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Hey guys!
Thanks for the call-out.
I can completely understand the frustration - I feel regret and guilt that I'm not on IIS like I should be.. and I truly appreciate the work that the moderators (Andrew, David and Al) do here on IIS, and Suzy on the IceInSpace page on Facebook.
Unfortunately a lot of the work required to update the articles, add new Image of the Week etc isn't setup in a way that it can be delegated to moderators - otherwise I would've done it by now for sure. In some cases it's logging in directly into the CMS which is over 15 years old, and in other cases, directly accessing the MySQL Database and inserting rows, uploading files to the file server via FTP etc.
Many times over the years, Terry started a migration to a new CMS (Content Management System) but it was never completed. So we're still on an old one (the very original one) that has its limitations.
It's true my interest in Astro has waned. I still enjoy photography, and love getting out under the stars or photographing an event like the lunar eclipse the other month.. and can't wait to try to capture some nightscapes when I'm in Bali in a few weeks.
But my interest, and time, to be 'active' on the forums or meet-ups etc is definitely hard to prioritise.
I started a new job a couple of months ago at Domain.com.au, and my passion at the moment is CrossFit.. so between commuting, work, family, CrossFit and sleep, I haven't prioritised any other hobbies at the moment.
It's been a long, super enjoyable ride.. It's been over 14 years now, and for the first 10, Astronomy and IceInSpace was my absolute obsession.
There's been plenty of other people that have come and gone over the years, but as the face / founder of this site, I can completely understand the frustration when I'm not here and present - and contributing, or improving, or responding, or keeping things updated.
I can't promise i'll be 'active' again, especially not how I used to be, but I don't want to let the moderators and members down and I want to make sure the site is still enjoyable for you guys - and remains a place that you want to visit, contribute to, share and talk about, get inspired, learn and share knowledge.
I think the best thing to start with, is get a prioritised list of 'changes / additions' that need to be done to the site/forums and I can work my way from the top to try and tick those off. Actively reading and contributing to the forums will be tough and I certainly can't promise that - in the end it comes down to time, but I will definitely try to be more involved and have more of a presence.
Again thanks to the moderators, and the other active members who provide leadership and direction where I've left the void. It's truly appreciated.
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