A quick intro: I've been dealing with giving out this award for quite a while now, and I must say it could benefit from an expansion. It being intended to reward long term members (and thus thank them and hopefully stimulate them to be more active in the forum), it saddens me to see that some of those who are still active past the 10 years barrier, might not have reached the 10k and thus does not qualify for the Milestone Award.
My proposal is to extend the Milestone Award to anyone who has been on the site for at the least 15 years, regardless of how many posts they have. Of course only those who are still active (see it that have posted at the least once) after reaching the 15 year barrier, will be eligible.
I've done a quick search, and if I look at those who have been active (posted) during the last 12 months, potentially there's a pool for about 100 recipients over the next 12 months.
Updated Award reasoning could be
TWC Milestone Award
Awarded to those who have been on TWC for 10 years and have accumulated 10,000 posts, or to those who have been on TWC for 15 years regardless of how many posts they have accumulated, and have posted after completing the former.
When thinking about this amendment, please keep the following in mind:
a) there will be a pool of members that have been here for more than 10 years but less than 15 and that haven't posted 10k or more posts who are not going to get the award, either way. I'm personally fine with this, since originally when the award was created it was intended to award only active members, something we still keep after this amendment, all that we do is to extend the opportunity to be eligible to another group of members. Having being active on a site for 15 years is quite something, regardless of the actual level of activity, and deserves recognition.
b) as I said, this award is intended to both thank long term members and also to possibly stimulate them to be more active (or active again) in the site. There are few members who have been here for over 15 years who really deserve it, no matter how much they have posted (some of them are even citizens)
c) I use to PM members eligible for the actual award to make them aware that they could qualify if they post, this in order to let them know and hopefully have them to be more active (I'm only Pming members who have been active within a certain time frame, those who have been away for long aren't likely going to be back at all, and thus be able to read any PM). I'll do the same with the new group of possible recipients.
d) if we really want to put a barrier for a minimum threshold of activity, then 500 posts is something I would consider, but honestly that would go entirely against the logic of expanding this award, IMO. They have been here for 15 years, they have posted only 200 times, but last time they posted yesterday to ask info on a mod? They deserve this award, period. |