Rod, that was a wonderful introduction! I'm with Lee in that it's a pleasure and honor to have you here as a member. We're here to promote the hobby and to help new members get settled in and feel warmly welcomed.
Thanks, Lee. I do have a couple of questions.
First, do we know how may subscribers to this Forum are members of 52 Plus joker?
Second, since I have posted many decks on the World of Playing Cards website, do you think that my postings here on the Forum will be redundant?
As far as members, we have over ten thousand forum users and to date 28 of them have the rank of "52 Plus Joker Member". Naturally that doesn't count the staff - Lee, Tom and myself are all members, as is the moderator of A Cellar of Fine Vintages, Jonathan Rock. I can't speak for our other mods, Curt (omni-moderator) and John (Deck Battles). More 52+J members are joining as word spreads among them - the goal is to get as many of them here as possible.
Before Tom bought the forum, we had a vibrant, active user community who love collecting playing cards, but lack the experience and knowledge of vintage cards, instead focusing on new custom decks. Tom's helping to usher in members such as yourself to register for the forum, people who have volumes of information on cards that weren't made recently, but may not know as much about the modern wave of custom deck collecting and the level of artistry that goes into making many of the best examples. Knowledge starts flowing in both directions for the betterment of all involved. Better still, as the forum users begin to realize the benefits of being a 52+J member, they're beginning to sign up for themselves.
Do you remember the old Reese's Peanut Butter Cups TV ads, about someone's chocolate getting into another person's peanut butter and vice versa? That pretty much sums up the environment we're working to create here - and believe me, the end result is very tasty! Please, make yourself at home and we hope you enjoy the place as much as we do, if not more.