This is depressing...

[Lika]

Seriously, I am disappointed in our social group. Don't get me wrong. I'm not talking about any individuals or even us as group of people - we are all Texans and damn it, we rock!

What I'm disappointed in is how this thing hasn't taken off the way I was hoping it would. I say that even though we ARE the largest State social group on this forum. I guess I was envisioning meet-ups all over the state and maybe a big one once a year.

I blame myself, if anything. Obviously I don't have what it takes to motivate. It seems people get really excited that we have a group for Texans. They're eager to join but when they do they find there's no action here

I was all excited to make t-shirts available for us but I haven't even done that. For one thing they're expensive. About $20 each unless they're bought in bulk which I can't do. And I really don't see much interest in them - When I've brought it up no one says much. Does anyone even want shirts?

Also I don't have big enough files of the winning logos to design anything with. I'm sure all I have to do is ask Mixology for them but what's the point if there is no interest. ( I did ask for large files in the contest thread but I never reminded anyone and Mix joined after the contest started - so that's my fault.)

I was hoping to make a little extra money with shirt sales so I could give the logo winner a free one. I said I'd give a prize to the winner but I never did that either because the shirts never happened. (I'll send Mix a PM and offer some ejuice or something since it's looking like this t-shirt thing might not happen.)

Another thing is ECF itself. Let me explain... My notifications haven't been working correctly for the past two months. Sometimes I don't even get them in my email at all. I only find out people are wanting to join if I check my notifications on the forum. On top of that I've gotten PM's asking why I never responded. The reason is because I never got the first PM. Sometimes the delay can be days especially if I get busy with other things and don't check ECF everyday which has been the case since I've gotten back from Cali.

One thing I'm thinking of doing is setting the group to public. That way I don't have to worry about not getting people's requests to join. I know I posted a poll here a while back and the consensus is to keep it private. To be honest I want it private too. But to be even more honest, what's the point in keeping it private when there's no activity here? We all voted to keep it private, yet we don't participate enough in discussion to warrant a private board. Who cares what we say when we aren't saying anything?

Sorry, I know this post sounds awful and is very negative but its really beginning to feel like our group is all but dead.

Am I the only feeling like this about our social group? Does anyone else want to see it do something different than just sitting here getting stale?

Btw, if anyone wants to start organizing stuff in their own areas that would be great. Or if you just want to help with the whole thing... Just tell me what you need. We've got the Tejas Vapin site that we can use too. So if you need anything on that side of it let me know. I've made pages over there for each area of the state as chapters to make it easy to post meeting information (times, dates, locations). If someone wants to the organizing for their areas/chapters I can give you permission to publish the information. It's easier to post that sort of stuff on a static page rather than it get buried in a forum.

There's really all kinds of stuff we could do but we've got to make it happen as a group and just do it

So... I'll leave you with these last questions:

Is there any life left in this group? What can we do? Any ideas?

 

[Jennee26]

I've noticed there hasn't been much activity lately, but we have had local vapers meetings here. We had one in July here and in Houston and I think there was also one in Dallas. As far as ideas go, I'll have to put on my thinkin cap and get back to ya on that one.

 

[newbutt]

I think it takes someone posting something everyday. I think we just need to stir the pot.
NB

 

[darkmoondreamer]

I think we should, if only temporarily, open the membership to public and put a clickable logo or link here underneath our signatures to get things going. And I was one who voted at the time to keep it private....I can't even seem to get many interested in a real meet up in the Dallas area..

 

[newbutt]

I think we should, if only temporarily, open the membership to public and put a clickable logo or link here underneath our signatures to get things going. And I was one who voted at the time to keep it private....I can't even seem to get many interested in a real meet up in the Dallas area..

The only thing I would worry about making it public, is we might get a few trolls or spammers. I personally, would rather see it a bit slow than see it full of random junk you don't care about,but what ever y'all want to do I'll go with the flow.

Back to "stir the pot", there's been more going on the last week or so than the whole time since I joined.(did that make sense?) Let's keep stirring.
Cheers,
MB

 

[darkmoondreamer]

Stirrin' away newbutt! By the way, those sure are some pretty blue eyes you have, LOL! Are they LED also? hehe

 

[eric]

For some reason they prevent suppliers from joining Social Groups. I just now got permitted to access this forum.

So expect a bit more of me.

Who's up for picketing the FDA office in Dallas?

 

[Jennee26]

*Stir Stir*

 

[darkmoondreamer]

LOL, right behind you Jennee!

 

[DebraLynn]

I would like to see more talking on here - so I will start checking in more often. I have not checked in much because it has been kinda dead LOL. I would like to see a meet up, it would be nice to get to know some other vapers in the area.
As far as public or private - I know when I first got my e-cig, I was so confused and it would of been nice to have some others help and input. So I think if we have it public it would be much easier for people to ask questions to the locals. Also, for me I didnt even really know there was a Tejas group until someone in the beginners forum informed me that I might get in touch with someone from the group - and even then it took me a while to figure out how to get added and it was just a pain - so I am for making it public. We could always change it back, I assume? So let me know if I can help you in any way Lika.
Deb

 

[Lika]

Kickin' the cans to make some noise....

So what do ya'll think make it public and see what happens? Like Deb said we can always change it back.

 

[CentroniX]

Morning! I've been a member all of about three minutes now, but a few things to consider...

First, I only stumbled upon this group by getting bored with the general forums and exploring ECF's site, found the social groups, and then stumbled upon the Tejas group. Perhaps we need to get TV members who are active in all the other forums to make it a point to find new members that have their location listed as Texas, give them a friendly welcome, and invite them to the group. Another though would be to get someone to make a graphic banner that we could put in our signatures to get the group more exposure every time we make a post.

Secondly, my very first thought with seeing "Tejas" in the title was that it was primarily a Hispanic group. I'm a native Texan, been here 34 years, and I refer to my state as Texas. Some people may see Tejas and simply skip right over it. I in no way mean this as any type of racial thing, and I contemplated even bringing this up -- But that was my first thought when seeing the title.

Lastly, I don't know how long this group has been on ECF, but from being a part of other social groups in other niches I can tell you that summer time is always the lowest time for activity. Kids are out of school, families are busy with what free time they have, vacations and weekend trips to the river, etc. Now school just started back up, everything is hectic with everyone getting back in the groove. I think you'll see your biggest spikes in the Fall, and then again in the Spring when everyone is itching to get back out from the cold and do something.

Great group of people here, and I'm glad to be a part of it. Thank you for having me!!

cent

 

[JerriB]

I honestly joined hoping like crazy to find someone/anyone in my area that vapes...no luck...

 

[JerriB]

Secondly, my very first thought with seeing "Tejas" in the title was that it was primarily a Hispanic group. I'm a native Texan, been here 34 years, and I refer to my state as Texas. Some people may see Tejas and simply skip right over it. I in no way mean this as any type of racial thing, and I contemplated even bringing this up -- But that was my first thought when seeing the title.

LMAO! I thought that too!

 

[Stephaniems]

Quote:
Originally Posted by centronix
Secondly, my very first thought with seeing "Tejas" in the title was that it was primarily a Hispanic group. I'm a native Texan, been here 34 years, and I refer to my state as Texas. Some people may see Tejas and simply skip right over it. I in no way mean this as any type of racial thing, and I contemplated even bringing this up -- But that was my first thought when seeing the title.


LMAO! I thought that too!
__________________



So did I lol

 

[CentroniX]

Ok good, so it's not just me! I had started putting on the flame proof suit in anticipation of the responses I was gunna get.

 

[newbutt]

Another though would be to get someone to make a graphic banner that we could put in our signatures to get the group more exposure every time we make a post.

I like this idea. How about a counter ?

 

[Lika]

Ok good, so it's not just me! I had started putting on the flame proof suit in anticipation of the responses I was gunna get.

LOL, that's funny, cent. Sounds like I'm the one that needs the flame proof suit!

When I chose Tejas as part of the name I was only starting the group for a few more than a handful of people that were wanting to meet up. We soon realized getting people scattered all over the state isn't easy, lol. Since the group has grown there have been a few local meet ups which is great.

I never dreamed the group would grow like it has. I remember thinking it was big when it reached 40 in comparison to the other local groups. Now it's approaching 140 members. At the time ECF had less than 9K members and now it's closing in on 17K. The growth at ECF has been amazing and that's just since April. In November when I started lurking here I think there were barely over 2K members.

Regarding the name choice. I just thought it was cool. No, I'm not Hispanic but Texas History was one of my favorite subjects in school. As you all might know, the land was called Tejas before it was named Texas and Texas is the English (or American) spelling of the Spanish word Tejas. Even Tejas was derived from another word, Taysha, a Native Caddo Indian word meaning friend or ally.

I do agree now that the group has grown it can look confusing and perhaps even misleading. That's my mistake. I should have thought ahead. I'll ask ask SJ or someone if it's possible to change the name of a social group. I know I can't do it myself from the edit screen.

 

[Jim Davis]

I've been pretty busy with the mod stuff, but I still hang around when I can, even if I don't post here often.

ECF has severe growing pains. We have a lot of childish garbage going on that needs constant attention. Personality conflicts are a problem, as well as some that don't like certain e-cigs, so they just cruise around on a "bashing" mission. It's aggravating, and comical all at the same time.

The Tejas group will have its light and busy times. Nothing to worry about. Things will stabilize eventually.

If everyone agrees on changing the name, it can be done. I just want to shy away from any mentioning of a "Club" I think that reference will hurt our cause in the long run.

Cheers;
jd

 

[Lika]

Thanks, Jim. I'll give it a few more days to see if anyone wants to chime in on changing the name. Then maybe we'll put it up for vote. I'm not sure how much good a poll will do since not many people seem to make it over this way, lol. But it is worth a shot.