As many have mentioned, this site has been built to be as inexpensive-to-run as possible. We use phpBB for the forum software. The base code is free, but this site is moderately customized (by me). Given the site needs and requirements, we can't use a shared hosting environment, so we have dedicated VPS and Database servers that we use, along with additional storage due to the features we have here to upload pics. Having a DB server and a VPS server along with additional storage is not cheap and I thank the handful of users here who support this site on a monthly basis - without their support, the site wouldn't be here. It's also a lot of work to keep the servers updated, the site updated, etc.
However, to try to bring this web site into a more modern age, I think it's time we look at moving to a new forum format. Several have asked for it and it makes sense. Most of the big sites out there use XenForo, so after some research, this seems to make the most sense. It's great on a computer as well as a phone and is much more 'modern'.
The downside... I'd like to keep the forum data, user accounts, PM's and all the info we can, so that a migration is as seamless as possible. However, it's not a quick or simple migration to go from phpBB to xenForo, despite sharing the same DB back-end (MySQL). While I'd love to do the migration myself, I simply don't have the time for it and will need to contract that work out. I've got that lined up, but I'd like to try to raise some funds to do that.
If you enjoy the forums, please consider going to the Patreon page I have set up to donate to the site: https://www.patreon.com/ArizonaShooting
Please note that the Patreon site says "20 members". This number is inclusive of anyone who has ever donated at some time - even a $1 donation for 1 month. That number is not representative of a recurring amount of donations. I think we have 6 people that currently donate on a regular monthly basis (which is mind-boggling to me) and one advertiser. So yes, donations are needed and appreciated. I understand that not everyone can commit to $2 a month... but even a one-time donation is helpful (meaning, subscribe and then cancel), especially for the migration work I'd like to do this month.
Once we get migrated, for those that assisted (and especially those that have done so all along), I will try to do something - whether it's a special badge on the new forums, or some sort of ongoing acknowledgement.
I will provide updates on migration plans soon!
Link to donate to AZS: https://www.patreon.com/ArizonaShooting
BTW, while I appreciate it, I am not looking for suggestions around, "look at this forum software, or look at this web host". Those decisions have been made - not on a whim - and more goes into it than price.
Those who donate via Patreon may not have their status updated on this forum - it will be done after the migration on the 13th.
However, to try to bring this web site into a more modern age, I think it's time we look at moving to a new forum format. Several have asked for it and it makes sense. Most of the big sites out there use XenForo, so after some research, this seems to make the most sense. It's great on a computer as well as a phone and is much more 'modern'.
The downside... I'd like to keep the forum data, user accounts, PM's and all the info we can, so that a migration is as seamless as possible. However, it's not a quick or simple migration to go from phpBB to xenForo, despite sharing the same DB back-end (MySQL). While I'd love to do the migration myself, I simply don't have the time for it and will need to contract that work out. I've got that lined up, but I'd like to try to raise some funds to do that.
If you enjoy the forums, please consider going to the Patreon page I have set up to donate to the site: https://www.patreon.com/ArizonaShooting
Please note that the Patreon site says "20 members". This number is inclusive of anyone who has ever donated at some time - even a $1 donation for 1 month. That number is not representative of a recurring amount of donations. I think we have 6 people that currently donate on a regular monthly basis (which is mind-boggling to me) and one advertiser. So yes, donations are needed and appreciated. I understand that not everyone can commit to $2 a month... but even a one-time donation is helpful (meaning, subscribe and then cancel), especially for the migration work I'd like to do this month.
Once we get migrated, for those that assisted (and especially those that have done so all along), I will try to do something - whether it's a special badge on the new forums, or some sort of ongoing acknowledgement.
I will provide updates on migration plans soon!
Link to donate to AZS: https://www.patreon.com/ArizonaShooting
BTW, while I appreciate it, I am not looking for suggestions around, "look at this forum software, or look at this web host". Those decisions have been made - not on a whim - and more goes into it than price.
Those who donate via Patreon may not have their status updated on this forum - it will be done after the migration on the 13th.
