I'm back - kinda long

[Camping Coxes]

I have subscribed to Trailer Life once, and I can say out of one year's subscription, I actually found one issue had one item that was useful to me as a pop-upper.  PUT is for pop-uppers.  When you find something that works, you stick with it, not water it down by branching out to other areas.  As for the ads, hallelujah!  Just this last issue had two items DH is now looking into buying.  

When we bought our first pop-up I looked for sites relating to pop-up camping to get information.  We were very inexperienced.  PUT had all the information I needed and more.  I have asked specific questions of specific people and have always gotten the information I needed, including from Dave himself.  How many other "webmasters" can say they personally respond, and quickly, to inquiries?
 
When the site first went  to a subscription, I wasn't planning to subscribe.  Then I changed my mind, and I'm really glad I did.  Even though we're more experienced at camping now, we still learn things constantly.  The comraderie alone is well worth it.  
 
We appreciate you Dave.  People tend to only speak up when they're mad about something, not when all is going well.  So I want to let you know that we do appreciate you and all that you do for the magazine and the site.
 
Someone mentioned the camping site articles:  How about if there was an article each time for different regions?  Most of the articles seem to be east coast places, so for us on the "left" side of the country, we'll never see it.  
 
Also, how about sending dealers copies of the magazine to include with the new paperwork on a purchase.  That would be one way to get the word out about the site.  And of course, we're still waiting for pamphlets or cards or something advertising PUT to hand out at campsites to those curious folks who ask to check out our trailer, and there's always at least one that does!

[Michicampers]

Thanks for sticking with us, Dave. We really do enjoy the magazine, and appreciate all your efforts. Keep those ads coming, we'll read 'em  :book:.

[Bearnkat]

Hi Dave,

Thank you for the decision you made. In fact, I just ordered some items for the store and at the same time renewed my Arvee club membership. I really like the idea that the magazine comes with it.
 
Terry (DW) and I look forward to each and evey issue. We fight over it when it arrives in the mail. Being someone with a marketing degree, I realize the importance of the ads. Personally, the overall production of the magazine is far superior to other products on the market. The ads are informative and very well done. With every issue, we learn so much about the "art" of popup camping. Without the ads, we'd never know about all of the neat stuff available.
 
Three years ago, when we bought our popup, we had no earthly idea what we were doing. With the guidance of the magazine's articles and the wonderful folks on the forum, we now are "pros." In fact on one of our campouts last summer, we had the ultimate compliment. A couple walked up to our popup and told us that they were out for the first time with their new popup and had a few questions for us. I asked them why they stopped at our campsite. They told me, "well, the way your popup setup looks, you've got to be pros!" They asked where we learned everything. I told them it was a combination of hard-knocks and the excellent information we got from the forum and the PUT Magazine.
 
Dave, we feel you're doing an excellent job and we love the publication and "community" that you've created here. In fact, we're both looking forward to getting to me you in July at the Texas Rally! Its's going to be a great time.
 
Keep up the good work,
 
Chuck and Terry

[Used 2B PopUPTimes]

You turned down an offer? Are you nutz?
Maybe you are allergic to $$$ ? :screwy:

We didn't get to the price stage, that was supposed to be discussed later. And yeah I'm a little nutz! I suppose if I were an experienced, big time publisher I would have ditched PUT after the second year.

The intention with my post was to acknowledge that I've been a stranger in here since the beginning of the year and to say that I'm really addicted to all of this too. Your kind comments and suggestions are very much appreciated. Thanks

[NightOwl]

The intention with my post was to acknowledge that I've been a stranger in here since the beginning of the year and to say that I'm really addicted to all of this too.

Dave,  :!  :-()  :#    

And happy anniversary to all  faithful members of your cult!   :-()   :cake:  :-()

[griffsmom]

Also, how about sending dealers copies of the magazine to include with the new paperwork on a purchase. That would be one way to get the word out about the site.

I think that's a great idea!
 

And of course, we're still waiting for pamphlets or cards or something advertising PUT to hand out at campsites to those curious folks who ask to check out our trailer, and there's always at least one that does!

Trina, just e-mail Dave or Steve and they'll send you some brochures to hand out.  They mailed me some a year or so ago, and I hand them out whenever I see a pop up where we're camping.  In fact, I just handed out some just this past weekend at a trip we took with Moose SIL's camping group.
 

We didn't get to the price stage, that was supposed to be discussed later. And yeah I'm a little nutz! I suppose if I were an experienced, big time publisher I would have ditched PUT after the second year.

Dave, I used to be ed-in-chief for a national magazine specifically for paralegals/legal assistants.  It had a decent circulation and the content was pretty good, but it was a lot of work for not very much money.  There were constant rumors that the publisher was in talks to sell it.  The niche magazine business is harder than most people think, and I have always appreciated and respected your tenaciousness to continue to put out the magazine and put up with the naysayers and malcontents in order to remain true to your heart and your love of pop up camping.  I don't care if the magazine is considered to be a bit thin; every single page, including the ads (except maybe the cgs back east ) are relevant to me. And more importantly, these boards are a place where I come to yak with my friends--friends I met here and would not have met on my own--and to plan when and where we'll all camp together again.
 
 

The intention with my post was to acknowledge that I've been a stranger in here since the beginning of the year and to say that I'm really addicted to all of this too. Your kind comments and suggestions are very much appreciated. Thanks

You can't be any stranger than the rest of us in here! :J Thank you for being so selfless and giving us a place to call home on the Internet. Cheers to you, Dave!:!

[angelsmom10]

Many have commented about the ads, if you look at the larger mags, they have a lot of ads,  If Dave would make his ads full page like the other mags do, think of how big his magazine would be.  
 

Dave, :! :-() :#
 
And happy anniversary to all faithful members of your cult!

Oh boy another party...:-():cake::-():!:-()

[birol]

Dave Thanks for sticking with us ! I panicked for a while when I started to read your post, thinking "DAVE IS GONE IT WILL NEVER BE THE SAME !!!!" And then took a deep breat and relaxed !

Keep up the good work please. It takes a brave man to swim against the current (nay sayers) and reach their goal !

If you want to sell, say in 50 years or so, that is probably ok with us ! One of us even might buy it from you, but hey, wait a minute, it will be worth a lot of money then, we can't afford it Why don't you stick with us forever


Here is to Dave for sticking with "THE CULT"   :!  :-():-():-():-():-():-()

[NightOwl]

:U  :-()  :#  :!  :!   :canada:

It will never be said  any  better or more sincerely than Birol has said it.  I dont imagine there is member of this board who doesnt agree wholeheartedly!  (And if there is someone lurking here who feels "that" way--dont let the door hit you in the butt as you leave!  Bye, bye :W)

[angelsmom10]

It will never be said any better or more sincerely than Birol has said it. I dont imagine there is member of this board who doesnt agree wholeheartedly! (And if there is someone lurking here who feels "that" way--dont let the door hit you in the butt as you leave! Bye, bye :W)

:#:#:#:#:#:#:#:#

[Kelly]

It will never be said  any better or more sincerely than Birol has said it.  I dont imagine there is member of this board who doesnt agree wholeheartedly!  (And if there is someone lurking here who feels "that" way--dont let the door hit you in the butt as you leave!  Bye, bye :W)

Elisa ~

Surely I am reading this wrong ... are you saying that people who don't agree with you (and Birol) should leave the boards?  

IMHO one of the things that keeps a board like this healthy is constructive give-and-take on topics.  A good energetic discussion of an issue can teach us all many things.  If we are all the same and all agree ~ where does learning from each other happen?  What is the point of a discussion forum if members are expected to all cheer each other on, rather than actively discuss their ideas?  Constructive criticism/discussion is healthy for any community ...

I don't believe it is necessary for any board member to follow Dave as a 'cult' leader.  Many of us are here because we love to camp and we've met some wonderful friends who have increased our knowledge.  Frankly, I'm glad Dave has decided to keep going with the magazine ... ads and all.   On the other hand ~ I don't think he has done much, if anything, in the way of providing 'leadership' here on the boards.  

A peacable kingdom is nice ~ in theory.  I'd much prefer an environment where peoples' ideas, questions, thoughts, etc can be shared freely without worrying that they will be condemned for not following the 'party line'.

btw ~ I agree with Jeff.  At this point the magazine and boards should be separate.  The only way to grow the magazine is to get it out there ... we're not drawing that many new members here.

[B-flat]

I have always regarded the magzine as being the separate print media and the board as being a separate online community being linked within the website.  Although there are some lead articles taken from PUT magazine that are on the online website, I would take this to be done for some exposure to the magazine.  It is nice to be able to receive both the magazine and the arveeclub (message board) as a bundled subscription, however the magazine is available without subscribing to the arveeclub.

[birol]

I am pretty sure you misread what Nightowl said, the rest of your paragraph gives me that impression.

As for the board and the magazine being seperate, one can have the magazine without the board, they don't have to contribute to the board. I doubt anyone who contrubutes to the baord will not read the magazine though. So, for most I think it is a working sceneraio. As for the magazine to go out there and get more customers, sure ! I hope Dave can find a way to do that. That will only be better for the board in long term. We will have a (I hope high) percentage of the new magazine subscribers coming to the board as well. Especially considering that it is included in the price.

Elisa ~

Surely I am reading this wrong ... are you saying that people who don't agree with you (and Birol) should leave the boards?  

[NightOwl]

Kelly, yes, it is just as you feared--you ARE " "reading me wrong."

And, nah, you're all worked up over nothing. Dont worry so much, just enjoy the board and relax.   I was merely agreeing with Birol that Dave does a fantastic job and deserves our support and that anyone who disagrees with supporting him, the magazine, or the board--like the trolls and troublemakers who used to lurk around on the edges until they could get something unpleasant going--could  feel free to move on to greener pastures.  

I dont imagine this would be  a very rewarding site for people like that anymore anyhow.

(And by "supporting"  Dave , I simply mean giving him the freedom to accept or reject our suggestions and  make the decisions he deems best for HIS business and move on.)

So, regarding the relationship between the magazine and board, I'm satisfied to  leave that   to Dave since it's his efforts which established both, and he is the one with the experience in magazine production and web hosting.  He has always said he welcomes suggestions whether he uses them or not.  And it looks like he is pretty happy with the way things are going now or he'd already have thought of changing things.  And I too think it's GREAT  when people make suggestions about how to improve  things as long as the suggestions are made with helpful motives and not hidden agendas.  I mean, who could possibly object to HELPFULLY intended suggestions or disagreements?  I certainly dont!

And since you  are a member here in good standing and not  a troll or a behind-the-scenes member of the Troublemakers Clicque, you can rest assured that any swinging doors I might mention certainly dont refer to you  

As to inhabiting a Peaceable Kingdom--there's nothing sinister about that remark either--it is merely  a symbol of the way we all currently interact  without fear of being ambushed. I repeat (for anyone who might think I mean we should all be in lockstep) "WITHOUT FEAR OF BEING AMBUSHED  (Steptford Campers would be no fun at all!! :J)  But  the lion doesnt try to eat the lamb--I'm sure we're all familiar with  the famous painting of that name  by Edward Hicks.  

We've all been getting along  peaceably in recent months whether we disagree about  things or not.  Nothing at all wrong with  disagreement just as long as it is not done--as in the past sometimes--unfairly, or to HURT DEFENSELESS MEMBERS OR MAKE TROUBLE.

As for referring  in jest to Dave as our "cult leader," I'm sorry that lighthearted remark bothered you--"cult" is meant   symbolically here, as in the past,  to refer to people who are crazy in love with camping and   popups   and is not to be taken literally. (I dont think any of us expects to see Dave dressed in long white robes at the head of our merry little group raising his arms to the heavens whilst the rest of us bow and shout "amen." )  

Thanks, Kelly, for mentioning  your concerns so I could clear this up in case anyone else has misunderstood ("misread")  my meaning.   :W :S

PS--who is  this "Jeff" you mention?  If he is a new member,  I hope he didnt misunderstand my remarks, too.

[NightOwl]

JUst one more thing, Kelly, based on this remark you made: "A peacable kingdom is nice ~ in theory. I'd much prefer an environment where peoples' ideas, questions, thoughts, etc can be shared freely without worrying that they will be condemned for not following the 'party line'.

where did you ever get the idea that living in a Peaceable Kingdom  means all  members must be in "lobotomized total  agreement"?  To most of us it  usually means treating others with respect and kindness and it is very nice to see that return to this board so that no one has to fear being ridiculed or put down.  As I recall, the catch phrase ("excuse") the complainers used for attacking others was "board killers"  Funny thing, Dave never seemed to worry about how many posts people made or how offbeat their content was as long as they stuck to The Campfire with those threads.  Yet, many of us clearly recall that two very good and kindhearted members were nearly driven away by the unfair personal attacks of people who were looking for something to gripe about.  I say, if DAVE didnt get uptight about bandwidth, then it was just an empty charge..

Living peaceably is not antithetical to having strong ideas and  expressing them. But it does imply a certain standard of civility toward each other.

But to get back to the original subject here, it is nice to see that Dave plans to continue on here at the board and with the magazine.   And I trust him to make his  own decisions based on what he feels is best  whether  I agree with all of them or not.  

(And I DONT agree with them all--so there, Dave, take THAT!  :J)