Georgs . . . . .
Not until after I had stopped publishing the CruiseGuides for the Tennessee, Cumberland, and Tenn-Tom did I realize how gratifying if not important it is to leave a wake. Not the kind left after the passing of a boat, but the kind a person is leaving all through life. No matter what kind or the size of wake we make, it eventually reaches a shore to affect the lives of others in ways we will never know and with a power we will never be able to measure.
To me, Georgs, over the years you've left a wake that could be a model for all of us. It was you who through Trawlerfest and later these forums, provided a way for all of us to contribute to others as we leave our own wakes. 
Far from being limited to practical matters, what everyone contributes also encompasses what we are as human beings. We cruise the waters and see sights that remind us not only of what we are, but also what we should be. Sunsets, sunrises, storms, fog, they all have a magnificence that causes us to pause and think of what life is all about.
On a more personal note, it was you, Georgs, who invited me to be a presenter at Trawlerfest. That was a highlight for me because it validated what I was attempting to do -- help cruisers have a safer and more enjoyable time on the rivers I came to know so well.
Maybe this is neither the time nor place to say these things. I'll let you be the judge, but I've learned to act whenever the spirit moves. And upon reading about the shutting down of the loop forum, it did move, so here I am. 
Thank you Georgs, for all you've done and continue to do for so many people on the water. I congratulate you.
Fred Myers