The response to this thread from a mod is reassuring but your response raises a couple of questions in my mind. Pardon my ignorance on this subject but I haven't really delved into the intricacies of this place, I just trade. When you say "present owner" does that mean there is no owner? The owner is uninvolved? Permanently? Temporarily? Also, how involved could we as members be, in recruiting new members? Could an individual or group correspond with the owner and perhaps obtain permission to help with aspects of the site such as social media? Honestly something like that would be my area of expertise, and I find it enjoyable.
As Matt, Pat, and Dave already explained and explained well The Bench does have an owner, albeit not an active one. The mod team has and will continue to work to reach out to him to get technical access to make the changes we have needed to make for quite some time happen.
I know I speak for all the mods here when I say that we all are invested in the Bench and have been invested in it for quite some time. I myself have not been involved in the hobby for a few years due to a hectic work schedule but the Bench was and continues to be my online trading home as it has been for years. I love being a mod on this site and reading/facilitating discussion. We hate to see the state it has become and will do everything in our physical power to see it come back to the point where it needs to be.
Thank you all for your input and feel fee to continue to offer suggestions here or contact one of us directly.
Steph