[abrewer]

Shortly around the first of this year 2006, via email, Andreas mentioned to me about some changes that he had in mind for the Leica Forum. He asked that I keep the information under my hat, which I did. In April he returned with an invitation to discuss some ideas on a possible "New Leica Forum" and myself and several others began brainstorming to a private Wiki Andreas set up for this purpose.

Leica had approached Andreas late in 2005 about spinning off its "Leica Customer Forum" as a private operation. The advantages of such an approach are many: the new forum might sell advertising and become self-supporting at a time when the company financial situation remains unsettled and unsettling. It could manage its own moderating needs as it, not corporate officers, saw fit. It might even plot a course toward more features and options for members than Leica would approve or could afford.

Over the course of several weeks, William Lamb, Steve Unsworth, Andy Barton, John Mead, Doug Herr, Dan Drabek and others suggested approaches to a possible new English-language forum. Andreas was engaged with a number of German Forum members as well, including Ron Schmidt, gathering information about what they would like to see along these lines.

I believe, from what Andreas has shared with me, that Leica originally intended to sever its ties to the Forum. Had Andreas not made substantial and persuasive arguments to Leica over several meetings, over several weeks, this would have happened. In the end he was able to change Leica's mind collectively about the benefits of such an operation: to continue to allow us to bear their name, to retain our distinction as the "official" forum and to pay for the necessary bandwidth to operate the forum going forward.

Some degree of confidentiality was necessary as Andreas and Leica were engaged in a business discussion. Both parties have earned and deserve the right to negotiate the terms of their relationship as their best interests dictate. My understanding is that Andreas' business henceforth will be the operation of this forum, for us the Leica users both German and International. As such, he will bear the considerable burden of making the hard decisions about trolls, about posting, about access and so on as he has done in the past.

Finally, I will share my impression with all members that Andreas is a professional in information management. As became apparent in our Wiki considerations, he has the knowledge and the ability to executve any internet strategy or implement any enterprise management tool that either we as members or Leica the camera company might ever care to engage. He's also a very sensitive and engaging person, truly a friend to anyone who, like him, loves Leica's.

Bravo Andreas for this beautiful new forum. Bravo Leica for your foresight in retaining Andreas as a business partner. Bravo dear departed "Leica Customer Forum". And bravo "Leica Camera User Forum" into the wonderful tomorrow.

Thanks.

Allan