POLL: Donation Flash image & discussion

[Mike]

I have worked a few days on the automating the donation process and to give you, the MACCA Central community member an easy method to visualize see the current status of donations. You asked for it, I hope you will vote and help the cause. There are two versions below to view and vote on.

Version One: Automatic Updated Info with Flash
It is fully automatic and gives a live thermometer visualization of current donation amount and goal for the month. Though I did all the coding to generate the values, I am using a graphic generating flash that will cost $51 to license for use on MACCA-Central. I obviously prefer this version as it is less ongoing work for me. I would be using donations to pay for the license so it would be great if someone could contribute $51 US to cover this license. NOTE: If you click on the graphic it will take you to the creator's of the flash web page. With a license I would be able to change the link to go directly to the donation page. By clicking See Donations, the window changes to view the list of donators and $ amounts. UPDATE: I've added a sound to the flash that plays a donation spot when only the home page is loaded. It is optional, I've enable it just on the home page.

Version Two: Semi-Automatic Updated Info with plain image
This version gives a live thermometer visualization of current donation amount and goal for the month. I have to manual go and edit the page graphic image .gif each time the donation is changed, it is a nuisance as I may forget or be busy to update manually.

Scroll down to see the two versions and vote.

[RickStark79]

The first one is the coolest, but what if some browsers don't have an updated version of flash?

[Mike]

Good question. Then I can display the .gif instead. I don't have a computer handy without flash but I can deal with that when it comes up.

[JennyWren]

Both versions look fine. The first one that does not require babysitting is obviously more convenient, but, golly--the expenses you already have aren't being supported. I'm not sure it makes sense to take on another one. I'd hate to see the expense of a cool graphic contribute to the demise of the site.

JennyWren

[Mike]

I know but the small investment should be able to be recovered by the increase in contributors. It's a gamble, a small one but I think it's worth it.

[JennyWren]

the small investment should be able to be recovered by the increase in contributors

Good point, Mike. It's looks good on the home page....it stands out prominently.

JennyWren

[Mike]

Question to all, should the dollar amount for each individual contributor be shown along with there oBLOGdi name, or just the oBLOGdi name ?

[Mike]

Just 5 votes so far, your opinions are welcome !!

[Mark Rink]

I dont think you should put the amounts that people give.It's almost like an auction not a family

[Mike]

That's a good point and of all the years I was only asked once to not reveal the amount or source of a donation. In the past though others have said they have no problem showing amounts. I'm not getting a heck of a lot of responses to some of these questions asked here but I will make a poll for it.