Just to bring everyone back into focus and attempting to keep this thread on topic, my original 2 questions and the purpose of this thread was and is:

1 - "I was wondering how 'real' our membership numbers are."
2 - "members have been inactive for months or years, how do we know they are still out there?"

Well,
1. I don't think there is any way to know.
2, I don't think there is any way to know.
But maybe there is , I just can't think of any.

I've seen members sign up and not use their membership for several years. Then one day they login and post something. In fact, I maintain a membership on a tractor repair forum out on the internet and I've been a member for over 10 years but I've only posted a couple times. I go years and years without logging in over there. They would probably consider me an inactive member since my last post was 3 or 4 years ago.

@greene I'm curious why you're curious about this.

Me, too.

Karen

Perhaps I didn't pose my questions clearly enough when I started this thread. I was not implying that we must expect everyone to participate. It is my opinion that a bit of encouragement would not be a bad thing; as I said, Sharon is the one person who truly got me involved. I thank her for that. But that wasn't my question.

One of the reasons that I am curious about this is because we recently had a membership drive. And for what purpose? If we want to 'count' the numbers and we don't see any activity from these newly invited members, then what is the purpose other than to say 'oh look how many members we have'.

On any given day, yes, new people join this site. I'm not really wondering about them - they each have their own reason for joining. I am wondering about this new batch of people. These are folks that we (existing members) personally invited. And we were encouraged to do so by Dave. There was even a contest to spur us on. As much as we like to say that all members are the same, that all are equal, each one of these new members is a bit different, in a way, in that at least one person here knows who they are. If we do not engage these new members in some way, then why did we invite them? To what purpose? To my mind it's like throwing a dinner party, inviting 20 or 30 guests, and having no food for them and no chairs for them to sit on.

As you know I am not a competitive person so to me, the numbers always have zero meaning. I enter the 'not a raffles' for fun, not ever hoping to win and am always happy for the winner. I did not enter the photography contest this year only because I had no good photos ready, but will do so next year, but again, winning is not important to me; it's the participation that makes things fun and educational.

One other site that I belong to (and no, it's not DG) has a little blurb each time I sign in reminding me that I haven't made a post in a while. It says something to the effect...'Hello greene; it appears that you have not posted on our forums recently' then it goes on to suggest I ask a question, offer a solution or just get involved in the conversations.

Here on ATP the Welcome and Help are waaaaaaay down at the bottom of the page. Like an afterthought. Maybe every existing member should 'watch' the Welcome and Help forum so be can be there to catch the new people who post there and be available to answer their pleas for help in that location. I am personally guilty of not clicking to watch it; I have corrected that now.

Did we just invite these friends of ours so we could say, "Thanks, we counted you. That's all we wanted." Okay, that's little blunt, but maybe it can give you some idea of why I am curious. Even if we used the @ feature to ask a new member "what's their favorite plant" or "did you plant anything today" at least it would be something to show we are interested in them - that they are more than just a number.

I hope this answers your question.

greene said:One of the reasons that I am curious about this is because we recently had a membership drive. And for what purpose? [...] If we do not engage these new members in some way, then why did we invite them? To what purpose?

To grow the site. Once someone signs up for a membership they are more likely to participate than if they never signed up.

Also, most people who signup get the weekly newsletter which is emailed to them. The newsletter shows them what's new on the site and makes them want to revisit to read the articles and what have you.

I can you your point, up to a point. The main thing I see is that new members known by existing members were obviously not asked to join "on this site" . They were asked to join at the garden club, across, the fence , at church, or over the telephone. It was probably discussed then what to expect, and since those new members joined they have probably discussed the fact by the same methods mentioned above. It would be normal for that to happen, and new members especially might feel much more at ease asking their friend who suggested they join in a more private situation. But I don't see how any of this pertains to your two original questions.
I think the entire point of getting new members was just to let others know that the site is here and is a great place to learn and share thoughts about gardening. I really don't think it about the numbers, but still more members means larger numbers, which hopefully means more ideas and interesting conversations.

Seedfork said:I think the entire point of getting new members was just to let others know that the site is here and is a great place to learn and share thoughts about gardening. I really don't think it about the numbers, but still more members means larger numbers, which hopefully means more ideas and interesting conversations.

A little friendly advertising to entice folks to sign up, pop in and see what fun we have here sharing our interest of plants and gardening!

Hi everyone, I'm one that considers myself a lurker. I read a lot of whats posted here and thoroughly enjoy the site. However I'm still intimidated by the very thought of joining in on most conversations. Quite certain that there are folks like my self. So I know how hard it is for many join it on the talk. Just letting you know how much some of us lurkers appreciate the friendly nature of All Things Plants. The ideas and articles are great as well as the rest of the site. So to reiterate I for one am more than willing to share or help in anyway I can just not as well spoken as many of you are.
Hope no one minds I said this and hope everyone understands.

Glad to have you chime in anytime, Pattyw5

Hi Pattyw5! Glad to meet you at last. I see you contribute a lot to the Plant Database, which makes you an active member indeed! I especially enjoyed your Comments, which I think are the meat-and-potatoes of the database. You have a cool writing style, plus something I'll never master: conciseness!

Thanks for speaking up for the "silent majority". We blabbermouths should remember that MOST of our valued, participating members don't post very often.

Maybe that means that the greater part of the experience and wisdom present is following the principle of "those that know the most, say the least".

Based on your post and plant Comments, I'd like to read anything you have to say.

For example, there may be no answer to this question, but if you think of something, I hope you will mention it. Is there anything the talky ones can do, or stop doing, that would make it more comfortable for others to post in forum threads? You don't have to reply unless you want to.

Rick, I'm working on that question. Thanks for the reply.

Netty, a big thank you also.

@Rick,Thank you for the "tip".....love it when I do something right.

I like the idea of building the numbers of members because I feel that out there somewhere there is a lurker who just may see a question I ask and they may have a suggestion that none of us have come up with. The older I get the more I appreciate new blood and new thoughts. It is so refreshing because many times "oldtimers" tend to get too comfortable and begin to feel their way is the only way to do something. When in fact, it is not. It may be their way but it may not work for everyone.

OK, that is my take on this subject @Greene....love you lady and miss our chats. One of these days I will catch up with you again.

@Pattyw5

Pattyw5,
Welcome, and thanks for the comments you made here . I saw you have posted many photos and comments along with photos is always a plus. I know the members here are all a pretty good bunch, and I know Dave and Trish would tolerate anything other than that. I think that is one reason this site to me is so much different than all the others, no big uncaring corp. is involved and they have great family values (my opinion).

Welcome indeed fellow Illinoisan.
@Pattyw5
And thanks for all the thumbs up.

Welcome, Patty. It's OK to post only as much as you're in the mood for at any given time. However I don't think " just not as well spoken as many of you are" describes you. And besides, there are no spelling or grammar tests here. Just be yourself and I'm sure we'll like you just fine.

Karen

Pattyw5!
And I agree with JB. We can learn new stuff from just about anyone because no one knows it all.

Wow, you sure know how to make an old lady feel good. A great big sincere thank you everyone from me.

Pattyw5 - Nice to read one of the "quiet" member's posts. Your perspective is very valuable to all of us! I think personalities here are like they are in real life. Some people are just not as talkative as others, but when they do say something ... it is usually something that everyone listens to! Thank you for jumping in here and posting! I hope to read more of your posts! Thanks also for all your photos in the database as well as comments. We can never have enough of those!

Hi Patty! Glad to meet you. Some folks here have a lot to say, others not so much. But we all contribute to making ATP the best gardening site on the web

I took a peek at your pictures and you have some very nice daylilies. I got Hakuna Matata last year and was glad to see your comment about it. The branching on it is awesome and that is one of the reasons I got it.