New Mars Forums

jburk

Executive Director

From: Seattle, WA

Registered: 2011-11-17

Posts: 155

Website

How to Improve the Mars Society's Discussion Options

Hello all my NewMars friends,

I am new to the role of Executive Director and I have been asked to come up with some options of how we can improve the benefits that paid members get, including ways to connect and discuss topics with other members.

Currently we have many ways for people to talk to each other online including the NewMars Forums (which have been running since 2001), but also: Slack, Discord, Facebook, Reddit, Twitter, and LinkedIn.  Even Instagram and Pinterest.

1) Any other ways that our members and community should be communicating with each other in 2021 that we do not currently have as an option?

2) Which of these should we highlight the most?

3) What would you do to improve the New Mars Forums as they stand now?

4) What would you give to paid members of the Mars Society as special benefit?  This could be anything!

Thank you in advance for your advice on these topics!

---

James L. Burk
Executive Director, The Mars Society
jburk@marssociety.org
+1 (206) 601-7143

tahanson43206

Moderator

Registered: 2018-04-27

Posts: 19,361

Re: How to Improve the Mars Society's Discussion Options

For Executive Director James Burk ...

This post is reserved for a response.

Best wishes for success with this campaign!

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tahanson43206

Moderator

Registered: 2018-04-27

Posts: 19,361

Re: How to Improve the Mars Society's Discussion Options

Red Planet Live to Host MDRS Director Dr. Shannon Rupert

Please join us on Monday, February 14th at 6:00 pm PT / 9:00 pm ET as we welcome Dr. Shannon Rupert to Red Planet Live, the Mars Society's monthly video podcast hosted by Ron Craig!

A trained ecologist with more than two decades of experience in Mars analog studies, Dr. Rupert has been the Director of the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) since 2009. MDRS is the largest and longest-running Mars surface simulation facility in the world, where 6-7 person crews participate in two-week field missions in the Mars-like terrain of the southern Utah desert, carrying out important research that contributes to the scientific planning for the eventual human exploration of the Red Planet.

Dr. Rupert is an expert in planetary mission simulations and field exploration. Her current research includes desert varnish ecology, biodiversity studies at MDRS, and the development of simulation experiences for educators and their students. She holds a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of New Mexico, a Master's degree in Biological Science from California State University (San Marcos), a Bachelor's degree in Ecology, Behavior & Evolution from the University of California (San Diego), and an Associate's degree in Biology from San Diego Miramar College.

Bring your questions for Dr. Rupert about all things related to MDRS and Mars analog studies, as well as how initial human explorers will live and work on the Red Planet for our next RPL broadcast on February 14th.

To register for RPL (via Eventbrite), please click here.

The Mars Society
11111 West 8th Avenue, unit A
Lakewood, CO 80215 U.S.A.
www.marssociety.org
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@TheMarsSociety

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RobertDyck

Moderator

From: Winnipeg, Canada

Registered: 2002-08-20

Posts: 7,929

Website

Re: How to Improve the Mars Society's Discussion Options

Well, the paid member bonus I suggested years ago. I have a collection of technical documents, some of which require payment. Accumulating all these can be expensive. So I suggested a Mars Papers Archive. That morphed; instead of an accumulation of valuable papers for Mars, it is now a repository of papers published by Mars Society members. So instead of buying one copy of the paper, and all paid Mars Society members getting access, instead authors can get their paper published there. Well, there are over 600 papers now.

So incentive for paid membership? My big idea has already happened... sort of.

In the early days, the Mars Society did some big things. The Mars Arctic Research Station was built on Devon Island, sponsored by Flashline, hence the name FMARS. That was in a very Mars-like location but hard to access, so MDRS was built. However, how about something else? Something not an analogue research station? A few have been suggested, but Robert Zubrin liked his analogue research stations. They're nice, but they're done. What's next?

SpaceNut

Administrator

From: New Hampshire

Registered: 2004-07-22

Posts: 29,431

Re: How to Improve the Mars Society's Discussion Options

Some like things to buy but if you never see a link in a magazine or paper then unless you visit the other media locations you might no know about these

https://www.marssociety.org/news/2018/0 … ine-store/

https://www.marssociety.org/topics/online-store/

lest we forget there is also chapters

https://www.cafepress.com/mswinnipeg