There has been a recent change regarding recognition of donors to Avsim and it has been communicated to me personally that the decision maker was the CEO of Avsim.  So who is the decision maker who recently stripped Lifetime Donor status from donors who have contributed $500.00 or more over several years and restricted that recognition to (3) (reported) donors who donated instead $500.00 in one single donation?  I searched the site and can find no information on CEO, Board, or Officers.  Please point me in the correct direction.

I was informed that the change was based a legacy memo from founder Tom Allensworth some years ago, but the Donor page and the live recognition over the past few years recognized cumulative donations.  The change came unannounced.  I noticed the change in my own recognition level as I prepared earlier today to make an additional $200.00 donation.  I am now holding off on that donation until further public disclosure.

If you have a view on this change please respond with a post.

Honestly, why does it matter?

Um, donors have discretion...

 

In the larger scheme of life and world peace it probably doesn't matter. But as a long-time donor I agree with Frank. IMNSHO it was a dumb move and it will also have an effect on my future donations...if any...Doug

I agree with the OP, the donor status should reflect the cumulative donations.

Or at least the policy change should have been clearly and prominently announced and those with past status and recognition grandfathered in. Taking away prior recognition is a sure way to reduce future interest in donating by both past and potential donors.

1 hour ago, cimgrp501 said:

Or at least the policy change should have been clearly and prominently announced and those with past status and recognition grandfathered in. Taking away prior recognition is a sure way to reduce future interest in donating by both past and potential donors.

This is the decision that was made in this case.  There was no policy posted and I have no idea what it was but do know what the donation system was telling me.  The AVSIM Tech recently found corruption in the Donation software and fixed that.  The Board will make a decision in the future on whether or not we will change Tom's rules that I found and have published in the Donation section.  There are many other changes being considered!  AVSIM appreciates the donations made by the membership (and guests).

Best regards,

Jim

12 hours ago, fppilot said:

I noticed the change in my own recognition level as I prepared earlier today to make an additional $200.00 donation.  I am now holding off on that donation until further public disclosure.

So for now the previous recognition's have been restored, and I am now completing the new donation I started to make when I first noticed this issue.  Hope it inspires others.

54 minutes ago, fppilot said:

So for now the previous recognition's have been restored, and I am now completing the new donation I started to make when I first noticed this issue.  Hope it inspires others.

I will also continue to donate. Unless the policy is changed again.........Doug

Speaking for just for me, recognition has never been a factor in what I do or don't do. I don't ever wear military hats or emblems, especially on those special military recognition days because I just don't want the recognition.  My vehicles are also devoid of any such emblems or stickers.  Anyway, I am very proud of many things I've done in and out of uniform, but I didn't do them and don't do what I do today for recognition. But I certainly don't have a problem with anyone who does like recognition, and I certainly don't dispute they may deserve recognition, it's just not what I'm looking for personally.

This has been a very good and timely reminder that I need to update my donation to AVSIM, as I have certainly benefited from AVSIM over many years and hope that I've contributed more than just financially so that others may benefit as well.

Best wishes to everyone!

 

 

 

 

3 hours ago, DaveCT2003 said:

This has been a very good and timely reminder that I need to update my donation to AVSIM, as I have certainly benefited from AVSIM over many years and hope that I've contributed more than just financially so that others may benefit as well.

Dave. What you so aptly stated is the express reason I covet the recognition.  As a non-commercial member, every time I post to assist another member, and particularly with new members, my avatar is there with the donor level as an example of how important Avsim is to us as a member and user base, and to show an example of the importance of providing support to keep Avsim alive not only to be helpful today, but viable as a ongoing concern.

Edited February 2, 20206 yr by fppilot

On 2/2/2020 at 3:17 PM, fppilot said:

every time I post to assist another member, and particularly with new members, my avatar is there with the donor level as an example of how important Avsim is to us as a member and user base, and to show an example of the importance of providing support to keep Avsim alive not only to be helpful today, but viable as a ongoing concern.

And there it is - in a nutshell - nothing else need be said.

Vic

On 2/2/2020 at 5:17 PM, fppilot said:

every time I post to assist another member, and particularly with new members

I think this should be one on the biggest take-aways of this thread.  Ideas to promote this a few lines down......
 

While I've never donated monetarily, I have contributed many hours of my time to provide the community with repaints of the aircraft we fly. (and if anyone reading this was not aware of this....that kind'a accentuates my point, hehe)

Not that I'm specifically looking for recognition for this... as the feeling of contributing to a hobby that has given me joy for so long is quite enough, I feel that contributors in general should also be considered for recognition by Avsim other than maybe the reputation number displayed under the avatar that doesn’t necessarily reflect how a person contributed.

A few ideas I've kicked around in my brain really breaks out this recognition into 2 categories,

• Helpful posts
• Uploads to Avsim

As we know, they both "contribute" to the overall well-being of our hobby for obvious reasons.

Starting with the "helpful" idea:

Add a “Helpful” icon to the 2 others already in use....the “Upvote & Like” buttons on every post.  Tally and display this number in the Avatar area.  This way the helpful people are getting recognition and new members can see at-a-glance, the person giving them advice is most likely giving good advice based on their history.
This has a regenerative-feedback component (psychologically-speaking) as those who covet recognition will see others getting it for “helping” and then strive to do the same to satisfy their need in this area….thus starting that regenerative-feedback loop. 😊 (well-known phenomenon in the human psyche world…just ask Facebook)

Even spice it up by creating “levels” for hitting certain numbers (much like what is already in-place for the donor program)….again…an almost insatiable carrot-on-a-stick for those with the recognition-disease (hehe…but in a positive way).

You could even set up a filtering system in the forum software to filter long posts to just display ones from the most “helpful” folks…so users would not have to wade thru the tons of gibberish some folks post, LOL. (me included sometimes).

If this was adopted and put into place, a general, stickied post at the top of each forum announcing it and a brief description of why it’s important to vote would help spread the word and kick off the new feature.

The Uploads to Avsim could follow a similar format, with maybe a counter and leveling system to both recognize and nurture that regenerative-feedback loop.

 

//**Shameless plug mode on**//

Take my “contributions” to our hobby and this site over the last 16 years, 11 months and 2 weeks.

I’ve enticed simmers to download my 130 files 227,674 times in that time-frame.  The number of clicks generated within that number is surely many times higher….and I know advertisers count & pay for those clicks. 😐

So if you just set the highest level of achievement in the newly-created Uploads award, you can just set it at a quarter of a million (that sounds a lot more impressive than just 227, 674, hehe) and I should have that icon displayed in my Avatar window.🤣

//**Shameless plug mode off**//

With that said….I, like any human, enjoys seeing their work appreciated in some form….maybe a character flaw, but human nature just the same.

I want to recognize both Dave Hodges and Frank Patton, who have both been long-time members and most worthy of the “Helpful” contribution avatar idea and should kick-off the campaign with the highest level of achievement already awarded to them when its implemented. 😉 

Hope my long diatribe both entertained and created thought-provoking ideas in those who can initiate change in this forum.

 

 

 

@Steve Dra  Thank you for all of your efforts here on AVSIM and anywhere else you happen to be a member and upload your repaints......but also keep in mind that without monetary donations, that could come to a quick halt. I would doubt that Tom's family would want to foot the entire bill for everything here.

Thank you to all that contribute whatever they can to help this site maintain viability!

On 2/6/2020 at 10:13 AM, Steve Dra said:

A few ideas I've kicked around in my brain really breaks out this recognition into 2 categories,

• Helpful posts
• Uploads to Avsim

As we know, they both "contribute" to the overall well-being of our hobby for obvious reasons.

Starting with the "helpful" idea:

Add a “Helpful” icon to the 2 others already in use....the “Upvote & Like” buttons on every post.  Tally and display this number in the Avatar area.  This way the helpful people are getting recognition and new members can see at-a-glance, the person giving them advice is most likely giving good advice based on their history.
This has a regenerative-feedback component (psychologically-speaking) as those who covet recognition will see others getting it for “helping” and then strive to do the same to satisfy their need in this area….thus starting that regenerative-feedback loop. 😊 (well-known phenomenon in the human psyche world…just ask Facebook)

Even spice it up by creating “levels” for hitting certain numbers (much like what is already in-place for the donor program)….again…an almost insatiable carrot-on-a-stick for those with the recognition-disease (hehe…but in a positive way).

You could even set up a filtering system in the forum software to filter long posts to just display ones from the most “helpful” folks…so users would not have to wade thru the tons of gibberish some folks post, LOL. (me included sometimes).

If this was adopted and put into place, a general, stickied post at the top of each forum announcing it and a brief description of why it’s important to vote would help spread the word and kick off the new feature.

The Uploads to Avsim could follow a similar format, with maybe a counter and leveling system to both recognize and nurture that regenerative-feedback

 

 

Sounds like a winner to me Steve! ( oh and your profile says you can’t receive messages)

Tried to send you one ol buddy!!