Getting this forum cranking

[Dennis Beros]

This message is to the moderators of this forum.



I know it takes a bit of work to set one of these things up, and it seems a shame to me that it appears to have atrophied already.



I know of bulletin boards exactly like this one which absolutely cook with activity - and I know that this particular community has plenty to say, do, give, discuss.



I have some suggestions on how to get it going. Others may have also.



I recommend you visit http://www.westernangler.com.au/forum/default.asp this is a forum for recfishers in Western Australia - it only has about 25 members but it really rocks - not the content mind you - the concept!



I recommend their structure of - forum - topic - announcements - etc it means that as soon as you arrive at the main page you can see all the  major areas of discussion, and that encourages people unfamiliar with these forums to 'have a dig' - experiment.



I think the moderators need to establsih a couple of 'forums' with a coule of 'topic' threads under each to get discussions going. Then you need to go back to your original email list and remind everyone about the Forum. You probably need to do that a few times (they have a newsletter function too I think) to get the ball rolling.



It might also be helpful to create a section of the whaleshark.org website which has the papers etc from the Perth whale shark conference - to keep the delegates' focus.



fwiw  :roll:

[Dennis Beros]

another thing worth noting on the forum that i directed you to in my post above is the 'testing' forum - a place where newcomers can have a play with the mechanics of making postings etc - worth emulating I think ..

[Dennis Beros]

I see that James has been trying to get a few discussion threads happening - good on you.



When I logged on I thought WOW - 125 users! Amazing - alas 100 of them are ads for some stoopid website.



Moderators need to get rid of them and try to ensure that they dont come back (if possible).



I think you can send a short newsletter to members (if you are a moderator) quite simply on this system - there area 25 keen people signed up - you owe it to them to remind them of this site regularly. Otherwise we'll forget to check it.



Also maybe worth another email to the big group that you went to originally to get the site started



Norman - where are you? how about posting some links like http://www.ecocean.org/news.html

[Dennis Beros]

I love talking to myself!

[James Catlin]

Hi Dennis



I have made it harder to sign up, so to stop the spam, but i am still trying to work out how to delete those annoying users.



I don't want to see this forum fade away, and although we have 25 users it is only you and me that are posting. You are right, the answer is to encourage others to make posts. However, this eludes me at the moment.



Cheers



James