I think it’s fair to say that over the past five years Wellesnet has developed into one of the top sources of information about Orson Welles on the internet, based simply on the number of international Welles scholars who look at and frequent this site.
As most of you know, the site was started and maintained by Jeff Wilson, who has generously financed all of the costs of the site and it’s upkeep out of his own pocket. Unfortunately, Jeff is not independently wealthy, and unlike Orson Welles, he cannot get acting jobs to pay for the upkeep of Wellesnet.
That is why we – that is everyone who visits and enjoys the site - all need to develop a way to keep Wellesnet alive and active on the internet after the end of this year.
Wellesnet currently has over 500 members, many of course who are not currently active. But, there are undoubtedly at least 500 or more viewers who enjoy the site, but are not members. Hopefully, anyone who enjoys reading and posting about Orson Welles will consider pressing that little Paypal button, which is right next to the current posts, and contribute whatever they can. If you happen to be a billionare (Steven Spielberg and Dave Packard, among others have been known to visit here), please be generous.
However, if you are among the great majority of readers who are not millionares, please still consider giving between $1.00 and $5.00. to help defray the costs of maintaining the site. We’d be in fine shape if only 200 people contributed $1.00 yearly. But as that is probably unlikely, it would be nice if we could get 50 to 100 people (the dedicated Welles afficiandos) to contribute more than $1.00.
Thank you in advance for whatever help you can give to keeping Wellesnet alive and well on the internet.
Lawrence French
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