> > > If we are to grow we need an organizational plan for growth. > We need a growth oriented revenue plan. > ** This can wait awhile. > ** Nonprofit?? > **** underwriting or no underwriting? > ** For profit? (I would be reluctant to contribute for free.) > > > If it grows, I mostly care about it paying expenses, so if I'm hosting > and whatever goes along with that (I have been paid to write for a > living, too), I'd expect to be able to add non-intrusive advertising. > As to what would happen to anything left over after hosting expenses, > I'd be inclined to invite the users and managers vote on a charity > related to the subject. We could also explore asking publishers to > sponsor, but that's a long way off. And it is, of course, > advertising. I've had some ideas about social media and book > marketing kicking around for a while... but I'll leave that for later. > > For now, it's just going to be my problem to deal with the finances. > I say problem because I'm sure cash flow will be negative for a while, > of course. But it is appropriate to resolve those things early on if > there's chance it will actually throw off cash. If not, shouting and > tears inevitably follow. > > Nick > I've thought about this quite a bit today.
The community (as represented by a non-profit corporation when sufficiently mature) is responsible for the content of the wiki, marketing the site, and finding a host. Basically the community with virtual representation in the corporation is custodian of the site and its contents. The community, to avoid a conflict of interest, does not solicit advertising. They outsource technical management of the site to a "donor" host. The responsibilities of the host are detailed in a service level agreement and other contracts. The "donor" host is free to sell as much non-invasive advertising as they want on pretty much any topic. This may offset the cost of hosting the site. If the host makes a monster great profit "donating" hosting services, that is fine. The host must agree to public release of their gross revenues from hosting the site. That way when the host position comes up for periodic bid, RFP respondents can put together intelligent proposals. The host or its agents cannot serve on any board of directors since that would be a conflict of interest. Nick is the current host. He is also the de facto project leader. We should split up roles now so that Nick is lead host, technician, and evangelist and someone else is content leader and independent editor-in-chief. I'd like the role. Alberto would be good at it, though he doesn't have Nick or my grand vision for the project. If we have the mixed luck to grow at warp speed, we go to Google and *beg* them to buy out Nick as host. Otherwise, Nick shouldn't loose too much and could do OK. So for now, Nick hosts the site and can cover his expenses with non-invasive ads. The community doesn't advertise, but it is custodian of the wiki's contents. _______________________________________________ http://mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
