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I thought it might be helpful to start a discussion thread with a focus on what can be done to ensure that the invaluable research posted here over the years continues to be available and that - if possible - the site can continue as an active discussion forum.
To start on a positive note, with the generous help of two other members of the forum, the Photobucket account - which was due for renewal later this month, and which hosts images linked from discussion threads - has now been renewed on a monthly basis. (The cost per month is not much greater than if renewed annually, and monthly hosting obviously gives us more flexibility.)
Regarding the main site, I think any suggestions and opinions about the best way forward would be very helpful.
My feeling is that the most important thing is that the research that's been posted here shouldn't be lost. So a high priority should be an online archive of the discussion threads. I'm inclined to think that should be done in any case, whether or not the forums continue actively, and regardless of what form they continue in.
If people want to help, there are various ways in which they could do so. One possibility that occurred to me is that if the existing discussions could be archived so that they continue to be available and searchable (albeit with a rather more basic search facility than at present), there would be the option of restarting the forums from scratch. This might offer more options regarding hosting and software, and I would hope it could be done a lot more cheaply than at present.
One key question would be whether - if the cost of hosting and the technical issues could taken care of - people would be willing to help in the day-to-day running of the forums. That is, in communicating with members and potential members, and in taking care of any moderation that needs to be done. (No doubt Howard can fill us in about the work that actually involves.) I think the ideal would be a small committee of people, so that the job can be shared rather than just falling on one person's shoulders.
To start on a positive note, with the generous help of two other members of the forum, the Photobucket account - which was due for renewal later this month, and which hosts images linked from discussion threads - has now been renewed on a monthly basis. (The cost per month is not much greater than if renewed annually, and monthly hosting obviously gives us more flexibility.)
Regarding the main site, I think any suggestions and opinions about the best way forward would be very helpful.
My feeling is that the most important thing is that the research that's been posted here shouldn't be lost. So a high priority should be an online archive of the discussion threads. I'm inclined to think that should be done in any case, whether or not the forums continue actively, and regardless of what form they continue in.
If people want to help, there are various ways in which they could do so. One possibility that occurred to me is that if the existing discussions could be archived so that they continue to be available and searchable (albeit with a rather more basic search facility than at present), there would be the option of restarting the forums from scratch. This might offer more options regarding hosting and software, and I would hope it could be done a lot more cheaply than at present.
One key question would be whether - if the cost of hosting and the technical issues could taken care of - people would be willing to help in the day-to-day running of the forums. That is, in communicating with members and potential members, and in taking care of any moderation that needs to be done. (No doubt Howard can fill us in about the work that actually involves.) I think the ideal would be a small committee of people, so that the job can be shared rather than just falling on one person's shoulders.
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