Bob, our web elf, keeps things moving along - at a pace that most of us can follow. We just got a clunky Chat Room to work better enough that we aren't going to futz with it for a while, I hope.
We've batted the idea of changing things to get more folks using the room -- but if nothing else, the two dozen time zones - four and more in this country alone -- make it a pain for one and all to use. For instance -- The thing doesn't start 'til 9PM at our house -- and we're usually in bed by 9.30. I seldom manage to stay up "late" enough to join the fun. And then I think of Mike in SA and Anders in Sweden -- and am glad that it's only a little bit at a bad time for me.
But it's what we have and it seems to work - so all I can do is keep your ideas on the list of things that might help the site be better and easier for all. Here, by the way, is a shot of the portion of the home page with the Chat Room liknk in it: