On Wednesday, March 17, the USMS Discussion Forums will be shut down in preparation for our move to a new platform with updated functionality and features. This new platform, which will be rebranded USMS Community, will be launched on March 30.
Community will include discussion groups, forums, and threads in a modern environment that we hope more USMS members will use to connect with fellow swimmers. We will slowly roll out additional changes so we can gather feedback and make strategic adjustments. Community will also allow for more robust profile details, recognition of achievements through badges, and management of some membership information.
Forums and forum threads from the current USMS Discussion Forums will be transitioned into Community. Usernames will be included for all posts from USMS members who originally linked their forums account to their USMS membership record, including those who arenâ€t currently members. However, users who were never USMS members will lose the link to their posts; all of those posts will be from a generic username. Some forums that havenâ€t been active for a while will be archived.
After reviewing the Discussion Forums posts, weâ€ll be enhancing the forum structure to make it easier to follow certain topics and more clearly define areas. Community will also be a membership benefit, so only USMS members will be able to contribute.
Some of the Community functionality will be similar. But like with any new software, adjusting to the interface can take some time. Blogs, images, documents, post links, emojis, and formatting, as well as profile information, wonâ€t be transitioned to the new platform.
As a part of the Community upgrade, we have also enhanced a few other areas to make My USMS-Community integration, site navigation, and membership self-service easier. We will send out more information and FAQs in the coming weeks. The important dates to note are:
- March 17: USMS Discussion Forums will be shut down
- March 30: USMS Community will tentatively be soft launched
- April 5: USMS Community will be publicly launched and announced
We want to thank you for your patience and canâ€t wait to connect, learn, and share with you in our new USMS Community.
Your Friends at U.S. Masters Swimming
I'm looking forward to the new upgrade. I hope the forums can return to prominence. I am concerned with the loss of "Blogs, images, documents, post links, emojis, and formatting, as well as profile information" Is there going to be a way to access that data?
I agree. I had (incorrectly) assumed that ALL of the discussion forum content would migrate.
Hey, speaking of those emojis, are you going to keep the current awesome collection? Please do! I would be :cry:if I lost my favorites: :ohyeah::bliss::cheerleader::chug::groovy::wave::wiggle:
I'm looking forward to the new upgrade. I hope the forums can return to prominence. I am concerned with the loss of "Blogs, images, documents, post links, emojis, and formatting, as well as profile information" Is there going to be a way to access that data?
I agree. I had (incorrectly) assumed that ALL of the discussion forum content would migrate.
Hey, speaking of those emojis, are you going to keep the current awesome collection? Please do! I would be :cry:if I lost my favorites: :ohyeah::bliss::cheerleader::chug::groovy::wave::wiggle: