Okay, rather than replying to the individual arrivals' threads, I felt
compelled to start this new one. Is it just me, or is there a palpable
feeling of freshness around here? A certain simmer notwithstanding, it
seems to me that in the recent month or so, we've gotten at least three
other new "faces" in the newsgroup.

I, for one, am extremely happy to see those new pilots. Not only for the
good news of their training and/or checkrides, but also for the broadening
of the quality of this newsgroup that their presence is sure to bring.

Three may not seem like a lot, but when it comes down to it, it's not like
we have a huge number of regular posters here anyway (just a good bunch of
prolific individuals ). Three more people represents a significant
increase in the number of active newsgroup posters (which I'm guessing to
number only around 20 or 30), and I may easily have missed one or two other
new names (and my apologies if I've done so).

It's my sincere hope that we can avoid scaring them off , and that they
will be with us for a long time to come. I expect this newsgroup, already a
decent one in its own right, to be better for it.

Amen?

Pete