Problems with aeroforum.org?

[AAC Cadet Leader]

Originally Posted by hank jarrett

...the first of the electronic versions of Skyways is on the street and I did just what I said I would, printed and stapled it together. ... Let's dig in and support the editors with articles, pictures and input to bring these great magazines and organizations back.
Now get us a copy of WW-I Aero!
Hank

as so many publications are going paperless as of late, i'm adjusting, too, and hoping this first electronic version of skyways will see more readership than a printed version. and i was able to send the pdf of my article on channing clark to the printer, staple it together and send it to my mother. thank you, editors for the ability to do that and for a fine job on this publication, even though we can't hold it in our hands. my bookshelf is overcrowded anyway.

[The Mechanic]

I've stayed off the forum until now, but I am mad as hell about what's happened to WWI Aero and the way Leo was treated. I fully agree with and support John McKenzie's assertion that Leo was forced off the board. I've spoken with Leo personally and with other close friends of Leo's who all tell pretty much the same story. A group of over-ambitious people who apparently felt that they could do SO much better than Leo, used a little-known clause in the State of New York's Charter for non-profit organizations to force Leo out. These same people promptly flew the magazine straight into the ground.

Leo created that magazine and made it work for half a century! And his reward for his efforts was to be thrown out on his ear. He may be in touch with the board, but I've asked him bluntly and directly if he would be willing to step in and lead again. "No Way" is the polite way of phrasing his response. What the hell were these people thinking? The magazine didn't need a glossy look and expensive printing. Leo's mag wasn't always pretty, and it wasn't even always accurate, but you know what? It was always there! And now it isn't -- and I'm still owed two issues that I will never get as I have NO interest in a digital magazine, which I doubt will ever happen anyway as all credibility has been lost. I doubt very much if anything of worth will even be submitted in future.

Perhaps these people who thought they could do so much better than Leo could step forward and explain! No time? No talent? Not enough dedication? What? Why is a once great magazine now reduced to digital ashes?

Leo had all these things and he gave us 50 years of enjoyment for an incredibly small amount of money. I will look at my back issues with enjoyment for many years to come, but WWI Aero is dead to me unless Leo is willing and able to bring it back from the grave. I'm SO pissed!

George

[Jeff Brooks]

I have this conversation with many times with a variety of folks ... but mostly with my wife.

I believe there are people out there who have such a strong passion for something, that they somehow are able to gravitate to others with the same passion & sell it. These people may not be interested in getting rich, just sharing their passion with like minded folks.

Then ... either the passion fades and they see a business or someone else steps in and tries to turn a surviving business into a goldmine.
The true believers who pay good money to feed their passion trickle off when the source of the passion is gone.

I believe you don't need a college degree in business administration ... you need the kind of passion that inspires others.

I could name many businesses that have changed by either the loss of the business founder or decrease in the passion from thier founder … I am sure many here could too.

[PaulHare]

I find it strange that there is more debate over the current status of WW1 aeroplanes on this forum than ever there was on its own site (when it was working)
With regard to Leo's departure, the penultimate post said it all. Now there is no Journal, no forum and no response from Mr Gray to e-mails.
Surely somebody could get something together and put it out somehow.
Paul.

[Leatherhead]

Since Jim Bruton, Sean Tavares (aka GreenKnight) and Jonathan Fallon (aka Jon18) have recent post to this thread (or are active in other threads) I thought I'd ask them this.

How is one placed on the board of WWI Aero, and how are they removed? The WWI Aero website currently list 6 members on the board. Is this list accurate?

Sean Tavares
Tom Polapink
Gregory Alegi
Jim Bruton
C.F. Gray
Jonathan Fallon

I give a big "thumbs up" to Tom, for he always answers my e-mails and is indeed doing a very good job with the MML.

Since 3 of the 6 board members post on the forum with some regularity, can't one of you brief the rest of us on what is going on with WWI Aero?

[krowerke]

Originally Posted by Leatherhead

...
Since 3 of the 6 board members post on the forum with some regularity, can't one of you brief the rest of us on what is going on with WWI Aero?

yes, someone please tell us what's going on.
i speak only for myself, but i miss that forum tremendously.
krow

[PaulHare]

As an ex WW1aero board member I can tell you that the board members are apointed by the board. None have ever been dismissed.
And the by-laws, as agreed shortly after Leo's departure require a minimum of seven board members. That they can't maintain that number ( at least six have resigned since Leo went) speaks volumes.
But I still miss the journals and just hope and pray that they can get their act together ( or even learn to act together!) and get back on track. Even if it has to be smaller, or simpler, or digital.
Paul.

[Leatherhead]

I hesitate to post this here, but since the original thread subject is for the discussion of the AEROFORUM.ORG website, I thought it might be appropriate.

I know a large number of people were actively watching Achim Engels's progress on his various projects. I sent him an e-mail this morning asking if he was posting to another site since the aeroforum was down. He told me he was posting on facebook and to do a simple search for his name. I did, but that didn't result in anything. Anyone know where he is posting?

I don't want this thread to stray off course into an Achim-related subject, but since his projects were a big reason why people were tuning in to the website, I thought I would mention my correspondence with him.

Back to the subject of WWI Aero board membership. Don't boards usually have a limit (say 3 years) to the time allowed on the board? Isn't the purpose to ensure fresh blood into an organization and prevent burnout? Does WWI Aero have a similar requirement? Where can one get a copy of the organization's by-laws? Paul, do you have a copy of the by-laws? Aren't board members usually elected?

Again, I aplogize if I'm taking this thread off course, but the viability of WWI Aero (the organization) and Aeroforum (the website) seem to go hand-in-hand.

Lastly, I'll say that I'd like to help both the organization and website in any way I can. Those in the know, please communicate with the rest of us so we can help where we can.

[sobrien]

Aeroforum is back up today!

Sean

[greenknight]

Hello all,

Thank you all for your concern. We appreciate that you and other readers of WWI Aero and Skyways are waiting for news about the organization. We promise that we will get back to you shortly, both here and on our official website World War 1 Aeroplanes, Inc.-Home of WW1 AERO & SKYWAYS.

We are continuing to work at enacting some positive changes for the Organization and are making progress on some fronts. We will be in touch very soon. In the meantime please visit our site for the current issue of Skyways (No.88), which we are making available to all as a free download.

Sincerely,

The WWI Aero Inc. Officers
T. Sean Tavares, President
Jim Bruton, Vice President
Tom Polapink, Secretary/Treasurer

P.S. As of this writing Aeroforum.org seems to be back up. I have not heard from the web master, so I don't know whether a temporary fix or long-term solution has been implemented. As I have pointed out previously, Aeroforum.org is paid for and maintained by a single party and it is hosted on this person's personal web space. It is not under direct organizational control. The relationship between WWI Aeroplanes, Inc. and Aeroforum.org is one aspect of our organization which may change very soon.