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Last updated: 4 April 2010 |
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| In my editorial of 22 December 1999, I mentioned that there were costs to maintain this site. I suggested that there were two ways to recover some portion of the costs: accepting advertising or charging a small subscription fee. Based upon reader feedback I decided to do neither. However, to recover some of the costs to keep this site going I decided to use the United States Public Radio/Television model of accepting pledges. I began accepting pledges in 2000. |
Pledge contributions, while similar to a subscription fee, are totally voluntary. Those who choose not to contribute will not be restricted from accessing any pages on this site. But to entice you to make a contribution, several pledge levels are offered and optional gifts are available at many levels. Gifts are supplied by the pledge sponsor as shown below. The sponsor has no editorial or financial stake in this site other than their ongoing support for the readers of this site. Available gift selections may change at any time based upon the number of sponsors and what they make available, and upon the pledge levels supported. Specific gifts may be withdrawn or substitutions made at any time.
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In addition to using the secure Kagi online payment processing system (described further down this page) that I have used since 2000, as of 4 April 2010, I am now accepting Pledge contributions via PayPal. The same "gift levels" described below apply.
To make a payment via PayPal, just click the PayPal logo below and then click the "Send Money" tab at the top of the PayPal page. Enter my email address (mweasner@mac.com), your email address, and the amount you wish to pledge to "Weasner's Mighty ETX Site". If you are a PayPal member, you are probably familiar with this process. But if you are not a member of PayPal, for many people, joining PayPal may not required; just enter the requested information.
Pledge contributions can also still be done by Kagi.com via their secure web site. Kagi is well known in the computer shareware software industry and can handle credit card or check transactions worldwide using the web, phone, fax, and electronic mail. To make a pledge via Kagi, click the Kagi logo below and fill out the form.
Once I receive notice of your Pledge from PayPal or Kagi, I will contact you to verify your Pledge, determine what gift you wish to receive (if you pledged at a "gift level"), and to confirm whether you wish your name or "anonymous" to be used on the Site Membership page as recognition of your contribution to sustaining this site.
As I have stated many times since 1996, this site is really your site and your contributions of tips, reviews, photos, and user feedback have made it the most popular small telescope site on the World Wide Web. For that you have my thanks. With your pledge support, even more useful information, not available elsewhere, will continue to appear here.
Finally, in that same editorial, I discussed the possible evolution from "Weasner's Mighty ETX Site" into "Weasner's Tremendous Small Telescope Site". Again, based upon your feedback, it was apparent that the majority of you want this site to stay focused on the ETX and other small telescopes from Meade Instruments Corporation. Therefore this site will stay as it is, growing as necessary to support future ETX telescope products from Meade. Users of other small telescopes are welcome to visit (and contribute pledges) but technical support for non-Meade telescopes will not be available here.
My thanks for all the past and future support, and for letting me be your host.
Mike Weasner
Legal fine print: Acceptance of your Pledge constitutes no warranty on continued availability of this site. While it is my intention to continue this site for as long as there is reader interest, various circumstances could arise that would result in the termination of this site. Pledge refunds will not be made in the event of site termination. Neither I, service providers, nor Pledge Gift sponsors can be held responsible for lost pledges, lost gifts, or other circumstances beyond my or their control.
Many thanks to the following Charter Sponsor for the support:
("Hangman Pro" game has astronomical terms category)
If your company would like to be a sponsor please contact Mike Weasner.
Available at several pledge levels is this special T-Shirt (currently only Adult Medium size is available), which you can proudly wear to show your support of this site:
Go to the Site Membership page.
Go back to the ETX Home Page.