Who Are We?

[Mikey]

As American Ponders grows in members I thought it might be nice to tell newer members how we came about.....or at least as how I recall it coming about...

The members of American Ponders are a group of pond enthusiasts with varying experience who share the passion of owning a pond be it large or small.  The original core group of American Ponders came from the American Water Garden Society forum (AWGS).  Most of us were members of other pond forums as well but AWGS was our primary home.  Greg and Sue Speichert owned the Water Gardening Magazine and Crystal Palace Perennials.  In approximately the late 90’s Sue Speichert started the AWGS pond forum and that is where we found a wonderful home where we could discuss pond related issues or simply just chat.  Many wonderful friendships were developed thanks to the generosity of the Speichert’s providing us with that forum. 

With time comes change.  In about 2004/2005 the Speichert’s were experiencing some difficult times and as a result they no longer have the Water Gardening Magazine or Crystal Palace Perennials.  It was during these years that the AWGS pond forum struggled with changing board forum providers and Internet site locations.  The AWGS forum went off-line a few times without any warning.  Each time the AWGS pond forum changed locations or went off-line members kept in contact through personal e-mails and through other pond boards such as Koiphen and the GardenWeb Pond forum.  Even so, fewer AWGS pond forum members returned each time.  A member even put together a temporary pond forum on one of the free bulletin board forums.  We were family and we were struggling because we realized we were about to become homeless.

Realizing that the AWGS pond forum was quickly dying, Jerry Esten, with the technical aid of a teen AWGS member, quickly put together the American Ponders forum.  This was not done to compete with the AWGS pond site but it was done in realization that the AWGS would soon not exist.  In fact most members had already left for other existing pond forums.  The new forum needed a name before going on-line and Jerry had to pick one quickly.  He made up the name “American Ponders” as most of the members from the AWGS were either Americans or lived in the Americas.  The name may be “American Ponders” but as it says beneath the name, we are “An International Pond Site, all are welcome”.  Thus American Ponders (AP) was born in January, 2006.  Soon after coming on-line Sean Stevens came to Jerry’s aid to handle all the technical administrative duties associated with the AP.   So Jerry foots the bill and Sean donates many hours of free labor providing the administrative and technical skill to keep things running smoothly.  And if you have eyes younger than mine you will have noticed that Joyce volunteered the professional artwork for both the forum and the American Ponders T-shirt.

Even though we owe a great deal of thanks to Jerry and Sean for keeping things running smoothly, it’s you the membership that makes the AP a fun place to play.

[Sunbeam56]

Interesting.
What do Jerry and Sean do with the REST of their lives?

With the economy struggling under the price of gas and diesel, I think this forum will grow tremendously.
A lot of people who were spending LOTS of discretionary income on koi ponds ten, or even five years ago, no longer have the discretionary income.
Water gardening is a whole lot easier and cheaper than koi keeping. And equally satisfying. 

And its a whole lot less heartbreaking. Fewer morts. Not as many diseases to contend with. And if you get a hurricane/earthquake/typhoon - the plants will be okay in still water, no electricity, no pumps or filters.
Koi keeping, the power goes off, you have dead fish.

[Vickie]

Thanks for posting the history of this forum.

[Jerry]

Jerry & Sean are two very busy guys, I can assure you.  There is an old adage that is something like this...  "If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it!"

Mike got it all right (as usual) I was certain he got the date wrong, but I looked it up and he is correct.

[karen J]

Wow, January 2006? Time sure does fly.

Does anyone notice the stark difference between this forum and the old AWGS forum? The AWGS forum was largely unmoderated, and there were a large number of "aliases" and trolls that would come and post to initiate flame wars. There always seemed to be a controversy going on.

Perhaps this mirrors how the internet is evolving, but this forum seems much more polite.

[tweetybaby2005]

Thanks Mikey for posting the history of this forum.  As a new member of this forum, it is fun to read on how the forum came about.  I find this forum friendly compare to some others.  The warm welcomes to new members, especially to someone like me that is new to ponding, are very much appreciated.

Thank you to Jerry and Sean for your time and dedication.

Kuan

[Jerry]

An afterthought:  I tried to buy AWGS as it was going under.  It would Have possibly made a seamless transition.  I never could get an answer to my mails, faxes and phone calls.

Mikey is absolutely right, it is the membership that makes this forum what it is!

[miguynmkoi]

Mikey is absolutely right, it is the membership that makes this forum what it is! Afro

We must treasure this gift and take great care of each other to make it a fun experience for all.   

  Thank you Jerry and Sean for making this forum my first venture into Chatting (and breaking all the rules I tried to teach my kids about meeting stron the web      )!! 

[Jerry]

I met the cutest stron just the other day!
Forgive me Annette, I couldn't help it.

[miguynmkoi]

Thank you Jerry and Sean for making this forum my first venture into Chatting (and breaking all the rules I tried to teach my kids about meeting stron the web

Opps!    My mouse line (what's it really called) jumps around while I'm typing sometimes.  Very annoying.     Should have checked. 

Stron = Strangers on the web.  I don't even know where the rest of the word went to!?!

Jerry you made me wonder what was going on. 

[Jerry]

Just pulling your leg!  I knew wht you meant.  Remember how Kaz's parents were so concerned she was meeting us?

Re: Mikey's post here, I am surprized there aren't more views and comments.  Ooops I take that back,  well over 150 views at this time.

[miguynmkoi]

Jerry do you think I'm an octopus? 

As for strangers, I will also get to meet Blind'Too, Michael, and his girlfriend, Kim, Saturday!  We're doing a plant exchange and then go to see his band friends play nearby.  But after a couple of years with Ponders I don't feel there are too many strangers here at all 

When you feel stronger you have to come visit too Jerry!

[El Jefe]

For awhile there AWGS hung out there in limbo and fell prey to Porn Spammers. I remember finding it during s similar discussion a couple of years ago. It has since been bought up by aquascape ( http://www.aquascapedesigns.com ) they leave the domain parked so no one can use it. Seems they started the North American Water Garden Society and publish that site.
   I found Ap quite by accident, I was/ still am , a member on another forum and  I went looking for other forums as the one I was on seemed a little stand offish (except Debbie AKA Happyoutsidegirl, she was very nice as were a few others). When I found AP and joined Tinkster was one of the first to welcome me and we have been friends ever since. I have made many new ones in the meantime and enjoy speaking to each of them and seeing their posts. AP definitely has a family feel and Jerry was wise to act quickly. Think of all the new friendships that would have been lost!
Good job one and all. Kudos to Sean and Jerry.

Andy

[Julles]

"Re: Mikey's post here, I am surprized there aren't more views and comments.  Ooops I take that back,  well over 150 views at this time."

Well, I read a lot of the threads, if not most.  But just don't have the time to respond to all of them.  I feel a little guilty when someone posts beautiful photos, and I don't say something nice about them.  But, well, the computer takes up a lot of time, and you simply can't reply to everything you want to.

But we ARE reading / viewing pics!

[Esther]

  "Memories, like the corners of my mind" or whatever the lyrics are=== I started with AWGS during the winter of 2001, just happened to stumble across it. At that point I had no idea what a forum even was. I also didn't have a pond or water feature. I did have an inground pool that was here when we moved in December of '69. So after following the watergardening forum for 6 or so months, I purchased a small preform. How could it be any harder to care for than the pool? LOL. It lasted about 6 weeks and I decided it was tooooooooo small. Then my DH dug a 4 x 6 pond and Cindi's DH lined it for me with rubber roofing and I was hooked. By that time I had heard enough conversation about ponds, water quality, fish, bogs, algae, lilies, and pond plants to feel pretty confident in my understanding of the hobby. HOBBY?? I found out it was a job and an addiction.

About two years later, we decided the fish weren't going to make another summer in the little pond so DH dug my current 10' X 13' X 30" pond. Ever since 2001, I have learned many things from my internet pond friends. I have exchanged plants and simply given plants or embroidery projects to some of them. I have received plants, gifts, and much emotional support and advice during those 7 years from the pond/watergardening community, as DH and I have experienced some bumps in life's road along the way.

As it has been mentioned, AWGS was not moderated in any way so I found it very difficult to tolerate the flaming etc. I began to feel uncomfortable with the goings on at AWGS and began to express my feelings about it. Someone curtly told me if I didn't like it to leave. So, realizing she was right, I left. Luckily, it was right then that Jerry saw the need to give us another home. What a relief!!! American Ponders is like comparing day and night  to AWGS IMO. Thanks Jerry and Sean.

[joeyb5980]

Very neat to learn the story.... I'm glad to be a part of the new forum 

[Jerry]

I must add, Esther was the first to congratulate us.   It will never be forgotten!

[Jerry]

Hey Annette, I am normal, in fact better than before.  I used to use a recumbent bike 5 days a week at levels 1 and 2.  I would do 10 miles.  Now I am on levels 3 and 4 and I do 15 miles!