My take on this:
Why don't somebody just *ask* Microchip? They can be either a sponsor or
serving the list. Won't hurt just by asking. Won't kill us either if
they say no.

Start a Yahoo group as a backup for now. I think you can setup an
account just as a mirror. When the doodle hits the fan with our current
situation and there is no other solution, then all emails can just be
moved over (Yahoo got an email import function AFAIK). Cost us nothing.

Or if we have to pay for the list to be served: I guess you can't expect
everybody to pay, the list should be free (think GNU free). But there
are other ways to generate money. Obvious first is by donation. sponsor
by a company, or a percentage by somebody from their sales, voluntary of
course (a lot of small or private companies use this list to promote and
help users of their products).
Also, what happened with the Piclist T-shirt, mugs and mouse pads?

Of all the lists I belong to, I think this list has the strongest
support for it by it's users, and they won't allow anything bad to
happen to it. I am sure we will find a solution.

I would like to help out with the admin, as long as it does not
interfere to much with my time I spend working for my income (got to be
honest about that). I can help with setting up of Yahoo, etc.

Quentin

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