Just got off a phone call w/ the owner of this forum, Todd Powell. I was supplied a phone # for him that did the job.
He is willing to allow a panel of moderators to monitor the forum. He has been not willing to let the PRA take it over (in spite of several requests to do so over the years), because he says he wants to make sure the valuable information re: SAFETY for this niche in aviation isn't lost.
Todd wants new people to have access to that, because that happened previously when the rotary forum run by Norm in Florida disappeared.
He was glad to hear of the PRA changes that have taken place in the last several weeks! He also has high regards for Tim O'Conner (former PRA-VP & the main moderator of the PRA FB page. He was happy to hear how Tim kept control of the PRA FB page in spite of attempts for him to relinquish that to others!
When I asked Todd how forum contributions for it's expenses have helped, he replied that they do help & he appreciates those who do so! He still digs out of his own pocket for more than half of the annual charge. He also says the firm providing the forum format has available & is willing to add new features. I mentioned the poor "Search" feature that is there now.
A note regarding Dennis Fetters: Todd told me that the biggest financial contributor towards this forum's expenses has been DF! So, my hat is off to DF, a person who certainly has been controversial in his life.
I have a been a small contributor towards the forum's expenses for some time. I found it easy for it to be paid automatically once a year through PayPal. I figure the standard amount of $25 was cheap for me. It comes out to being a shade under 50 cents a week!
Todd is currently on vacation this week in Mexico w/ extended-family, but says he will do a Zoom mtg. this next week w/ interested moderators that will stick around for the long run & not be MIA after a short while. Please let me know through a PM on the forum if you'd be interested & why!
I didn't contact Todd to ask to be a moderator. I wanted his OK to allow somebody to help new people get approved, since several of us have had gyro-oriented friends or acquaintances wanting to join so they can participate.
During our conversation, he asked if I would be willing to be a moderator. He said since I had been around the gyro world for a long time, he wanted people who wouldn't just disappear after a short while. This is something I'm willing to do. I know there are others who are willing to help.
I told Todd that I was, for the most part, in agreement w/ the temporary & permanent bans he & other moderators did in the past. As I commented in this thread in a few previous posts, this rotary wing forum is a decent place where the members are respectful now. I was glad the extreme profane & nauseous repeated posts made by some individuals are gone!