I donate on my birthday - this year, after retirement, I emptied my money pouch of all the various foreign currencies that I had collected downroute on trips etc - Dollars, Mexican, Indian, Cuban - everything. Plus a letter and update of our build.
Sent a little extra later after some great advice on the forum.
The forum educates, supports and guides. I find it somewhat discouraging that people don't do the decent thing and drop $25 a year - it is the price of a decent breakfast out for the family, it is the price of a few beers with friends.
In the budget of a $50-100,000 price tag to build a decent RV, it is absolute small change.
Before Doug, we had a few sites that were clunky and not easy to use. The first and definitive resource was Dan Checkoway - his cd - yes - remember cd's - was THE definitive blow by blow resource for building an RV7.
I am now on my 5th RV, an RV10. I still ask questions, garner information, learn from other people and find the forum absolutely essential - which is why I contribute.
Only today I was drawn into the thread about gluing the glass into an RV10 - that thread alone shows how builders talk, compare notes, tell about successes and failures. It allows people to question whether Vans should re visit the process. After all, the RV10 build manual is getting a little old now - probably the worst of all of them as it was the first to go isometric. Should have had a major update by now.
Anyone who reads my little ramble from the Old Country - just call your buddies, get them involved with VAF and get them to do the honourable thing.
Anyhow - to all who have interacted, discussed, agreed, or disagreed - as we approach a new year, have a great 2023, pound the rivets, fly your aeroplanes and spread the word of VAF......