This is a portion of a draft of an announcement I'll soon make to LUGNET. The goal of the post will be to inform users of Todd's and my decision to withdraw as owners, to provide assurance that disruption will be avoided whenever possible, and to name what would happen in the worst-case scenario. There are a million other things I could talk about in such an announcement, but don't want to (at least not in this particular one) such as: reasons we came to this conclusion; reflection on how far the site has come; speculation on what the site might be like in six months, or a year, or five years...; opportunities for community input; calls for volunteers; etc. I'm trying to be frugal with words while not leaving out anything super-important. Heh, I guess I want to say as little as possible right now. Not because of keeping secrets, though there are some, or because I don't care to inform people, but because I fear saying something stupid or making a statement I'll regret.

If you go through the effort of reading this blog, I figure I owe it to you to show you what's happening because I really wanted to make my announcement on August first over at LUGNET, but I missed it. Now it's 1:00 a.m. here and I need to call it a day. that's why I'm leaving you this. ..please don't copy what's here and bring it over there. I need to arrive at a final draft and circulate that privately which could take another day.

This text isn't being put up for in-depth critique of its writing or meaning, but I will read all comments you leave. thanks. -Suz

---------- announcement: process details
Todd and I made an outline of what it means to have "handed off the site". This document is about as simple as you could possibly imagine. It's more like a list that accounts for everything and describes how we know it's not ours anymore.

There is no fancy plan to change the site. The objective is to simlpy keep things as much like they are as possible while gently handing things off. I know that leaves room for a lot of questions about the future, but, new ownership will receive a document from us containing recommendations on many things, including future development, and a set of guidelines for a new governmental structure. The community may participante to some degree in the formation of the documents.

The two servers already purchased with community donations will either be put directly into use for the website and its development, or sold and replaced with something just as good for the same purpose.

The search for new ownership has been underway. At this time I'm happy to say that there is one option which looks good for everybody. Thus-far, things look do-able, but details haven't been worked out and there are a few missing elements. I don't want to close the door on other options just yet, but I'd love to get the real ball moving.

This entire transition process needs a deadline. I'm going with October 1, 2005. At that time, I hope all will be running smoothly and I'll be on a nice vacation! But, if things on the outline I mentioned are not all squared away, I'll make, or have made, a determination about the likelihood of its execution and the degree of interruption that it might have on my life. Results of such a judgment could theoretically include the process ceasing before completion. However, an announcement would be made at least two weeks prior to any sort of shutdown. I only mention this unlikely possibility in order to be fair to you. I am human. Other people are human. There are limits.

I have a lot to do in the next two months if I want LUGNET to end up in good, capable hands with the brightest possible future. I promise I'll put forth my best effort.