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<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Brian Austin Whitney:
I think it's a great side effect to get some new writers on the message boards. Just as I encourage all the "lyric board regulars" to get out to chapter meetings and other parts of JPFolks, I try to get the non posting folks to come and get involved here. It's good for everyone.

Also keep in mind that I hadn't been very aggressive getting new folks to register and post on the message boards. Some were attracted to the new Instrument boards.. the Success Board.. the Venue board and just the new attention we've placed on the message boards in general. (And we have the register link posted on the home page, something we had never done before.)

I hope some of you folks will encourage and nurture the new folks posting lyrics. I've noticed on both Lyric 1 and Lyric 2 that there are posts slipping by with ZERO responses into page 2. We never used to let that happen, and I am kind of sad to see it. Even if you don't like the post, there is value to let people know you've at least read it. People can't improve in a vacuum and I'd think as a point of pride that some of the regulars who have vested so much in the lyric boards would want to keep the standards and activity here as top notch as the reputation of all of you has grown.

People regularly tell me how impressed they are with the active lyric board people here. How polite and professional the group and community as a whole is. As we are blessed with some new folks in our midst, let's keep the momentum going. Let them know they are welcome. If they don't know the polite and informal protocol, let them know nicely that they can get more replies to their posts by actively replying to others as well. New folks don't know that, but if we help them, they'll get involved and be productive like everyone else!

So, thanks to those willing to embrace the new diversity. And I hope everyone will get to know both old and new and keep improving everyone's writing together!

Brian</font>


Thanks, for your encouraging comments, Brian, I, like others have been lurking for a while, trying to get up the nerve to jump into what seems to be a community who knows and cares for one another. I entered your lyric contest only after having my work critiqued. And, I hope to become a more 'active' member and learn everything I can from these Just Plain Folks with incredible knowledge and skills - perhaps, even contribute something of value myself. There is a saying in Africa, "Alog may stay in the water for 10 years but it will still never become a crocodile" I see this to mean, that unless we are willing to take a risk or contribute, we cannot even dream to change. Jeannette

"Live as though you were going to die tomorrow; learn as though you will live forever." Ghandi

Jeannette