Yes, there are 2 advertisers. No, the money they pay in doesn’t come [i]close[/i] to defraying the costs involved with the entire project. This year, sponsor (paid advertisers) accounted for approximately 16% of costs involved. The rest was money out of pocket.

To the others who commented:

There is no legal concern with someone reselling our newsletter. To those who feel that it is their property, and they may do with it as they wish – I have no technical rebuttal of such an argument.
However, we feel that from a moral standpoint, the selling is antithetical to everything we’re trying to accomplish in this hobby.

[b]From our mission statement:[/b] “We wish to work with other existing groups that are fan owned, operated and oriented, and seek to put aside those here solely to profit at the collectors expense”

and, : “We are putting our money where our mouth is. None of our endeavors will be for profit. A stronger, collaborative community is reward enough. Our newsletter was, and will continue to be, free to the collector”

Thus, we feel that making a profit from the newsletter is going against the very purpose of it’s existence. We cannot prevent anyone from selling them, but we can ask. If you have a copy, and do not want it, please “pay it forward” so to speak, and freely pass it on to someone. Additionally, as we intend to post all the newsletter content on our website, we would hate to see our audience pay for information that can, and should, be theirs at no cost.

Even our 2 sponsors were chosen with care. Both are long-standing members of the Joe collecting community. Each would still participate in the hobby vigorously with, or without, their business involvements.

Regardless, the seller has ended the auction, and I hold no ill will. To the seller: The “lynch mob” is who tracked you down and enabled me to send the 1 message I sent. I do appreciate you capitulating to our desire, rather than being spiteful. It goes a long way with me.