Member Owned Site Info

PaganSpace Contributing Members will soon be elected by contributors into managing paid positions of PaganSpace...

I know this may be a bit long (what's new...lol) but it is important that it is read in it's entirety.

Very Brief Overview of how this works:

• PaganSpace will soon be managed by elected contributing members
• PaganSpace's sell back to the community is being funded by the contributors
• Contributors are able to review the candidates for the position & vote on the ones they wish to elect via the Private Contributors Group
• Contributors can apply for and run for the paid positions available.
• Threshold Contributors can challenge current positions they meet the contributor requirements for every 3 or 6 months depending on the position
• All elected positions (managers) will receive pay for their position (5%-25% depending on the position of net profit - see below for more info)
• The polls open to elect the new managers May 6th
• To become a contributor which gives you access to the private group where all the voting and decision making takes place there's only a $5 contribution required. (Info for becoming a contributor at the bottom of this page)
• If you wish to run for a paid position there's threshold minimum contribution of $50, $100 or $500. ($50 for paid admin positions, Tech/graphic mgr. $100 for Financial Accounting or Advertising Rep/Mgr & $500 for community manager)
• If you contribute for a paid position you only need to do so once, even if you run in the polls multiple times.

Why I'm wishing to step down as the sole owner of Paganspace:

Quite honestly, I'm pooped, aside from PaganSpace I have a publishing company, I'm an author (my passion) and I'm also a professional web & graphic designer for a local company. All of that adds up to very little sleep and it's beginning to really wear me down.

I founded PaganSpace in 2007 and have ran PaganSpace for over four years; I'm the admin, the tech person, the advertising rep and the accounting person :) With over 40k members that's a lot of jobs for one person and I'm falling behind on all of my other responsibilities because for one person, PaganSpace is a 24/7 operation.

Following a recent announcement regarding the desire to sell PaganSpace I came to the conclusion that the best way to assure the future of PaganSpace is to basically sell it back to the community thus allowing PaganSpace to be placed into the hands of the community who helped bring it to where it is today.

I'll still be on the site daily and retain admin privileges, I'll also be training all the new people who step into their positions. I will also be remaining on the board of directors at 10%, under a newly formed corporation (PaganSpace, Inc) that will be formed once the polling ends and board members are elected. I'll also retain the network site and the domain names for at least the first year (those things will be placed into the corporation name but I know no one will have the means to harm the site with it remaining in my hands). So, I'm not technically going anywhere but I will be freeing up time to complete the many goals and tasks that are in front of me.

Some have asked why don't I just hire people to help and the simple answer to that is: Because it does not free up my time, it will likely, take more time to oversee a staff on top of remaining the sole owner. So, that's why I chose to do this verses the hiring option.

I've had offers from a few to purchase the site but quite honestly, I'm apprehensive of doing that as the community would have no say so in the future of the site so, doing it this way I feel assured that the future of PaganSpace will always be in the hands of those who care about the site and wish to see it grow and flourish. Those people being you!

I have personally invested thousands of dollars and thousands of hours to manage and continue to help bring PaganSpace to where it is currently, which is a thriving and growing community filled with members from all over the world encompassing every belief.

Unfortunately, I cannot simply give PaganSpace back to the community without the community funding the buyout because PaganSpace has been not only my passion but also my full-time job for over 4 years and a major source of my income, which I will obviously lose when managing contributors take it over.

When I made the announcement weeks back I explained PaganSpace's worth based on traffic, member count and income to be $100k (some estimates are higher). I as the founder am going to retain a 10% position on the board of directors, which will take the site estimate to 90k plus an additional 5k to help cover the payment processing fees & taxes, which will be approx 15k.

Allowing the PaganSpace community to have the decision making power of the people who run it...

Below will detail information on contributing members to include: What you get from being a contributor, available paying positions, current available positions, how to apply, what happens if those elected into a position do not do their job or do not meet the needs of the site & lastly, what happens once the goal amount is met.

What's in it for the contributors:

All $5 up contributors will receive an invitation to the Invitation only private group called Contributors of PaganSpacethat has been created for all members who monetarily contribute to the buyout.

All members of the PaganSpace Contributor Group will have a secured vote on the future endeavors, a continuous opportunity to be on the board via one of the 8 paying positions as well as decide who the current and future management of PaganSpace will be. Please note: If someone is elected and they do not fulfill their position they can be voted out by the board or challenged by another matching contributor for the position. Please read everything below:

Available Positions:

The management positions will be voted on via polls by the community contributors only (ie: you) and contributors will be the only ones who can run for the various open positions (currently 8). All available positions are paid positions ranging from 5%-25% of the sites net incomeand includes a seat on the board of directors of PaganSpace, Inc. (which will be formed by May 31, 2012 after the polling votes are completed).

How do I apply for a position?
If you wish to apply for one of the 8 available board positions please read the next few paragraphs:
Submissions for the positions will begin immediately and the online submission forms are located within the private group that you will have access to, all submissions received for the positions will be placed up for contributor voters to review to aide in their decision making process (note: no personal identifying information will be placed up aside from your background skills (company names etc. will not be included), why you wish to be elected, your PS username & page profile url). You can even campaign for your positions via your blogs & groups etc. (not forums).

Voting will begin May 6th (approx 90 days after this commences) to fill the 8 open positions within PaganSpace and voting will last within the contributor group for 7 days.

Since the board members will be paid positions there is a threshold minimum contribution needed for potential board of director positions. Contributors of the following amounts will be able to apply for the current available positions and be included in the polling:

Current Available positions:

Community Manager: (1 open position) will also be appointed as CEO of PaganSpace, Inc. and will receive 25% of the sites net profit. Minimum Contribution to apply $500 - Click Here for details

Website Administrators: (3 Open Positions) will be on the board of directors and each admin. will receive 5% of the sites net profit. Minimum Contribution to apply $50 - Click Here for details

Advertising Representatives/Managers: (2 Open Positions) will be on the board and receive 15% each (30% total) of the sites net profit. Minimum Contribution to apply $100 - Click Here for details

Accounting Manager: (1 Open Position) will be on the board and receive 15% of the sites net profit. Minimum Contribution to apply $100 - Click Here for details

Graphic Design & Tech Manager: (1 Open Position) will be on the board and receive 5% of the sites net profit quarterly. Minimum Contribution to apply $50 - Click Here for details

Click here to read an overview of the open available positions.(will open in a new window)

What if those elected into a position do not do their job or do not meet the needs of the site?

To simplify the answer, the board members with a majority vote can start a new election process at anytime if the majority feels a replacement is merited. The contributors will be notified and they will vote on a replacement (the current position holder will be able to run in the re-election to try and maintain their position).

Also, positions can be challenged by contributors who meet the threshold amount for the position challenged but challenges can only happen every 3 mos or 6 mos depending on the position (this link provided above gives more detail).

If a position is filled by another contributor, the former board member will be paid any monies due to them within 30 days. Further, they will remain a contributor and will be able to challenge and be included in future polling for the position they lost if they so wish.

So, to sum it up if someone doesn't do their job they can be replaced by the community contributors.

All current and future Positions will be decided via secured polls voted on by PaganSpace Contributor Group Members Only.

What if someone holding a position wishes to quit?

If a current person holding a paid position wishes to quit, then all matching contributors who wish to submit (if they have not already done so) and run for that position will be able to do so. The contributors will vote and the replacement will take place.

What happens once the goal amount is met?

Once the goal amount is reached any new contributors that come in after the buyout is completed those funds will be directed to the site's corporate account verses my account. This will allow for the continuation of maintaining that the future contributing members will be assured a vote, can challenge and have an opportunity at being elected into any given position.

FAQ Site Launched

I have set-up a full FAQ site which answers tons of questions possibly not covered here, here's the link to the FAQ Site.

Please use the FAQ siteto ask any questions you may have, it was created to answer questions as well as allow people to ask questions.

How to become a contributor

If you would like to become a contributor you can do so via our FundMe site (which uses PayPal) and from there you can also review all the privileges that come with being a contributor or you can follow this link if you prefer to use your credit card for the transaction (please also visit the FundMe Siteeven if paying via credit card just to review the privileges you receive for being a contributor).

Lastly :)

I have given this much deep thought and I truly believe it's the best way to assure the future of the site and allow the members to help run the site while receiving income for their work.