Eric Aitala Posted August 30 Report Posted August 30 The IPMS/USA Executive Board has decided to close the Forums during the July 20th, 2026 EBoard meeting. The Forums will be disabled on September 14, 2026, please wrap up any personal messages or discussions before that date. New user registrations have been disabled.
Ron Bell Posted August 31 Report Posted August 31 I've read the minutes but no reason why is given. I'm not arguing, just asking. 1
Warwheels Posted August 31 Report Posted August 31 I agree with Ron. It would be nice to be provided with the general reasoning behind the decision.
Nick Filippone Posted August 31 Report Posted August 31 If I live to be 100, I will never understand why organizations make such decisions as this without any explanation at all. Managers never seem to learn that silence always encourages counterproductive speculations to fill the information void. If there is a good reason for this decision, there should be no reluctance to provide it. If it is for a bad reason, perhaps it shouldn’t be made in the first place! Nick Filippone 1
Eric Aitala Posted August 31 Author Report Posted August 31 Hi, I would also like to shoutout David Willis who has been behind the scenes for the last several years handling the account registration requests. His work has been largely been un-recognized, but its been a great help... Eric 1
VMF211 Posted Tuesday at 11:53 AM Report Posted Tuesday at 11:53 AM Well this stinks. I agree with Ron, Patrick and Nick. How about some info as to why. 1
Eric Aitala Posted Friday at 02:41 PM Author Report Posted Friday at 02:41 PM From https://ipmsusa.org/news/statement-forum-closure Quote As Eric noted in his recent announcement, we have elected to close the Forums pages on the IPMS/USA website. This decision was not taken lightly and there are several reasons for doing so. It is part of an overall program to update the website. The primary reason is that Forum participation was limited to a relatively small number of people. In contrast, there is much more activity on other social media platforms including our own Facebook page and associated groups, along with a growing presence on YouTube and the other platforms that Director of Social Media Eugenie Taylor Ray manages and promotes. A secondary driver is the cost of maintaining the Forums pages and we feel that this expense would be better applied to other growth opportunities. We encourage our Forum users to participate in these other platforms. John Noack, President, IPMS/USA 1
Stikpusher Posted Friday at 04:52 PM Report Posted Friday at 04:52 PM 2 hours ago, Eric Aitala said: From https://ipmsusa.org/news/statement-forum-closure Perhaps leading off with this information initially would have been a better way….
ghodges Posted Friday at 05:42 PM Report Posted Friday at 05:42 PM Well this sucks....... I understand it from a financial standpoint...... but find it hard to believe that the costs of keeping it open is prohibitive. BUT NOTE, we'll be losing the ability to post "builds" over long periods of time (months or more) where someone can go to that specific post and either follow the build, or see it "all at one time" after it's was finished. On Social media you can post stuff, but it's all going to be buried and go "down" the way over time. You're also closing the ONLY source where we can come bitch among ourselves with some modicum of privacy, so be ready for that. It'll ALL be public now with NO other choice. As for the LOW number of people here, YOU HAVE NO ONE TO BLAME BUT YOURSELVES!!!! This site has NEVER been publicized! Not in the Journal, not on our FB page, and not by our "Social Media Director". And YES! I personally did specifically bring this to the EBoard's attention at more than 1 Nats business meeting asking that IPMSUSA PROMOTE this DF. The Eboard has generally treated this forum as a red-headed step child, probably due to the member's ability to come here and call them to accountability! I also find it "interesting" and ironic that this decision, which according to you was reached in July, GOT ABLSOULTELY NO MENTION AT THE NATS IPMSUSA BUSINESS MEETING IN FT. WAYNE IN AUGUST!!! I know it'd made no difference in the end, but I'd have a lot more respect for an Eboard that had the spine to tell us in an environment where we could have directly discussed/debated/complained about it instead of waiting until SEPTEMBER to come here and do it. Now we'll simply have to do any complaining or questioning in front of the ENTIRE "social media world". Well, this may save you a few bucks, but don't be surprised when you get what you decide to pay for! Gil Hodges #10803 1
Eric Aitala Posted Friday at 06:02 PM Author Report Posted Friday at 06:02 PM I published it as soon as I got it. E 1 hour ago, Stikpusher said: Perhaps leading off with this information initially would have been a better way….
TomDougherty Posted Friday at 07:58 PM Report Posted Friday at 07:58 PM (edited) One of the main reasons I come here. To show my latest efforts and look at models by fellow builders. I note that the statement posted is: "The primary reason is that Forum participation was limited to a relatively small number of people. In contrast, there is much more activity on other social media platforms including our own Facebook page and associated groups". Curious as to how "relatively small" it is in numbers? I don't do Facebook and other social media. Not because I am an "old guy", but because my son has a MS in cybersecurity and works for NavAir at a major NAS. if you sat down and heard a few of his stories about the alarming cyber hacks of Social Media, you would need a handy set of clean underwear. Exactly how will cutting off posting of builds this attract new members? Edited Friday at 08:07 PM by TomDougherty
Nick Filippone Posted yesterday at 02:02 PM Report Posted yesterday at 02:02 PM Gil has thoughtfully saved me the work of writing my own reply to the announced rationale for killing off the Forum. I agree with everything he has said. While the reasons given were those that I suspected, it would not have been unreasonable to reveal exactly how much the Forum costs to maintain so we could decide for ourselves if this a sensible decision in the best interests of the Society. Furthermore, we (IPMS), should have a private, members only site. But, the 21st Century mentality seems to be to let everyone in the world know everything one is saying, doing and thinking! I understand the reasons given, but I am still not sure this decision is in the best interests of the membership.
RandyJRay Posted 21 hours ago Report Posted 21 hours ago On 9/4/2026 at 12:58 PM, TomDougherty said: Exactly how will cutting off posting of builds this attract new members? The forums were private to existing IPMS/USA members. How were they attracting new members to being with?
Stikpusher Posted 14 hours ago Report Posted 14 hours ago On 9/4/2026 at 11:02 AM, Eric Aitala said: I published it as soon as I got it. E Not that it matters at this point, but… there seems to be a serious time lag in communications going out and being relayed to forum members. On July 20, the decision is made to shut down the forum. That decision is not announced on the forum until August 30. Then after some remarks on here, the eboard on September 1st makes a brief statement as to the reason(s) for closing the forum. After which that information is then relayed here to the forum members on September 4th. Now this is all based on the date/time stamps on the messages. But it does show a pattern of serious time lags in relaying information. 1
Eric Aitala Posted 6 hours ago Author Report Posted 6 hours ago The news was posted on the main site Sept 1 - https://ipmsusa.org/news/statement-forum-closure - and was picked up in the Forums news section - https://forum.ipmsusa3.org/topic/27742-news-statement-on-the-forum-closure/#findComment-126441 - the same day. I copied that article to this post on the 4th. Eric 7 hours ago, Stikpusher said: Not that it matters at this point, but… there seems to be a serious time lag in communications going out and being relayed to forum members. On July 20, the decision is made to shut down the forum. That decision is not announced on the forum until August 30. Then after some remarks on here, the eboard on September 1st makes a brief statement as to the reason(s) for closing the forum. After which that information is then relayed here to the forum members on September 4th. Now this is all based on the date/time stamps on the messages. But it does show a pattern of serious time lags in relaying information.
TomDougherty Posted 3 hours ago Report Posted 3 hours ago (edited) 17 hours ago, RandyJRay said: The forums were private to existing IPMS/USA members. How were they attracting new members to being with? Non-members could see the forums with the build photos, but could not post questions, comments, or photos of their own works. Join IPMS and you could participate. Edited 3 hours ago by TomDougherty
ghodges Posted 3 hours ago Report Posted 3 hours ago (edited) As I stated above, the THING that makes the timing and the Eboard look bad has nothing to do with the notification here. As Eric pointed out, he posted it here when he was notified to do so and then added the "reasons" why after a request/demand here as to why the decision was made. The problem is the fact that according to their own records they made the decision to shut this Forum down at their JULY meeting and then kept it from the membership (and more importantly) the members who attended the IPMSUSA business meeting in Ft. Wayne in AUGUST. I'll say it plainly. THAT was cowardly! The Eboard has the right to make financial decisions for IPMSUSA including unpopular ones like this one. We elect them to do so. We, as members, have a right to know about those decisions in a timely manner that allows us to give them feedback and dissention so they can make the best decisions for the membership as a whole. THEY INTENTIONALLY CHOSE NOT TO ALLOW THAT AT THE ONE PLACE WHERE WE COULD DO SO FACE TO FACE WITH THE EBOARD. THAT is the PROBLEM I have with this decision! They could have shown how much is spent to keep the Forum running, compared it to other costs, and shown where they think the money could be or needs to be better spent instead of here as part of the Treasurer's financial report. Instead, it wasn't mentioned at all in any way. shape, or form at the ONE meeting a year where they have to FACE the members and be willing to take a little flack for something that "could" be more unpopular than they want to admit to. It also IMPLIES that they wanted to make this decision without any input from ANY of the membership and hoped the entire thing would basically fly under the radar. Now I have to question ALL of their decision making AND whether they truly desire to represent the membership, or merely RUN the membership and our opinions be damned. While I'm disappointed in the decision to shut down the Forum, I'm even more disappointed in the lack of spine by the ENTIRE Eboard. Not one of them thought enough of those of us here who've supported it for years to even ask us or give us a chance to debate their decision, even if we are "just a few". The "Director of Social Media" didn't mention this change in Ft. Wayne despite it being a DIRECT part of her job! The Treasurer skipped talking about saving money by shutting the Forum down and also showing how that money will be better spent. And the President has shown a lack of transparency since HE should have made sure such a change was part of the BUSINESS MEETING. And the rest of them just sat back and LET IT HAPPEN, so they're not excused either! And all for the lack of wanting to (perhaps) have to answer some hard questions in an open format face to face with the members whom their decisions directly impact! Be sure to give that some thought when re-election time comes around. I know I will! Gil Hodges #10803 Edited 3 hours ago by ghodges
Recommended Posts