Advertise on HostHideout and help students!

[Chicken]

Greetings HostHideout'ers! Here's the deal...

As many of you know, in addition to running HHO, I also teach 3rd grade in a low socio-economic area. Some students who would love to go on a fieldtrip simply can't afford to. In fact, some who paid, had to ask for the money back so their parents could pay the rent. I wish I was making this up, but I assure you, it's the truth.

This is where you come in. Would you like to advertise your business on HostHideout.com while helping to bring some fun and excitement to children? If so, we have the perfect solution! If you're willing to sponsor two students, we'll sticky your ad to the top of the forum for the week (current week is March 20-26).

FAQ:

Q: How much does it cost?
A: The total cost to sponsor two students is $68 ($34 each).

Q: How much of this will actually be used for the children?
A: 100% of the money will go towards the children.

Q: What does a sticky look like?
A: See first thread in this forum with pin: http://hosthideout.com/forumdisplay.php?f=24

Q: What forums are available?
A: http://hosthideout.com/forumdisplay.php?f=70

Maximum of three sponsors per forum, first come first served.
(As of this time, only two are available for Dedicated offers.)

On Monday, we'll review the spaces available and may offer the remainder of the week and the remaining spots (if any) at a discount (sponsor one student instead of two). Please check here:

Announcements and News about HostHideout.com (http://hosthideout.com/forumdisplay.php?f=17)

-and this thread for any information regarding availability and discounts (I won't email everyone again).

Q: Sounds great! How do I sign up?!
A: You'd think we'd have a fancy form or a media kit, eh? We don't.

Please click the button below:<form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post">
<input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_xclick">
<input type="hidden" name="business" value="space_chicken2000@yahoo.com">
<input type="hidden" name="item_name" value="HHO - Fieldtrip Sponsor">
<input type="hidden" name="item_number" value="0002">
<input type="hidden" name="amount" value="68.00">
<input type="hidden" name="no_note" value="1">
<input type="hidden" name="currency_code" value="USD">
<input type="hidden" name="tax" value="0">
<input type="image" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/btn/x-click-but21.gif" border="0" name="submit" alt="Make payments with PayPal - it's fast, free and secure!">
</form>
Please include the URL of the thread you wish to be stickied.

Q: I want to donate but I don't want to advertise anything!
A: If you wish to donate money (34 people donating $1 would sponsor one child), feel free to send any amount to PayPal ID: space_chicken2000@yahoo.com -we've had a couple fo these already and these donations are also appreciated.

Note: In the event that there are any extra funds, grade-level appropriate books will be purchased for the children and distributed free of charge. This is actually the next project that I'll be working on (more details to follow). I thank you for your time, and as always, for being a member of HostHideout.com

-Chicken
HostHideout.com's Utensil Sanitizer

[Chicken]

Ohhhh lordy..

First error: I sent it to your user ID number, instead of your username. My apologies.

Second error: I forgot to mention that this PayPal account is just of the personal variety. Personal accounts only accept payments funded with a
bank account or PayPal balance, not credit cards. I do have another account which will accept credit cards, though there are transaction fees and that's a whole other mess I hadn't thought of.

The reason I set up the personal account was for the field trip, so that I could make sure that all of the funds were used for the purpose intended and that things wouldn't accidently get mixed up and confused with all the other PayPal transactions and balance in the other account.

Third: This is for stickies in these forums: http://hosthideout.com/forumdisplay.php?f=70 and some people are requesting stickies on the main forums (which I hadn't anticipated), and options for banners in various forums (which again, I hadn't anticipated).

This isn't automated (as it's for a specific purpose and a limited time), so after payment is made, I'll contact you to confirm the thread you want to stick, and which forum you'd like it stuck to.

[Robert]

I thought you did it on purpose by sending it using our ID #.. sort of like "Agent xxx, mission so and so if you accept it". lol.

[Chicken]

Yeahhhhh I mean that's why I did it... yeah.

:: buys any excuse ::

[Lucas]

`nevermind

[linux-tech]

Is this going to be just a one time thing, a recurring thing or?
Can't do it this week (too much going on), but I'd be more than happy to help when I can.

Will you have something for us who want a HHO t-shirt and mousepad as well? :P

[Asci]

I should really read more often... silly me.

< removed, etc >

[Chicken]

Is this going to be just a one time thing, a recurring thing or?
Can't do it this week (too much going on), but I'd be more than happy to help when I can.

Will you have something for us who want a HHO t-shirt and mousepad as well? :P
The t-shirt/mp thing is actually a pretty good fund-raising idea as well, though I'll have to come up with something with an "eye" being poked out with... hmmm... scratch that. :D

The short answer is that the field trip thing is one-time, but as my Masters class winds down (two weeks left and then I'm done! - I think, hope, pray), I'll be able to spend more time working on other advertising possibilities (people were asking about banners, etc.), and there's another pet project that I'd like to work out.

The short version of that one is a book give-a-way of sorts. Just as an example... Charlotte's Web (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0064400557/qid=1111317663/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/104-6917767-3681523?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) and Stuart Little (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0064400565/ref=pd_bxgy_text_1/104-6917767-3681523?v=glance&s=books&st=*) go for $5-6+ on Amazon and Barnes and Noble each, but throughout the year I get offers from the publisher to buy 5 book packs of these books, sometimes for $3.95 each pack (of 5). I usually get one pack and give them out as prizes, but as an example, the $68 filed trip donation would enable me to get 17 packs (or 85 books), and hand out a book to each student, to 4 entire classes.

So anyhow, the point is that I'd always like to have a portion of the site devoted to things like that, but I've yet to work out the details. I also realize that running a forum without a reserve tank isn't the best idea, so that's another future objective.

[PixelHosting]

Ok I sent a payment. You said to include the link in which forum you wish to be sticked but there was no place for me to fill in that link...

My PayPal name is Pixelation, email: webmaster at pixelation dot be
I wish to have a sticky in this forum: http://hosthideout.com/forumdisplay.php?f=54

Can you confirm my payment? :)

[Chicken]

Got your via email.

With that, the shared forum is closed out, thank you.

[Ross]

Chicken,

I'm strapped for cash this week after plane tickets, rent, bills, an ipod, etc. Will I still be able to sponsor some little kiddo on friday, I want nothing in return.

[Sigmaservers]

Thanks, I think we are interested in helping.

[Chicken]

Chicken,

I'm strapped for cash this week after plane tickets, rent, bills, an ipod, etc. Will I still be able to sponsor some little kiddo on friday, I want nothing in return.
Note: In the event that there are any extra funds, grade-level appropriate books will be purchased for the children and distributed free of charge. This is actually the next project that I'll be working on (more details to follow). I thank you for your time, and as always, for being a member of HostHideout.com
At some point I'll probably cut of the field trip thing, and switch to plan II. I warn you, it's evil. I would like to try out the above (quoted) on a small scale to see how it works, and if all seems well, hopefully expand it to mroe students. There'll be something on the site that will go towards this (or something similar), as I'm personally not hurting bad enough that I'd have to ask my child to ask for their field trip money back, or tell them they can't go, etc., so it seems like the right thing to do.

I'm glad that HHO can be used you everyone for their purposes (find help, casual reading, network, offer packages, etc.), but if it can do more, then that would also be great. This weekend has shown me that it can do more, and I'd like to continue that.

I don't know if anyone feels the same, but I am hesitant to give money (any money) to some of the big charities (and questionable smaller ones), because I wonder how much of it will really go directly to those in which it is intended for. Although I spend money on my kids (often too much money), at least I know exactly what it's going for and that 90% of the money isn't going to "the organization."

Side note: One member emailed in letting me know he lives very close to the Scholastic Book headquarters and distribution center. If anyone else knows someone in the publishing world (children's), please let me know.

[Chicken]

Anything left in dedicated servers forum?

Thanks, I think we are interested in helping.
Yes, it's the shared one that filled up (I actually thought dedicated would be the first to go).

[inogenius]

Chicken, would it be possible to send the donation now and have the sticky sometime in the future?

Either way I'll definitely send you some cash, but hey, if I can get a little advertising out of this as well, that's even better.

[PierreB]

What Forums stickies are still available?

[James]

hey chicken,
if you need any help man with anything in regards to rasing funds for your kids (i know a cupple of teachers who call there students there kids) let me know if i can help at all man. would be more the happy to gie my time for that.
funds are kids tight but time not as much.
james

[Chicken]

James, thanks. I'm not sure what I'd need but if I think of something, I'll pass it by you.Chicken, would it be possible to send the donation now and have the sticky sometime in the future?

Either way I'll definitely send you some cash, but hey, if I can get a little advertising out of this as well, that's even better.
I'd like members to get something out of it, if they want (and you don't have to feel guilty about it, everyone wins). I will know today what shape we're in, though as I mentioned before, anything else will go for a dry run (small scale) of something I've been thinking about for some time.

Short answer is... yes.
What Forums stickies are still available?
http://hosthideout.com/forumdisplay.php?f=70

Check any forum that you're interested in. If there's not three pins at the top, then there's a place open. It's a very manual system, which is fine for these one-timer's, but not so wonderful if I was going to do this long-term. Will have to work on that.

[Hivelocity]

Is the dedicated forum still available? If so put us down for it , anything to help the kids , please send a paypal money request if possible to paypal@hivelocity.net

[theforumguy]

why does company web forum named hosthide[out].com? I'm so very curious about it?
___________ :whythis:
:rtfm: www.beadstore.net

[Chicken]

Think super heroes... just a place to go to get away from it all :D

[Ryan]

Chicken this is a really great idea! Your doing a lot of work to help those children out, and for that I do wish you good luck. :)

[Chicken]

I have to update everyone on how this went (excellent) and I'll probably wait until next year (school year that is), to do a big book thing. I also wrote (and got) a $1,000 technology grant from Hollywood Park (horse racing place in the same town where I teach)! It's not enough to do what I want (use hand-held computers to aid in instruction), but you can probably guess where I'll look for some addl. funds.

:D

[KaveyHosting]

Need books? I got a box full of childres books ;) (of course theyre mostly from the early 80's) but they are in good shape. LOL

[Chicken]

Shipping would probably kill it (though maybe not), but books are always needed. The 80's is nothing, heh. Our school library was a classroom for many years, and at some point (even when it was a library), they stopped ordering books. The majority of the books were reeeeeally old (from the 60's or earlier), and they were given away to make room for a revamped selection. Kids loved them.

[hostthebest]

What Forums stickies are still available? :dchick2:

[Chicken]

We haven't done a second wave, however if there's something you want, just let me know and I can can set it up for that week. I'm getting ready to get some of the books for next year.