are hard for some ... but please know that no amount is too small. If you are using the site, it all truly adds up and helps.

$33.33 USD is a magic number. But a contribution of $20 USD will still make a big difference. Smaller amounts ($16.66 or $7.80, for example) will add up, as long as everyone pulls their weight. If your business income or most meaningful hobby depends on the site, please consider more: For donations of $45 or more, you can customize your link, and also have it connect to a webpage outside the Lathe Trolls site. Banner ads are available for $78 on up--email me for details, or read this link. A checkmark at the Paypal page gives you the option of making a monthly contribution, too. (This is a great option if your cash flow is low and your allegiance is high). If Paypal doesn't work for you, please reach to me and we can figure out another option. Your giving will keep this community, and this vital database of record-cutting knowledge, alive.

Now, here's my thank you to ALL site members: The site is worth maintaining because of the questions, knowledge, creativity, humor and enthusiasm you contribute. Special gratitude goes to the current and past volunteer moderators who've kept the site running smoothly, and who break up the fights, dramas and bots. Aussie0zborn (Mike), tragwag (Tyler), and piaptk (also Mike) deserve much credit and kudos for all they've done this year and in years past.

All prior sponsors (and mods) continue to be thanked on the archival sponsor pages. This site is here now because these people and small businesses gave financially, sometimes repeatedly, in these prior years. Even the smallest of these added up, and the site has survived. I'd love to have you included on the current page's list. I have a hunch that sponsoring www.LatheTrolls.com, for the first time or once again, will make you feel nice inside.

Whether you are lighting up candles, a tree, an incense stick, or a flaming jar of acetate swarf, I wish you a holiday season with a warm high end and pleasant dynamics.

Yours truly,

Steve E.
Administrator
The Secret Society of Lathe Trolls

Here's the message sent out in May, at the start of the fundraiser:
https://www.lathetrolls.com/fundraiser

[Steve E.]

Thanks all for the end-of-year contributions. They helped at a critical time. Sponsor page will be updated shortly.

Happy New Year! I'm grateful to all of you for making this site worthwhile, and for keeping it operating.

yours,

Steve