Trish,
The setup by Kathy of the Orchid forum on Cubits was absolute perfection!
It had EVERYTHING and IMHO should be used as a model for all forums on ATP.
It had it all, in that it built community by being personal (ie: interviews, polls, sharing members passions in the gardening realm, etc). Those things need to be kept forum specific.
Each ATP specialty plant forum could benefit greatly by having this functionality.
If it is all segregated ,you lose the sense of community so important among the separate plant type enthusiasts.
Thanks, Trish!