Well, to begin with...
1. I had nothing to do with any of the posting or text in the contribution info, so thanks for pointing that out. Long timers might have thought to ask directly in a PM or email since they knew we weren't compensated in the past (I know I've made that clear several times, as have Brent and Ron).
2. I have not received any compensation as a moderator, other than a few folks b!tching and a few saying thanks. Brent has given a few small remeberances over the years (not annually) which I appreciate as a gift from a friend. One of these was a large poster from a pic he took of me running at Fernley...one of the bestest car things I have since it came from him lugging 500 lbs of camera gear around the track. I make the same financial contributions annually as the rest of you that do.
3. I would and will decline any financial compensation, if offered, in the future.
You have now heard it from the horse's mouth (or ass, as perceptions may differ). I am not involved nor do I know anything further about the contribution suggestions (which are most certainly not uncommon around the web), so please do not ask. Ultimately, whether you contribute or not is entirely up to you...many of you have been here for quite a long time and have never made a contribution, so please don't act like the contribution suggestions offer you some new excuse for not having done so. For others, like myself (both before and after becoming a moderator) who have found this place to be one of the very best places to share information about the business, hobby and technical aspects of a particular marque (and I most certainly mean compared to all others...I have been a member of many whether it's watches, cars or whatever), the financial contributions we have made pale in comparison to what we have taken away.
This isn't some 501(c)(3) or a way to help starving penguins...it's a freeking car site where you can pay as much as you want or nothing. If you think you have some great accounting abilities, why don't you contact Brent directly instead of making some personal blogs about your analytical skills. Yes, rewards are offered at different levels. Same damn thing as your local PBS channel...god knows some of you probably send letters to the editor wondering out loud why the $100 level gets a DVD about Mongolians building their own houses out of yak crap, while the $50 level only gets a refrigerator magnet.
There...I've had my say. Thanks for your time.
