Rum Lovers Forum First Anniversary

[Edward Hamilton]

March 25, 2008 is the one year anniversary of this Rum Lovers Forum. As I travel the country I'm often asked how I started this forum so here's the short answer.

On a cold Sunday afternoon, somewhere between recuperating from my last trip and preparing for the next I sent Jason Perlow (http://offthebroiler.wordpress.com/) an email and asked what software he recommended for a forum. Jason is an old friend who founded eGullet and offered to host the Ministry of Rum as one of the forums on that website. Jason was quick to respond with a one word response. vBulletin

There was no discussion about alternatives so I typed vBulletin in my web browser and before I knew it I was downloading this software. The requirements were pretty straightforward and simple to understand, even for someone who wasn't and still isn't a programmer.

Within about half an hour, the forum software was uploaded to my server and the forum was live, except there were no links to it. In a few minutes I had added a link to the front page of the forum and within a few hours a few people had registered and the forum was ready to be tweaked.

Over the course of the next few days I added a header graphic and was getting offers from Jason and others to help me promote, manage etc the new forum. Fearing that I'd be overloaded with work I haven't worked to promote this forum but in the meantime it has taken on a life of its own.

Within that first week, Troy offered to help me administer the software and has been invaluable in helping me make informed decisions about updates, plugins and hacks, some of which I still don't understand.

There are a lot of people to thank for the success of this forum, but first among them is you, the person who is taking time from other things in your life to waste a few minutes, or hours, of your employers time to learn more about my favorite spirit.

This forum is the cumulative effort of many people so if you have any suggestions that you'd like to share I'll be happy to read your mail. I receive a lot of comments, and most of them are positive. So keep up the good work and look for a lot of new features in the coming year.

[Tiare]

Thanks Ed and everyone else here for your great work! This forum really is growing and its a very friendly forum and educational and also sometimes very humourus.

So its 1 year anniv tomorrow..a reason to celebrate with some quality rum!:)

[RobertBurr]

Ed,

You're a great resource for all rum enthusiasts and your forum has quickly become the defacto standard online service for sharing and disseminating information. Everyone seems to get along well, respect other opinions, mind their manners and at the same time folks are encouraged to say what they really think about all this rum.

Congratulations on getting this bird off the ground and attracting a critical mass of passengers. The sky's the limit. I don't have words to express my gratitude to you for all you've done in such a selfless manner to help us all -- while furthering our collective understanding and appreciation of the noble spirit -- rum.

Cheers to our minister!

[frenchrumlover]

happy birthday to the forum and thank you so much edward for your knowledge and your hard work

[angelsword]

It has been a rewarding year for me to be a part of this forum community. Thanks for the site Ed!

[Hank Koestner]

It has been a great year, and it has been fun to watch the forum grow. Not only has it been an educational experience, but it is fascinating to share opinions and information about our noble spirit with people from all over the world. Also, I am now beginning to actually meet some of the people on this forum, and that adds even greater enjoyment.
It has turned my interest in rum into somewhat of a hobby.
Thanks Ed, for all the hard work and information. I am looking forward to the future. Cheers!

[Milicent]

Hip, hip. Cheers. I know what I am toasting on this date from now on. Thanks for the forum, Ed and everyone else.

[Jerry]

Thank you, Ed, for all your hard work and time invested! This website is an invaluable experience and resource! I thoroughly enjoy, and greatly benefit from, the time I spend here!

[Dood]

Ed, thank you from the bottom of my heart for laying the foundation of one of my favorite communities anywhere.

Congratulations on your first anniversary.

Thank you to everyone who has participated, even if you are still lurking.

[Roberto]

Thanks for your great job! :)

[Count Silvio]

Congratulations on your anniversary! I can but hope my forums will become as populated by the time of my anniversary.

[Tiare]

Don`t despair Count..it takes time to get a forum populated, and yours is really nice!

Roberto, i love your colorful avartar!

And CHEERS everyone, its today the anniversary!

[RumBarPhilly]

Congratulations, Ed!! You've truly created a forum in an industry that lacked one. I see only bigger successes with this for you!

[Don Piero]

Congrats Ed on your first anniversary. This is a great site with a lot of great friendly people from all over. You have lots to be proud of. Well done, Ed.

[Rum Collector]

Ed, thanks for this wonderful site. I am not a rum connoisseur, just a collector. The information exchange is great and much appreciated. I have learned a lot. Thank you again, everyone.

[Paulipbartender]

Thanks enormously Ed. Having this focal point for the industry is not only a great way to improve knowledge and broaden horizons but hopefully can also affect positive change in the industry.

I hope by this time next year we can celebrate more distillers and importers sharing their views.

Thanks for all the fun chaps. Dislocate shoulders with collective self back-patting :)

[Lew Barrett]

What more is there to say? Thank you Ed. And here's to my fellow MOR friends, everywhere!

[Rum Runner]

I have added March 25 to my calendar as an "Official" Holiday...Now bringing Puerto Rico up to 33 Official Holidays per year...It just keeps getting better.

Saludos to Ed!, And indeed to the extended family as well, for all the delightful distractions that this forum has wrought.

[robercw]

I know I certainly appreciate the site and all of the information passed around here. I remember the disappointment I felt when I discovered the forum was no longer on eGullet and I thought I'd lost a favorite resource. I was certainly relieved to see the new forum when it was linked on the MoR site.