SANParks.org Forums

Dear 'mites

Today is a very special day indeed, as we celebrate the 8th birthday of the SANParks website and forums! And what a fantastic 8 years it's been.
A big THANK YOU to all our 'mites, moddies, administrators, developers and staff, who help make the website and forums the success it is today... a place where we can all share information, stories, laughter, tears, opinions and much more.

Special mention has to be made of Nedret Saidova, our Senior Manager: E-Business, who conceptualised and initiated the online forum, creating a massive community where strangers have become friends (some more than friends ), where battles have been fought, passions have been shared and as a result a "family" has been created. Nedret has mothered the from day one to what is is now and we would like to thank her dearly for all her efforts and dedication.

We would like to commemorate this occassion by asking you to reminisce with us and share your most-memorable/favourite/exciting moments on the forum.

We will start this "highlight reel" at the very beginning... 8 years ago on a Saturday at 4 o'clock in the afternoon ...

"Many months' work came to a time on a quiet Saturday afternoon, when the new website (+-15,000 files) and the new forums were launched.
We stood by to watch if people will start registering on the forums, and voila - the first person "Gerda" came from Belgium... Then it started to roll... One by one - we were getting people to login and post... Some - congratulating us on a new site when they were shocked to see it look so different. Some - posting ordinary questions - not knowing that this is a brand new home for SANParks
A couple of us (me and Danie who was based in Kruger at the time) were watching the site day and night... Then certain people , including international visitors, started to stand out with their knowledge and passion and I approached them to become our first mods.
And that is how it began..." - Nedret Saidova: Senior Manager: E-Business

Looking forward to many more years to come on the forum

Happy Birthday Forum...
A big thank you and handclap to all that keep this forum up and running....

Happy happy birthday! The forum cricket in Skukuza definitely stands out as a memorable event for me... especially Cheetakie's "special" fundraising antics
http://www.sanparks.org/forums/viewtopic.php?style=2&f=70&t=60213&start=30

And a Happy Happy Birthday, and congratulations to Nedret and her team over the years. This forum has so touched and enriched my life ... and I know not only my life.

This must be the oldest post on the forums? See here.

happy 8th birthday Forum
You have given me many days of enjoyment, browsing and learning on this forum.

So many highlights
1)Being a very old member. register jan 2005
2) My first yellow ribbon met was Elsa. Pure exitement flagging down the other car with a yellow ribbon
3) Asked to become a moderator
4) The cricket meets
5) The european meets
And above all, meeting so many great and kind people

Another golden oldie topic - Questions and comments about the cams

I remember being so excited when I was able to see a cam showing pics from Kruger on the internet. Even in those 'old days' of dial up

Happy Birthday forum

Thank you for all the joy and fun you have given us

Ah yes, the annual cricket event has become a biggie on the forum calendar. Here is how it all started way back in 2006, with the first event held in 2007. And now we are planning Cricket@Kgalagadi 2013

Forum folklore and customs : how did they evolve - a good read when going down memory lane

Happy Birthday Forum! Eventhough it has been long since I visited the Forum, I am still a proud member!
Good to see so many familiar names passing by. Three weeks from now and we will great SA and Kruger again! Keep up with the good work! Warm regards, Yvonne B., the Netherlands

Happy happy 8th birthday Forum. I dont often log into the forum (unless I want to comment) but do check it out about 5 or 6 times a day. Hope nobody from works sees this.

I have had many, many happy hours watching the webcams, unfortunately cant watch the live cams at work.

All involved in the running of the forums, keep up the good work.

In search of duke
Dug up from the moderators achives.
The first joint forum fundraiser by forumites.
Which is historical , because the mighty gently giant is no longer with us.

Happy Forum Birthday!

Nedret, thank you for giving all of us a home here and for taking such good care of it.
Congratulations, your concept was wonderful and fruitful.

One day which was a highlight for me was the 21st of November 2008. That was the day the "new" Stiffnecks Forum Birdclub was born.

Happy happy birthday my dear forum,
what would I be like without you, its my life now and I can hardly imagine a day without some contact.

I remember the excitement that day in Kruger when we spotted Bert and SO, our first yellow ribbon!

I have watched the changes over the years, new members registering and some sadly departing for various reasons.

I agree the cricket weekends stand out, as that is when one meets so many others and is a real highlight.
I have been privileged to attend 2 both of which I have thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you Nedret for all you have done and for your vision back in 2004.

Thanks also to the moddies who are as devoted a bunch of peeps you will ever meet.
and of course thanks to all the dear friends I have got to know and meet from all over the world.
You are all the best.