I just wanted to drop everyone a line and tell you all that I am overjoyed at how much the forum has improved and grown over the past few months. I know our forum isn't as active as others, but I have said all along that activity comes on the shoulders of New Members. I, and so do the rest of the staff, believe that welcoming the new members is a big step toward building our forum up.
engine2 said it best about 2 weeks ago:

I extend a most special thanks to engine2 for sticking with this forum as long as he has and still finding the time to welcome every new member that comes through. Including me. If he had not welcomed me I'd have probably not became a regular member. It seems just yesterday that I got a whiff of this forum from a member over on another forum and decided to come check it out for myself. A short time later I fell in love with this forum and after being basically denied for a moderator position on that other forum, I got moderator status here. A few of us have tried to breathe as much life into this forum as we possibly can, but I feel like its not going to take off without more participation. I encourage everyone to welcome new members, even if you have only been on for a few days yourself. Another thing I'd like to see is more activity in the off-topic section. Everyone needs to post something or reply to something in the off topic section! Its great to get discussions started and get to know each other better. I've have heard some of the funniest jokes and the most interesting stuff in off-topic sections. Share something with us!

Thank you to everyone who has helped make the CF what it is today, whether you played a role big or small.

 

I would like to thank you guys for even making the site available! I have been looking for a site like this for quite some time, and I am so glad I finally found one! I look forward to growing in this site and becoming part of it's community!

 

Im new here and i hope to stay here and get all the help i need and also to meet as many new people as possible

 

A true-ism in life is "you get back what you put in". What's nice here is that everyone seems to "check their ego's at the door". Makes if friendly and helpful. I plan to stay.

 

I take a few extra steps to make it a friendly environment. When I joined the CF, I had just left a different forum (not saying which) that had a good environment gone bad thanks to some irrascible people. I contribute it to the staff being more concerned about about double posts and organization than they were about the negative environment. I don't let that happen. I'll let people slide on double posts, but I come down hard on those who make fun of and talk trash about others.

 

We aren't talking about the site update. We are talking about the improvement of activity and the forum environment over the past year or so.



I would like to say again that we all need to do our part in welcoming new members. Whether you just post "Welcome to the forum!" or a paragraph. Each post is valued and appreciated by the person you are welcoming.

 

Smiley choices......what smiley choices??!! (humor, humor)