Truly wonderful to see so many new members these days!!  Gives me hope
that the place we call "the Shell World" is not shrinking or steadily
growing older, as many have feared or suspected.  I'm beginning to see
Conch-l as a meeting place, where "on-topic" matters of interest are
discussed and debated, experts are consulted on technical matters, and
friendships based on mutual interests can be made.  It is becoming, i
feel, an important and eminantly useful part of the "Conchologigal
Community"- in a way that simply wasn't possible before internet
technology!!  The List itself can be viewed as a bulliten board of
sorts, where notices and questions, and portions of ongoing discussions
of a non-personal nature can be posted for everyone to see: it is the
Public side of the "on-line" community, while private discussions and
communications go on  all around it.  It would be interesting to hear
some other people's analogies or ideas of what the list represents and
means to them!!  Personally, i have made several friends and many
contacts through Conch-l, and i would once again like to thank Amy,
Lynn, Gary, and that enigmatic "quiet" person for inventing and
maintaining this interesting and edifying whatever-you-want-to-call-it!!
 
                                                                                                        -Sincerely,
                                                                                                        Ross M.
 
P.S.:  "old faithfuls" reflections another time!