I received a lot of mail over the = past 24 hours and I'm pleased to say that it was about 50/50 and as it should be. First let me say that I was as pleased as anyone about = Ken's new addition and I always at least started to read each and every message = that came down to me. My only concern was that we start with = birth announcements and where does it end. How about birthdays or = maybe illness in the family or the kids soccer championship?

I sat down last nite and took a = long deep look at the messages that I had received reading some several times over = and my final conclusion was that none of you were wrong and neither was = I. It is a matter of how each sees the list. I see it as a list = for the stating and working with facts pertaining to the VW buses. Throughout many of your messages, maybe 25%, one factor kept creeping = into the conversations and that was it is not a list but a community. = Of this I couldn't agree more as a portion of the messages that I have kept = detailed not the buses themselves but the use of them such as camping. = Being a long time camper of some 50 years I loved hearing first hand reports of = new places to visit along with their good points and their = pitfalls.

As I see it, and correct me if = I'm wrong (Ha! Ha!) the list dates back to a time when it was the best technology available for the purpose. In your messages I kept hearing, community, community, community and you couldn't be more right, all of you. What is needed is not an outdated text based list but = an on-line virtual community that everyone can participate in. = It should have an opening page that is accessible to all of the general = public that searches out Volkswagen or VW buses. From there it = should be passworded for access to members only. The opening page = should state your purpose for existing and a short description of the remaining pages = giving the public an opportunity to join your community. The = remaining pages could contain such things as a calendar for birthdays, = anniversaries, etc and a board for upcoming events. It could also have a = members list that a person could put as much info about his or her family as wanted. The dealers and venders could have a board with = their businesses listed with telephone numbers, email links, web page links, etc. There could be a members chat room as well as a = standard E-mail based list as you now have. There could be a board = that was for camping experiences along with one for your favorite camping recipes. This would help to include more spouses and you = might even set up something for the children.

I'm not positive but I think that = it was Bulley who wrote that the list was like my hometown and that I had = the opportunity to chose who I might invite to my home and I say that the = list is like have every person show up and then having to chose who may and who = may not enter my home. Me I'd rather go out into the community, make = friends and then chose who and when.

I personally throw down a = challenge to the members of your list, that being "Please come in from the dark ages and = see the light of your future and of your COMMUNITY. Make = this not a list of a few but the future of all those persons world wide who wish = to enjoy the pleasures of others sharing a beloved experience.