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Joining the Illarion e.V Society - USA Edition

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2017 8:56 pm
by Dantagon Marescot
This is a question I have seen multiple conversations on in the IRC and I feel needs to be clarified by those running the Society for our benefit. There are various people in the USA and other countries that would like to donate, but are unsure how. I have also heard multiple theories spread on why we can not. Naturally, I am not a fan of alternative facts, so I am going to step up and be the one to ask for clarification.

How can we as American players donate to the Illarion e.V. Society? Paypal is probably the easiest method of paying on our end. Which I understand works, but is not preferred.

How about the document that needs filled out? Can it be filled out and e-mailed directly to you? Can it be faxed? (Yes this technology still exists, I can pay $4 per page for an international fax where I work, and should it be necessary, will). What would work best on your end?

Re: Joining the Illarion e.V Society - USA Edition

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 6:04 pm
by Nitram
Hello,

first things first: Everyone is welcome to join. Everyone is welcome to donate. We always take your money. :wink:

Now there are two things here. Donating and joining the society.

The easiest way to donate is Paypal. They keep some percentage of every transaction for themselves. But most of the money makes it to us. You can also send is a bankwire/bank transfer. How ever depending on your credit institute this may by expensive to do, if you send the money to Germany. Before you do so, please check the conditions for such a transfer, there is no point paying overly harsh fees for that. When in doubt: Use paypal.
All that holds true for both paying the society membership fee as well as for donating.

Now regarding joining the society.
To do so you need to fill our the document, sign it and send it to me. There are only three ways to send me that document that are legal by German law.
  1. Send the document by mail. Not e-mail, the good old classic mail.
  2. Send it to me by fax. I know the technology exists. :wink: I'll give you the number to send it to when requested by PM or E-Mail. It is my personal fax number and I do not want to write it on the homepage.
  3. Hand it to me in person.
I am not allowed to accept any other way of transferring the document currently. That's just how the laws are.

The homepage contains the some additional information and the document you have to fill to join here:
http://illarion.org/community/us_society.php

Any additional questions?

Best regards,
Nitram
Developer of Illarion
Treasurer of the Illarion society

The one collecting the money

Re: Joining the Illarion e.V Society - USA Edition

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 9:49 pm
by Vern Kron
So what you are saying is I need to fly to Germany? ;)

Re: Joining the Illarion e.V Society - USA Edition

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 10:32 pm
by Dantagon Marescot
He is totally saying we need to fly to Germany. :wink:

So what had happened is there was some confusion on how the stuff will get there and how money will be received. From now on, if it comes up in IRC, I will direct people to this post. Thank you, Nitram for clarifying!

Now real quick for those of you wanting to join. It seems you have two options (unless you can afford to go to Germany), to do this. You are only mailing the form. You are not mailing cash. As of this moment it is only a $1.15 international stamp through the USPS to do so. But I recommend checking with your post office to be sure when you go to mail it out. Do note, that may take anywhere from 7 - 21 days for that to get there. Option two is more expensive, but is also going to be rather immediate. Most of us don't own a fax, so you might be wondering where to find one. A lot of local libraries will have one (mine does). You can also try places like Fedex and UPS. Cost will vary.

Re: Joining the Illarion e.V Society - USA Edition

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 10:55 pm
by Applesauce
This post clears up how to donate money, but does little to clear up " Can I have a affect on this game?" Seems like I must attend meetings in Germany to do so.

Re: Joining the Illarion e.V Society - USA Edition

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 11:31 pm
by Djironnyma
The soicety dont affect the game or its develoment. The society propose is to finance the server / game. All development or similliar dicissions are made by the staff, not the society.

Re: Joining the Illarion e.V Society - USA Edition

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 11:34 pm
by Nitram
Applesauce wrote:... "Can I have a affect on this game?" ...
What exact do you mean in this regard? The society is mostly there to cover the expenses Illarion creates, regarding the cost for the server and the domain. This is basically the extend of it.
The society does not actually do a lot regarding the day to day business of the game.

Is there anything else you'd like to know? Feel free to ask.

Best regards,
Nitram

Re: Joining the Illarion e.V Society - USA Edition

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 11:41 pm
by Applesauce
What is the purpose of joining the Society? If I join, can I participate by tele-conference? Or do I have to be physically there? Or do you wish for me to just send money and hope for the best?

Re: Joining the Illarion e.V Society - USA Edition

Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2017 12:05 am
by Applesauce
Let me clarify. i have been playing this game for free for many years. My kids were raised playing this game. So ten? at least? If this game needs money to continue, I am in. What I dont understand is the difference between making a donation and being part of a Society. I would rather be part of that Society if possible. Either way, I will send money to keep this game alive.

Re: Joining the Illarion e.V Society - USA Edition

Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2017 12:05 am
by Jupiter
The purpose of joining the society is mainly to contribute to the financial stability of Illarion. That is the main reason why the society is there at all. Without it, Illarion would have problems to survive even for a few months. You cannot run a server for a long time just on donations. Thanks to the society it is doing so for about 15 years.

The annually society meetings are nowadays normally hold in irc. So it would be not problem for people from the USA (or anywhere else) to join.

Re: Joining the Illarion e.V Society - USA Edition

Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2017 12:15 am
by Nitram
The main difference between donations and the membership fee is that the membership fee is something we can count on for our calculations for the next year. Mainly to make some predictions if any additional actions are required to raise funds.

The meetings are held, as said already in IRC. The meeting will be held in German or English or even in both languages, how ever required for the present people to follow. As a member of the society you are allowed to join and follow the meeting. How ever supporting society members do not have a voting right during the meeting. So what ever decisions are made there (the decisions are usually limited to grand discharge to the board of the society for the actions taken and for the financial activity during the last year), are voted on by the active members of the society. And active membership is limited to people that are part of the team of Illarion.

So basically what you get from a supporting membership is some additional insight into the workings of the society. Oh and the few benefits listed on the society page on the homepage.

Re: Joining the Illarion e.V Society - USA Edition

Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2017 12:22 am
by Applesauce
Thank you. Seems I would rather donate (sent) than be weighed down with business aspects. But I am glad the option exists.

Re: Joining the Illarion e.V Society - USA Edition

Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2017 12:01 pm
by Achae Eanstray
There are some free fax places if you google but most won't fax to Germany. I found this one: https://www.pamfax.biz/en/ that will, and gives you two free fax's before wishing you to join for about $5 a month. There may be more places but this one is pretty easy to use.

Achae