UPDATE: 9-30-20 ... OGR Forum Supporting Member Announcement

Thanks guys for those of you that have become supporting members!  We appreciate it!

A very worthwhile investment.

Here's what the Supporting Member certificate suitable for framing looks like:

After you purchase your Supporting Membership, you'll be given the link to get this FREE from the OGR Web store.

Good idea. 

DONE! And renewed my digital subscription too!

A lot of the local people I knew 10 years ago have moved or moved on. I really treasure this forum. Glad we got an option to help things keep going!

I'm in! This is a great idea.

Arnold

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

I'm in! This is a great idea.

Since I'm not tech saving, I will become a supporting member by tomorrow when I can get someone to help me complete the application and pay the $12 on-line.

Arnold

Hi Arnold...

It is an easy process, just click on the link provided and go from there.  It is just like making a purchase in our webstore.

Thanks for your support!

Especially now with current events being what they are, this forum is a welcome oasis to relax among friends - even when we may disagree and get a bit out of control.   It's well worth the small contribution to ensure the forum remains as such for all to share.  I'm glad I'm able to help out.

-Greg

Done

I’m in!!!

If I have learned anything over the last few trying months, it is the importance of supporting those things in life which are important to you... charities, arts institutions, and yes, OGR and the Forum. OGR affords a little daily escape from all the world’s craziness and that is priceless.

This is a really cool idea. I had often wondered about suggesting something like this. I don't really read magazines but wanted to support this forum. I will certainly sign up for this in a few days.

Hello Alan,

For those of us who were Digital Subscribers prior to the new "Supporting Member" category, weren't we in effect supporters of the Forum?  As Digital Subscribers we are given access to the entire library.

Thus if I sign up as a Supporting Member wouldn't that in effect be considered as signing up twice without any additional benefits?

Just trying to understand the offering better. 

Thanks!

A great idea!  I certainly have received more than $12 worth of advice from the OGR Forum and am happy to become a Supporting Member.

I'm in.

@Mike Wyatt posted:

I'm in.

Me too!

Glad to help. Prefer it be non-automatic billing.

Another great idea from the amazing forum leaders!

I just signed up!

@Allegheny posted:

Hello Alan,

For those of us who were Digital Subscribers prior to the new "Supporting Member" category, weren't we in effect supporters of the Forum?  As Digital Subscribers we are given access to the entire library.

Thus if I sign up as a Supporting Member wouldn't that in effect be considered as signing up twice without any additional benefits?

Just trying to understand the offering better. 

Thanks!

I would think that Digital Subscriber should infer Supporting Member... however, I am now seeing many users with both brandings... I guess that isn't a problem (more $$$ for OGR), but it is confusing. This new setup seems to infer that Digital Subscribers don't benefit the forum. For me, supporting the forum as the foremost reason I became a Digital Subscriber (the magazine and video library are also great benefits).

It's NOT CONFUSING support the forum you access the most!

I think I can afford a buck a month.

Done!

With all of the pleasure I get from participating here, how could I not become a Supporting Member????

I agree with John.  Count me in!

John

Done. F.Y.I if you join with an American Express card you’re get $5 credited to your account as part of their Shop Small program.

Brad

Done!!

I renewed the digital subscription.

"Supporting Member"/ "Digital Subscriber"....what?...no love for the paper magazine subscriber?....

@Allegheny posted:

Hello Alan,

For those of us who were Digital Subscribers prior to the new "Supporting Member" category, weren't we in effect supporters of the Forum?  As Digital Subscribers we are given access to the entire library.

Thus if I sign up as a Supporting Member wouldn't that in effect be considered as signing up twice without any additional benefits?

Just trying to understand the offering better. 

Thanks!

The digital subscription nor the print subscription supports the forum financially.  As I explained above, the forum sponsorships were created to help keep the forum going and are a benefit to all participants.  A long time ago there was a premium membership here on the forum that included some perks but that was years ago.  The creation of the supporting members opportunity is meant to allow those members to receive access to their own video library but not the same access as a digital subscriber.  Also, there are some cases in which one wants to support the forum but doesn't want to become a subscriber (greater than 80% of the membership does not subscribe to the magazine!).  In addition, they get the special tag that lets other members know that their contribution helps keep the forum free plus they get a special certificate that can be displayed which many members will do in their trainrooms, etc. 

I would hope that you would see the benefit of signing up but that is up to you as this is not a requirement as a forum member nor does it imply that because you are a current magazine subscriber that this is anything more than offering what a lot of members suggested over the past few years.   Many members realize that this forum is valuable to them and that their supporting membership will help keep the forum the way they like it free from increased and hobby unrelated advertising. 

Thanks for your current support through your subscriptions!

@Bill Webb posted:

Glad to help. Prefer it be non-automatic billing.

Bill..you can go in and change that.  Let us know if you need help. 

Couldn't sign up quick enough! After all you guys do for us , this is a no brainer ! DONE !

Thanks, Alex

@bmoran4 posted:

I would think that Digital Subscriber should infer Supporting Member... however, I am now seeing many users with both brandings... I guess that isn't a problem (more $$$ for OGR), but it is confusing. This new setup seems to infer that Digital Subscribers don't benefit the forum. For me, supporting the forum as the foremost reason I became a Digital Subscriber (the magazine and video library are also great benefits).

See my response above as this is a similar question/statement.  One thing, I do understand that most of you may not realize how many resources OGR uses to keep the forum going and for free.  With everything on social media that seems free, there is a resistance to paying for forums and blogs.  But please realize that on other social media platforms and especially the most well known ones, advertising takes place in many forms that may or may not have anything to do with your interests or the hobby.  Just watch videos online and see that increasingly they have commercials interrupting the video.  We are trying to not have to do that here and only accept advertising from hobby related businesses.  The kind in which you are likely interested. 

We welcome your support through subscriptions and now if you so chose, through a supporting membership.

Thanks!

@RickO posted:

"Supporting Member"/ "Digital Subscriber"....what?...no love for the paper magazine subscriber?....

Uhmm...why did I know that this would come up....  Rick, this is designed for anybody that wants to join and it does not matter if you are a digital or print subscriber.  As a print subscriber, this would add access to a category in the video digital library that you would normally have to pay for EACH video.  We value ALL of our subscribers but it is no secret that it costs less to produce the digital magazine and thus we are able to offer more digitally.

Thanks for your support!

I really appreciate the OGR digital magazine and especially the Forum! I'm glad to be a Supporting Member! 

John

I'm stunned, there were 10301 supporting members before me!

I'm in!!  I just signed up.

I'm in. The best customer service and repair outlet in the hobby........and its 24hrs. The experts here seem to know more than the "experts".

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I'm stunned, there were 10301 supporting members before me!

WHAT!!....I wish that were true!!

It must be Alan, my certificate is 10302.

As a magazine subscriber and a digital subscriber, I couldn't sign up fast enough. This forum is tops in people helping others and also in gaining knowledge for things we want to do, can't do and learning whom to send it to. No Where on the internet will you gain FRIENDS like here. I know one of the popular sites has you getting lots of FRIENDS but think of this please:

1. Here you can just remain quiet for free and observe

2. Here you can ask for help

3. here you can offer help

4. Here you find out you have friends that will actually communicate with you and help you or support you. They aren't in a list that you have to confirm then never hear from them.

5. Here your friends are really friends wanting to listen, Offer support or help and sometimes physically offer to come help out. You will not find that any where else and all for free.

I get the magazine and love it, I also get the digital and love it as it lets me do lots of things plus search previous issues of the magazine. It also has the same articles with MORE content.

Asking for $12.00 a year which is $1 a month is nothing. I don't drink coffee but I guzzle 7Up. I think I can do without 6 two liter bottles a year.

And as a final note:

Thank you all for being friends regardless of how stupid or dumb or ignorant (and sometimes but I hope few, Arrogant) I am.

C. Curtis Homan Sr

What's Up? Seven of course! 7Up best drink to have with trains! Notch them up to 8 and run down the rails.