[Steve Ashton]

As you have just learned from Hank's announcement, I have purchased XMarkstheScot.com.

The growth of this website has been a truly amazing thing to watch and participate in. I don’t believe, that when this started almost six years ago, anyone had a full appreciation of where we would be today.

X Marks today is not “just” a forum, it has become a global village of people who embrace kilts in all its forms: highland wear, traditional, casual, contemporary, fashion, and historical. We have a membership that encircles the planet, and our interactions have expanded beyond the internet to numerous personal meetings. Our ranks now encompass Kiltmakers, Historians, Re-enactors, Dancers, Athletes, Craftsmen, and genealogists from around the globe. XMarkstheScot.com has become a hub of knowledge about not just Kilts but of Celtic Heritage activities.

We learn from each other. We teach each other. We laugh with each other. We share our problems and our successes. And we acknowledge our strengths and our weaknesses.
And as we sadly discovered recently, when one of us dies, we also grieve together and share our sorrow as well as offer an outpouring of support.

In short, XMarks has undergone a metamorphosis from “just” a forum to a family and, by some perspectives, to a Clan. We have achieved this by staying true to the one guiding principal that distinguishes X Marks from all other forums on the web today.
We are The Ladies and Gentlemen of X Marks.

Hank has place a special trust and confidence with me. I do not view myself as much an owner as I do as a Steward of this unique site. I will respect that trust and treat it as a sacred responsibility.

Over the past several weeks as Hank and I have worked on the details of the transfer I have been communicating with the Moderators. We have been working together to put into writing our mission, our goals, our policies. I have discussed my views with the Moderators, and have listened to theirs. Together, I believe we will develop a framework for XMarks that will keep true to the original intent of Hank's creation. We are committed to being open and honest with the membership.

I understand that their may be some concerns about my relationship as both the owner of Freedom Kilts and the owner of X Marks. Please be assured that these two entities will be kept separate. I will continue to be The Wizard of BC, owner of Freedom Kilts and advertiser on X Marks. Freedom Kilts will continue to be an advertiser and will continue to pay for that advertising space. Freedom Kilts will not receive any preferential treatment. If you see me logged on or posting as The Wizard of BC, you can be assured that I will be the same Curmudgeon that I have always been.

If you see me logged on as Adminikilt, know that I am acting as the owner of this site. I will be talking to the Moderating Council, insuring the security of the site, and monitoring its growth. As the owner I have 4 primary duties.

1) The security of the site and its data.
I have confirmed to myself that the hosting of the site is with a reputable hosting company. I have confirmed that proper back-ups are made regularly and the data kept in a secure data storage facility.

2) The continuation of the site in case of an emergency.
I have asked Jamie, (Panache) to act as my second. He will have all the passwords and access to the site so that in the case of an emergency he can take over the site and keep it on line.

3) The protection of the software of the site.
I have hired a software programmer to oversee the software of the site. This programmer is someone I trust implicitly and have tasked him with performing updates and correcting any errors in the code that may occur. This software programmer will not be a member or personally involved with he forum and will be answerable only to me.

4) The continued growth and prosperity of the site.
I will insure that this site has the funds to continue and will be speaking to each of our current advertisers to get their input. I will also activly seek new advertisers and new ways for this site to grow. I have established an Executive Council made up of Hank serving as Owner Emeritus, myself as current owner, and Jamie (Panache) as Forum Manager. We will be having discussions on ways to plan for the continued growth of the site and ways to deal with the problems associated with that growth.

But as the owner of X Marks I will not have a vote in the day-to-day operation of the site. We have a Moderating Council and I have spoken to Panache and asked him to continue as Forum Manager. Panache will act as not only my second-in-command but as the Chair of the Moderating Council. The Council will continue to handle the duties of Moderating the forum as they have always done. As the owner I will provide executive guidance and direction only.

I also know that I have quite a reputation as a curmudgeon and do not always have the best people skills. My wife Bobbie often says I should not be given access to a keyboard without adult supervision. If anyone has any questions, comments or concerns you wish to place before the forum owner please feel free to contact me directly via steve@xmarksthescot.com.

[###KILTEDKIWI###]

Congrats on the aquistion Steve, all the best with the endeavour.

Regards

Phil C

[pdcorlis]

This is a profoundly good idea - well done Steve & the Mods.

[muirkirkca]

Congratulations on the new endeavour. You have big shoes to fill but have an excellent backup in Panache and the moderator team.

[ForresterModern]

Hear, hear. Bravo, Steve. Thanks for stepping up to the plate in this most interesting time of transfer. And to Hank for his amazing foresight, fortitude, and sense of realism as it relates to the long term management of his baby, this forum. And to Panache, and all the other moderators for the time and effort they put into helping keep this an interesting, informative, and fun place to spend some free time and meet some great people. And to all the forum members who do make this place great for everybody else by their participation. I say again, hear hear, bravo.

I look forward to the long and interesting life of this forum under your able guidance.

Jeff

[Streetcar]

Congratulations Steve! A wonderful thing indeed!

[Chas]

It's not often you get the chance of having a new owner - I am sure we are all looking forward to the firm smack of authoritative leadership.

Well done Steve.

Regards

Chas

[RockyR]

Happy to know the site (and all the information herein) is in good hands.

Here's to our continued growth. [raises pint]

[Canuck]

cool!

[sydnie7]

And here I thought it was an ad for minikilts. . .

EDIT: Now that you've gone and changed your screen name, this joke (lame to begin with) is completely crippled. Ah, the power of the board owner, to change his name at will! Or to Will! END EDIT

As before, congratulations! And thank you for the thoughtful introduction to your new "hat."