November 8, 2004

To all members of the 50+ Friends Club:

I hate to do it, but the time has come for me to bow out as coordinator, or whatever it is I do, of the 50+ club. It’s been almost 10 years - a wonderful and challenging 10 years - but there are still a lot of things I want to explore. The club has changed my life in many ways and it will always hold a very special place in my heart. HTML were simply 4 letters of the alphabet when I started this journey. Who’d have ever thought it would lead to new careers such as hosting my own TV show, web designing, and having my digital art work in local stores. I’ve learned so much. And the friends!!! WOW!!! Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I’d meet so many wonderful people both online and in real time. Working with the various editors of our website over the years has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. They are certainly a group of the most wonderful women and men on earth.

I’ve talked to Sylvia and Cassie extensively about my decision. Sylvia has admitted she has been feeling as I do but didn’t want to let anyone down.

Cassie, as well, feels the time has come to hang up her 50+ hat. She needs to give her complete attention to her growing family (three grandchildren in two years). She also needs to use what time she has left at the end of the day to complete the manuscript and prepare the graphics for the third book in her Really Easy Computer Book series.

If anyone would like to step forward and take over our jobs, the items mentioned below might not be necessary. If not, then…..

We don’t need to completely shut down the club site, but we are going to have to make a number of changes. These changes should be done by November 29. Notices will be put on the homepage and the front page of the cookbook telling about what’s happening.

If you have any suggestions or comments about any of the following, please do not hesitate to contact me.

I hope to have the following items in place by the end of November, so now is a good time to wander through the entire site for one last time.

[1] The website, though greatly reduced, will remain online until club funds run out. After removing various sections we can change the space needed through the ISP. That would mean a savings of $50/year.

[2] Chat will remain online. Misfire has agreed to take on the job of being responsible for the chat room. I will continue to pay for it until club funds run out.

[3] We will discontinue the membership list and cancel Tuglet. We will no longer be sending out a monthly newsletter. This will save $99/year. Although there will be no further newsletters, we may be sending out another message of two this month.

[4] The cookbook will remain online (it really is one of the best on the web), however it will no longer be updated as a whole. A few of the editors have elected to continue updating their chapters.

[5] The Friendship Mall, the Welcome Station, and the Support Page have already been taken offline. The following sections of the website will be taken offline November 20 - the Members Directories, In Memory, the Tribute page and all boards.

[6] The Library will remain online, as will the Tutorials.

[7] The editors of the following sections have asked to have their sections taken offline: CHAOS, the Birthday Calendar, The Pastor’s Pages, Book Reviews, Site of the Month, Your Health, Travel with Katherine, Paws ‘n Claws (Willow only). This will be done November 20.

[8] The editors of the following sections have elected to continue: Misfire (At Home), Dallas (Glory Days), Slambang (Glory Days), Bonnie (Circle of Friends), Det (the Canuck), Pepper (cookbook), John (Tips n’ Tricks), Joe (the Brit), BabyBoomer (cookbook), Duchess (Designer for Glory Days), Dee (Designer for Paws ‘n Claws and the Canuck), Lin (Paws ‘n Claws). As any additional changes are made they will be reflected on the homepage.

Current Financial Status:

Balance Forward:	$948.80
Income:	$   0.00
Expenses:
ISP 6/04-6/05	$149.00
Current Balance:	$799.80

I guess that about covers it. It’s been great working with 50+ and we will miss you.

Carole
csw1@50plusfriends.com