Message-ID: <4437F8E3.6060202@commandprompt.com>
Date: Sat, 08 Apr 2006 10:54:43 -0700
From: "Joshua D. Drake" <jd@commandprompt.com>
Organization: Command Prompt, Inc.
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To: PostgreSQL Advocacy <pgsql-advocacy@postgresql.org>,
	PostgreSQL WWW <pgsql-www@postgresql.org>
Subject: Further SPI 
References: <200603011124.21187.peter_e@gmx.net>
	<20060322201226.4AD8D180B701@knuth.cbbrowne.com>
	<4421FBCB.5030908@calorieking.com>
	<4423485E.4030009@commandprompt.com>
In-Reply-To: <4423485E.4030009@commandprompt.com>
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Hello,

Let me first say that I know the intent of the SPI is good and I did 
vote for the transition to it. However as I see the implementation of
its abilities I am embarrased.

Here is the current way to donate via SPI to PostgreSQL online:

1. Via web browser use the following path: http://www.spi-inc.org/

2. Look all around the page to see blue on blue hyper link called 
"Donations" on the right hand page.

3. Click "Donations" : http://www.spi-inc.org/donations

4. Click "Donations of Money" which is an internal page ref that drops
down the page to "Donations of Money" informational paragraphs.

Read through paragraphs, see that I can "mail a check" (we just lost 90%
of our ability to receive a donation).

Further reading shows that we can click on a "Donate Now through the 
network of good"... Who the heck is this? I thought I was donating 
through SPI?

5. Click "Donate Now through the network of good" even though I don't 
know them, the page does say.... "If I have a credit card from a 
financial instituion in the United States". So I am assuming they are a 
broker of some sort.

6. Once I click on the "Donate Now through the network of good" I am 
taken to: "Donate Now through the network of good". Which still says not 
one thing about PostgreSQL but does give me a nice link about donating 
to SPI and a nice big button that says "Donate Now".

7. Click "Donate Now", I am taken to a page that allows me to donate to
SPI but says nothing about PostgreSQL.

I am able to "Designate" or "Dedication or Gift". Which means I could
write in the name PostgreSQL and in theory PostgreSQL would see the 
donation.

What if I type in Postgres, Pg, PSQL, or PGSQL?
What if I mispel it? You can't make "assumptions" with people's money.
What if I say, PostgreSQL + Debian?

At this point I am going to close my browser and forget about it. Most 
others will close their browser and forget about it at number 4. or 5 if 
they even get that far.

Donated via SPI should be one button/link and one button link only. You 
should have two options:

1. Send a check/money order
2. Via Credit Card (US card holders only)

The first link should take them to a page that describes in no more than
5 or 6 sentences how to send a check.

The second link should take them to a page that says:

Donate to PostgreSQL Project
Enter Amount
Enter Credit Card Information / Create account.

Anymore then that and we have cut our own wrists with donations.


Sincerely,

Joshua D. Drake


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