RootsChat was launched on 31st. December 2003
see [About us] (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/aboutus.php)
and RootsChat in the Public Eye (http://surname.rootschat.com/lexicon/rc-media.php#westernmail)
Slowly it grew:
1 year old (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,27110.0.html) ..... 2 years old (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,115557.0.html) ...... 3 years old (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,202887.0.html) ...... 4 years old (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,274948.0.html) ...... 5 years old (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,349844.45.html) ...... 6 years old (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,426827.0.html) .....
and, now, on Friday 31st. December 2010,
RootsChat will be 7 years old !!
Today's statistics (Wednesday 28 December 2010 13:28 UTC (UK) are
Members: 137507 • Posts: 3095351 • Topics: 431153
Hardly anyone noticed it, but on 1st. November the total number of posts topped the 3 million mark :)
And the last few months have topped several records for numbers of posts, topics, hits, new members etc.
But for the several thousand regular members, that wasn't the important bit.
Far more important was the "daily life" of the forum and chatroom, where help was requested and offered for all manner of genealogical and related questions.
To help organise this we appointed several new moderators this year, re-organised a few boards, and even introduced a new Heraldry board.
2010 was also a sad year for RootsChat as many Chatters were shocked and saddened to hear of the deaths of some much-loved and respected members ....
R.I.P. Celia (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,488067) Indiapaleale (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,466642) Ricky1 (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,487329)
RootsChat isn't primarily a "social networking" site, but for the regular visitors to the Totally Off Topic Bit (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/board,286.0.html) and in the Chatroom (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/RootsChatterBox/RootsChatterBox.php), where RootsChatters can let their hair down, relax from the rigours of Family History, vent a few feelings, find comfort and support, have a few laughs, it certainly must seem so.
We will soon all be raising our glasses to toast in the New Year, but before we do, on the 31st. of December, remember to raise your glasses for a very special toast ....
Happy Birthday RootsChat
and
Thank You, Sarah and Trystan
for having the idea,
and then having the courage, the strength and the patience to implement it.
________________________________________________________________
Further reading:
Topic: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RootsChat ! or: "Then he said, 'why not do it?' so we did."
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,115557.msg507377.html#msg507377
Topic: The RootChats Experience
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,194252.0.html
Topic: The RootsChat Phenomenon
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,194133.0.html
Happy birthday RootsChat!!! Happy Birthday RootsChat!!!Happy birthday RootsChat!!! Happy Birthday RootsChat!!! Happy birthday RootsChat!!! Happy Birthday RootsChat!!!Happy birthday RootsChat!!! Happy Birthday RootsChat!!!
May you go from strength to strength!
It is certainly the best thing I ever found on the Internet. :D :D
Thank you Trystan and Sarah, for a brilliant site.
and thanks too to all the Moderators for all their hard work :D
Cheers!