Good thing you sent an e-mail because that is about the only thing I'm checking on the computer these days.

I want to thank you John for the job that you have done with the Forums. Also Paul for all his input with photos and the like. We have had great times with the lighthouse people and plan on having more.

Many others have already indicated that costs, lack of room, life changes, HL diversity, over production and a host of other things have caused them to lose some of their interest.

Some new comers have asked questions about things that have been discussed before and then one of the old timers have stated "HOW MANY TIMES DO WE HAVE TO EXPLAIN THIS!!!!" That was the last question that they asked. When others read that type of answer, there is no way they are going to ask a question.

I have also seen topics or comments deleted as they were critical of HL. An open Forum has to be willing to take comments, whether they are critical or not. The collector will sort out the facts.

One major thing that causes the collector to cut back is when they notice that their Limited Editions are not gaining in value. The collector is far smarter then the collectible industry gives them credit. When dealers dump their excess product on auction sites to delete their inventory, it doesn't take the collector to long to figure what is happening.

But look what the entire new trend is. HL wasn't at Rosemont and now I heard that Rosemont has been cancelled for 2004. So if the Companies are making major cutbacks then it is not a wonder that we are.

As collectors of other items besides HL, we can clearly see that the producers of collectible items have become less collector orientated. I overheard a major collectible company state that there is no need to go to a show like Rosemont for a few hundred collectors, because they can put their product on a shelf at major discount stores and have thousands of people see their product everyday.

The bottom line is money.

The collector has become OVERWHELMED with the amount of items being produced. Therefore they have lost interest in both the product and related things like the Forums.

So as we enter a new age, the Forums will become a means of keeping in touch and a place to read rather then to sound.

That's all for now. We'll try to hit the site more often and let you know that we are still around.

Jake