RootsChat was launched on 31st. December 2003
see [About us] (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/aboutus.php)
and RootsChat in the Public Eye (http://surname.rootschat.com/lexicon/rc-media.php#westernmail)
Slowly it grew:
1 year old (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,27110.0.html) ..... 2 years old (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,115557.0.html) ...... 3 years old (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,202887.0.html) ...... 4 years old (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,274948.0.html) ...... 5 years old (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,349844.45.html) ...... 6 years old (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,426827.0.html) .... 7 years old (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,503573.0.html)
and, now, on Saturday 31st. December 2011,
RootsChat will be 8 years old !!
Today's statistics (Friday 30 December 2011 09:51 GMT (UK) are
Members: 172575 • Posts: 3607413 • Topics: 492422
In October we hit a new record - Most Online: 1373
and another record in November - 24.034.928 hits
But despite the increased traffic, we had relatively few "go slows" and outages this year, no doubt due to the new servers.
2011 will be remembered by many as the year Trystan overcame a life-threatening illness and rode to Blackpool on his bike: Topic: Blatant Plug (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,542477.0.html). Many RootsChatters were among those who sponsered him on this ride, raising 270% of the hoped for target: Trys Cycling for The Christie (http://www.justgiving.com/trys)
But it was also a sad year, as some of our RootsChat friends passed away ...
R.I.P. Isles (Bervonian, John Burness) (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,505321.0.html) Yorvick (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,540474.60.html) Adamand (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,557000)
RootsChat isn't primarily a "social networking" site, but for the regular visitors to the Totally Off Topic Bit (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/board,286.0.html) and in the Chatroom (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/RootsChatterBox/RootsChatterBox.php), where RootsChatters can let their hair down, relax from the rigours of Family History, vent a few feelings, find comfort and support, have a few laughs, it certainly must seem so.
We will soon all be raising our glasses to toast in the New Year, but before we do, on the 31st. of December, remember to raise your glasses for a very special toast ....
Happy Birthday RootsChat
and
Thank You, Sarah and Trystan
for having the idea,
and then having the courage, the strength and the patience to implement it.
________________________________________________________________
Further reading:
Topic: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RootsChat ! or: "Then he said, 'why not do it?' so we did."
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,115557.msg507377.html#msg507377
Topic: The RootChats Experience
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,194252.0.html
Topic: The RootsChat Phenomenon
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,194133.0.html
Slightly belated, but:
★⋰⋱☆⋰⋱★⋰⋱☆⋰⋱★⋰⋱☆⋰⋱★
✶•☆★⋰⋱ Happy Birthday Rootschat ⋰⋱★☆•✶
[/color][/b][/size]