I, too, had thought I lost my mind when I went to the HL website and the forums were gone. I had to email Chuck to get the link. Had I not joined the forums several months ago, I would never even know these existed. I think that all those new lighthouse lovers who are visiting HL for the first time are missing out on what I personally feel is the most informative, interesting part of the website - these forums. Yes, I can use the site to get info on many things, but not the interactive and insightful info I've gotten from all of you. Also, I have met some truly WONDERFUL people, both online and in person, via these forums. I understand that HL is a business and I'm sure the decision was not something they did without a lot of thought. I hope they can come to a compromise that will serve both their dealers and their loyal collectors. As a member of a newly forming organization (Houston Lightkeepers), I think this is a real disservice to anyone in our area, and any other area for that matter, who may be looking for others who love lighthouses as much as they do and want to get involved in preservation. I know that all the collector societies' info is still on the sight, but I just think that we will still be missing out on some new people who won't be able to access the forums easily and not realize what a dedicated and fun group we all are.
-------Becki