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Evolution of a Forum
I would like to share some numbers with you. Not just the numbers but what makes those numbers so amazing and how they came about. The MTF was created in July of 2001 by a man with a vision. I’m sincerely hoping what we have become is well on the way to meeting that vision and that ultimately we get there. I think we are on the right path.
Below are the average number of posts and posting members since the forum began.
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Year
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Monthly
Avg Posts
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Monthly
Avg Posters
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2001 (Jul-Dec)
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1176
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120
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| 2002 | 4709 | 280 |
| 2003 | 8490 | 448 |
| 2004 | 7768 | 537 |
| 2005 | 7128 | 593 |
| 2006 | 8094 | 640
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Having been around Delphi Forums for a while I have seen forums come and go. Some come and stay but have nominal participation. The numbers them-selves are impressive. And these numbers do not include the lurkers who don’t post but come for the information they glean.
But it is not the numbers that make the MTF so amazing. It is what those numbers signify. We probably have one of the most diverse memberships of any forum I’ve seen. We have folks from all walks of life, different economic levels, and different countries! We all treat each other with mutual respect and share our experiences and dreams to quote someone we all know and love. J
Through the years the MTF has grown beyond just our little corner of the internet. I think this was part of Alan’s grand plan. As we have grown over the years it became too much for a single person to manage so Alan started bringing on volunteers. Initially it was to help with the forum, then to help with the events, now it is the creation of an active Board with the ultimate goal of having the board groom the next generation of volunteers and become an advisory board. I tell you all this because there is a lifecycle of every forum. We want and thus far have succeeded in making that a very long life! Recently there have been some changes at the board level and this will always be the case. Peoples lives change, priorities change and what is fun changes. The fact that the MTF has crossed this bridge multiple times speaks volumes for what we have become.
We have evolved into a very large very interactive family. There are impromptu lunch bunch (or dinner bunch) meetings across the country. There are organized MTF flower sniffin and LD events around the country. Everyone who comes here has something to offer. Each of these events is initiated by an MTF member turned volunteer. I am personally impressed with the staying power of the MTF and the quality of each and every member. The MTF is much more than any single person any more, it is the sum total of all its members. I’m glad to know each and every one of you. Thanks for your participation.
- Dawn
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