As a free website's got to have advertising, it's up to us to block them. IMO it's up to a free website to find ways of advertising that don't alienate the people they wish to retain as members. User-friendly is always the best. These annoying pop-ups are not the way. The more difficult they make a MB the fewer people will stay. This MB already has a difficult way to post pics. How many difficulties will members put up with before they leave. I'm on the verge but enjoy 'visiting' with some of the forum members so have put up with these difficulties, so far. There is always the 'straw that breaks the camel's back' tho. Only TPTB know the decline in visits and numbers of posts.

It's nice of you to offer, but, I did have a facebook profile, etc, and I don't have much to post. I like my privacy, I am not a Farmville fan. My best friend and aquaintences eyes glaze over, when I describe the Live oak with an insane grin on my face, or the White oak etc etc. but as long as I can use this forum as an outlet, and not have all my personal info available to all, I'm more confortable. There are a couple who have my address, but I have theirs, from seed swaps and as long as they aren't stalking me, I ain't stalkin them. Joking but you get the gist.

I too enjoy the Robin and fine that it is invaluable as a source of information and friendships. It is amazing the help that is poured out for any newbie with questions. I try to post periodically but carefully now. I also agree that it takes a little time to get to know the "flavor" of the social "culture" there. There are definitely some unwritten rules...which I have accidentally broken and have at least one person who will not respond to even my private replies to their questions. I "think" the rule I broke was to mention the name of someone who replied in private, even though I was thanking them in sharing their response. It seems there are occasional personality wars which promote people responding in private and wishing to remain annonymous on the public forum about such responses. Possibly I also mixed up names of who made a previous post too but I can't be entirely sure if either of these is the rule I broke because they won't even respond to my apology and request for clarification on how I ticked them off. So...for you newly joined Robin members...remember there are outspoken, sensitive, and opinionated personalities on many sides of issues on the Robin. If you get jabbed by someone after a post try not to take it personally, it happens periodically and there are others who will come to the aid of new posters who stumble on one of those unwrittens. You'll be encouraged to post again and it is, afterall, like a big family of daylily enthusiasts.

Here in San Antonio I've been a member of the Herb Society, the Men's Garden Club, the Rose Society and the Daylily Club. I don't belong to any of them now, but enjoyed them all. I'll have to say the Herb Society was the best and had the largest membership. They always had interesting speakers, an herb plant table, good herb dishes with recipes which designated members would bring to every meeting according to the first letter of their last name. There were also many special interest satellite groups that met in members homes for the purpose of things like crafts and the medicinal use of herbs, etc. They society also organized many field trips to herb farms, seed farms, and the like. It's really a neat club! The Men's Garden Club was nice too. I used to tease my husband telling him I was the only woman they let in. Actually it started out as a Men's Club then they opened it to all, but retained the name. They also had great speakers and I got many wonderful things from their plant donation table for a dollar or so. They organize several great community projects like the children's teaching garden at the Botanical Center, tree sales, etc. The Rose Society and Daylily Club were more focused in their interests and the people were wonderful. You can find their home page by searching the internet. Happy gardening at the gatherings .... Here is a link that might be useful: San Antonio Herb Society