Johawk, very good post and you are right on every point including the providing the site and putting on the events and our (mostly mine) expense.
The theory of charging members, although valid, is unrealistic. You may remember what happened when we tried to organize the track rental day and only one person actually paid out of 20 some who promised to do so.
We have a few hundred of active members and by the rule of 10, we’ll be lucky if 25 or so sign up and at that point it will create drama or special treatment perception for paid members and the stigma of us being a paid site. National boards with thousands of members can get away with it, we can’t so that leaves sponsors and advertisers.
I’m fully aware of the financial situation and the fact that the site will most likely never bring even, it would be a blessing if I could even break even, but I’m fine with that.
What gets me is when I try to make this place enjoyable and welcome to all by eliminating discriminatory talks and threatening language and I get negative feedback from it. Why? You’re only biting the hand that feeds you by fighting basic rules that are only there to make sure that we are welcoming to new members.