Re: AGA Forums (fwd)

["David Lass" <davidlass@villasunscape.com>]

Since I do not spend any time on the web on bulletin boards etc. (the first
time I started doing it I spent 3 hours on it, and I do not have the
self-discipline to limit myself) I will not opine on this at all, but I'm
very interested in what the knowledgable folks on the Board think.
David
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Erik Olson" <erik@thekrib.com>
To: <aga-sc@thekrib.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2003 5:06 PM
Subject: AGA Forums (fwd)


> Wow, two sanction proposals in the same day...
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2003 15:31:50 -0500
> From: "Hoftiezer, James" <JHoftiezer@advanceamerica.net>
> To: "'erik@thekrib.com'" <erik@thekrib.com>
> Cc: "'jameshoftiezer@charter.net'" <jameshoftiezer@charter.net>
> Subject: AGA Forums
>
>
> Erik (erik@thekrib.com),
> Thanks for all the work you did at AGA.  I wondered many times if you had
> enough time to enjoy it for yourself.
>
> At the conference I mentioned starting a bulletin board sanctioned by the
> AGA.  I am still wondering if this might be an option.  I'll go a head and
> warn you that the rest will sound like a ramble/brainstorming session.
>
> It would cost $35 to have it hosted on www.ipowerweb.com(I get a kickback)
> for the first year, then $100/year after that.  There is plenty of
> space(800mb) and bandwidth(30gb) available and have experience little or
no
> downtime with them on my personal site.  The web space includes the domain
> name and phpBB board running on a MYSSQL database.
>
> I am interested in starting this project for several reasons;
>
> -The numerous boards and mailing lists out there prove that
forums/bulletin
> boards are in demand by people trying to find out more about this hobby.
> The number of boards can be confusing and hard to find.  Many people find
> themselves members on multiple boards.
>
> -With some boards having large numbers of members(AB 1475, plantedtank
1275,
> AQ 2300, taopa 180, APD, r.a.f.p) they represent a huge pool of potential
> members to AGA.  The forums could attract members and potentially be an
> added value to membership.
>
> -The boards out there are commercial or lack any type of authoritative
> sanction.  AGA or ADA are the few non-commercial organizations that could
> sanction such a venue and have the authority to attract members from other
> boards.  The sanction would add credibility lacking in home-grown forums.
>
> -Forums can be moderated to prevent a lot of the backlash and
unprofessional
> behavior seen on mailing list and other forums.  Forums based on a
database
> are easily searched and there would be sufficient storage to keep
libraries
> and articles as well.  With 10x larger memberships on bulletin
> boards/forums, it demonstrates a preference when compared to mailing lists
> and archives.  It also avoids the spam lists and security issues of email
> and USENET based lists.
>
> What I am proposing is to create a forum for the AGA, sanctioned by the
AGA,
> for the promotion of planted aquaria.  I will volunteer the time, money
and
> effort to startup the board.  The AGA would approve of the format before
> sanctioning it for public access.
>
> Ultimate control and ownership of the forum would reside with the AGA
board
> of directors, not with me personally.  In fact purchase of the web space
> could be performed and maintained in the AGA's name.
>
> Moderators would be AGA members and if required could be appointed or
> approved by the AGA board.  As required, non-members may be invited to
> moderate specific topics such as fish:discus or fish:cichlids.  We may
even
> be able to set vendor specific topics moderated by AGA sponsors.
>
> Topics would be similar to the AB board.  Plant and aquascaping topics may
> be more defined.  Topics such as the AGA conference or contest may be
added.
> If the software allows, paying members could be given full access to
> advanced topics which would be read-only to non-AGA members.  In addition
to
> being value added, this may help to address the concerns of advanced
> hobbyists who no longer want to get mired down in newbie questions.
Newbies
> would be addressed by moderators and FAQ.
>
> Domain names are available such as;
> Agaonline.net
> Aga-online.org
> Agaforums.com
> Agaforums.net
> Aga-forums.com
> Aga-forums.net
>
> So what do you think?  Where should I go from here?
>
> James Hoftiezer
> Senior Database Administrator
> Advance America - Database Services
> (864) 342-5558 (office)
> JHoftiezer@AdvanceAmerica.net <mailto:JHoftiezer@AdvanceAmerica.net>
> (864) 621-5720 (cell)
> 8646215720@tms.suncom.com <mailto:8643166401@msg.myvzw.com>
> (864) 580-5480 (fax)
>
>
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