JB, I don't think there's anything wrong with our forum! I think we have a great forum with really nice people!
I haven't been out in the garden much due to still recovering from my ankle sprain, plus things get very busy for me as a single parent with a full-time job plus sole responsibility for maintaining a house (and yard). I try to 'like' things to let people know I am reading and interested, but usually have to wait for the weekend or other down times for more extended postings. I think ATP also has a tremendous number of forums where people get different needs met, and so the regional forums need to find their own unique role to play.
I think one need the regional forums can fill is being more 'homey'--e.g., a little more about our lives so we can support one another, a little more 'off-topic' chat. One issue is that we are a 'latecomer' to the forum world here at ATP, and so many people had already found 'homes' on other forums--e.g., the Sandbox chat forums, or Northeast Gardening, or Perennials, or wherever.
I think a second need the regional forums can fill is actually meeting each other in person, since we are in the same region--e.g., swaps--or informally sharing seeds/bulbs with each other since mailing costs are lower to others nearby.
Others may have other ideas about the unique niche that the MAG can fill in our lives. For me, it's my home forum on ATP. However, I apologize that my ability to post a lot comes and goes. With school starting again in September, a lot of my free time went, since all my daughter's extracurricular activities started up again, and it can get very busy. I get home later in the evening, and am out and on the run more, where I can only make quick responses via my cell. So, with me spending a lot of my spare time now in noisy volleyball courts, it would be great if others wanted to fill the silence! :-)
It's our forum. It can serve whatever unique niche we would like, given the overall busy-ness of ATP and its 91 forums.
Would love to hear any ideas others might have!
