UPDATE (23 August)
I have been working with the IAOC leadership, and we are putting plans in place to transfer ownership of this site to the IAOC rather than shutting it down. My intent is to turn over the site at no cost to the IAOC, they will simply assume the ongoing costs for hosting, licenses, updates, etc. We are still working through the logistics of transfer, but likely within the next 30 to 90 days. I have volunteered to continue playing an administrator role, but we will also bring on one or more club members to help perform those duties.
I think this is the very best solution to keeping the site up and running for the foreseeable future. Being under the auspices of the club will help ensure that it remains evergreen and is not dependent on the mortality of myself or any single individual. How long it continues will be up to present and future board and club members rather than any one person. Being linked more closely to the club will also, hopefully, drive more usage.
I confess that I am no longer 100% certain I would have shut it down as scheduled. This is largely do to the outpouring of support I received from several forum members after making the announcement. You know who you are, but it is on behalf of you handful of folks that I probably would have found myself with my finger on the switch, but unable to actually turn off the lights. Thank you to all of you, and thank you to the IAOC for stepping up to keep it going.
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All,
The amphicar forum was created 22 years ago to address what was, at the time, a paucity of Amphicar information to be found. It's been a great run, but I think it is nearing the end.
Time and technology have both moved on. People now rely on platforms like Facebook in lieu of forums like this one. Activity here was once extremely busy on a daily basis. Currently there are more single day postings in the Facebook group than we see here in a month. Google search now deprioritzes forums in favor of commercial businesses. Ten years ago, this site was in the top 3 for a search on Amphicar, now it is buried on page 30. This means new users can not even find it. I do not have the resources to compete with Mark Zuckerberg!
Costs have risen as contributing members have declined. Still, that is a minor issue compared to the overall decline in active members.
I am going to keep it running for the next year out of respect and thanks to all those who have contributed to and supported this effort over the last 21 years.
I shall try to move the archives of info somewhere. In the past I have been contacted by some of the big automotive forum sites to take it over as a sub-forum I will see if they are still interested.
It's been a fun run, and a labor of love. I've made many great friends, and also a few haters. Thanks to the former. To the later, I no longer care why you are still teed off because I hurt your feelings 10+ years ago.
I shall put up a countdown timer shortly and will keep you posted. It is sad, but forums have jumped the shark, this one is no exception. Who knows, maybe I can convince myself to start using Facebook, but probably not!
I have been working with the IAOC leadership, and we are putting plans in place to transfer ownership of this site to the IAOC rather than shutting it down. My intent is to turn over the site at no cost to the IAOC, they will simply assume the ongoing costs for hosting, licenses, updates, etc. We are still working through the logistics of transfer, but likely within the next 30 to 90 days. I have volunteered to continue playing an administrator role, but we will also bring on one or more club members to help perform those duties.
I think this is the very best solution to keeping the site up and running for the foreseeable future. Being under the auspices of the club will help ensure that it remains evergreen and is not dependent on the mortality of myself or any single individual. How long it continues will be up to present and future board and club members rather than any one person. Being linked more closely to the club will also, hopefully, drive more usage.
I confess that I am no longer 100% certain I would have shut it down as scheduled. This is largely do to the outpouring of support I received from several forum members after making the announcement. You know who you are, but it is on behalf of you handful of folks that I probably would have found myself with my finger on the switch, but unable to actually turn off the lights. Thank you to all of you, and thank you to the IAOC for stepping up to keep it going.
=======================
All,
The amphicar forum was created 22 years ago to address what was, at the time, a paucity of Amphicar information to be found. It's been a great run, but I think it is nearing the end.
Time and technology have both moved on. People now rely on platforms like Facebook in lieu of forums like this one. Activity here was once extremely busy on a daily basis. Currently there are more single day postings in the Facebook group than we see here in a month. Google search now deprioritzes forums in favor of commercial businesses. Ten years ago, this site was in the top 3 for a search on Amphicar, now it is buried on page 30. This means new users can not even find it. I do not have the resources to compete with Mark Zuckerberg!
Costs have risen as contributing members have declined. Still, that is a minor issue compared to the overall decline in active members.
I am going to keep it running for the next year out of respect and thanks to all those who have contributed to and supported this effort over the last 21 years.
I shall try to move the archives of info somewhere. In the past I have been contacted by some of the big automotive forum sites to take it over as a sub-forum I will see if they are still interested.
It's been a fun run, and a labor of love. I've made many great friends, and also a few haters. Thanks to the former. To the later, I no longer care why you are still teed off because I hurt your feelings 10+ years ago.
I shall put up a countdown timer shortly and will keep you posted. It is sad, but forums have jumped the shark, this one is no exception. Who knows, maybe I can convince myself to start using Facebook, but probably not!
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