Demise of the Society Forum (?)

[clayliner]

Disturbing rumours that the Society Forum is to be closed down.

Can anyone comment on this, I wonder?

David.

[Darren Hedges]

I know there has been talk about closing (the now little used) society e-group, which predates (and was effectively replaced by) this forum.

Darren.

[garrywhiting]

Disturbing rumours that the Society Forum is to be closed down.

Can anyone comment on this, I wonder?

David.

It has been proposed that the 009 Yahoo Group be closed ---- there has been absolutely minimal use over the last 18 months --- also the format is outdated and extremely tiresome to use --- it is as they say -- no longer fit for purpose.

Garry

[JulienW]

As the person who currently manages the Yahoo group perhaps I might be able to comment.

Since the 2008 009 Society AGM the Yahoo group has not has any official support from the 009 Society, and it was relaunched in May of that year as a non-Soicety Yahoo group.

With the recent drop in traffic to almost nothing I (and others) feel that it has now been superseded by the online forums mentioned below and I have therefore put the decision on the future of the Yahoo group in the hands of its members.

On the 2nd June I posted the following announcement:

Like me you will have received another "File - Monthly text notice" from the group outlining the rules of the group. After a conversation with another member and a bit of digging on the Yahoo group website I was surprised to discover that other than these monthly notifications there has been no traffic on the group in the last 6 months, and the monthly message count hasn't been out of single digits since June 2012.

I suspect that most of us are getting our 009 fix elsewhere - the Society's own forum or Narrow Gauge Railway Modelling Online for example, so has the time come to close this group down for good?

I thought I would open a poll on this, and knowing that there are 126 members of the group I think we need a significant proportion to vote in favour to continue the group (i.e. not pulling the plug). So in addition to there being more votes to keep the group going than shutting it down I'll also need more than 63 votes (half the group) in total. The poll will be open for a month (so until 3rd July) and if the group is to close I will allow another month for members to download any files, photos, etc. before deleting the group in August.

Thanks in advance for voting

Julien Webb

The above message was sent out as a special notification so should have been received by all members at the e-mail address supplied in their Yahoo profile.

If you are a member of the Yahoo group and did not receive the above message please access the yahoo group to vote in the poll and comment if you see fit.

Julien Webb, 009-Group Moderator.

[clayliner]

Re Stephen's 'Announcement' about the new Society Facebook page: does this mean there is no truth in the rumour that this will eventually replace this Forum?

David.

(I'm posting this here as there seems no facility to 'reply' to Announcements - wonder why?)

[rod335]

As far as I am aware (and I was at the Directors Meeting last Sunday) no decision has been taken about the future of the Forum. The Facebook page is a separate matter and was thought to be a beneficial move towards the goal of attracting new members. However, it does seem to me that only a very few members actively use the Forum, although those that do use it extensively. At present the whole Society website is being reviewed. (I hope I haven't spoken out of turn here.)

[Darren Hedges]

Re Stephen's 'Announcement' about the new Society Facebook page: does this mean there is no truth in the rumour that this will eventually replace this Forum?

David.

(I'm posting this here as there seems no facility to 'reply' to Announcements - wonder why?)

The facebook page is simply a publicity tool, and is no way intended to replace this or any other discussion group or forum.

The future of this forum is not connected in any way to the setting up of the facebook page, they fulfill very different roles within the Society as a whole.

It might be best to leave the discussion about the future of this forum for now, all we are hearing at the moment is rumours and conjecture. If there is any decision to be made at any point, I'm sure the committee will inform the membership accordingly.

Regards,
Darren.

[clayliner]

Thanks for the reassuring comments. I thought my info was reliable but I think there must have been a misunderstanding about the purpose of the Facebook page (I couldn't really see how it could replace the forum but never having used FB I wasn't really in a position to be sure), but it seems our forum is safe - for now, at least. I think Rod sums the situation up succinctly in that while use is relatively limited those (of us) who do use it do value it.

Excellent to hear that the new / revamped website is going ahead and thanks to all involved for putting the work in.

David.

[Jim Flynn]

Years ago, I joined a yahoo group, Earlyrail, for those modelling US railways in any era pre 1914. The group was busy, at the time. Later, some modelers requested, and got, a sub forum on a large model rail forum site. Still further on, a Facebook page was st up. Both of these alternatives drew folks away from the Yahoo group, and message traffic slowed down considerably. A case of spreading participation over a wider area.

Fast forward to present. I have gone from just a member of the group, to a co-moderator, to now, the owner. Message traffic is high, once again, the facebook page is gone, and the traffic on the mentioned forum is not as busy. The most oft reason given during a couple of discussions was that folks were finding they were spending too much time looking at different online locations, which cut into modelling time. The fact that msgs could be read and replied to without being at the computer was felt as a plus.

Every group is different, so what works for one might not work, for another.

Although I have modelled US HOn30, I am fairly new to UK 009. I joined the society, but was a bit disappointed to find the forum fairly inactive. I have found more info to read up on at the narrow gauge Forum, and the NG subforum of RMWeb.

I just looked at said 009 Facebook page, and see it has minimal traffic, as well. The last posting was 9 or 10 days ago?

Many seems to dislike Yahoo groups, but for me, nothing yet has replaced it for a info source for a specific group of like minded folks.

Regarding a yahoo group for 009 modeling, I have searched for one, with no results. Not see mention of it, either, until reading this thread. Perhaps that is part reason why it is not active, new folks can't find it?

Just my thoughts.

Jim F

[Hugh Norwood]

FYI, Jim, the group in question is at
009-GROUP@yahoogroups.com

and the Fb page is for announcements (as I understand it) so one doesn't expect a lot of traffic on it.

There is a 009 modellers group on fb but it has no official connection with the Society (a I understand it)
www.facebook.com/groups/009RailwayModellers

Hope this helps

[Darren Hedges]

Hi Jim, as I see that this was your first post may I say welcome to the forum.

Regarding the new Facebook page - As Hugh has said (and others previously), the page is simply for Society announcements and news updates. The page is not a discussion group, it's primary role is as an information platform for new and existing members alike.

Regards,
Darren.

[Frank]

Will the facebook page be accessible to everyone or just facebook members?   I realise that probably 99% of the world population is now on facebook, but there are a few of us who are not.

Frank

[Jim Flynn]

Hugh, thanks.

The group link just opens a email message page, not the group's page. Searching again, using 009-GROUP still brought no result.

Darren. Thanks for the welcome.

Yes, this is my 1st post. I did look at the forum after I joined, but there didn't seem to be any appropriate section for introductions, so I hadn't posted anything until today.

I have seen the non affiliated 009 fb page, but as I have stopped being a fb'er, I don't follow along.

I stand corrected, with regards to the Society fb page, makes sense it might be slow, if only purpose is announcements and news.

Thanks

Jim F

[Hugh Norwood]

Hugh, thanks.

The group link just opens a email message page, not the group's page. Searching again, using 009-GROUP still brought no result.


Jim F

Looking through the Group description I see that to join you are required to provide the group admin (Julien Webb) with your full name and your 009 Society membership No.

Group Email Addresses

   Post Message :
   009-group@yahoogroups.com
   Subscribe :
   009-group-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
   Unsubscribe :
   009-group-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
   List Owner :
   009-group-owner@yahoogroups.com

But as it may well be winding down, it's probably not worth your while subscribing to it?
(edit)
(You may have to have a yahoo ID as well....)

[JulienW]

Looking through the Group description I see that to join you are required to provide the group admin (Julien Webb) with your full name and your 009 Society membership No.

Group Email Addresses

    Post Message :
    009-group@yahoogroups.com
    Subscribe :
    009-group-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
    Unsubscribe :
    009-group-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    List Owner :
    009-group-owner@yahoogroups.com

But as it may well be winding down, it's probably not worth your while subscribing to it?
(edit)
(You may have to have a yahoo ID as well....)

As it is winding down I strongly suspect that the group admin will not be accepting any new members, at least not until the future of the group is determined...

(the same Julien Webb)

Edit: Please note that the avove comments apply ONLY to the 009-GROUP on Yahoo, not to any other medium.