What's Happened to 'Gumnuts'

14 October 2009 8:52 PM

You may have noticed that there haven't been any new posts for some time - or, at least, the few people who read 'Gumnuts' may have noticed.....

Basically, that's the problem.

There simply isn't enough activity on the blog to warrant the time in compiling it so, for the time being, it's in recess.  Whether it will recommence in the future remains to be seen.

So, for now.  That's all folks!



That's all folks...

Comment posted by Anonymous at 6:02 AM, 15 October 2009

What can we people who like to read plant based news do to help?





I noticed!

Comment posted by Michael Easton at 9:36 AM, 15 October 2009

I've always enjoyed checking this blog, and would be sad to see it go. You always seemed to get a variety of contributors.





Untitled Comment

Comment posted by Mark Abell at 8:59 AM, 17 October 2009

The problem with a Blog as a format is that it places a heavy onus on a single person to source & enter content for the blog.
I have a suggestion (amongst many) before the APS NSW committee to consider creating a native plant forum - this would allow a wide range of people to contribute directly.

The blog will be missed & the information was useful.






Re: What's Happened to 'Gumnuts'?

Comment posted by asgap at 6:00 PM, 17 October 2009

1. Re: "What can we people who like to read plant based news do to help? "

At this stage, probably not much. I advised the recent ANPSA Conference held at Geelong that I was planning on putting 'Gumnuts' into recess. I also recommended that, if it was considered desirable to continue, delegates be asked to canvas their members for a volunteer to take on the editing role.

I wasn't at the conference so I don't know what, if any, action was taken on this.

2. Re: “I Noticed”

Thanks Michael for being one of the few....

The number of contributors was really very small - two or three regulars and several other occasional contributors (for which I am very grateful).

3. Blogs and Forums

Hi Mark.

The problem with the blog was not so much that it placed "a heavy onus on a single person" but that sufficient material to include in the blog was not forthcoming. I assumed that readers would send in items about issues and events of interest to Australian plant enthusiasts. That didn't happen and the blog became 'NSW-centric' because that's where I live. The other issue was that 'Gumnuts' never achieved its main original aim; ie. a forum for various groups to publicize special activities and publications to a wider audience. 'Gumnuts' failed on both counts:

1. I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I was directly advised about group activities and publications. Most of these that were publicized in 'Gumnuts' I found out about by chance.

2. The wider audience never eventuated....

A couple of examples (no names).......

One of the Society's regions published an impressive book recently - over 100 pages with colour photographs. I found out about the book by chance through the newsletter of another region! What is even more amazing is that the book isn't mentioned anywhere on the publishing Region's website (if it is, it's well hidden!). Do they want to sell it or not?

A local group recently published a CD on the flora of their area. Again I found out about it by accident.

Did either of these groups consider sending a copy of their publications to me for review? Apparently not (note: I'm not after 'freebies' here – my bookshelf is 'chocka' as it is and I'd have been happy to return the publications). On the other hand, several external publishers with no connection to the Society have sent items for review.

Time for a rant!

While I wish you good luck with your Forum proposal to APS NSW, why do the regions all have to go their own way on things like this? Victorian Region already has a well designed and operating forum that could be the basis a national web forum if supported and publicized by all regions. Will that happen. Hell will freeze over first (of course, Vic Region may not even want that – I haven't asked).

The fragmentation of ANPSA is appalling. I know of no other organization that aims to be a leader in its field, that has such an ineffective and emasculated national body (that's not a criticism of the ANPSA executive - it's a function of the way ANPSA is organized). In my (undoubtedly unpopular) view, ANPSA should be the face of the Society, handling all membership and publishing the national journal, 'Australian Plants' . Try explaining to an outsider (as I attempt to do often) that there is not one Society but seven and if they want to contact the Society about some important national conservation issue, they can't. But they can contact each of the seven independent regions, if they want to. Oh, and by the way, they don't all have the same name....

Do they bother? Buggered if I know....

The 'independence' of the regions will eventually kill this organization in my view.

Rant over.


Brian





end of my life

Comment posted by Anonymous at 2:15 PM, 19 October 2009

NOOOOO.
you cant stop this site.
i found it only the other day and letsjust say that so far it has changed my life seriously...
please i will do anything for you to come back.





Untitled Comment

Comment posted by Anonymous at 5:49 PM, 20 October 2009

I always checked this blog. Lack of comments in no way relates to page visits. You will be missed - thanks for your work.

P





Re;

Comment posted by asgap at 10:12 PM, 26 October 2009

Thanks for the kind words.

I was not really concerned about lack of comments. The main reason for putting the blog into recess was the dramatic fall in page visits over the past year - something like 75% reduction.





Appreciation ... too little and too late

Comment posted by Anonymous at 4:58 AM, 2 November 2009

I am one of the many who found this blog informative and encouraging, but like so many, haven't made any effort to say how much I liked it.

I appreciate that the work is more than the results warrant, for those who keep on putting in and also understand the frustrations about the hope for and disappointment about the idea of a National forum / blog.

None-the-less. my thanks for that effort.

Judith Jones
Adelaide





Sad to see you go

Comment posted by Steve at 10:46 PM, 23 November 2009

I enjoyed reading this blog. Thanks for your efforts.





stick in there

Comment posted by Anonymous at 6:34 PM, 26 December 2009

it turns out that my website is getting many more views than I ever thought and I think yours is much the same. Can I help somehow? I'm a flora and fauna illustrator and would love to contribute visual work if it would help. my website;http://www.naturalhistoryillustrator.com/INDEX.htm





Try this site

Comment posted by Anonymous at 3:43 PM, 22 February 2010

I enjoy http://www.toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com/ which covers local natives suitable for gardens in the Toowoomba area.



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