Sorry if this is the wrong forum for this topic, but I wanted to reach as many people as I could. Moderators, feel free to move this post if there is a better spot.

There is an interesting thread underway on the SETI Technical News forum,. It started as the usual general complaint session about all the usual issues: credit, uptime of SETI, difficulties with new applications, etc. Someone then pointed out a significant drop in SETI users in the last few months, and the question was asked how much do all these issues, and the public bitching about them, contribute to this decline.

As an experiment in the power of the Forums, and in the effect that can have on membership, I have challenged all the SETI forum users and lurkers to sign up one new SETI member each. This post is my start on this.

If you read any BOINC project forums you can learn all about the many problems they all have. But, we are still here, plowing on through the issues, all for our own reasons. For me, it is a chance to be part of something bigger than myself, both in terms of the science being done, and the grass roots, bottom up, approach to exploring the very exciting and very new idea of voluntary distributed computing. There is more at issue here than looking for LGMs or curing cancer. It is a fundamental shift in how we, as a civilization, chose and execute research projects. BOINC gives you a chance to part of this process, instead of just sitting back and watching.

So, if just one of you can add SETI to your projects, I'll have done my bit. Of course, as a new SETI user, you should then go out and sign up one more. And so on...

I'm sorry to disappoint, but I prefer to give my cycles to other projects.

I think your idea is good, as every little step is necessary to reach a bigger goal. Recruiting people is a good way to help your favorite project.
Although, SETI is the biggest Boinc project, the most popular and the one with the most flops done. I don't think its problems could ever bring it down.

Hi Bill, I'm already onboard. Signed up 30 so far, but I cheat slightly, they are external hosts on my account

I think, here is not the best forum for that Rwrwalker.
We all know Seti, and crunch already for Boinc.

It will be better to find new members through others websites...
I'm trying to recruit through ubuntu forum, but it's not so easy. Anyway, it's worth to try anywhere.

I support you in your Membership drive RWR.

If you (or anyone reading) has friends they chat online with (MSN, Skype, AIM etc.) then you have someone that can be recruited. THe chat thing is very helpful for answering n00b questions and easing them into BOINC (let's face it, it can be confusing).

REMEMBER

Don't be pushy.
Offer links to info
Answer questions as simply as possible
Stress benefits and downplay difficulties/drawbacks

I average about 1 new recruit a month and always stress that as long as they crunch it isn't necessary to be on Team Canada (but i try to steer them that way lol). Infact, because i chat with folks allover the world, i often direct them to their national teams especially if English is not their first language.

Spread the word folks!

Actually this is an adequate place to try and promote people becoming active in SETI - we're all BOINCers and the majority of us have run SETI in the past (or at least know about it!). But, as Pawly indicated, this seems to be more of a push to get those already involved in the BOINC universe to actively recruit - which I whole heartedly support.

Looking at the numbers BOINC overall has only had an 8% or so drop in active users(compared to SETIs massive 25% drop!). All in all green issues and economics do play a part in dropping numbers - several companies I work for have instuted "green" policies to ensure no computers are left running at night and several of my friends have indicated that they won't run them as their computers aren't on long enough to finish wus (for both monetary and "green" reasons).

Enough out of me for now - time to go recruiting!