This is a great step forward for the PBS. I've used forums many many times for various hobbies over the years, and I don't think the importance of making discussions searchable and public can be emphasized enough to keep this hobby alive and thriving. As one of the younger members here, I know how essential this is to recruiting more people, particularly the highly visual and low attention span younger generations. I'll surely be using the forums to post pictures of various species, I have a lot of material to share! Thanks to all those making this happen, a really smart move! Colin Zone 8b Southern Oregon On Thu, Apr 21, 2022 at 1:38 PM R Hansen via pbs < pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: > The Board of Directors of the Pacific Bulb Society is ready to make the > Forum available to its members. > > > > Some things to know: > > > > <http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/> > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/ is the link. This link connects > you to all information on our current link. > > > > Please remember that Archives and Wiki are NOT going away. They will > be there forever, accessible, searchable and continuing to educate; instead > they will be accessible on the < > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/> > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/ link. > > > > One provision that the Forum will provide: a history of, as an example, > Forum discussions on a particular topic like Crocus (it could be any bulb) > that goes back years. Our webmaster and cohorts are using an off the shelf > software for the Forum - the same one the Scottish Rock Garden Club uses - > and it will be packed with lots of help topics in the menus. Plus, and this > is very important if you're feeling uncomfortable or hesitant about using > the Forum, names and links of PBS members who are knowledgeable and can > help > you navigate the Forum. > > > > Assistance is available from: Diane Whitehead > <mailto:ldiane.whitehead@gmail.com> ldiane.whitehead@gmail.com, David > Pilling <mailto:david@davidpilling.com> david@davidpilling.com, or Garak > (Martin Bohnet) > > <mailto:garak@code-garak.de> garak@code-garak.de. > > > > It will be easier to post photos, focus on topics of interest to you, and > you will not have to avoid all those emails that are not of interest to > you. > > > Two items also of importance: announcements of bulb and seed exchanges will > come to you as emails and also on the Forum to make sure you won't miss out > on our exchanges. Another item that's very popular on email, "what's > blooming now" (Click on Current Photographs) will continue as a separate > topic on the Forum, so if that's all you want to look at, you can. Other > topics will be added as needed. > > > > Some basic tips to begin: > > > > LOGIN: > > You'll only need to log in to the Forum if you wish to post a message or > photo or if you want to reply. To Login or Signup, go to the very top left > of your screen and follow directions. If logging in is a pain or you don't > remember a password, be sure to choose from the "Time to stay logged in" > box. (The default time is One Hour) Each time you click on the Forum when > you are permanently logged in, just click your User Name on the pop-up and > proceed. Lurkers can then choose to read messages as and when they will. No > more overburdened Inboxes! > > > > Remember: you can change your text size when viewing in your browser as > well > as in the Forum. You will also have the choice of several themes if you > want > to change how you view the forum. > > > > Wiki & List Archive: There will be no changes to the Wiki or to the List > Archive, nor will any of the topics appearing in the horizontal menu bar at > the top of the current website change. The menu will now appear as a > vertical list on the left side of your display. > > > > YES - there is a HELP button with an explanation of words and phrases, and > illustrations, etc. Go to the very bottom of any page on the right and > click > on Help. If you've sent out an SOS and are awaiting a reply, check this > out. > > > > One Last Item: Read the screen. Every word. Don't be like me and do a quick > (ha ha) scan of the page and then whine (yes, my dog taught me how) that "I > can't find it." Trust me. And yes, I'll admit right now: I can and do read > every word and because it's me, sometimes I still don't get it. But never > mind, call for help because we're all humans and we all need help now and > then. > > > > Do not hesitate to contact us if you have further questions or concerns. > Many thanks for your patience! > > > > Robin Hansen > > President, PBS > > > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net>