I LOVE YOU PEOPLE!!!!!!! Thanks Rick, Joe and Alison for pointing out the fact that everything is fine here. Joe is certainly one of the tonesetters here, but that is just because he is a very thoughtful person who loves to help folks and loves the music. My guess is that if you asked the folks in his church choir they would say the same thing. Rick has been here only three months yet it feels like he has been contributing a lot longer. That is the mark of a contributor who is thoughtful and caring. Setting aside for the moment that I shamelessly pursue the fair Alison through the hills and dales of cyberspace, she has been so helpful to all who have come here that it boggles the mind. She has made more MIDI files of tunes than anyone hands down. Even when she has been attacked, she has handled it with legendary grace. Then you get to some of the "newbies" that I have come to love to read. Catspaw, Katlaughing, Alistair, LEJ, Banjer. And the mainstays, God, Animaterra, harpgirl, Bill D, Seed, Shambles, Barbara Shaw, Blessings Barbara and all the rest. What's the point, of all this? It is that no one person gives our community it's flavor. And no one person, not even Max, is responsible for its success or failure. As Shula (is there anyone who doesn't love this woman?)so wisely points out, the creation has outgrown the creator. We are all responsible for it retaining that what makes it so special. I have said it before, and I will say it again. In the fullness of time, this community will be seen as an amazing social event. Walking through the threads is as real an event as walking through your neighborhood.

Which brings me to the last point. We know that most of the 80,000 hits that Dick referred to are not going to pledge the buck. But what about those of us who are subscribers pledging, voluntarily, to send $10.00 per month? And from time to time we post a thread telling newcomers that we do this to keep it alive and encourage others to do the same? Or if you have other ideas that you think will work better, lets here them. I just feel that it is time for those of us for whom this community has become so important need to step up if we are able. This is rambling but I would love to have more input on it.

All the best,

Mick