I understand (or perceive) there is some discontent among people here about what defines the Midwest Region. If you were to go back and look I made a post when this message board came on line https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...threadid=69759

I have been kicking around some ideas about this. The following is an e-mail I fired off to Dirk and Brad regarding this:

Dirk,
Over the past couple of months I have noticed postings in the Midwest Region Board regarding no representation for people in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana. By representation I mean those states aren't spelled out in the description. Some people seem upset about this. I get the impression that because the state they live in is not called out means they are "not part of the group". I have absolutely no objection to anybody from the aforementioned states(or any state or country for that matter) posting in the Midwest Region Board. When I asked you to create a Midwest Region message board I mentioned those states (IA, IL, MN, and WI) because I figured it was best to keep it 'local'. I figured these states are fairly close to each other that people from all four of them have a good chance of getting together at dragstrips, swap meets, etc. Here are some ideas I have had floating around in my head regarding this:

1) Create a new message board for the people in MI, OH, IN and call it Great Lakes & Ohio Valley Region Message Board.....or something like that. Add the states MO, ND, SD, and MT to the Midwest Region states and change the name to "Midwest and Upper Plains Region Board" or something along those lines. I suppose somebody would argue that WI, IL, IN, and MN are part of the Great Lakes area...........can't satisfy everybody.

2) Save server space (if it is an issue) by incorporating all these states (including the ones named under Midwest) into one message board called something like: Great Planes, Midwest, Great Lakes and Ohio Valley Regions. That is one big name! LOL! I personally think its too big of an area under one name....but I wanted to throw that idea out anyway.

Maybe adding a new regional message board is not a good idea. From your news and updates postings I understand the server is unstable. Well...........think it over and get back to me. I have some recommendations for moderators if the Great Lakes & Ohio Valley Region board becomes a reality. I appreciate your response and thoughts on this. Thanks!

So........basically to sum it up I'm aware of peoples concerns here and am trying to address them. Your comments are welcome!

Oh........and I'm still around! LOL! I have been on an intentional hiatus for a while. Its good to get away for awhile but Im glad to be back!:rockon:

Mike

 

Please dont turn this message board for the regional areas into a cluster@^#$ like at turbobuick.com :-( I love that site dearly as well but going thru their regional sites and serchign for great lakes east and west along with standard pacific central time zone makes perusing the boards a difficult task indeed :-( I would really hate to see that happen here

Here is the easiest way i can think of to help minimize and at the same time streamline the boards

#1
No one will ever be happy that Hawaii or Vermont isnt specifically listed (no flames but please see my point): a board can only exist if there is sufficient traffic for that state/region/area

#2
Split the boards into 5 diff sub groups ie: West, Midwest, East, South, Southwest.....thereby covering all major populated areas and more than enuff room to fudge a little bit to cover the inbetweeners(again, we cannot simply justify each and every area having its own board unless justified)

#3
Under each heading such as stated above u could list included states etc........ Then post the already established and proven boards under the applicable area ...This would minimize people searching for the board for their area and also allow people to find something that suits them easier as well i believe

#4
Whatever happens, splitting the boards into something such as Great Lakes East and West and Midwest would do nothing but create a completely clusterfuc#%^@ message board environment due to lack of better words :-) I've seen this at other boards and heard the complaints associated with them :-(
How can u have a great lakes board and then put chicago under the midwest? It becomes nothing but hard to follow and disenchanting to the users of the boards ....Or putting IL in one region and IN in another when NW IN and Chicago are considered to be the same region? It makes no coherent geographic sense nor does it recognize the large population in both states near the city of Chicago

#5
And yes of course im biased to the midwest area , i was born and raised here and founded the NW IN/south chicago board along with dirks help of course :-)

#6
Above and beyond all we need something with coherent geographic sense and in tune with the areas population centers and thirdgen ownership
So please feel free to post your thoughts and ideas here
Lets make this a clean organized board and easy to read (sifting thru garbage to find what your looking for sucks admit it :-))

thanks for the time and feel free to comment
jeremy/3.8TransAM/TTA

 

Thanks mike, for addressing this issue, and letting us know what is going on.

I think that just relisting what states are covered under the already existing regions would clear up a lot of confusion. I know from my own experience that I nevered looked at any of the regional boards because michigan was not covered under any of them.

thanks again guys.

nick

 

Mike,

I was just wondering what was going on with this issue? It has been over two months and Michigan still has not even been added to the midwest board. I was just curious to see if you guys had come up with a solution. I thought your first suggestions where very good. Please let us know.

Thanks
nick

 

well the nw in /south chiago burb board is attracting fols from south bend and indianapolis :-) and i believe we have a stragler or two from MI as well and we're more than happy to have u on ours if u like ....MI is about 30-40 min from ny house actually :-)
later

 

FYI..............
I fired off that same e-mail AGAIN to Dirk and Brad about a month later and to this date have not heard one thing back from either of them. I don't know what gives. They are either ignoring me or are too busy/forget to respond.

At this point I would recommend those of you who are sincerely interested in making changes and additions to send an e-mail to Dirk and Brad's attention politely requesting them. Maybe if enough different people contact them directly and state good reasons for changes they will take it into consideration and act on it. BTW I am all for seeing some changes here! Again.........I apologize for this becoming a drawn out and stagnant issue but I am not sure what my next move on this should be!


Frustrated!
Mike