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"TheBeerNut":3ch07ukr wrote: Thanks Emilio!

Out of interest, how does MoBI differ from Unionbirrai[/url:3ch07ukr]?[/quote:3ch07ukr]

"TheBeerNut":3ch07ukr wrote: Thanks Emilio!

Out of interest, how does MoBI differ from Unionbirrai[/url:3ch07ukr]?[/quote:3ch07ukr]

Hot issue. Still discussed though.
Long story short: Unionbirrai aims to represent both the consumers AND the craft-brewers.
The founders of the new MOBI (kuaska, carlo canegallo, bertinotti, schigi...) believed that the cause of craft beer would be better served by two separate organizations: one looking after the interests of consumers (as camra), one serving the interests of microbreweries (providing useful services for them and lobbying in their behalf).

The situation got messier with a group of craft brewers (Baladin, Birra del Borgo...) joining the macro organization Assobirra (also in 2009).
Speaking for myself, I hope MOBI and UnionBirrai will we be able to work together in the interest of craft beer in general.

Hope I was able to throw some light on the Italian debate. <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) -->

Yes indeed. Thanks for the information.

Subscription paid, looking forward to seeing this develop and will be of any help I can.

Great idea folks, I will be joining. It was mentioned in the course of this discussion (Adeptus, I think) that only a fraction of ICB members are "active" on the site. Would it be an idea to inform them of this initiative using a pmail from the site Admin? It is possible that Beoir is what some users really wanted when the came to IrishCraftBrewer, and might be why they are not active.

Good point John. We can certainly do a mass mail to the membership and see what happens. The forum has had 540+ members access it since signing up to ICB, but actually, 699 people registered, the balance having never accessed the forum (and the only real reason to register is for forum access).

During the move we will transfer everyone who has ever accessed the forum part at a minimum, but there is an option to drop the accounts (spring cleaning if you like) of those registered users who never posted or visited the site within the last 12 months, for example. A mail shot would be a good idea to see if we can reanimate some of those registered users.

Ah so it is actually happening all official like now. All those talks for the last 6 months or so have developed in to something real.

Well I just sent in my subscription.

Personally I think €10 is a little low, and I have mentioned that before but initially I suppose it is fine, considering we get nothing back but Karma for the moment.

Perhaps if things kick off next year we can up the price a little and provide a sort of welcome pack to be posted out to members with some of our propaganda on it <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D -->