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Posted

I only just made it....

and I've been here nearly a year.

Posted

I'm sure Rob will respond to your question. But perhaps it should have been posed to him directly first. I'm sure the original statement was premised on economic conditions and projections at the time...some 2 years ago at least. If this was the case, then it's understandable why the membership quota, if there is such a thing, might be raised. With the new forum software and considering the volume and quality of posts, I don't think it would be unreasonable to allow organic growth to continue.

There's no doubt that Rob's response will be direct and to the point.

Wilkey

Posted
But perhaps it should have been posed to him directly first.

I was thinking the same thing...

Posted

Hal, it was indeed our initial intention to keep membership to 3000. The reasoning is that I did not believe we could maintain the service levels of Cigar Czar via increased demand and that the Forum would also suffer from being too unwieldly due to size.

On the first issue we have been fortunate to have been granted increased supply as we ourselves have grown. Our relationship with PCC has never been better. If the day comes that we cannot meet our service standards then we will stop our client list from expanding.

On the issue of Forum membership we have again been fortunate on the quality of moderator and the level of self moderation which has gone on. Seriously, we don't have four moderators but around 200 hard core moderators who enforce the culture of FOH vigorously and for that I thank you all.

One other point which really hit home in Havana over the past 10 days is that we are being closely watched not just by Habanos but by this industries leaders around the world. I could have been knocked over with a feather when a doyen of the cigar trade pulled me aside and said that he read the forum regularly and encouraged us to continue to say the type of things that he could never say.

It became apparent in discussions over the week that we (FOH) are loathed and respected in equal parts. I copped a shellacking after I posted from Havana my comments on the Montecristo Open. Hours of discussion ensued with people from HSA and elsewhere as to what benefit (if any) my comments brought to the industry itself. I can see their point to an extent but I had to explain that FOH is not in the business of being a Habanos cheer squad. FOH is a group of zealots who represent the heart and soul..the heartbeat of the Habanos enthusiast.

As FOH grows so does our influence. I look forward to the day where we have 10,000 members who represent the conscience and history of the Habanos cigar. There is a need for an organisation that gives both kudos and brickbats when deserved.

Members have seen the relative quick growth of FOH. I believe we should foster this growth without comprimising its principles.

Fun, Friendship, Fraternity, Laughter, Loyalty.....no Tossers no Wankers.

Posted
Hal, it was indeed our initial intention to keep membership to 3000.

Darn it, I'm 705 too late, what do I do now ? Nobody will take me back :tantrum:

Can't I just sleep on the floor? :cigar:

Posted

This is one of the few forums anywhere where the vast majority of the members truly care about the subject matter, and anyone, not just the few with 10001010000001 posts may have their voices heard. Rob and the rest of the mods are currently doing a great job, and the forum server is reliable and fast, so I think FOH can continue to grow w/o much problems. Who knows how much knowledge from aficionados all over the world FOH may be missing out on if a quota is enforced?

Posted
Comprimising our principles.

Fun, Friendship, Fraternity, Laughter, Loyalty.....no Tossers no Wankers.

What happened to "Debauchery, Sex and the underlying hatred of the Sky Blue jersey" as principles?

Posted
Hal, it was indeed our initial intention to keep membership to 3000. The reasoning is that I did not believe we could maintain the service levels of Cigar Czar via increased demand and that the Forum would also suffer from being too unwieldly due to size.

On the first issue we have been fortunate to have been granted increased supply as we ourselves have grown. Our relationship with PCC has never been better. If the day comes that we cannot meet our service standards then we will stop our client list from expanding.

On the issue of Forum membership we have again been fortunate on the quality of moderator and the level of self moderation which has gone on. Seriously, we don't have four moderators but around 200 hard core moderators who enforce the culture of FOH vigorously and for that I thank you all.

One other point which really hit home in Havana over the past 10 days is that we are being closely watched not just by Habanos but by this industries leaders around the world. I could have been knocked over with a feather when a doyen of the cigar trade pulled me aside and said that he read the forum regularly and encouraged us to continue to say the type of things that he could never say.

It became apparent in discussions over the week that we (FOH) are loathed and respected in equal parts. I copped a shellacking after I posted from Havana my comments on the Montecristo Open. Hours of discussion ensued with people from HSA and elsewhere as to what benefit (if any) my comments brought to the industry itself. I can see their point to an extent but I had to explain that FOH is not in the business of being a Habanos cheer squad. FOH is a group of zealots who represent the heart and soul..the heartbeat of the Habanos enthusiast.

As FOH grows so does our influence. I look forward to the day where we have 10,000 members who represent the conscience and history of the Habanos cigar. There is a need for an organisation that gives both kudos and brickbats when deserved.

Members have seen the relative quick growth of FOH. I believe we should foster this growth without comprimising its principles.

Fun, Friendship, Fraternity, Laughter, Loyalty.....no Tossers no Wankers.

Thanks for posting this Rob; so you condone my bitching about big **** cigars, poor wrappers and loss of the classics. I am proceeding to tie my panties back up in a wad!!! -LOL

-Piggy!

Posted
What happened to "Debauchery, Sex and the underlying hatred of the Sky Blue jersey" as principles?

That's it :)

15 - 11 gentlemen, 15 - 11.

And just in case you missed it - NSW 15 beat Qld 11 on Friday night in Sydney. Once again proving the might of NSW rugby.

Get ready for an entire generation of Reds who will never know what it is like to beat the Tahs. :D

Posted
Darn it, I'm 705 too late, what do I do now ? Nobody will take me back :)

Can't I just sleep on the floor? :D

Guy, I've a spare bed that's yours whenever you need it.

Posted
I copped a shellacking after I posted from Havana my comments on the Montecristo Open.

Unfortunate, especially given that your livelihood might have be on the line. But I don't know how they'd expect from you anything else.

Effin' A. (Onya in your parlance)

Posted
Guy, I've a spare bed that's yours whenever you need it.

Thanks colt, now I know that, somewhere, someone has a soul.

You never know, maybe one day, we'll have a smoke together and re-invent the world . :rolleyes:

Posted
I copped a shellacking after I posted from Havana my comments on the Montecristo Open. Hours of discussion ensued with people from HSA and elsewhere as to what benefit (if any) my comments brought to the industry itself. I can see their point to an extent but I had to explain that FOH is not in the business of being a Habanos cheer squad. FOH is a group of zealots who represent the heart and soul..the heartbeat of the Habanos enthusiast.

HSA should not be upset over hearing negative feedback. It's better than them sticking their heads in the sand wondering why a product doesn't sell. If the Open's are good, despite your opinion, we'll buy them and write it off as you having a few too many mojito's at the party. I think they'll believe that too. :rolleyes:

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