I first met Sam a couple of years ago, when a freind here in Atlanta told me about his business colleague, who "collects old watches". After several breakfasts, lunches and meetings, I can say that Sam does a lot more than "collect old watches"!!
Having the right leaders in these sorts of collecting communities requires a "partnership" . . . the best community will be formed of different people, with different interests and skills, who can contribute different information and share different viewpoints. If one guy is into chronographs, it is nice to have someone else into time-of-day watches. One guy for the 60's and 70's and another for the older stuff. If we have one or two HTML experts, then it is a great resource to have someone else who can work with databases. And the list of interests / preferences / skills is endless. Of course, it is a sharing of certain values and passions, and the pursuit of shared goals, that will bind together all these different threads and strands into a cohesive, vibrant community.
I am excited to have Sam as a moderator on this Forum. His knowledge of watches (Omega and others) is impressive; his willingness to share that knowledge is even more important; Sam also shows wonderful enthusiasm and thoroughness in whatever he undertakes. It will also be great to have someone with some "techie" skills here in Atlanta, especially as we begin to contemplate some new and different projects for the Chronocentric community. There's nothing like clearing away the table after breakfast with a pal, sketching some ideas on a napkin, and then having a partner who can help transform the sketch into a reality. That's really how this whole thing began for me, with Derek and I sketching some neat things on the napkins!!
So a big "Welcome" to Sam, and we thank you for taking on this new role in our community!!
Thanks also to Steve, Chuck and Keith, for all that they have contributed to this Forum, and for "nominating" Sam for this role.
Jeff
