Hey everyone. Here is the thread I promised.
Thank you Spec for this wonderful digital space for us geeks to obsess over lasers. Personally my life would be far less colorful without your creation here. I'd still be playing with a pointer and mirrors poster puddied to speakers and a disected Laser FX.
For everyone else, here is the letter I included with my PayPal Goundhog's day Gift.
"Greetings and salutations Rob,
This is really a belated Christmas present. I had been thinking of getting a "pitch in" started at SELEM, but thought it was too early. I did the same thing three or four times before I realized it was actually too late. Owning a house seems to to wierd things to time and money, although never producing more of either. A fellow conspiriter speculated one day wondering why one had not been set up. I felt bad because I really wanted to on several occations and just procrastinated it to death. It served as a swift kick in the ass to get it going.
I really have no idea how much effort you put into the board. I can see it being a lot, but then again I can see it needing very little, either way, there are many of us who would go crazy with out it. I asked Adam to give me a list of the more dedicated and reliable members to request pitch ins for a "Groundhog's day" gift to show our appriciation. I didn't feel comfortable with a Valentine's day gift. Dedicated and reliable meaning, post count and recent activity. I didn't want to scare off new members by making them feel obligated, or bother anyone who has lost the itch for coherent light. If the n00bs are still hooked in a year, or the oldies re-gain the sickness, I am sure they will show "dedication and reliability" in the next year. Even if you just set up the server and let it run, what you have created is very special to, so far, a decent size group of people, which looks to be growing. Please keep up the good work and maybe hang out on the board a little more
So here is a fruits of my private messaging, and the response from you appriciative "minions".
Happy Groundhog's Day! I think the little rat said 6 more weeks of winter.
aaron"
For those interested, we breached the $500 mark. Thank you greatly to all those who pitched in! I'll have to log in on another PC, I don't have the links to my smiles... Need to find a Groundhog one now.