IceInSpace Turns 2!

iceman (Mike) · #1 13-09-2006, 08:29 AM

Hi all.

Wow, what a ride this last 2 years has been. IceInSpace has grown beyond my wildest expectations. The great thing is, we're growing faster now than at any time over the last 2 years.

It really goes to show that we've got something special here, and we're doing something right.

We wouldn't be where we are today without the contibutions of some amazing and very helpful people, including:

- mojo : The value of your assistance is not underestimated! Thanks for everything you have done and continue to do for IIS.

- the moderators : Such a thankless and difficult task, but these guys do it for the love of this community! With the forum so busy now, I could never keep up with the sheer number of posts each day. These guys are invaluable in helping things run smoothly and allowing me to step back and concentrate on the bigger issues, such as continuing to develop IceInSpace. They've also grown to be my very good friends, and I couldn't do this without your help! Thanks!

- The generous forum members who contributed financially to keep IceInSpace running over the past 2 years. With the growth of the site and the huge amount of traffic and bandwidth generated each day, I couldn't keep up with the costs of running IIS on my own. Their generous donations help to ensure the continued viability of IceInSpace. Thank you!

- The community! A forum is nothing without an active community asking questions, posting advice and answers, helping others, posting their astrophotography and generally having a good time sharing the hobby they love. A site is nothing without the content that brings people back to visit day after day. So the biggest thanks goes out to you, the IceInSpace Community for making this place what it is today.

Thanks to everyone for an amazing last 2 years, it's been quite a ride. Here's to looking forward, and to the next 2 years!

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #2 13-09-2006, 08:35 AM

Congratulations Mike

This place is a great resource for any Aussie (or not!) interested in astronomy on any level. The great thing is that there are no condescending attitues or opinions, and those with lots of experience are very willing to part with their knowledge for the benefit of us less endowed with it. I applaud the sense of community and overall comeraderie. There would be a huge hole in the internet without it.

Well done IIS!

drmorbius (Randall) · #3 13-09-2006, 08:40 AM

Well done Mike

,

This site has been a fantastic resource for me. I'd also like to thank the many members who go out of their way to help newbies like me get started in a wonderful new hobby.

Congratulations everyone...

wavelandscott (Scott) · #4 13-09-2006, 09:36 AM

Well done Mike, Mojo (and other contributors)!...

Your work and effort has helped a community grow and all of the benefits that a community entails. For me I have gotten support in my hobby and personal life from this forum and also made some new friends...no bad for the price of admission!

Congratulations All!

ving (David) · #5 13-09-2006, 09:53 AM

{{{IIS}}}
group hug time!!!

well done to every single person here. you are (as mike said) what makes this place so damn sucessful!

{{{IIS}}} now enters its terrible twos!

GTB_an_Owl (Geoff) · #6 13-09-2006, 10:29 AM

Congratulations to our founder and his crew.
Happy Birthday IIS

JohnH · #7 13-09-2006, 11:38 AM

Mike, thanks for creating a great resource...

IIS' birthday and my re-born interest in astronomy (dormant for 34 yrs - is that a record?) are almost co-incident. I got an ETX90 as a father's day gift in 2004. I can honestly say that IIS has been the main driver for me in pursuing this fascinating interest. To be able to share my progress and watch that of others and learn from them is invaluable to me. Those who have a young family and a job with some long hrs will understand me when I say that finiding time for traditional astro society type events is a challenge.

Keep it up one and all - I'll be having a cold one to celebrate!

Ric · #8 13-09-2006, 11:57 AM

Mike,
congratulations and thankyou for IIS. I believe that you have brought the Australian amateur astronomy community together in a way I have not seen previously, you should be commended for that.
Thankyou to the moderators as well, the work that you guys put in also helps to keep it all together and should not go without a mention.
And thanks to all the members who make this site a great place to visit and a wealth of information.

cheers and heres to another great 2 years.

h0ughy (David) · #9 13-09-2006, 12:17 PM

geez this is getting mushy. Ving get a grip! BIG hug

33South (Chris) · #10 13-09-2006, 12:42 PM

Thanks everyone, this website gave my somewhat dormant interest the kiss of life and my bank balance the kiss of death.

RB (Andrew) · #11 13-09-2006, 01:54 PM

IIS has been the dominant, most influential driving force in the rekindling of my interest in astronomy.
I'll never forget how exciting it was to join up and to be able to share and learn from the community.
I look back in wonder at the level of achievements we all have attained in such a relatively short time.

It's truly exceeded all our expectations and to that I would like to say a very big thank you and congratulations to Mike.

To mojo, a huge thank you for all the wonderful work he's put into the site to make it the coolest site on the net.

To my fellow moderators who put in a lot of their time to help keep the site running smoothly and help maintain the site.

And of course to all the members whom I've grown to know and love over the year or so that I've been on.
To all the many new friends I have through IIS.
Without you, we would not have a community.

Thank you all for helping me raise my awareness and enjoyment of this great hobby.

Happy Birthday IIS

netwolf · #12 13-09-2006, 03:10 PM

IIS

Congrats to Mike and everyone here that make this a great place to be.

Regards

janoskiss (Steve H) · #13 13-09-2006, 03:39 PM

Congratulations Mike!

Wow, this place is getting old!

2 years swoosh. Where did it go?

xstream (John) · #14 13-09-2006, 03:56 PM

Congratulations Mike!

There's not much else I can add as it's a Big ditto to all of the above.

May we continue to grow with success for an even greater IIS community.

All.

mickoking · #15 13-09-2006, 05:33 PM

You Bewdy Congrats Mike and everyone at IIS

Orion · #16 13-09-2006, 05:36 PM

IIS and may there be many more to come!
Congratulations Mike and a big thank you to all the people that made it happen.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #17 13-09-2006, 05:39 PM

I've forgotten what my family looks like.

Thanks for the ride everyone.

Lee · #18 13-09-2006, 06:20 PM

as above..... Well done Mike and all of your team.....

norm · #19 13-09-2006, 08:42 PM

Give yourself a pat on your back Mike and all the moderators. This is arguably one of the best forums around.

The fact that you have been able to maintain its high standards of professionalism, moderate the language used, its layout, etc is testimonial of your efforts and hardwork.

Well done !

dugnsuz (Doug) · #20 13-09-2006, 08:48 PM

Well done Mike.
Thanks for creating such a friendly and informative enviroment for like minded nerds to interact!!!!!
Good on ya.
Here's to the next 2!
Cheers
Doug