Important Announcement: Forum changes are on the way

[Jonathan Forester]

To all ADI Forum Members-

We will be making changes to the forum starting March 1, 2009 with all changes to be complete by April 1, 2009. The idea is to bring the forum up to a more professional level, with a focus on the artisanal distiller/producer, and ancillary aspects of the artisanal field of Micro-Distilling and Micro-Spirits Production.

We invite your feedback until March 1, 2009, at that point we will start implementing the changes.

As part of this process of heading in the direction of a more professional forum we are asking everyone to immediately and fully complete all areas of information in their profiles. Members who do not fill out their profile with accurate information will be removed after April 1, 2009. If you have concerns about your anonymity because of possible work conflicts, contact Admin about the possibility of becoming an anonymous panel member. (See Below)

We will be having several levels of membership. Below is the direction we are going.

Guests/General Public- This is open viewing of limited parts of the Forum by the general public with no membership registration necessary. The public will be able to read, but not post; except by sending a question to Admin, who will post it in the appropriate area for response by registered members.

General Members- These are registered members who will have the ability to read and post to larger areas of the forum than Guests. General Members will have to have their real name, mailing/email address, business/profession, and experience level listed on their profile. Validation of registration by Admin as to accuracy of information will be mandatory before membership is re-activated.

ADI Members- ADI Members are those who are validated as members of the American Distilling Institute. ADI Members will have to have their real name, mailing/email address, business/profession, and experience level listed on their profile. Validation of registration as to accuracy of information will be mandatory. ADI Members have full access to all parts of the Forum.

Panel Members- A panel of selected experts on distilling and other aspects of the field. Some will have their profile visible, others will be anonymous to all but the Administrators. For those panel members who are anonymous, Admin and ADI will validate their identity and experience level, and while their identity will not be listed on their profile, their experience level and profession will be. The purpose of this panel is to enrich forum discussion by feedback from experts, while allowing the anonymous Panel Members privacy for professional reasons. Panel Members have full access to all parts of the Forum, and may be discussion mediators as well.

ADI Forum Levels

Guests/General Public

• ADI News

• Welcome and Introduce Yourself

• Beginners

• Artisanal Distilling and Small Spirits Production Wiki (A glossary and definition of relevant terms.)

Registered General Members

• General

• Equipment

• Packaging

• Federal

• State

• Local Issues

• Job Wanted

• Help Wanted

• For Sale

• Wanted to Buy

Registered ADI Members

• Technique

• Fermenting

• Distilling

• Bottling & Labeling

• Marketing, Sales, & Distribution

Member Profile

• Name (required)

• Email address

• Mailing Address

• Photo

• Personal and/or Professional Statement

• Company (required)

• Position (required)